LECTURE 6 HSMC 601 TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION

By PROF. JAP PREET KAUR BHANGU

PRECIS WRITING AND SUMMARIZING

By PROF. JAP PREET KAUR BHANGU

WHAT IS A PRECIS
The word Precis, though now part of the English language, is a French word,
meaning summary, substance, abstract, condensed statement, abridgment
or epitome(a Greek word pronounced as ept-tom-e)

Precis is pronounced as press-i, the s at the end remains silent.

Though precis means summary, in practice, over time, these have come to
acquire different formats.

Precis is one third of the original passage whereas summary can be longer.
Precis is written as if the original writer is now writing in condensed form
whereas summary presents the ideas put up in the passage. Hence, for
summary, we say, In this passage the writer talks about…. Precis is written
without such comments on the writer.
HOW TO MAKE A PRECIS ?
For making a precis, a student needs to pick up the salient points and omit what
is merely subsidiary, or merely extension of the original idea and not really
important.

While for shortening it, the student will have to change the language, care must
be taken to preserve the full force and sense of the original passage, neither
adding anything nor omitting any important points.

In making the precis, the aim should be to include all essential points in such a
manner, that anyone who sees the precis, would suppose that the precis itself is
an original piece of composition and no other original passage had existed

To acquire this level of proficiency, you need to practice, practice and practice.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD PRECIS
● Preferably, a precis should be all in your own words. However, being
beginners, you may use lines from the passage.
● It should express only the gist, main substance of the passage.
● All illustrations, examples, reasons, quotations, and arguments should
be omitted.
● Avoid complicated, decorative language.
● Language and style should be clear and simple.
● Any conversation, direct speech in the passage should be changed to
indirect speech and only a brief extract of it need be given.
● The final precis should not exceed one-third of the original. A 90 word
passage should make for a 30 word precis.
● Always give heading to the precis even if not asked in the question.
Words in the heading are not counted towards the precis limit.
STEPS TO MAKING A PRECIS
● Read the Passage.
● RE-Read the Passage.
● RE-RE-Read the passage.
● Now when you read, underline the sentences you think constitute main points of the
passage.
● Write the underlined sentences in your answer-sheet, this is your First Draft of the Precis.
● Now count the number of words in the passage and fix its one-third as your target.
● Make one sentence where there are two, try simplifying, using less number of words and so
on.
● This way you will make second, third, and more Rough Drafts until you reach the target
word-limit.
● While writing the final draft, do not make cuttings, over-writings.
● Give heading and underneath mention original number of words in the passage and number
of words in your precis.
● All the drafts you make should be visible as part of the answer to the question.
AN EXAMPLE
MAKE A PRECIS OF THE FOLLOWING PASSAGE:

Health is the most valuable of all earthly possessions. Without it all the rest are worth nothing. To
enjoy good health we should refrain from excess in eating. We should eat moderately and not
devour whatever you get. When you sit among many for a dinner, do not reach your hand out first
of all. A little food is sufficient for us. Sound sleep comes of a light stomach. Such a man rises
early in the morning and is at ease with himself.

Main points. Health is the most valuable thing---to enjoy good health we should eat moderately--a
little food is sufficient--we sleep soundly if we eat lightly--one rises early completely refreshed.

Precis: To enjoy good health, we should eat moderately. A person who does not over-eat, enjoys
sound sleep. Such a person rises early and always feels completely refreshed.

Heading: How to Enjoy Good Health (You could suggest a different title also)

Words in the passage: 83, Words required:27/28 Words in my precis: 27

For Summarizing:
In case, you are asked to summarize the same passage, it will be written as
follows:

In this passage, the author emphasizes that health is our most valuable
possession. He says that to enjoy good health, we should eat moderately. A
person who eats moderately enjoys sound sleep and is at ease with himself.
He also claims that such a person rises early and always feels refreshed.

Heading: How to Enjoy Good Health

Tip: Thus the method of writing a summary and its presentation is different
from that of a precis.
A TIP
It is important to learn and practice PRECIS WRITING, because as
professionals, many times you will be asked to go through a lot of
information, ideas, material and convey its essence, gist, substance. Not
only is it useful while doing academic work/ research etc., in the office too,
the senior administrator desires to be told about the substance of a matter
before taking appropriate decision on it. It saves the boss’s time and energy
when you present the matter in nutshell.

Hence, work on yourself to acquire precis writing skills.

TASK: MAKE A PRECIS OF THE FOLLOWING PASSAGE
Speech is a great blessing, but it can also be a great curse. While it helps us
to make our intentions and desires known to our fellow beings, it can also, if
we use it carelessly, make our attitude completely misunderstood. A slip of
the tongue, the use of an unusual or ambiguous word, and so on, may
create an enemy where we had hoped to win a friend. Again, different
classes of people use different vocabularies, and the ordinary speech of an
educated man may strike an uneducated listener as showing pride.
Unwittingly we may use a word which bears a different meaning for our
listener from what it does to men of our own class. Thus speech is not a gift
to be used lightly without thought, but one which demands careful handling.
Only a fool will express himself alike to all kinds and conditions of men.
ASSIGNMENT

Pick up any Grammar and practice Precis writing

of at least five passages.