This document provides instructions for writing a precis, which is a concise summary that captures the key ideas and essential information from an original text. A precis should be no more than 1/3 the length of the original and avoid personal interpretations or opinions. It focuses only on the most important concepts, preserving the logic and flow of ideas from the source material. The precis technique can be used for essay preparation, note-taking, research papers, and other tasks. Writing a strong precis requires concentration, understanding the author's perspective, distinguishing major from minor points, and maintaining a sense of proportion. It involves carefully re-reading the source multiple times to comprehend the ideas and disregard non-essential information before concisely restating the

1. The Précis (or Summary)
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A summary or a précis is NOT a personal
interpretation of a work or an expression
of your opinion of the idea.
A précis is a clear, compact logical
summary of a passage. It preserves only
the essential or important ideas of the
original. It is a kind of shorthand in your
study of history.
February 18, 2014

2. Use of the Precis
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This technique of writing can be used
in several areas – e.g.

Essay Preparation
Note-Taking
Document Based Questions
Research Papers
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3. Usage Examples
 Newspaper
 Opening
headline
paragraph of
newspaper story, lecture,
notes and lots more.
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4. Requirements:
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Concentration and alertness
Sensitivity to word meanings and the
author's viewpoint.
Ability to distinguish between major
and minor points.
A sense of proportion and emphasis.
February 18, 2014

5. STEPS IN READING A PASSAGE FOR THE
PRECIS.
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Read the whole passage attentively.
Begin to recognize the author's tone and viewpoint.
Re-read the passage several times if necessary for
clear comprehension (understanding) of ideas.
Note and disregard parts of the writer’s work that
are introductory.
Underline key phrases, make notes in the margin.
Observe the emphasis or approach used by the
author.
February 18, 2014

6. STEPS IN READING A PASSAGE FOR
THE PRECIS.
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Do not use the specific examples, figures of
speech or quotations cited by the author
in developing your précis.
When you are selecting ideas from a passage,
ask yourself the following question:
If this idea were omitted, would the
fundamental
meaning of the passage be changed?
February 18, 2014

7. Writing the Précis
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Try to limit your précis to no more than
1/3 the length of the original passage.
Use clear, factual expressions, do not
attempt to copy the style of the original
source.
Do not introduce ideas of your own. Do
not criticize or change the writer's ideas.
THIS IS NOT THE FORUM FORTHAT!
February 18, 2014

8. GOOD BYE
February 18, 2014