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What is Précis?
Précis or Abstract 2
Writing
1 a précis is a short summary, no more than
one-third as long as the original passage,
MRHS ENGLISH and perhaps only one-fourth as long.
2010
Often, you will be asked to edit your précis
to a specific number of words.
In our major research essays, the abstract It‟s valuable practice in reading as well. To
appears on page one (after the four summarize another‟s writing in your own
identification lines (name, course, etc.) and words, you must understand the content
before the essay begins). It is single-spaced. thoroughly.
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Précis Requirements
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A précis gives only the „heart‟ of the passage. Steps in Précis Writing
It omits repetition and such details as
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examples, illustrations, and adjectives unless
they are extremely important.
A précis must be written entirely in your own FROM
words. Avoid the temptation to lift sentences
or long parts of sentences from the original. READING
A précis is written from the point of view of
the author whose work is being summarized.
TO
Avoid such expressions as “The author says” or WRITING
“This paragraph means”. Also, your opinion is
not requested.
Read the original passage carefully. Write the main points in your own words.
Make notes/Underline key passages. Revise until your précis reads smoothly and is
the required length.
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Précis Example Compliments are sometimes a pitfall for the tactless. Some people can‟t
say a simple thing like “What a smart dress you‟re wearing!” without
sounding as though they thought all your other dresses were horrors.
Or they will say, “I‟ve always loved that dress of yours,” in such a way as
9 to suggest to the others present that you‟ve been wearing it since World
War One.