How to Write a Precis

Precis is a special academic writing type that is aimed at summarizing a piece of the original text, its main arguments, and ideas. In fact, precis reveals the main thesis statements in detail. When you need to write a précis, you must remember that numerous academic writing assignments have requested format, structure, and important characteristics. Therefore, when completing this piece of writing, make sure to check its meaning and features first.

Critical precis is a brief and concise logical summary of an analyzed original text. This piece of writing cannot be called an academic paper since this is another kind of academic assignment. At the same time, this is a type of academic writing that is aimed at providing a short and logical summary of a text. When preparing a precise, you look for the essence of a certain material and summarize its main ideas. Collect the main arguments and ideas when writing a precis to come up with a proper final piece. The precis allows readers to get the main point of an entire paper and get a clear vision of its main ideas, concepts, and characteristics.

The precis describes and explains the main points and structure of an original text. Properly written precis requires following all the precis guidelines and delivering a logical summary of the text. This type of academic writing must be clear and concise, thus the writer needs to be good at writing and analytical work as well. Mostly, experienced writers first check the characteristics and features of a critical precis before completing this exceptional academic writing task.

What is a précis: Definition

A critical precis is a clear, concise, and logical summary of an original work. This piece of writing is an analytical kind of academic assignment since it requires providing a clear summary of an analyzed original text with outlined main arguments and ideas. At the same time, this is an exact type of academic writing that is aimed at revealing the main essence of the text. Therefore, when preparing a precis, make sure to be very attentive to the material you try to summarize. Collect the main arguments and ideas carefully. Remember that a precis allows readers to get the main point of an original paper, thus the writer’s main duty is to assure a clear vision of the main ideas and arguments presented in the original text.

The precis describes and explains the key points and structure of an original text. Moreover, this type of academic writing has the following important characteristics:

• Precis remains a summary of writing abstracts;
• It is a clear and logical summary, and never a simple rewriting of the text;
• It doesn’t contain the words and phrases from the original text.
• A precis is aimed at summarizing the content of the original text.
• A precis can be no longer than ¼ of the original text.

A critical precis must be clear and concise. Moreover, the writer needs to assure the proper structure of a critical precis that includes an author’s thesis, methodology, results, and a conclusion. A critical precis allows tutors and college professors to check the students’ ability to think critically and summarize a big amount of information. Therefore, this is one of the frequently assigned types of academic writing in high school and college.

Precis Structure

Every writer must assure flawless precis format and structure. Therefore, it is obligatory to check precis requirements and guidelines in advance. In fact, a critical precis requires decent critical thinking skills. Thus, the author must come up with valid findings and interpretations once summarizing an original paper. This research work gives a chance to perform and provide an improved academic paper with proper structure and format.

A precis has a structure quite common to the standard essay structure. Moreover, a proper critical precis writing process includes a strict following of the correct precise structure that includes the next elements:

• An Introduction

A writer should include the information about the name of the author, title of the piece of writing, date of publishing, and a thesis statement. One sentence is enough to reveal the mentioned information. Moreover, it is good to start a precis with a hook to gather readers’ attention and intrigue a target audience with a fascinating topic disclosure.

• Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs should contain the main arguments and their supporting evidence. Moreover, experienced writers prefer explaining separate arguments in separate paragraphs revealing the author’s evidence, important facts, and ideas. When writing the body paragraphs, you can interpret the main arguments using personal opinions and points of view. Make sure to focus on providing logical and relevant evidence, details, statistics, and interesting facts in order to analyze and explain a thesis statement. You can also use various samples and quotes from original work to reveal important facts and necessary details.

• A Conclusion

You must provide a conclusion of your precis where providing the final message of your research work. In this section, you need to restate the key ideas of an original paper. In order to lure your intended audience interest to your conclusions and points of view, you must provide encouraging concluding sentences. Make sure to prove a thesis statement in a precise conclusion. When performing a conclusion, use short and concise sentences. Avoid unnecessary details and any personal statements.

Easy Way to Write Your Precis

A critical precis remains a special type of research work since it requires checking, analyzing and explaining of an original article. Thus, when writing a precis, make sure to analyze and summarize the original work properly. Check and research the main ideas, arguments, important details presented in a chosen work. Be aware that it is important to be very attentive to your piece of writing and demonstrate the best analytical skills.

When you need to write a precis, it is important to be well-aware of the precis writing meaning. Therefore, remember that this academic writing requires critical reading and research work.  Make sure to follow the next tips and guides on how to prepare a good precis:

1. Read the original article carefully;
2. Outline its main points and ideas;
3. Check the evidence used by the author;
4. Research the material and check every detail;
5. Define and analyze the authors’ appeals;
6. Restate a thesis statement properly;
7. Prepare a short summary of every section;
8. Describe information in your own words;
9. Read the text for one more time;
10. Compare the text with your summary.

A critical precis must remain a clear and concise summary of an original article. Moreover, the writer needs to assure a

high culture disclosure and a proper structure of a critical precis that includes an author’s thesis, methodology, results, and a conclusion. A critical precis allows tutors and college professors to check the students’ ability to think critically and summarize a big amount of information thus it is important for students to check the rules of precis writing carefully.

A Critical Precis Sample

There are numerous reading practices used by writers who want to submit an excellent final critical precis. Therefore, writers often pay attention to the main arguments and ideas in order to reveal the main essence of an original paper. Moreover, it is preferable to check the purpose of an article before writing a critical precis. In fact, writers should consider the ways of how the author supports own arguments and ideas, and check his reading audience first.

Therefore, when preparing a critical precis, make sure to be very attentive to an original material you try to analyze, understand, and summarize. Collect only the main arguments and ideas. The precis allows readers to get the main point of an original paper, thus the writer’s main check it in order to assure a clear vision of the main ideas and arguments presented in the original article. Be very attentive to the ideas and messages you reveal to come up with the proper critical thinking findings and explanations.

A critical precis sample:

In her essay paper “Cyberspace and Identity”, published in 1999, S. Turkle argues that the current screen dramatization of the concept of identity and the present-day variety of existed cultural trends encourage the modern society to appreciate and share the ideas of cultural diversity and flexibility. The author reveals and proves the ideas of cyberspace and identity once comparing them with familiar identity concepts revealed in sociology, psychology, and philosophy. She discloses her ideas of identity in the modern compute culture that is modified by multiple existed cultural trends. She tends to explain to readers the advanced character of identity that is both cyclical and multiplies. S. Turkle’s article is aimed at a well-educated audience that can analyze and appreciate the modern theories of cyberspace and identity properly.