Précis Writing

 

Précis Writing

A precis is a concise, clear and accurate summary of a longer text, typically reducing it to one- third of its original length while retaining the core meaning and tone. It requires logical organization, objective language and the use of the third person and past tense by ensuring all essential points are covered without including personal opinions. The word ‘Precis’ is derived from French which means ‘precise’.

Skills required for effective precis writing:

A) Advanced Reading and Comprehension

i) Active Reading: The ability to read a passage multiple times to thoroughly grasp the main theme and tone.

ii) Discrimination Skills: The capability to distinguish between essential points and non-essential information (examples, illustrations, or statistics).

iii) Identifying Core Ideas: Extracting topic sentences and the main argument of each paragraph. 

B) Analytical and Synthesis Skills

i) Logical Structuring: Ensuring the summary flows logically, often mirroring the structure of the original, but in a more compact form.

ii) Objectivity: Maintaining a neutral tone, leaving out personal opinions, interpretations, or added information not in the original text.

iii) Condensation: The skill to summarize complex ideas in as few words as possible. 

C) Writing and Technical Skills

i) Conciseness: Using direct, clear, and simple language to convey meaning without unnecessary "fluff".

ii) Paraphrasing in Own Words: Rewriting the essence of the passage in your own voice rather than simply copying lines.

iii) Grammar and Vocabulary: Strong command of language, including using active voice rather than passive voice to improve engagement.

iv) Indirect Speech : The ability to convert direct speech into reported speech, usually in the third person (he, she, it, they) and past tense. 

D) Editing and Formatting

i) Editing for Clarity: Pruning redundancies and refining the draft to ensure the final product is polished.

ii) Word Count Management: Strictly adhering to the required length (usually one-third of the original).

iii) Titling: The ability to create a concise, relevant title that reflects the main theme.