Difference Between Precis and Summary

Prior to understanding the difference between a precis and a summary, it is important to understand that both are writing techniques used to summarize a lengthy chapter into a more manageable and concise form.

It's important to preserve the original passage's language and organization while writing a synopsis, especially its keywords. To sum up, when paraphrasing, one must utilize both their own words and as few of the original as is feasible.

Precis

A precis is a summary of important information. It emphasises on removing unnecessary words, while clearly conveying the message/ meaning. It is like jotting important ideas before writing a detailed essay.

The main idea is expressed in as few words as possible. The reader should be able to understand the idea presented in the first reading simply by reading the precis. So it should include all the important points. It is a test of comprehension.

It should always be shorter than the original section. Many people read carelessly and miss the main points of the passage in Precis writing. As a result, it encourages children to pay attention to the reading, as no one writes a precis without first reading it thoroughly.

Writing Precis

The precis composing format includes certain important aspects to consider while composing it. The most fundamental aspect of writing a precis is to read the content carefully. Reading allows you to get the gist of the content and write it more concisely. The essential meaning and theme of the passage should be conveyed in your precis. It is also important to remember the overall topic of the passage for precis writing. The main points should be documented in the precis. The language of the Precis should be the main focus. While precis writing follows no set pattern, but requires certain things to consider.

Dos and Don'ts for Precis Writing

Dos

1. Begin the precis with the main notion so that readers can readily grasp its foundation.
2. Select all of the irrelevant information in the passage and remove it from Precis.
3. Organize the content properly to incorporate all the relevant aspects.
4. It is critical to mention the purpose of writing the precis.
5. Write the Precis keeping in mind the writer's original flow to ensure that the message is clear and obvious.
6. Add relevant keywords and keep track of the word count.
7. Make sure to include any historical facts in the past tense.

Don'ts

1. Don't use acronyms or abbreviated forms. Only use entire forms when writing concisely.
2. Make sure not to include any facts obtained from the internet. Incorporate only the facts stated in the passage.
3. Don't ask questions while writing the precis. If it is necessary, you can express it in the form of a sentence.
4. Make sure not to repeat the same text. The writing flow should not be choppy. It implies that you don't have confidence in your content.
5. The precis should not be too long because it is a summary. It should be brief, concise, and to the point.

Steps for Precise Writing

1. Begin by attentively reading the paragraph before writing the precis. Understanding the passage's fundamental subject is vital. After recognizing the idea, implement it in the appropriate manner.
2. Another key component in writing a decent precis is the number of words. Check to see if the total number of words to be written is mentioned. If not, try and keep the word count less (including only required information). In general, it should account for one-third of your passage's entire word count.
3. For precis writing, you should know what the passage's theme or idea is. If you don't comprehend the theme, read the paragraph several times before beginning to write your precis. Make sure you understand the concept.
4. Take notes or highlight key points as you read. Try to identify the points that are irrelevant to your point.
5. The heading on your Precis is crucial. It should provide a brief overview of the passage provided. So choose your title wisely.
6. The precis should be organized so that the reader gets the gist quickly. Organize your sentences logically and write them like reported speech.
7. Instead of names, official precis demands titles and designations. If no information is provided, please write your own name. Make sure to do the same across your precis.
8. Before submitting, thoroughly review it for errors. Because it has already been a short time, there should be few errors.
9. Finally, mention in brackets the number of words in your precis.

Summary

A summary is a short account of an event, story, document, and so on, sometimes known as "summing up the facts." They are not limited to any media or theme. Not to be confused with the abstract, which is a summary of a document, there are various levels of summarization that can be used. The summarizer can choose any length, but the summaries may only appreciate what is absolutely essential to obtaining the relevant facts.

Summaries help to distribute information quickly. They also assist people in determining whether or not something is worth investigating further. Being able to convey the major elements of a paper or article without having to read it in its entirety can be valuable for both professional and personal purposes. A summary provides a succinct explanation of a text, allowing you to express the most significant features of that text to others. Learning more about summaries might help you restate significant concepts from a presentation or article.

Writing A Summary

A summary is a condensed version of an original text that highlights the key elements in a given framework. In most cases, the length of your summary is determined by the original text. Longer articles or proposals may necessitate longer summaries to cover all of the ideas, whereas brief ones may simply have one paragraph. Here are some things you can do to make your summaries better:

1. Read Carefully

Read the text multiple times so that you really get what they're saying. When you read first time, just focus on understanding and don't start taking notes. Try to figure out what's being argued for, any reasons given in support, and anything else besides that. On your second read-through, jot down the main ideas/ notions in a notebook or in the margins if it's a hard copy.

2. Take Notes to Find the Main Idea

Write down what you think is most important about this book: themes, main points, thesis statements, etc. To recognize it, think about the tone and kind of thing it is; for example, whether it's more like a literary essay or a scientific paper, etc. Then scan through, looking at each paragraph quickly, trying not to get too bogged down until something jumps out as being repeated often over again elsewhere under different wording but still basically saying the same sort of thing, which means there must be a vital point being made by the author somewhere along the line.

3. Identify Main Arguments

Reread the material carefully to locate phrases/ information that support the key points. For example, you can look for repeats, specifics about the title, or character descriptions. Here are some tips for finding key arguments in an article:

• Print a paper copy or utilize a digital version that allows you to make notes.
• Look for and underline the statement that expresses the primary theme in each paragraph.
• After you have finished reading the full essay, go over the topic sentences you marked.

4. Create Your First Copy

Rewrite sentences in the margin or on a separate piece of paper. When you write them down, try to use your own words and leave out any unnecessary information. Jot down the author's first and last name as well as the article title so you can reference it later.

5. Write A Summary

Start with the author's name and the title of the text as your opening sentence, then use that to introduce your piece (e.g., "According to Martin Somers in 'The Child and the Wolf'"). Follow this with their thesis statement in paraphrased form, ideally covering what they said about it in one sentence before restating all major supporting points behind it throughout body paragraphs, but don't forget these should be put into your own words too. Keep unrelated details to a minimum while ensuring every important fact is mentioned at least once, thus keeping things concise.

6. Quote The Author

One of the finest ways to communicate the author's core idea is perhaps to quote a specific paragraph from them. You can cite the author's credentials, such as a relevant award or a position of authority, to support the text's authority. To introduce the author and make the next remark appear more credible, you could add something like, "In his lecture about inflation, Polders, a professor in economics at the Southern University,"

7. Finish the Synopsis

To wrap up your summary, restate the author's conclusion or final major point. Reiterating the most crucial information in a summary will help you make sure your audience understands your point, even though it's a brief paragraph. If this summary is intended for a formal presentation, you might want to provide a list of the most crucial facts to aid in audience memory.

Difference Between Precis and Summary

Conclusion

In conclusion, while both precis and summary are approaches for reducing long texts, they serve different objectives and follow different rules. A precis is a quick summary of the core ideas and key aspects of a paragraph while keeping the original arrangement and necessitating thorough reading and comprehension. It is shorter than the original text and contains significant keywords in order to express the author's message clearly. A summary, on the other hand, provides a concise overview of a text, focusing on the important points and arguments but not necessarily in the order they were written. It can be written or spoken, and it does not require a conclusion unless the original work contains a significant final statement. Both techniques are valuable for distilling information, but they differ in structure, purpose, and the level of detail included.