What is a precis?
Precis is a French word, pronounced as “presce” It is a derived from “prezisi” a Latin word. Its nearest equivalent in English is precise.
It is used to shorten a piece of writing. Precis means to express the central idea or thought of a given passage. Precis writing is an art of compression, giving the gist of a passage. However, precis is different from paraphrasing.
A paraphrasing is normally a substance of the passage or document in detail, touching upon the points in order of sequence. It is a work of art. Precis-writer has to stick faithfully to the original passage. In writing a precis, the writer is not allowed to express his own opinion, view or point. It involves concentration, judgement, retention of ideas, wide vocabulary and originality of expression.
How to write a precis?
Writing a precis of a given passage is to extract its main points and at the same time to express the central idea clearly in as few words as possible.
A student should read the passage at least twice very carefully. First of all, the main topic with which the passage deals should be located. Having located the main topic, attempt should be made to find out the specific aspect of the main topic with which the passage deals. Main idea should be underlined. The portions underlined should than be logically arranged and rough draft should be prepared.
After finishing the rough draft, number of words should be counted.
The total length of a precis should be one third of the original passage. Before writing a fair precis, a student should make changes if possible without changing the central idea of the passage. He should also remember that his precis should be brief and clear and should be read and understood clearly.
In brief
Good Precis Writing Rules
- Use an appropriate title
- No reproduction of important or central idea.
- Use own language
- Use indirect speech
- Conclusion should be given
- One third of original passage
- Never give personal opinion
- Should be logically ordered
- Should be in third person
Precis Exercise - 1
Make a Precis of the following passage in about one-third of its length
Democracy is the most difficult of all forms of government and yet it is one to which most nations now aspire. This is because it seems to most people to be the form of government which provides the best hope of making a world in which privileges, good fortune or the accidents of history will no longer determine the spheres of oppor tunity. In this the human spirit will develop best. A successful democratic system requires a number of pre-conditions, most of them difficult in them selves to establish. It requires the active coopera tion of the community for the common good. It requires institutions which can ensure that those who obey the law will not become the victims of those who do not. It requires a mutual respect and shared pride in the objectives and traditions of the community as a whole. It requires the absence of any form of discrimination based on race, sex, belief or opinion. It requires especially from those who have power and influence, restraint and patience.
Precis:
Democracy is the most difficult, yet the most sought after form of government. It promises to provide equal opportunities and privileges to all for the best development of human spirit. But for this the pre-condition is that all people are law abiding, mutually respectful and tolerant, proud of their traditions and free trom all kinds of pre- judices and discrimination.
Precis Exercise - 2
English is today studied because of its commercial and so called political value. Our boys think rightly, in the present circumstances, that without english they cannot get Government service. Girls are taught English as a passport to marriage. I know several instances of women wanting to learn English so that they may be able to talk to Englishmen in English. I know husbands who are sorry that their wives cannot talk to them and their friends in English. I know families in which English is being made the mother-tongue. Hundreds of youths believe that without knowledge of English, progress of India is practically impossible. The canker has so eaten into the society that in many cases, the only meaning of education is a knowledge of English. All these are for me signs of our slavery and degradation. I cannot tolerate the idea of parents writing to their children, or husbands writing to their wives not in their mother-tongue but in English. I would have our young men and women with literary taste to learn as much of English and other world languages as they like, and then expect them to give the benefits of their learning to India and to the world like a Bose or a Tagore. But I would not have a single Indian not to forget, neglect or be ashamed of his mother-tongue or to feel that he or she cannot think or express the best thought in his or her own mother-tongue.
Precis:
There is no doubt that English has got its commercial and political value now-a-days. It has its value in family life also. All parents want their children to learn English so that they can converse in English which enables boys to get a good job or the girls to get married. There is no denying that one should learn English and other languages as much as one can but one should not neglect one's mother tongue or feel ashamed of using it in daily life or feel that one cannot express oneself in one's own language effectively.
Precis Exercise - 3
Unemployment arises from a variety of causes. One that is always recurring, and of the effects of which we have had a recent example, is the disorganization of industry resulting from a long war-This is a serious problem admitting of no easy solution at the best of the times. Again, there is the unemployment which follows a marked diminution in the quantity of any raw product, such as cotton-fewer hands are required in the mills and factories. We may call, this cause 'bad harvest”. Similar but more serious is the effect of changes in industry due to the invention of machinery which does more work and requires workers. And yet another serious cause is a strike or lock-out and this is more to be deplored because such a stoppage sometimes is due to a very trivial matter, perhaps the fact that men are working half an hour longer than the regulations of their union permit.
Precis:
There are many causes of unemployment. The first cause is the disorganization of industry resulting from a long war. The second cause is the shortage of raw material. The third cause is the invention of machinery that does more work than that of several people combined together. The fourth cause is the strike or the lock-out over petty matters.
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