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Monday, January 22, 2007   #1  
 Sureshlasi   Join Date: Mar 2006
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Hints for begginers on precis-writing

This session has been started for providing guideline to beginners about precis writing.Precis writing can not b
neglected as compared of other subjects.It is one of the most important subject for css aspirants.

A precis may b defined as a summary or shortened form of a piece of writing,in which matters of detail are left out
and only the important points are retained.The student must possess the judgement to b able to seize upon the
essential points in a passage and leave out what is unnecessary but he must have an adequate vocabulary not only
to understand the meaning of the given passage but also to b able to express its main ideas in his own language.
Most compostition books contain a number of "rules" for precis writing,followed by a large number of passages for
exercise.Now,no rule can be grasped in the abstract; they can b understood only if their application is actually
demonstracted to the readers.Besides,passages are often choosen at random,without regard to their suitability for
the purpose.
In this hints,while "rules" have been given,it is to the actual illustration of these rules that we must pay close
attention.Every passage is followed by

1.vocabulary
2. Hints to write own precis
3. A model precis

Rules of Precis writing

1. Read the given passage carefully at least three times in order to be able to grasp what the writer has said or
grasp the main idea.

2. Underline the important points to be included in your precis.A point is important if it is intimately conneted with
the main subject and if it is essential for a clear exposition of the theme.

3. Use your own language in the precis.While words and phrases from the original may be used in the precis,Wjole
sentences should never be liften out of the original to be included in it.

4. The precis should be roughly one-third of the original passage.Always prepare a rough draft first and count the
words.If you find that it is too long,Shorten it by removing what seems inessential and by condensing phraseology.If
it turns out to be too shorten,Read the original to see what more can be added to the precis.

5. Examples,illustrations and comparison should be left out of the precis. Figure of speech should be removed and
the ideas expressed in clear,direct language.

6. You own comments on the ideas of the precis are absolutely forbidden.Do not express any oppinion,favourale or
unfavourable ,about the ideas in the original passage.

7. Be very careful about the language you write.Mistakes of grammar and spelling are penalized as much in the
precis as in other forms of composition.

8. See that your precis is a piece of readable english and that its ideas can be understood even by a person who has
not gone through the original.This is very important.

9. Your precis should be a connected whole.As such it should not be divided into paragraph.(this rule does not
apply to very long original pieces of writing such as those set in the competitive examinations).

10. Do not use the direct form of speech in the precis.If the author has written in the first person pronound using "I"
and "my", you should write in the third person pronoun : "he" and "his".The precis may in such cases begin thus : "the
author says............",or"according to author......".In case the name of the author,Chesterton or Johnson , is given at
the end of the passage ,The preis should begin thus : "According to Chesterton.........",or "Macaulay says......" or
"Johnson expresses the view........".

11. Think of a suitable title for the precis. The title should ordinarily not be a complete sentence.A title must be
supplied even though it may not have been asked for.
12. Indicate the number of words in your precis at its end.

Note: General hints are remain to share but had to cut off the session because deficiency of time.inshallah i ll
accomplish this session as soon as possible and i m also looking for yr comments if i m going devious from any
aspect.

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Tuesday, January 23, 2007   #2  

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GENERAL HINTS ON PRECIS WRITING

1. When a list of things is given in the original, a general word should be used to express the idea

for example: " There were dogs,cats,hens,ducks,geese and pigs barking,squealing,crowing,quacking and growling
all over the farmyard."
In compressing this,we shall convey the idea in the following manner:
Different animals and birds were makingg various noises over the farmyard.

The number of words used here is more than one-third of the original,but that is because the original passage is too
short to allow a precis one-third in length.This is only an illustration to convey the technique.
Now take the following sentence:
"Carpenters,blacksmiths,tailors,shoemakers and those engaged in similar other trades had assembled there to
voice grievances and to seek redress."

This may be shortened as follows:

Artisans of various kinds had gathered there to seek the redress of their grievances.

2. It is useful to learn one-word substitutions,that is,single words which convey the meaning expressed in a group
of words.

For instance:"They arrived at the same time"may be written in a precis as "they arrived simultaneously".

A couple of more examples may be added here.

For instance:"you are liable to be called upon to explain your action".

Shortened form : "you are answerable for your action".

For example:"you have many weaknesses.One of them is that u easily believe what people tell u and that u dont
verify the facts"
Shortened form :"One of your weaknesses is that you are too credulous"

3. Among the rules given above,it has been said (rule 5) that figurative language should be changed into a simple
and direct expression.

Here is example:
"I have grown to feel that the ambition which we preach and the success for whih we prepare are very often nothing
but a missing of the simple road,a troubled wandering among thorny bypaths and dark mountains".
Here the second part of the sentence is written in a figurative style.That is,"road","thorny bypaths" and "dark
mountains" are not used in their literal sense.So while shortening it we have to use simple words in place of the
figurative language.We may write as follows:
" I feel that the ambition and the success which we aim at often take us away from the right path and involve us in
difficulties".

But we must not forget rule 10 also.We must not use the first person pronoun. The correct way of
writing,therefore,would be:
"The author`s feeling is that the ambition and the success which people aim at often take them away from the right
path and involve them in difficulties".

Here is another example of the use of figurative language:

"And then he came.He was like a powerful current of fresh air that made us stretchh ourselves and take deep
breaths, like a beam of light that pierced the darkness and removed the scales from our eyes,like a whirlwind that
upset many things but most of all the working people`s minds".

In this passage the word "fresh air","stretch ourselves and take deep breaths","a beam of
light.....darkness","scales","like a whirlwind" are all used in a figurative sense.
We can simplify and condense this passage in the following manner:
"And then he came,He was a powerful enlightening influence. He changed people`s thinking and made them
progressive".

4. Sometimes a writer may have written several sentences whichh can b compressed into one.

for instance:"Truthfulness is an important quality of greatness.Honesty is a requisite of greatness. Purity of

character,too, is expected in a great man. Initiative and a spirit of enterprise are other qualities which we look for in
a great man".

This passage may be compressed as follows:

"Truthfulness,honesty,purity of character,initiative and a spirit of enterprise are essential qualities of greatness"

5. Now we take a few examples of unnecessary matter whih has to be eliminated from a passage.Consider the
following passage.
For instance:"Finally,a word about what a national language spoken. wrotten and thought might do for the theatre in
pakistan. With the new awakening in social life, the need for the common tongue is being increasingly felt.Much
work is being done to hammer out a common linguistic medium. The day when it is accepted will be a great day for
the pakistani theatre,as it will be for all art in the country. But the theatre, because its life blood is the spoken word,
will gain most".

Here the subject is the relationship between the theatre in pakistan and a common language for the whole country.
The writer wishes to point out that the theatre will gain very much if a common spoken and written language is
accepten by the whole country. the second and third sentences in the passage above may,therefore, be completely
ignored in writing the precis while the rest of the passage may be compressed as follows:

"A national language,spoken and written,can greatly benefit the theatre in pakistan.The acceptance of a common
language by the country will, therefore , by a great day for the theatre".

Now take the following passage:

" We are told by some ancient authors that socrated was instructed in eloquence by a woman.I have indeed very
often looken upon that art as the most proper for the female sex and I think the universities would do well to
consider whether they should not fill the rhetoric hairs with she-professors.It has been said in the praise of some
men that they could talk whole hour together upon anything, but it must be owned to the honour of the other sex,
that there are many among them who an talk whole hours together upon nothing".

Here the first sentence may be completely ignored as it merely serve to introduce the main idea of the
paragraph.The student should not think that , because Socrates was a great philosopher ,the name of Socrates
must be brought into the precis. Again ,the suggestion that she-professors should fill the chairs of rhetoric in
universities need not be brought into the precis, as it is merely an illustration. The main idea of the paragraph is
women`s capacity for talking for long hours even when they have nothing worth while to talk about.There is also a
comparison bw men and women in this connection. Accordingly, We can shorten the passage given above in the
following manner:

"The author regards eloquence in speech-making as an art which belongs chiefly to women.They have a greater
capacity than men for talking. They can talk for hours together even they have nothing to talk about".

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Sunday, May 06, 2007   #3  

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Very helpful tips indeed, plus i also happened to come across these :
STEPS IN READING A PASSAGE FOR THE PRECIS.

1. Read the whole passage attentively.

2. Begin to recognize the author's tone and viewpoint.

3. Re-read the passage several times if necessary for clear comprehension (understanding) of ideas.

4. Note and disregard parts of the author's work that are introductory.

5. Underline key phrases, make notes in the margin.

6. Observe the emphasis or approach used by the author.

7. Assume the importance of ideas that the author develops with the use of supporting
facts and examples.

8. Do not use the specific examples, figures of speech or quotations cited by the author
in developing your precis.

9. When you are selecting ideas from a passage, ask yourself the
following question: If this idea were omitted, would the fundamental
meaning of the passage be changed?

Writing the Precis

1. Try to limit your precis to no more than 1/3 the length of the original passage.
2. Use clear, factual expressions, do not attempt to copy the style of the original source.

3. Do not introduce ideas of your own. Do not criticize or change the author's ideas.
I think I should also mention the source: http://www.mailbag.com/users/eaglesch/aa.precis.htm

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Friday, June 01, 2007   #4  

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more examples needed

Well thats really very well done but can you post some more examples like u have already posted or can post the link
of website which contains such examples. Anxiously waiting for your reply.

thanks

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Thursday, June 07, 2007   #5  

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@ Hayat

I must thank u for your motivating remarks. I m deadly busy with my studies, Consequently i can`t post more
examples. I recommend u to purchase "Barron`s GRE" book for further assistance.

Chao,
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Wednesday, September 12, 2007   #6  

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thanx for nice info:::::::::::::::::::::::::::. Plz sir send me whole list english vocublary as mentioned in GRE books will be
thankfull to yuo.

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Wednesday, September 12, 2007   #7  

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Royal Queen of Literature

@ Perwaiz

You can see the whole list here at

http://www.cssforum.com.pk/css-compu...sed-words.html
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Thursday, November 13, 2014   #8  

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Share some more modern method of writing this please

Thursday, April 09, 2015   #9  

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no time to make rough draft

no time is available to make rough draft

Wednesday, March 09, 2016   #10  

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sureshlasi

thank you so much for your guideline on precise writing. i am new at this forum and the help i am getting from it, is
valuable for me. keeping posting such information... all the best

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