precis n : a sketchy summary of the main points of an argument or theory [syn: outline, synopsis, abstract] v : make a summary (of)

English

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -eɪsi

Noun

Translations

Swedish

Pronunciation

Adjective

precis

1. made with great precision

Adverb

precis

1. precisely; exactly
2. just; by a narrow margin

A précis (pronounced pray-see) is a type of summarizing done in one's own words about a text source. It is essential to be as accurate and brief as possible while describing the text source and highlighting upon the main ideas contained in the text. A précis is generally 100 - 200 words in length.

Strategies of writing

Before writing the précis, one must get the facts straight and not comment upon anything outside the source text. Reading the source text several times is recommended before starting the précis. As everything must be put in the writer's own words, it is better to set the source material aside before actually writing to prevent oneself from copying text from the source text.

Requirements

Précis do not make any conclusions about the original, its audience, or anything relating to the text. It must provide the reader an accurate, but brief, map of the original, and what the writer thinks about the source text or the topic of the text is not relevant when writing a précis.

List of requirements

• States the name of the article/document, the author and the source (is it from a magazine, book, encyclopedia, etc.)
• Does not use the phrase "in this article", "throughout history" or other clichés (big, good, bad, little, a lot)
• Generally written in past tense
• Does not use contractions
• Titles are in italics or underlined

External Links

Strategies for précis writing KU page on what a précis is

abbreviation, abbreviature, abrege, abridgment, abstract, apocope, brief, capsule, compend, compression, condensation, condensed version, conspectus, curtailment, digest, draft, elision, ellipsis, epitome, foreshortening, head, outline, overview, pandect, recap, recapitulation, reduction, retrenchment, review, rubric, shortened version, shortening, skeleton, sketch, summary, summation, survey, syllabus, syncope, synopsis, telescoping, thumbnail sketch, topical outline, truncation