precis of passage
Precis writing is a very fine, significant and useful piece of composition
not only from the point of the University examination or other examinations in
the familiar sense, it is so even in te practical busy work-day life as a time-
saving device and an impressive art work.
The precis writer has to attempt precis-writing and continue its practice
with the following points in mind :
(I) Precis should be given approximately in one-third of the given passage
of fixed number of words as per the question. However, this is not a concern of
primary importance.
(ii) The point of greatest importance is how to shorten the given passage
in compact language. We have to scissor off the superficial words or phrases,
delete the examples and quotations and avoid the repetitions or elaboration of
the facts or the subject matter.
(iii) The central subject should be reproduced systematically and logically.
Besides, the answer has to be furnished only in one paragraph.
(iv) Precis has to be made invariably and as far as practicable in third
person
(v) The passage given should not be reproduced. Like every answer, may
be even more than that, this answer has to be given one's own words.
(vi) The title of precis should bear on leading idea contained in the passage.
Moreover, it should short and suitable representation of the said idea.
(vii) Precis should be simple and straight.
(viii) Generally some reflective passages are given for precis-writing.
Sometimes some descriptive or narrative passage is also set. However, every
passage, whichever it may be, is descriptive of some important topic.
Example - 1
In India we are most particularly concerned about the primary necessities
of life of our people. We are concerned with clothing, shelter and housing for
our people with education, health and so on. Unless you have these primary
necessities, it seems futile to talk about the life of the mind or the life of the
spirit. You cannot talk of God to a starving man, you must give him food. One
must deal with primary necessities, it is true. Nevertheless, even dealing with
them one has to leave some kind of ideal or objective in view. If that ideal or
objective in view somehow becomes less and less connected with growth of
the human mind, then there must be something wrong.
No comments: