How To Write a Precis?

A precis is a summary of a paragraph that requires skill to ensure all main points are captured accurately and concisely. You must follow a systematic approach to understanding the text and then write it in your own words for a perfect precis.

Speaking of which, you are in the right spot to have all your answers on what is a precis and how to write a precis. The goal of this activity is mainly to focus on consuming important stuff in the text and leave out anything that is not relevant or important. So without further ado, let’s get started.

The Challenges of Writing a Precis

Writing precis has always been my favorite activity. It’s great fun to compile the whole content of a book, comprehension, or other piece in a short paragraph without sacrificing the context.

My usual way is to read the source again and again till I am comfortable with the concepts. Remember you have to avoid using English phrases that make no sense at all. During my early days of precis writing, I also used my teacher’s help to understand the subject matter of a text and then to write it well. With time and practice, I was able to improve my skill of precis writing to a great extent.

What is a Precis Writing?

The shortened version of a larger text is known as precis. The large text could be an article, a passage, or an essay. In precis writing, you have to rewrite the main ideas, arguments, or key points of a write-up in a few words without compromising its original context or meaning.

Hence, a well-written precis is easy to read and presents the main ideas in a structured format for a better understanding of the passage. It is a helpful tool for readers to grasp the concept of a longer text very quickly.

Learn Writing A Precis In 8 Easy Steps

Here are ten tips on how to write a precis that even the experts of professional essay writing services would suggest.

Step 1) Form a Good Understanding of The Text

The first step is to thoroughly read the passage, essay, or any write-up you want to summarize. Let’s say you need a precis writing for a passage on climate change and how it impacts agriculture. For that, you need to understand the author’s point of view and collect evidence on the relationship between agriculture and climate change.

Step 2) Pick the Thesis Statement

Look for the author’s primary argument in the passage. In our example of climate change’s impact on agriculture, the thesis statement might emphasize global warming and its impact on crop yields or more.

Step 3) Focus on key Points

Pick the key points and supporting evidence that the author has used throughout the text. In our example passage, the author might point out the time when there were extreme weather events or high temperatures and how they impacted crop production.

Step 4) Focus On Clarity

Ensure your precis is clear and coherent. A clear summary might highlight how irregular rainfall patterns disrupt planting schedules and lead to crop failures.

Step 5) Must Maintain Proper Structure

Don’t divert from the original structure of the passage or text you are summarizing. Let’s say if the passage is dividing the discussion into causes and effects, you must mirror this pattern in your precis.

Step 6) Don’t Add Personal Opinions

Your precis must not have your personal opinions about the subject. The objective is to stay with the author’s viewpoint and summarize that.

Step 7) Ascertain its Accuracy

You have to present the main concept of the text without compromising the original intent of the author. At the end, you confirm that your write-up aligns well with the author’s argument and evidence.

Step 8) Revise And Edit

Invest proper time in revising and editing your precis. You have to ensure that the summary keeps original meaning and have important points from the text.

How Can You Get Better At Writing Precis?

Here are some strategies you can incorporate to learn how to write a precis well.

Ensure You Understand the Source Well

You must read the text multiple times to form a good understanding of the main ideas, arguments, and more. Even better to highlight key points and take notes that will help you in final summarization.

Pick the Core Elements

To learn how to write a precis, ascertain the main and supporting arguments in the original text. You can also look for the illustrations or any such information used by the author.

Practice Summarizing

Begin summarizing the shorter texts by condensing them into concise versions. You must focus well on the essence of the text without losing important details.

Practice Clarity

You must present your ideas concisely and clearly. Don’t put in unnecessary details and always focus on maintaining coherence throughout the text. Very important step to follow for learning how to write a precis like an expert.

Use Outlines

Working out an outline before you begin writing precis could be of great help. Practice organizing your main ideas into sequence and ensure they flow logically.

Read Examples

Going through some good precis examples would help you understand different styles and structures of writing a precis. Such examples will also help you analyze key ideas of the text well.

Final Thoughts

Precis writing focuses on a thorough understanding of the original text. The key to working out a good precis is establishing a better understanding of the main ideas in the text. Hopefully, the steps, tips, and examples were helpful for you to learn how to write a precis like a pro. Remember, the more you practice, the better you will get at such an academic activity.