Précis Writing

What is a précis?

• A précis is a shortened form of the main points of a speech

or written text. It is also called summary writing or
summarizing.
• Précis writing is the art of compressing an idea into a few
words, so it is a very useful method of developing one's
capacity of understanding the meaning of a passage and
restating it in as few words as possible.
Main aspects of Précis writing

i.  Meaning

ii.  Language

iii.  Length
 Meaning

• Read the passage carefully and patiently even if you do

not understand the meaning of a few words or expressions.
Try to grasp the central theme of the passage as a whole, not
in parts.
• Give the passage a title. If you can do so it would mean
that you have understood the meaning of the passage. But if
you can't, go through it again to find a word or phrase that
will serve as a suitable title.
 Then pick out the main points and leave out details. A paragraph normally
contains only one idea in the topic sentence. The central idea is one that is 
related to the title. The rest in the form of an example or explanation is
mere detail. So, that can be left out. 

If you have to make a précis of more than one paragraph the main points
contained in each paragraph should be picked up and arranged in proper
order. If you make a catalogue of points it would not be a piece of
composition. So the main points must be so arranged as to have a logical
sequence and coherence. A few disjointed sentences do not make a précis.
 Language
 A précis should be made in your own words. Picking out a
few sentences from the passage itself is a poor reproduction,
not a précis. A précis expresses only the central theme, so
words and expressions used in the passage are usually avoided.
 It is written in full sentences, so telegraphic language has to be
avoided. It is written in the indirect speech, so conversation or
direct speech is always put into indirect speech.
• It is written in the third person (he, she, it and they). Use the
same tense as in the passage.
•  Avoid expressions like in my opinion/! think! believe etc. In
a précis you do not express your personal views, so
expressions like these are irrelevant. Avoid quotations from
the passage.
 Length

• Précis writing aims at compression, not expansion, so it is

made in about one­third of the length of the passage, i.e., in
one-third of the number of words, and not in one-third of the
number of sentences. A mere reproduction of one-third of the
sentences must always be avoided.
 How to reduce length?

 i) Avoid all illustrations examples. 

ii) Avoid all exclamations like these: well, you see, you know, to tell     
 you frankly etc.
iii) Avoid explanation or expansion. A précis is the exact opposite of
    expansion.
iv) Avoid your comments on the view or opinion of the writer. Nothing
is put into a précis that is not in the passage.
v) Avoid quotations.
• viii) Avoid repetitions like this:
• He is an extremely old man of ninety years. (9 words)
• He is ninety. (3 words)
• ix) Avoid figures of speech and use simple English instead:
• He is as brave as a lion. (7 words)
• He is brave. (3 words)
• She is as gentle as a lamb. (7 words)
• She is gentle. (3 words)
• Use the method of transformation/substitution:
• He is in the possession of a house. (11 words)
• He has a house. (9 words)
•  This is a chair that has not got any arms. (8 words)
• This is a chair without arms . (4 words)
•  A house whose walls are made of glass looks lovely. (10 words)
• A house with glass walls looks lovely. (6 words)
• Use a single word for a group of words:
• He is a person who looks at the bright side of a thing. (13 words)
• He is an optimist. (4 words)
•  We want a government of the people, for the people and by the people.
(14 words)
• We want democracy. (3 words)
 What should you remember about a Précis?

Keep in mind that a précis is not a:

• Plan/outline of the original passage or article;
• Simple abstract of the text;
• Selection of the most prominent phrases and sentences;
• Chain of facts, sentences that are not connected.
A good précis has the following features.
• Précis is written in a writer's own words and mood.
• A writer shouldn't simply copy original sentences - he or she
needs to compress and paraphrase them in his précis. Each
sentence of your précis should be unique - it is your writing work.
• Précis should be logically ordered, with all parts of it being
connected to each other.
• A writer can't use the first person pronouns (I, we) as précis is
always written in the third person.
• Précis never contains any additional information or details not
mentioned in the original text even if it supports the main idea if
the author.
Make Précis of the following paragraph 
• It is physically impossible for a well-educated, intellectual, or brave man to
make money the chief object of his thoughts just as it is for him to make his
dinner the principal object of them. All healthy people like their dinners, but
their dinner is not the main object of their lives. So all healthy minded people
like making money ought to like it and enjoy the sensation of winning it; it
is something better than money. A good soldier, for instance, mainly wishes to
do his fighting well. He is glad of his pay— very properly so and justly
grumbles when you keep him ten years without it—till, his main mission of life
is to win battles, not to be paid for winning them. So of clergymen.
The clergyman's object is essentially baptize and preach not to be paid for
preaching. So of doctors. They like fees no doubt—ought to like them; yet if
they are brave and well- educated the entire object to their lives is not fees.
They on the whole, desire to cure the sick; and if they are good doctors and the
choice were fairly to them, would rather cure their patient and lose their
fee than kill him and get it. And so with all the other brave and rightly trained
men: their work is first, their fee second—very important always; but still
second.
The Main Points:
• 1. Money making is a common attraction in life.
• 2. But it cannot be the principal aim of well-educated, intellectual
brave persons.
 Précis 
• Money-making is a common attraction in life. But it cannot
be the principal aim of well educated, cultured and brave
man. A brave soldier prizes honor and victory more than
his pay. A good clergyman is more interested in the moral
welfare of his people than his returns. A doctor (good)
values the care of his patient far more than his fees. Thus
with all the well-educated, intellectual persons, their work
is first, money next.