This document provides guidance on how to write an effective precis or summary. It defines precis writing as summarizing a passage in a limited number of words while covering all important aspects. The document outlines rules for precis writing, including reading the passage carefully, underlining key ideas, creating an outline, avoiding omissions, using proper tense and person, writing in your own words, drafting rough and final versions. It also lists features of a good precis such as appropriate length, readability, inclusion of all essential points, coherence, and an appropriate title. Dos and don'ts of precis writing are presented.

1. ADD A FOOTER 1

2. PRESENTED TO:
PROF. HAMNA

5. DEFINITION:
Precis writing is summarizing a
comprehension in limited words,
covering all the important aspects and
details of the passage given.

7. To avoid making any errors in writing a
precis, follow a set of rules as mentioned
below:
• Read Carefully:
First read the passage twice or thrice
carefully to summarize it. This will enable
you to understand the main theme of the
passage.
• Underlining:
Underline and mark the important ideas and
essential points from the original text.

8. • Outline:
With the help of underlined ideas, draw the outline of your précis.
• Don’t Omit:
While making a précis, the writer should never omit the important points and ideas which are essential to
be described.
• Tense and Person:
It should be written in the third person and past tense. In the case of universal truth the present tense
should be used.
• Own Words:
A précis should be written in your own words and the writer should abstain from borrowing words from the
original passage.
• Rough Draft:
After omitting all the unnecessary ideas, the writer should prepare a rough draft to finalize it.
• Final Draft:
Having read the rough draft and pointed out some mistakes which may be found in the rough draft, the
writer can prepare the final draft.

9. Important Features of a Good Precis:
There are various components that make a
good precis. For candidates who have just
started their preparation for the upcoming
Government exams, knowing the features of a
good precis is extremely vital.

10. Discussed below are a few of the features which shall help you write a good precis:
 Length of the Precis: Do not write a lengthy precis. In most cases, the number of
words must be almost one-third of the word count of the passage or comprehension.
 It should be convenient to read: Make sure that the precis you write does not have
too complex a vocabulary or is too complicated to understand.
 Cover all the essential points: While reading the passage, make a note of the
important points and ensure that no point is skipped.
 Must be coherent: The important terms with respect to the passage must be included
in the precis as well.
 Use an appropriate Title: The precis needs to have a title. So, the candidates must
ensure that the title is in sync with the comprehension.

 Details in precis must match the details in the passage: No other information apart
from the one given in the passage must be included in the precis and all the important
information mentioned in the passage must certainly be included.

12. Dos for Precis Writing:
 Begin with the basic idea of the passage to make the precis convenient to read.
 Give a clear idea pertaining to what the reader is about to read.
 While reading the passage, make a note of all the important points and include them
in the precis.
 Include all the important keywords and terms which are used in the passage.
 Keep a track of the tenses you use. Data related to historical events of the past must
be described in the past tense only.
 There must be a relation between the data you are writing in the precis. It should
have some common links.

13. Don’ts for Precis Writing:
 The length of the precis must be shorter than the length of the passage.
 Do not overcomplicate the precis and use easy vocabulary.
 Do not make assumptions or add information in the precis as per your own
imagination.
 Do not give your own opinion or criticism over the comprehension.
 Avoid using abbreviations.
 Do not enter statements in the question format in the precis.
 Don’t focus on any one point for very long. Keep the information as precise as
possible.

15. Original Passage:
“In the 21st century, technology has revolutionized every aspect of our
lives. From smartphones that connect us with people around the world to
self-driving cars that promise to make transportation safer and more
efficient, we are living in an era of unprecedented technological
Precis Writing:
Title: Technologies In 21st century
In the 21st century, technology has transformed our lives, offering global
connectivity through smartphones and improving transportation safety
with self-driving cars.

16. https://byjus.com/govt-exams/precis-writing/
https://uogenglish.wordpress.com/english-
lecture-notes/eng-102/precis-writing-rules-
example/

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