Precis writing is a valuable skill for both students and professionals alike. It involves summarizing a longer piece of writing in a concise and precise manner, while still retaining the key points and ideas. In this article, we will provide a step-by-step guide for precis writing, along with some examples to help beginners get started.
Step 1: Read the original text
The first step in precis writing is to thoroughly read the original text that you want to summarize. This will help you to understand the key ideas, arguments, and points that the author is trying to convey. As you read, make note of the main themes and ideas, and highlight any important or relevant information.
Example: Here is an excerpt from an article about climate change that we will use as an example for this guide:
"The effects of climate change are becoming increasingly evident, with rising global temperatures, melting ice caps, and more frequent extreme weather events. The root cause of climate change is human activity, particularly the burning of fossil fuels for energy. To mitigate the effects of climate change, it is essential that we transition to renewable energy sources and reduce our carbon footprint."
Step 2: Identify the main points
After reading the original text, you should identify the main points and ideas that the author is trying to convey. These points should be the most significant and relevant to the overall message of the text.
Example: From the excerpt above, the main points are:
- Climate change is becoming increasingly evident
- The root cause of climate change is human activity
- Transition to renewable energy sources is essential to mitigate the effects of climate change
Step 3: Write a rough draft
Once you have identified the main points, you can start writing a rough draft of the precis. This should be a condensed version of the original text, using your own words to convey the main ideas and points.
Example: Here is a rough draft of the precis for the climate change excerpt:
"The effects of climate change are becoming more evident due to human activity, primarily the burning of fossil fuels. To mitigate these effects, we need to transition to renewable energy sources."
Step 4: Edit and refine
After you have written a rough draft, you should edit and refine it to make it more concise and precise. This means removing any unnecessary information, as well as making sure that the language is clear and easy to understand.
Example: Here is the final version of the precis for the climate change excerpt:
"Human activity, specifically the burning of fossil fuels, is causing climate change, resulting in the rising global temperatures, melting ice caps, and extreme weather events. To mitigate these effects, transitioning to renewable energy sources is essential."
Step 5: Check for accuracy and coherence
Finally, you should check your precis for accuracy and coherence. This means making sure that you have accurately conveyed the main ideas and points of the original text, and that your precis flows well and is easy to understand.
Example: Here is the final version of the precis for the climate change excerpt, checked for accuracy and coherence:
"Human activity, specifically the burning of fossil fuels, is causing climate change, resulting in the rising global temperatures, melting ice caps, and extreme weather events. To mitigate these effects, transitioning to renewable energy sources is essential."
Conclusion
Precis writing is an important skill that can help you to communicate ideas and information more effectively. By following this step-by-step guide, you can learn to write precise and concise summaries of longer texts, while still retaining the key ideas and points. With practice and patience, you can develop your precis writing skills and become a more effective communicator.