As a matter of rules for good precis writing, you need to read the comprehension carefully, take notes of all critical points and create a rough draft of a summary. Make sure the language is simple and the content is precise. The content must be easy to understand, and short, however, you mention all the important points. Ultimately, it is a miniature reflection of the original text.
In precis writing, all the essential aspects and details of a passage are summarized in short words. Precis writing is covered in several exams, but most commonly in SSC and RRB exams. To understand the essential rules of precis writing and what candidates should do on a question based on this topic, let us first discuss what qualities a good precis has.
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The Qualities of a Good Precis
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What are the criteria for judging a precis? A good precis should have the following attributes.
- Precision and Accuracy
- Cohesive and clear
- Having a good connection
- Authentic
- An appropriate title
Essential Rules of Precis Writing
Following a set of rules in writing a precis is essential to avoid making any mistakes. As a follow-up to understanding how to write a precis, let’s look at a few tips to help you succeed.
- Make sure you read the comprehension carefully.
- Take notes of all critical points of the passage.
- Create a rough draft of the summary
- Keep your language simple and precise as much as possible.
- Upon completion of all the points, draft the final precis.
- Ensure that your text is concise and to the point.
- Shorten your sentences. Using ‘because’ rather than ‘owing to,’ ‘although’ rather than ‘despite,’ etc.
- Your text should be clear and easy to understand. Do not use jargon or complex sentences.
- Keep the main points of the text.
- You should write your text as a small reflection of the original text and state the correct facts and figures in your text.
Precis Writing: Some Dos and Don’ts to Consider
Hundreds and hundreds of candidates participate in the competitive examinations conducted in our country each year. Hardly, a few candidates are able to pass the exam and get hired. Even though most competitive exams are now computer-based, the descriptive test is still conducted offline.
Read: Good Short Story Writing with Easy Steps: A Complete Guide
As there are thousands of entries to review, there are a few quick points that the examiner looks for, and that will ensure that your precis essay receives the maximum marks.
Following are a few Dos and Don’ts for candidates who wish to write a precis based on the same information.
Dos for Precis Writing
- To make the precis easier to read, begin with the basic idea of the passage.
- Provide a clear understanding to the reader of what they are about to read.
- Note all the important points as you read the passage and include them in your precis.
- The passage’s main idea should be followed by the facts/issues of improvement/methods, etc., as mentioned in the comprehension.
- Ensure that all keywords and terms used in the passage are included.
- Be sure to keep track of the tenses you use. You are supposed to describe historical events only in the past tense.
- Your summary must have a relationship with the data you are presenting. A few standard links should be present.
Don’ts for Precis Writing
- A precis should not exceed the length of a passage.
- Use easy vocabulary and avoid overcomplicating the precis.
- The precis should not be filled with assumptions or information that is not relevant.
- If you have any opinions or criticisms regarding the comprehension, please do not express them.
- It would help if you avoided abbreviations.
- The precis should not be formatted as a question.
- Don’t spend too much time on one particular point. Provide as much information as possible in a precise manner.
Candidates can learn from those mentioned above do’s and don’ts how to approach the precis and also learn how to write it correctly.
Example of Precis Writing Example with Answer
Comprehension/ Passage/ Text
A man in the east gave up all worldly concerns and went to a wood, where he built a hut and lived in it. His only clothing was a piece of cloth around his waist. But as ill luck would have it, rats were plentiful in the wood, so he had to keep a cat. The cat requires milk, so he has to keep a cow. The cow needed tending, so a cowboy was employed.
The boy required a house to live. So a house was built for him. To look after the house, a maid had to be engaged. To provide company for the maid, a few more places had to be made, and people were invited to live in them. In this manner, a little township sprang up in the lovely wood. (136 words)
Precis Writing:
Title – A forest turns into a town
A man gave up all worldly things and went to live in a block of lovely wood. Rats troubled him. So he kept a cat. To feed the cat, he kept a cow. Then came one by one a cowboy, a maid, and her companions. They needed houses to live in. Thus the forest turned into a town. (58 words)