How to Write a Precis, Or, How 'to be Precise'
Hello Friends...
Sure, we all are doing well... Be careful, we must stay fit and shouldn't fall ill getting our studies affected. We shall eat and drink healthy, exercise regularly, and won't avoid our domestic and social responsibilities. And whatever time we get for ourselves at the end of the day, we must study hard for most of the time, so that we learn to think... and learn. We simply cannot afford to stop thinking, for we are learners, and we are the chosen ones who got the scope to learn...
Let's learn to think first...
Have you been a fan of the adventures of Tintin like me? Then surely, you cannot not but admire the author who created the characters of Thomson and Thompson [as named in the English translations]. Who can forget their utmost effort 'to be precise' in every way investigating the world?
If you haven't got the chance to read these adventures yet, you need not worry at all. Just make it sure that you don't miss them if you get a chance to peep into; else, you won't know what you will be missing. Anyways, we are to learn 'to be precise' here, but never the Thomson-Thompson's way. So, stay put, no matter whether you've read the adventures of Tintin, or not.
The Term 'Precis'
Why don't we look for the term 'precis' in a dictionary for once before we start? Surely you know the meaning, but do you know how to pronounce it in a more intelligible way? And how about knowing about the other forms of the noun, if there is any? -
Now you certainly won't deny that consulting a dictionary has got some merit of its own. And the fun-part is that you literally have got dictionaries at your fingertips now-a-day.
Are we ready for the session then? Ok... Let's start...
Why Do We Need It?
You all know that precis of a text refers to the essence of the text without the elaboration. So, in a way, you must agree that it seems to be the opposite way of paraphrasing a text. The questions that must be ringing in your minds are quite obvious: Why don't we leave a text as it is? Why do we need to paraphrase it, or make a precis of it?
We must find a convincing answer to the questions first...
Let's think of our classrooms again. Who is the most talkative person there? Sorry? I still can't hear you...
Be loud and clear. Is it still 'the teacher'?
Sadly, yes.
Ok. So be it. Now what does your teacher talk so much about? Same old things written in your textbooks? But it will hardly take a month to read all your textbooks aloud, why does the teacher require almost a whole year to talk about those chapters in your [not so] thin textbooks? Why does your teacher need to elaborate, rephrase, and add more content in the form of illustrations, examples or other sorts of information?
The answers are quite obvious, so you need not utter. Let me write the precis of what you have to say in this regard: Teachers help us to understand a text by paraphrasing it.
But we are supposed to discuss precis-writing! I do remember that,- I am just paraphrasing the process so that you comprehend easily.
By the way, what do you do in the night before your day of examination? Do you get the time to go through all the chapters in your textbook? Certainly not... You may not require a whole year to go through your textbook, but again, just a night-time is too short for going through a text-book. It is not so thin. So, you go through the notes you have scribbled down in the margin of the chapters while listening to your teacher in the classroom or while studying on your own, referring to the gist of the chapters. Those scribbles, like precis [By the way, how have you pronounced it this time? Check out the link to the dictionary above once again, if you are not sure.] which are more formally written, remind you of all the elaborations made in your textbook, or made by your teacher in the classroom, or maybe by yourself back at your home; and you go on elaborating the topics in your examination hall.
To Get the Essence
That is to say, you need a text to start with, and its paraphrase to understand the text, and a precis to remember the essence of the text so that you be able to create your own text on the same topic in the examination hall, or somewhere where it is needed.
Brainstorming
Following this discussion, would you like to point out whether your friend's PPT presentation in the annual seminar was a 'text', or a 'paraphrase', or a 'precis' for him/her? And what it was for you, if you could not get involved [for some unavoidable reasons, of course] in getting the presentation ready for your friend?
The Process
Now that you have understood the concept well, it's time to look into the process of writing a precis. A precis just refers to the main essence, so we have to do away with all the elaborations:
What Is Retained
We start with locating the main topic, or theme of the content. This is going to be the title of your precis for the given text.
What Is Omitted
We omit whatever seems to be irrelevant to the main topic.
We skip the repetitions, if we have them in the text.
We limit examples and other elaborations without reaching injury to the topic under discussion.
The Volume
Remember, most of the teachers agree that a precis should limit itself within 1/3-1/2 of the volume of the original text itself. More precise you are, the better is your precis. Just make it sure that you do not omit important section of the text in order to stick to the desired volume.
Joining And Shortening of Phrases And Sentences
If you find all or most of the information in the text worthy to write, then you have to achieve precision and brevity grammatically by joining and shortening phrases and sentences.
Hands on
Quite simple, isn't it? Why don't we try to write a precis of a text now:
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.
Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.
The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol based rub frequently and not touching your face.
The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow).
At this time, there are no specific vaccines or treatments for COVID-19. However, there are many ongoing clinical trials evaluating potential treatments. WHO will continue to provide updated information as soon as clinical findings become available.
What do you think is the main topic of the text? Your precis is going to get determined by the way you read the text:
- Is it about the virus?
- Is it about the disease that the virus spread?
- Is it about the threat of the situation?
- Is it about the awareness required to fight the virus, or the disease spread by the virus?
- Is it about all of the above topics?
- Is it about anything else?
Your precis may be written as you have chosen the topic:
1. Corona Virus: A new corona virus has been discovered. It is causing a disease that affects the respiratory system of most of the patients from mild to moderate degree, but is more severe for old people and other patients with low immunity. There is no specific vaccine or treatment to fight back the virus at present. However, many clinical trials are ongoing globally. Right now, only being aware of the way the new corona virus gets spread can help us. Maintaining respiratory etiquette, washing hands and using alcohol rub frequently, and not touching our faces will help us to stay safe as the virus is primarily spread through the affected patients' cough or sneeze.
2. Coronavirus disease: Coronavirus disease, spread globally by a newly discovered corona virus, is affecting the respiratory system of most of the patients from mild to moderate degree, and severely in case of old people and other patients with low immunity. There is no specific vaccine or treatment to fight back the disease at present. However, many clinical trials are ongoing globally. Right now, only being aware of the way the Coronavirus disease is spread can help us. Maintaining respiratory etiquette, washing hands and using alcohol rub frequently, and not touching our faces will help us to stay safe as the disease is primarily spread through the affected patients' cough or sneeze.
3. Coronavirus Disease, a Threat: Coronavirus disease is a threat to the whole world. It affects the respiratory system of most of the patients from mild to moderate degree, but severely in case of old people and other patients with low immunity. The disease is still without any specific treatment, and there is yet to be any vaccine to stop the virus. However, many clinical trials are ongoing globally. Right now, only being aware of the way the Coronavirus disease is spread can help us. Maintaining respiratory etiquette, washing hands and using alcohol rub frequently, and not touching our faces will help us to stay safe as the disease is primarily spread through the affected patients' cough or sneeze.
4. Fighting Coronavirus Disease: Only being aware of the way the Coronavirus disease is spread can help us to fight back as the disease is still without any specific treatment, and there is yet no vaccine to stop the virus though many clinical trials are going on globally. Only preventing the spread of the disease by maintaining respiratory etiquette, washing hands and using alcohol rub frequently, and by not touching our faces will help us to stay safe as the disease is primarily spread through the affected patients' cough or sneeze.
5. Why don't you try this one on your own? Ask me whenever you feel to...
6. Do you have anything else to share?
The Way We Read the Text, Defines the Precis
Have you noted how we have written our precis as we have decided upon the main theme of the given text? It actually depends upon how you read a text, or what seems to you to be the most important aspect of the text you are studying. So you can very well differ from your friends and teachers who may have a different reading of the same text. You needn't worry about that.
Brainstorming
What have we omitted in all of the four precis above? Why do you think the information is not required in the precis above.
Make a note if you find that we have omitted any specific information in any particular precis, or if we have presented the same information in some other way in different precis. Why don't you try to explain the reasons?
Would you like to point out the difference between 'Right now, only being aware of the way the new corona virus gets spread can help us.' from the 1st precis and 'Right now, only being aware of the way the Coronavirus disease is spread can help us.' from the 2nd precis?
Do you find more such instances? Would you try to explain why have we done so? Do you feel they actually mean the same, but are different approaches suiting the themes of the precis, as getting the virus spread actually means getting the disease spread?
Have you spotted any repetition in the original text?
How have we limited the elaborations from the original text? How have we referred to the expression 'those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer' from the original text in our precis? Can you think of some other way to refer to this very expression?
Why don't you compare the volume of the precis written with that of the original text? How about trying to make them a little more brief and precise now again?
Sir ....what's the differents between summary and precis?
ReplyDeleteEssentially they are the same. However, many consider a preci to be more brief and compact than a summary.
DeleteIs a heading required for writing a precis?
ReplyDeleteYes, the heading will help the readers to get your perspective. It will help them to appreciate your precis from your perspective.
DeleteOk sir
DeleteThank you sir, this article about president writing was really helpful.
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Ahana Chatterjee
I am glad dear Ahana that you've found this discussion on preci writing helpful...
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