College life can be so good that it explodes with a burst of joy because of today’s students’ workload. Some students are very committed to learning the process, and others would like to have a relaxed time and enjoy college life. There is nothing wrong with having fun! However, if you miss the submission date, you may not get your degree.
When it comes to deadlines and assignment submission, precis writing is the most challenging task a learner has to face. Are you having trouble writing a precis while the delivery deadline is approaching? Relax and unwind. Herein is a guide on how to write a precis step by step, how you need to write it, and the essential tips you need to know to become a pro.
Definition of Precis and Its Purpose
Precis comes from the French word “précis”, and is translated as “straight, clear, and to the point”. The precise definition is about the summary of anything written, be it a book, an article, or a novel. Common to this unusual type of assignment is the outline of the main points and the given text’s arguments. Any in-depth or critical analysis should not be provided directly but should clearly define the situation described in this particular text.
Generally, it may seem easy to write a short paper dedicated to the formation of news events and activities; unfortunately, this is not the case with precis writing. Precis should be short, but at the same time, it may not be quick to put together. Writing logical text may be a tedious task, and there should be no natural reprint of the original text. Therefore, accurate writing always involves critical reading and research.
What are the qualities of good Precis?
Importance of precis writing
Precis writing compels students to pay close attention to what they are reading as no one can write a summary of the passage unless they read it carefully. It also helps develop overall writing skills, and It teaches students how to understand thoughts concisely, effectively, and clearly. In precis writing, learners have to choose words carefully and make sentences concisely and logically.
What are Precis and its rules?
Precis should be clear and accurate and should not suggest words from any actual category. It must be well written in an orderly manner but in their own words. Also, it should be summed up correctly, focusing on a small version of the actual category.
Writing Precis is an art in itself, and it takes a healthy measure of time and effort, but, other than that, there are a few elements and rules you must follow to build a perfect precis. To make things easier for you not to get lost in a bunch of lengthy processes, let’s dive into the details of some standard precis rules.
Rules of Precis Writing
The first rule for Precis lies in studying the text. The Second rule is building your Precis. The third phase is dedicated to reviewing and proofreading. As for the fourth step, stay tuned and learn quality ways to write an excellent precis to guide you in the right direction.
First, always try to contact your instructor about formatting requirements before you begin; This, therefore, means the format can depend mainly on the length of the text. For instance, the Precis of a short article, as a rule, can be between 100 to 200 words long. But long books may require precise that can extend to many pages to capture all the details.
Another proven practice of good writing is related to the style of composition. A common mistake most people make is the misuse of time. Specifically, the past tense is not uncommon when it comes to precise writing. However, it is crucial to stick to the present tense so that the instructor can follow your text seamlessly. Also, remember to give your testimony to the author rather than the book or article. For example, write “Sam contradicts,” instead of “the book contradicts.”
Please consider protecting your ideas of any kind, as they may distort your Precis. The Precis goal is always to have a particular direction, so avoid making claims with your opinion if you want to get good ideas from the instructor. In the end, expressing personal thoughts can lead to a lower score.
Precis vs. Summary
It is now clear that Precis is a summary of the text, but in reality, there is a minimal difference between these two goals. A summary is a short statement that best combines vital points in a given text. At the same time, Precis should have a title and be a third of the first paragraph’s total words. The summary also covers the critical events as a whole, while the Precis focuses on all the details and critically analyzes a specific situation.
Let’s look at an example to clear your mind of this issue. Imagine you just got a job reviewing the second episode of Shakespeare’s first action play ‘Macbeth.’ At what stage can you divide this assignment into summary or Precis? You will always get it right when you choose the last option. A precis is typically a short form of an essay or chapter in a book or action in a play.
What are the steps to write a precis?
Preparing a draft is one of the most critical parts of accurate writing. It allows you to organize and formulate the flow of ideas and sequence to identify your Precis’s main issues. Before you start writing an outline, you must boil out a list of topics that are likely to be significant. After that, you will need to decide on your outline’s purpose, based on the topic you have chosen to write. For instance, you can write an outline to entertain, demonstrate, or inform readers about something or unearth something unusual.
Another critical step in writing a precis is researching. Read the information well, and gather the necessary information such as quotes or facts. Then take notes, and put all the pieces together to form a logical frame, taking finer details here and there.
Once you are done with the first two steps, take your time and think. This powerful logic can help you to adjust your thinking to what you presume is just the tip of the iceberg. You can write down your brainstorming results in random word type or create a mind map to build engagement with ideas. And in the unlikely event that some of your points are incorrect in your outline, you can erase or skip them.
It is easy to follow through with your points when you note them down one by one. If you are wondering how to edit an essay, always remember to create the details included in the introduction and the body parts, and the conclusion.
Please remember not to forget to read your outline and fill in the blanks in the graduation phase if necessary. Also, check the outline before writing comments on the assignment. Always remember to check for typing, sentence structure, grammatical and formatting errors.
How do you start a precis?
For some, the precis preparation phase is more complicated than the writing process. Many questions come to mind at this time, such as, “Where should I begin?” “What should I do in the first place?” “How much time do I need to adjust myself?” the formula for successfully setting the appropriate course for a given text.
At first, you will need to read the information. And you should not only rush your work but also make sure you fully understand the author’s point of view and promptly convey it to the reader. You will need to read the text many times for proper understanding, but if it is a novel, you can read it only twice. Also, you can jot down the meaning of unknown words if you find any.
Ensure you Explain your text
As you read, do not forget to mark your text. This process is for drawing and highlighting essential details while making notes. The annotation is useful during the precis construction because it helps to adhere to the text’s crucial points and get used to the information very quickly.
How do you write an accurate paragraph?
Precis includes details such as the author, title of the book, date of publication, and title in the first sentence. Such a guide will give you a brief overview of what a book or novel idea is all about. The second sentence should focus on the evidence that determines the author’s way of telling his account. Here, you may want to focus on many issues and compare and contrast them to show the author’s perspective.
In the third sentence, you will need to explain the primary purpose of the text. There is no need to establish a different purpose other than what you think is essential: explain the text’s meaning in your way; this includes how you think, feel, or believe in the text.
The main body often expands the supporting arguments to explain the author’s testimony, purpose, and ideas. It usually takes a short section to write a large body. Part of the conclusion includes the opinion of the great author of the book in two to three sentences. You will need to repeat the concept statement and write a summary describing the author’s evidence with your understanding.
Precis Format
To summarize the details mentioned above, let us look at a typical format for good writing.
How long is a precis?
There is no universal law of length of a precis because it can vary greatly depending on the assignment. For example, your Precis may range from 100 to 200 words, where the given reading is a matter of two to three pages if the assignment is a large book. However, regardless of your precis’ length, it is essential to note that it should be a fifth to a sixth of the initial reading length. In any case, you should ask your professor for more information and start writing Precis the correct way.
How Can You Make Precis Writing Complete?
Precis is an excellent way to express your writing skills to teachers and show your critical thinking skills. Alternatively, working on that task will allow you to develop a new ability to write short summaries with precise details and text details. Therefore, the secret weapon of any success is to follow the qualities needed to make your Precis unforgettable. Wondering what these are? It includes clarity, accuracy, comprehension, coherence, and conciseness.
While all of these perfect precis features exist independently, they are highly intertwined and intended to help you solve the difficulties in real writing.
Attributes of a complete precis
If your Precis is precise, it means that your reader can fully understand the concept, meaning, and purpose of the author’s work. If your Precis is correct, it means it has no spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors and is easy to digest. Also, it means you have used all the facts, statistics, and dates correctly to write accurately.
Good Rhetorical Precis Example
How do you do preheat rhetorically? You should know that this is a well-written book and requires you to summarize the main idea. The student should develop the main ideas in just four sentences, requiring a lot of clarity. Let’s quickly explain the same format, which will help you understand how it is used because your professor may ask you to write it, and you may get confused. You can find many formats online, but it is wise for you to stick to one and write well.
In one sentence, you will need to state the author’s name, the title of the article, and the date. You will need to add an action such as an argument, confirmation, opposition, etc.
In another sentence, you need to explain how the work’s author supported and amplified the claim he made.
You should state the author’s statement of intent, and it should be followed by the phrase ‘in order’.
How does the author try to get the audience’s attention? Who is the target audience? You need to define the relationship between the author and the audience and make the distinction.
When you put it all together, the summary starts to look impressive. It can capture the reader’s attention and hold it until the last sentence. It is accurate and summarizes the whole point of the article in just four sentences.
The corresponding symbols are related to the subsequent combination of the ideas of the main text. This element is crucial because your readers will want to see a logical flow of thoughts and ideas without losing their interest while reading your Precis.
Conclusion
In short, precis writing is a challenging task that involves a variety of stages and needs. Though precis writing may seem easy at first glance, you will see how complicated and time-consuming this process is as you write. However, with good preparation and enough knowledge of organizing the text accurately, your Precis will be part of writing that your professor will remember. Please note that any time you have difficulty writing your Precis, you can always follow our guide and learn how to write high-quality work that will be memorable to your instructor.
Finally, shortening means the ability to express ideas clearly while protecting useless information from your Precis. Keep in mind that you should never distort the facts but keep away from long, vague, repetitive speech, and well-known expressions. Good luck!
