ESSENTIALS OF A GOOD PRÉCIS
▪ Superiorofficeracademy@gmail.com
ESSENTIALS OF A GOOD PRÉCIS;WHAT TO
INCLUDE & WHAT TO EXCLUDE
▪ Importance of Précis Writing:
▪ Vital for CSS English paper
▪ Tests comprehension, analysis & summarization skills
▪ Requires clarity, brevity & precision
▪ This Presentation Covers:
▪ Key features of a good précis
▪ How to maintain balance & proportion
▪ Common pitfalls to avoid
▪ Tips for effective précis writing
ESSENTIALS OF A GOOD PRÉCIS
▪ Capture Leading Thoughts & General Impression:
A précis should summarize the main ideas and convey the overall
message of the passage.
It should not be just a list of points but reflect the passage as a whole.
▪ Treat the Passage as a Whole:
Understand the entire passage before summarizing, not just parts of
it.
The goal is to express the full meaning and significance in fewer
words.
▪ Convey Complete Sense:
A good précis gives the reader a clear understanding of the original
passage’s purpose and tone.
▪ Continuous and Compact Prose:
The précis should flow smoothly, not appear as
disconnected sentences.
Avoid copying sentences from the original passage.
▪ Clarity is Essential:
Use your own words to clearly express the original
meaning.
Ensure no part of the summary is vague or ambiguous.
▪ Precision and Brevity:
Use the fewest possible words without losing meaning.
Brevity is the soul of a good précis but never sacrifice
clarity for shortness.
▪ Omit Unnecessary Details and Decorations:
Avoid figures of speech, illustrations, and quotations unless
absolutely essential.
Simplify or remove stylistic elements to maintain clarity.
▪ Do Not Include Irrelevancies:
Leave out digressions and unimportant details that do not
support the main idea.
▪ Complete but Not Sketchy:
Ensure all important points are included; the précis must
be thorough.
▪ Balance & Proportion:
Allocate more space to important ideas; avoid giving undue
emphasis to minor points.
▪ Distinguish Essential from Non-Essential:
Identify the core ideas crucial to the writer’s message.
Separate important thoughts from supporting details.
▪ Intellectual Exercise:
Précis writing demands concentrated thought and deep
understanding.
Requires mastery of language and ability to express ideas
naturally and compactly.
▪ No Easy Shortcut:
Boiling down a passage into few words is challenging and
requires practice.
Summary & Key Takeaways
▪ A good précis is clear, concise, and complete
▪ Use your own words, avoid copying from the original
▪ Maintain balance: emphasize important ideas
proportionally
▪ Exclude personal opinions, comments, and irrelevant
details
▪ Brevity should never sacrifice clarity and completeness
▪ Précis writing is an intellectual exercise requiring
practice and focus
THANK YOU
▪ Superiorofficeracademy@gmail.com
