At the end of this lesson, the students should be able to:

1) Define what a precis is;2) Detail the steps in precis writing;

3) Identify some errors in precis writing;4) Write accurate precis proportional to the

original text.

The Precis

A PRECIS - is a type of summarizing that insists on an exact replica in miniature of

the work, often reduced to one-fourth or one-third of its length- is a condensation in one’s own words of a longer piece of writing- is NOT a personal interpretation of a work or an expression of your

opinion of the idea

What a Precis is

Language skills needed for precis writing

1) Distinguishing main ideas from details2) Recognizing the central idea in a paragraph 3) Analyzing modes of development of a paragraph

Simply put, precis writing requires skills in:

Transforming sentencesJoining sentencesCompressing longer structures to shorter onesDistinguishing between denotation and connotationDetecting neutral from approving from disapproving nuances in the

original textIdentifying synonyms or near-synonyms

How to write a Precis

1. Understand the complete work so that you can abstract the central argument and express it completely.

2. You must develop the argument exactly as the writer has presented it.

3. Reduce the work by 75-80% of its size.

How to write a Precis

4. Write a precis of the article in which you state the entire argument and present the logical progression (the development) of the argument.

5. Do not copy a single sentence from the article. You may use key words and phrases only when you are expressing ideas which are technically precise or when you feel comfortable using the writer's own words: you understand he or she means, and there is no better way to express the concept.

Original Text Precis Form

Most of us approach different kinds of problems in different ways: we may be very objective in coping with pressures at work or school but irrational and emotional in dealing with family problems.

Most of us deal with stress in

various manners: objectively, irrationally, or emotionally.

Original Text Precis Form

The struggle for nationhood did not end in 1946. From then on, we have had to fight for our survival as a people, for our right to pursue our destiny. And we have had to continue the revolution of our fathers in 1896, to defend our Republic not so much from external attack, as from internal collapse.

To survive as a people and

guarantee our national self-determination after 1946, we have had to struggle to save our Republic from enemies within us.

Common Errors in Precis Writing

Let’s use this original text. For a long time, I never liked to look a chimpanzee straight in

the eye–I assumed that, as in the case with most primates, this would be interpreted as a threat or at least as a breach of good manners. Not so. As long as one looks with gentleness, without arrogance, a chimpanzee will understand and may even return the look. [62 words]

Jane Goodall, Through a Window

Common Errors in Precis Writing

1) Presenting an inaccurate precis.

Goodall learned from her

experiences with chimpanzees that they react positively to direct looks from humans.

Common Errors in Precis Writing

2) Failing to isolate the main point.

Goodall shares that she

dislikes looking directly into chimpanzees’ eyes because she once thought this can be threatening to the chimps.

Common Errors in Precis Writing

3) Including your personal interpretation along with something the author says.

Goodall reports that when

humans look directly but gently into chimpanzees’ eyes, the chimps are not threatened as they feel cared for, instead.

Common Errors in Precis Writing

4) Including your own judgment about the point made in the original text.

By stating that chimpanzees

are not threatened when humans look at them directly, but gently, Goodall established that primates possess human-like emotions.

Common Errors in Precis Writing

5) Taking much of its language directly from the source to the point of plagiarizing.

Goodall reports that as long

as one looks at a chimpanzee with gentleness, and without arrogance, then the primate will not feel threatened.

Common Errors in Precis Writing

6) Writing a precis almost as long as the original.

Jane Goodall’s experience with chimpanzees taught her that these primates do not actually feel threatened if they are looked directly in the eye. As long as the look accorded them is gentle and without air of superiority, a chimpanzee will understand.

[42 words]

An accurate precis of the original

Goodall reports that when humans look directly but gently into

chimpanzees’ eyes, the chimps are not threatened and may even respond well. [22 words]

Exercise:Here is the original text and an example of an unacceptable precis. Examine this, and cite three errors in precis writing.Source: Tanenbaum, Leora. Catfight: Women and Competition. New York: Seven Stories, 2002. As cited in Troyka and Hesse (2009).

ORIGINAL TEXT Until recently, most Americans disapproved of cosmetic surgery, but today,

the stigma is disappearing. Average Americans are lining up for procedures–two-thirds of patients report family incomes of less than 450,000 a year–and many of them return for more. Younger women undergo “maintenance” surgeries in a futile attempt to halt time. The latest fad is Botox, a purified and diluted form of botulinum toxin that is injected between the eyebrows to eliminate frown lines. Although the procedure costs between $300 and $1000 and must be repeated every few months, roughly 850,000 patients have had it performed on them. That number will undoubtedly shoot up now that the FDA has approved Botox for cosmetic use. Even teenagers are making appointments with plastic surgeons. More than 14,000 adolescents had plastic surgery in 1996, and many of them are choosing controversial procedures such as breast implants, liposuction, and tummy tucks, rather than the rhinoplasties of previous generations.

UNACCEPTABLE PRECIS

Average Americans are lining up for surgical procedures. The latest fad is Botox, a toxin injected to eliminate frown lines. This is an insanely foolish waste of money. Even teenagers are making appointments with plastic surgeons, many of them for controversial procedures such as breast implants, liposuction, and tummy tucks (Tanenbaum 117-18).

Answer:

ACCEPTABLE PRECIS

Tanenbaum explains that plastic surgery is becoming widely acceptable, even for Americans with modest incomes and for younger women. Most popular is injecting the toxin Botox to smooth wrinkles. She notes that thousand of adolescents are even requesting controversial surgeries (117-18).

References:

Dadufalza, C.D. (1996). Reading into Writing I. Makati: Bookmark Inc.Rasmussen, K.G. (2004). The Prentice Hall Writer’s Guide to Research

and Documentation. New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.Troyka, L.Q. & Hesse, D. (2009). Simon & Schuster Handbook for

Writers. New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.http://www.rappler.com/sports/features/rich-media/photos/36186-in-

photos-gilas-pilipinas-vs-iran. Retrieved on August 12, 2013.

ACCEPTABLE PRECIS UNACCEPTABLE PRECISTanenbaum explains that plastic surgery is becoming widely acceptable, even for Americans with modest incomes and for younger women. Most popular is injecting the toxin Botox to smooth wrinkles. She notes that thousand of adolescents are even requesting controversial surgeries (117-18).

Average Americans are lining up for surgical procedures. The latest fad is Botox, a toxin injected to eliminate frown lines. This is an insanely foolish waste of money. Even teenagers are making appointments with plastic surgeons, many of them for controversial procedures such as breast implants, liposuction, and tummy tucks (Tanenbaum 117-18).