Precis Writing: Step-by-Step Guide to Format a Precis

It is a type of writing that summarizes comprehension in a limited number of words, ensuring that all the important points and aspects of the passage are covered. The purpose of precise writing is to summarize.

Precis Writing Skill:

Precis writing skill is among the most common and vital literature writing skills, and it is part of several competitions, i-e, Government exams (https://graduate.pk/exams), bank exams (https://byjusexamprep.com/bank-exams), etc. They are also part of the grade 8th and 9th syllabus. 

Let’s explore precis writing, how to use this skills, and tips for formatting a good precis and improving your writing skills.

 

What is Precis Writing? 

It is a type of writing that summarizes comprehension in a limited number of words, ensuring that all the important points and aspects of the passage are covered. The purpose of precise writing is to summarize. The exercise involves compression. A precis is a concise summary of any text/ passage. Any reader of a precis should be able to understand what the original paragraph is about by mentioning all the essential details.

What would you say about the events in ‘The Merchant of Venice’ in 15-20 lines? You would specifically discuss the main events or highlights and conclude such an extensive play with approximately 2000 sentences. Precise writing is exactly that. 

While writing the precis, you must maintain the tone and cannot add your thoughts. You are also supposed to retain characters’ expressions while highlighting the essentials of the event/ passage. Additionally, you will avoid mentioning unnecessary events. In brief, this is what it is all about—making a paragraph concise without changing the crux of the idea.

Goal of Precis Writing

The goal should be rewriting a paragraph or any other piece of paper.

It would be best if you were objective when writing a precis, retaining the central message of the passage without omitting any crucial points. Understanding the text/ passage is essential before concluding about what is relevant in an article or story. The first time you read it, it may take you some time, but as you continue to read it, it will become more accessible and easier to skim over the pages in the future. Writing precis requires an in-depth understanding of the story/text to convey the same message concisely.

It is important to note that precis writing is a type of summary that can not contain any rewriting of original content. Therefore, conducting research and reading the passage critically is necessary to develop a good precis.

Where to Use Precis?

Whether it is for a book, movie, meeting, article, report, news story, etc., precise writing plays a crucial role. The purpose of writing a precis is to convey the main points without changing the writing’s tone, proportion, or theme. 

You can use precis writing for the following areas: 

• In companies, precise writing is also used to define job descriptions, meeting minutes, etc. 
• It can be used to help students understand the basics of a chapter.
• Similarly, movie plots and main events are described in writing a precis in movies. 
• It is also used in scientific reports and research to summarize the content.

Step-by-step Guide to format a Precis:

As repeatedly emphasized, keeping a precis brief requires you to understand the key points that will provide the necessary highlights. Although it may sound easy, understanding a text and staying on the topic requires effective brainstorming and strong skills.

Checkout: Story Writing Format 

To help you write a concise summary, here are a few guidelines. 

1. Understanding the Content/ Narrative/ Text:

Firstly, you are supposed to read the text several times. Possibly you missed some points or did not understand them. You can gain a deeper understanding of specific points by reading them continuously. You will easily be able to connect with the points after reading the text several times, as well as form an outline in your mind of the content after reading it several times. 

2. Make text divisions:

You should divide the text into smaller sections and use a highlighter to highlight the critical details for further reference. To avoid confusion, ensure that the readers are ordered, so each event is marked. 

3. Outlined a Mind Map:

Before constructing your precis, you should prepare a rough outline or a map of all the points you believe are essential. Compare it with the text. Several points need to be added or omitted to make the statement clear. Your outline must follow the order in which the text is presented.

4. Write your Precis: 

As you construct your precis, use shorter sentences and eliminate unnecessary repetitions. Keep track of your precis’s word count. As a general rule, it should constitute 1/4th of the main text. In constructing your precis, you should keep in mind the following four points:

• Give your precis a title that is appropriate for its content
• A third-person perspective should be used
• Indirect language should be used in the text
• The past tense should be used appropriately
• 5. 

5. Review after Writing the Precis:

Make sure you read your precis several times to ensure there are no errors or grammatical errors. You should compare the composition with the original text and ensure that both compositions express the same themes and convey the same message. Add a bracket to the end of your precis to indicate the number of words used.

 

Recommended: Essential Rules of Good Precis Writing – Sample with Answer 

Precis Writing – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do you define precis writing?

Ans. It is a summary or gist of a comprehensive passage meant to convey the gist of the passage and its details and essential aspects.

What are the steps involved in writing a precis?

Ans. A good precis is composed by reading the passage provided, noting its main points and ideas, using exact words, and drafting a final summary clearly and concisely.

Is it necessary for a Precis to have a title?

Ans. There should always be a title for the precis, regardless of whether you are asked to do so. The title must be conveyed the essence of the passage.

Are there any things to avoid when writing a precis?

Ans. It is essential not to use any abbreviations in your precis, not ask any questions, not add your own opinion, not make your precis too long, and not use complicated vocabulary in your precis.

What is the maximum length of a writing a precis? 

Ans. Precisions vary in length. Generally, a precis should be between 100 and 200 words or approximately one-fifth to one-sixth of the original comprehension.