Precis Learning Portal
Writing High Scoring Precis
Topics List
Select a Topic
Writing a précis is a valuable exercise in attentive reading and precise writing. First, you must fully understand what you have read. Then, you should present that understanding as effectively as you can.
A précis is a short summary of a longer piece of writing written in your own words. It is a condensed form of the main idea of the original text. It is generally about one-third, or even one-fourth, the length of the original.
A précis is different from a paraphrase of the original text. It does not simply restate the same content in different or simpler words. In paraphrasing, the version may be as long as the original, but a précis is always shorter than a paraphrase.
A précis does not include any personal comments or opinions. It avoids details, examples, and illustrations. Its language is free from unnecessary words, and decorative style weakens its purpose. It should be the briefest possible account of what you have read.
1.Read the passage attentively. Go over it repeatedly until you are fully confident you grasp what the author is conveying. Look for the writer’s central idea. Examine each sentence until you identify the topic sentence. Study it carefully. If there are any words or expressions you do not clearly understand, consult a dictionary.
2.While reading, jot down brief notes on points that appear significant to the author. After finishing, review your notes. Do some of them seem less important in light of the main idea? Those are the points to leave out in your précis.
3.Then express that main idea in your own words. Keep it as brief as possible. Do not add any personal ideas or opinions.
4.Edit your writing to ensure that your version is correct.
5.Review your version to confirm that the order of facts or ideas matches exactly the order in the original.
6.Read your précis again with the aim of reducing its length by half.