11/8/2024

A precis writing is a concise and summary

version of a longer text

Israt Jahan Rimi, FCS

Course Instructor,
Foundation Level,
Business Communication,
Part B

What is a Précis
Precis Writing is a summary. It is an exercise of compression. A precis writing is a gist of any passage
in as few words as possible. A precis should mention all important details of the original paragraph
so that anyone who is reading it can understand the idea of the original passage.
• Précis, pronounced as“ pray-see”originated from French Word, which literally means ‘Precise’;
• Précis writing is an art of summarizing;
• It is a short version of a speech/story or an abridged version of a lengthy matter;
• A restatement in the shortened form of main ideas, points of the original texts/speeches, or
• Miniature replication of the original passage, retaining the mood and tone of the original so that
reader can understand without seeing the original;
A précis is therefore, a clear, compact logical summary of a passage made of a connected hole
preserves the essential or important ideas/points of the original.

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Importance of Precis Writing

In today’s busiest schedule, people just want to know the essential facts of a situation as briefly and clearly as possible instead of going
through all the details. In that case, Précis writing exercise is very useful and much needed skill to be acquired by both student and
professional. Because:
A well-written precis can help to concisely and accurately communicate one’s ideas, whether in an email, report, or presentation.

Summarizing teaches one to read with concentration and thereby improves readability;
It improves the overall writing skills too.

One can learn the technique of choosing words carefully and in a logical manner.

It facilitated effective business communication, especially, with the top-level management.

This technique may, however, be applied to the following official purpose:

• To inform the superior with the main points of an article published in a trade journal or a sum up of the important speech of finance
minister;
• To sum-up the main points of the Company correspondence with clients;
• To apprise the management on a proposed plan and industry impact;
• To summarize: Matters published in dailies/journals, Lengthy Office Notes, Internal Audit Report; confidential correspondence,
Internal investigation and enquiry report, Report/recommendations of committees, Govt. policy statements, etc

Good Precis

Features of a A good Precis must have clarity, brevity, and precision

Good Precis It should not be just Writing the sentences directly from the passage for Precis Writing. It
should be written in your own words;
It is a miniature version of the given passage;
The Precis should be well-knit and well connected;
It would be best if you used linking words like so, therefore, and, because, further, etc.;
It must have a good title;
Must have coherence and follow the order of the original extract;

It must contain only the information given in the passage of precis writing;

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Summary, Abstract, Extract vs Precis

Extract is, taking Precisis, a clear,

Summary can be in Abstract is the key out or pulling out compact and
the form of notes sentences of an exact portion logical summary of
with headings/sub paragraph putting from a piece of a lengthy passage
headings and together writing, passage, reproduced in
numbered point. coherently. etc. e.g. Extract of writer’s own word,
the Minutes. preferably in a
single paragraph.

Basic Principles for writing a good précis

1. Determining the theme of the passage:
Identifying the central idea to analyze and to separate the major points from the minor points.
2.Remodeling of the original ideas:
It is not just reproducing a few ideas and deleting others, rather an art of remodeling the original ideas as short as possible in own
thoughts. Mere pick and random selection of sentences from the passage produces a incoherent paragraph, not a precis.
3.Brevity but not at the cost of clarity:
If any retention/addition adds précis ’clarity then this should be included by all means. Because excess economy leading to
ambiguity or obscurity.
4.Intelligible to the readers regardless of the original:
Précisis ought to be intelligible or clearly understandable to a reader who has not read the original passage.
5.Using own language:
The sentence structure of the Précis has to be written, as far as possible, in writer's own words except a few significant phrases or
technical terms

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Basic Principles for writing a good précis

6. Written in past tense and indirect speech:
Précis is always written in past tense and Indirect speech is recommended instead of Direct speech. For example, the beginning may be with “the author
says…or it was said in the passage…”etc. Personal pronoun is to be avoided.

7.Observeproportion:
Each part of the original passage should be dealt with according to the importance, not to the space.

8.No comments please!

Précis writer's job is to interpret faithfully, not to evaluate the mind of the author. So don’t try to put any comment or put any foreign material. For
instance, In my opinion, I believe, etc.

9.Reduce the passage in one third:

Try to re-write the passage to one-third of its original, unless otherwise indicated.
10.Apply own discretion:
To omit unnecessary narrative words or any statistical figures, proverb, illustration, quotation, etc. unless these are very basic to the understanding of the
general drift of the passage.

Do’s and Don’ts of Precis Writing

Here are some Do’s listed below which one can follow in Precis Writing:
• ✔ Read all the text carefully and identify the main points.
✔ Focus on the main points of the given text and it is best to avoid adding any
irrelevant information.
✔ Write a concise summary of the text which reflects all the main points of it.
• Don’ts to be followed in Precis Writing
• ❌ Avoid including your personal opinion
❌ Re-write or summarize the entire text
❌ Avoid adding any superfluous details

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Qualities of a Good Precis 🎯

The following are some attributes that describe a good precis.

• 🎯 Accurate and Precise
🎯 Clear and coherent
🎯 Well connected
🎯 Original
🎯 A suitable title

Essential Rules for Good Precis Writing

• After understanding how to write a precis, let’s look at a few tips that can help
you ace your precis.
• ✏ Keep the text terse and up to the point.
✏ Use shorter words. For example, use ‘because’ instead of ‘owing to’, use
‘although’ instead of ‘in spite of the fact that, etc.
✏ Make sure your text is lucid to understand. Avoid using jargon and complex
sentences.
✏ Retain the core of the text.
✏ Your text should be a miniature reflection of the original text and should
state the correct facts and figures.

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Sample 1
“The internet has revolutionized the way we communicate and access information.
With the click of a button, we can connect with people around the world, share
ideas, and stay informed about current events. This instant access to vast amounts
of information has both positive and negative implications. On the positive side, it
allows for unprecedented global connectivity and the democratization of
knowledge. However, it also raises concerns about privacy, misinformation, and the
potential for online abuse. As we navigate this digital age, it is essential to strike a
balance between the benefits and challenges posed by the internet.”

Precis
“The internet’s transformative impact on communication and information retrieval
is evident. Instant global connectivity and knowledge democratization are positive
outcomes, yet concerns arise regarding privacy, misinformation, and online abuse.
Striking a balance between the benefits and challenges of the digital age becomes
crucial.”

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The basic core of evolution – survival, and reproduction- has been proven over and over through our various behavioral patterns.
Let’s retrograde and explore what are some exciting concepts that have been performed by humans before us and how did it occur.
Almost every organism has the tendency to react to certain stimuli for survival. This reaction to each and every situation has an
evolutionary basis of adaptation. The study of human emotions dates back to the 19th century and psychologists have discovered
many reasons for every emotion, yet these are just theories. The arousal of emotions and their assumed structures is said to occur
due to repeated encounters with a situation followed by the adaptation of the encounter. Human emotions have been linked to
adaptively regulate emotion-gathering mechanisms. The emotion of fear which is associated with ancient parts of the brain has
presumably evolved among our pre-mammal ancestors while the emotion of a mother’s love called the ‘filial emotion’ has seen to
evolve among early mammals. Various emotions work as manipulative strategies that favour survival. Feigning emotions by an
accused person may help him be saved from the punishment. An exaggerated display of anger is also associated with manipulating or
threatening someone.
Despite there being several emotions for various events, ironically the most interesting emotion is the emotion of disgust. Disgust is
aroused when the body senses a danger to the immunity or the physiology of the human. The disgusted memory is associated with
alerting the brain of a potentially dangerous substance. A few studies have shown that the encoding triggered in adaptive memory for
problems is stronger than any other behaviour. This makes us instantly have a disgusted expression at the sight of something that
makes us uncomfortable or uneasy. These expressions are also closely linked to self-protective communication.

Precis

Title: Human Evolution and Emotions

The emotions that humans express and react to stimuli in the
environment have an evolutionary basis. Emotions are assumed to be a
result of repeated encounters with a certain event.
According to evolution, emotions like fear, love, feigning, anger, and
disgust are results of consistent reactions in particular situations. Some
expressions are often built up or adapted as a form of self-protection.

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Sample Passage-3
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.
Theyonthewhole,desiretocurethesick;andiftheyaregooddoctorsandthe
choicewerefairlytothem,wouldrathercuretheirpatientandlosetheirfeethan 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

Pre-writing
Summary:
1. Money making is not the chief object of the well-educated, intellectual brave persons.
2. A noble soldiers fight bravely, to him pay is of secondary importance.
3. A clergyman cares more for the welfare of the humanity than for his pay.
4. A sincere doctor desires to care his patient far more than to get his fee.
5. Thus for well cultured people their duty comes first, their fees second.
Suggested precis: Duty First, Pay Afterwards
Money-making is a common attraction in life. But it cannot be the principal aim of well educated,
intellectual and brave man. A brave soldier’s main notion of life is to fight to win battle and victory,
not to be paid for wining them. A noble clergyman is concerned more with the welfare of the
humanity than his pay. A good doctor desires far more to cure his patient than to get his fee. Thus,
for all cultured peoples, their duty comes first, then their fee

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Thanks for Proactiveness