A Comparison of the Characteristics of a Paraphrase, Précis, and Outline

Source: Figueras-Lucero, A. & Moya-Torrecampo, R. (2005). Communication skills I (2nd ed.). Los
Baños, Laguna: UP Open University

Characteristic Outline Paraphrase Précis

Intention/ enumerates major to minor restates, rewords, condenses the
Purpose ideas according to the explains the ideas, focuses on
organization of the selection selection in full, the central idea,
including details presents the
essentials only
Content
Proportion to shorter than the original longer, shorter, or approximately
length of as long as the ranges from 1/3 to
original original ¼ or 5% to 40% of
the original
selection’s length
Ideas contains main ideas, major contains all the focuses on central
and minor ideas ideas in the ideas as much as
no examples included original selection possible; major
no additional ideas from with the necessary ideas only, not
outline writer explanations minor ideas and
no additional ideas details
from ouline writer all examples,
except key
analogies, excluded
no additional ideas
from the outline
writer
Order/ same oder as original generally, same same oder as
Development/ order, but some original
Organization reorganization for
of Ideas clarity, coherence
allowed
Point of View objective same as original same as original
selection selection
Tone Same as original, if possible, same as original same as original
but usually cannot be selection selection
projected
Language standard, formal standard, formal standard, formal
simple, up-to-date for the simple, up-to-date simple, up-to-date
general reader for the general for the general
reader reader
Form
Layout skeleton, schema, framework sentences, sentences,
layered, enumerative paragraphs paragraphs
Mechanics correct grammar correct grammar correct grammar