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PRECIS WRITING
SAMPLE ONE: MAKE PRECIS AND GIVE SUITABLE TITLE
Machines have, in fact, become the slaves of modern life. They do more and more work that
human beings do not want to do themselves. Think for a moment of the extent to which
machines do work for you. You wake, perhaps, to the hoot of a siren by a machine in a
neighboring factory. You wash in water brought to you by the aid of machinery, heated by
machinery and placed in basins for your convenience by a machine. You eat your breakfast
quickly cooked for you by machinery, go to school in machines made for saving leg labour. And
if you are lucky to be in a very modern school, you enjoy cinema where a machine teaches you
or you listen to lessons broadcast by one of the most wonderful machines. So dependent has man
become on machines that a certain writer imagines a time when machines will have acquired a
will of their own and become the master of men, doomed once more to slavery.
Precis—Machines become the salve of modern era. From morning till night it do work for our
comfort. And the man is becoming dependent on it persistently and if it continues, machine will
become the master of men.
Title—Machines: Our Masters or Slaves
ACTIVITY ONE: MAKE PRECIS AND GIVE SUITABLE TITLE
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. They on the whole, desire to cure the sick; and
if they are good doctors and the choice were fairly to them, would rather cure their patient and
lose their fee than 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.
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ARTICLE WRITING ACTIVITIES

1.SAMPLE READING: Read the following article.
LEARNING ABOUT LIFE (Heading)
By XYZ (By line)
Studying abroad is an exciting experience, giving you the opportunity to learn more about the
traditions and culture of the host country and its people. Apart from the excellent education I
received during three years in England, I also made a wide circle of friends and improved my
language skills. I learned how to face and deal with various problems, and as a result, have
become more independent and self-confident. (Introduction: Par 1)
I studied English Literature and this, along with making many friends both at university and
through the part-time job I had, helped improve my English. Although I already spoke the
language quite well, when I first arrived I had trouble understanding some accents and the slang
or colloquialisms that are in everyday use. Now I am a much more fluent and natural speaker,
and my writing has improved, too. (Par 2)
The biggest problems I faced were finding somewhere to live when I did not know the area well,
getting the electricity and phone connected and generally learning to look after myself. I had to
get used to shopping, cooking and doing the housework, as well as studying and working, so I
quickly mastered the art of planning my time sensibly. (Par 3)
Although adapting to living in a new country is not easy, once the initial homesickness and
missing the family has been overcome, learning to fend for yourself certainly makes you a more
independent person, and definitely more self-confident. (Par 4)
My time abroad helped me grow as a person and I feel I could tackle any problem now in a calm
and confident manner, without having to immediately ask someone for their help. (Par 5:
Conclusion)
1. TASK ONE: Modern Life, an online magazine, wants to know how Karachi have been
affected by different cultures. They have asked readers to send in articles on changes in
their own town. The ideas will be used to create a special feature.
You have decided to send in an article. You should:
 describe what local features there are in your town
 explain how other cultures have influenced it
 assess the impact of the changes on people who live there
  Write around 250 words AND give your article a title. .
OR Entertainment Weekly, a magazine for young people, has invited young people to send in
articles on whether young people will continue to watch films at the cinema, rather than at home.
You have decided to send in an article. You should:
 describe the experience of watching films at the cinema
 compare watching films at home and in the cinema
 discuss where films will be viewed in the future
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Write around 250 words. You should give your article a title.