The summary is important in the N4, N5 and N6 Communication Module. Use this short presentation to get you to write more effectively. Especially for students studying Communication at FET Colleges in South Africa.

1. *
Pages 231-232

2. * A concise version of a more extensive body of
information
* Reflects only main points of a passage
* Written in full sentences
* Has entirely new but complete unit of
information
* A SUMMARY OF WHAT WAS WRITTEN
*

3. * Essential for a Management Assistant
* To give to a Director (your boss) as a Synopsis
of articles written
*

4. * Read article quickly – establish * REMEMBER:
main theme or idea
* Full sentences
* Choose a heading
* Paragraphs vs. bulletin dots
* Reread slowly – underline main * Comments must include
ideas of each paragraph
* Write preliminary Précis
* Proof-read and compare
* Count words (5 words leeway)
* Write final précis
* Remember [words] in brackets
*
person who made the
comment
* Write in 3rd person
* Change sentences to single
words
* Delete “extras”

5. *
Taken from June 2012 – External Exam
Read the following text and write a précis of 100 words that would give you
guidance regarding leadership style to branch managers. Give your précis a
suitable heading.
Indicate the number of words used at the end of the précis.
First look at the précis and see plus minus how many words you want to have
where. In this case:
Introduction and end (10 words)
The Buffalo (30 words)
The Bee (30 words)
The Lion (30 words)

6. *
See page 232 - 234
GROUP A: A ban on gobbledegook (50 words)
Group B: Sexual discrimination in reverse (40 words)
Group C: The price of poor scholastic performance
(50 words)
Group D: A matter of relevance (40 words)