How to write précis.

Writing an accurate précis is not easy. It requires careful and thoughtful reading in order to grasp the general idea and phrase it in a way which will be at once clear and brief. Here are some suggestions which should prove helpful:

1. Begin by reading through the passage carefully in order to discover the main line of thought and paragraph plan.

2. Read the passage through again, this time more slowly and carefully; as you read, note the topic dealt with in each paragraph.

3. During the reading you will also have seen how the facts are connected, how one step follows on from the one before. In particular you may have seen how closely connected the topic of a paragraph is with that of a preceding paragraph.

4. Now go through the passage again, this time sentence by sentence. Underline key sentences, words and important facts as you go along. Look out for any repetition which must be avoided in your underlining.

5. Paraphrase conversations or dialogues if they are essential for your précis.

6. Now make a list of all the points you are going to use. Write them down using your own words as far as possible. These notes must contain all the essential facts. Nothing but what the writer tells you must appear. You must add no information of your own.

7. Write a draft précis of a passage, referring to the list of points only when you want to make sure of some point. This will help you greatly to reproduce the substance of the passage in your own words.

17) Retell the rules of writing précis.

18) Do you use these rules?