WHAT IS

PRÉCIS
The term précis is derived from a French word, means
“precise” or “expressed accurately”.
A précis is the shortened form of a passage. It is a miniature
replication of the original passage.
Précis is a process of condensing a passage to its main points.
It express theme of the passage as briefly as possible.
A précis must briefly cover all the ideas in the passage.
GUIDELINES TOFOLLOW
Read the passage a number of times so as to gain an
understanding of the passage.(the more u read it, more familiar
and clear will it become to your)
Select a suitable title or heading of the passage.
Underline and mark important ideas and essential points
from the original text.
The title must reflect the theme of the passage.
Irrelevant and incidental points such are examples,
illustrations or comments, by the author may be omitted.
Using the essential points, an outline of the passage may be
formed.
AVOID FOLLOWING FACTORS

Avoid comments of your own as told before do not use

“I think” “ in my opinion” etc.
Avoid borrowing phrases and sentences from the
original.
Avoid emphasizing wrong points.
Avoid exceeding the original length by more than five
words.
CONTINUE

A rough draft is written using the outline

formed.
The essential points must appear in a logical
sequence .
Avoid using words and sentences from original
passage.
Avoid using words like ‘in my opinion’, ‘I
believe that’, etc.
The précis must be written in simple and
unambiguous language.
REQUIREMENTS

It must be in the form of continuous narrative.

It should include all the important ideas expressed in the
original passage.
It must exclude all that is unimportant and irrelevant.

A précis is usually written in reported speech, and therefore in

the third person. Unless required, do not use the first
pronounce “I”, “we”.
CONTINUE
 in indirect speech. Convert direct to indirect speech. for example
He said, “I’m selling my car”
Indirect speech i.e. reported speech: A précis is usually written
 “He said that he was selling his car”.

Tense and person: it should be written in third person and

past tense. In the case of universal truth the present tense
should be used.
Having read the rough draft and pointed out some mistakes which
may be found in the rough draft, we can prepare the final draft.
CONTINUE

Avoid bad style. Like:

1. Illustrations
2. Examples
3. Side remarks
4. Similes
5. Metaphors
Never omit an important idea …be careful about omitting
the info. What to omit and what to not.
FINAL
COMPONENTS

Own words: A précis should be in your own words.

Précis of a dialogue: The précis of a dialogue or conversation Should always
be expressed in the form of narrative.
Objective approach: A précis should adopt an objective approach. We
should never add our personal ideas to a précis.. Put all the important
ideas and points in a logical order.
One Paragraph: There could be two or more paras in the passage,
while making the précis write all the ideas in one paragraph.
Rough Draft: After omitting all the unnecessary ideas, the writer
should prepare a rough draft to finalize it.
based on this passage: