Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Precise Writting
Precise Writting
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(iv) Determine what emphasis and space to give the thought in each section;
write a heading for each section.
Second Reading: (i) Underscore with a pencil the important facts containing
the essential thoughts. This is a process of differentiation between what is
essential and what is not. Generally you will omit examples, illustrations,
conversations, and repetitions.
(ii) Reread your selections to see that they are wise and adequate.
(iii) Determine if your underscoring expresses the main ideas.
Final Reading: (i) Rapidly and intensely reread the origin, dwelling on the
important facts selected for a precis.
(ii) If you need for more reading, you should read again, The main idea of the
passage should be clearly understood by the student.
2. Title: We must give a striking title to our precis. The title of the precis can be
found either in the first Paragraph or sentence or the last last paragraph.
3. Practice is mere important for the students to achieve the goal of good precis.
Summary and abstract words are used in the place of precis since both the words
convey the same meaning. Summary is the presentation of statements in the
form of notes with main heading and sub-heading and numbered points beneath
them. Abstract is presented in the form of paragraph which contains main theme
of the passage or an article. In nutshell, a precis-writing should be accurate, brief
and clear i.e ABC.
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Essentials of Precis Writing
The following points should be kept in mind while writing the precis.
1. The precis must not exceed one-third of the length of the original passage.
2. The precis must be in indirect form and in past tense.
3. The precis should be in own words of the precis-writer.
4. The combination of the sentence of original passage should be avoided at the
maximum.
5. The original words of the original passage should be avoided at the
6. If suitable other words are not available, the original words of the original
passage may be used in precis-writing.
7. Different paragraphs are used in precis-writing. At the same time, there must
be continuity from first paragraph to next paragraph.
8. The main ideas or matters of the original passage should be presented in the
same order in precis-writing at the maximum.
9. The precis must complete and self-contained and at the same time in lucid and
concise.
10. The reader of the precis-writing should understand the subject matter in the
same direction and the right sense of the precis-writer.
11. The precis must be in simple and direct. There should not be any grammar
mistake in the precis-making.
12. Every precis must have a short and appropriate title.
Steps involved in Precis Writing
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sentences may be replaced in one sentence if number of words is more than one
third of original passage.
13. Read the precis-writing for spelling mistake and grammar corrections.
14. Reconsider the appropriateness of the title of precis-writing and amend it, if
necessary.
Examples for routine reports are Report of Directors to the Annual General
Meeting, Auditor’s Report to the Annual General Meeting, Sales Report,
Production Report and the like.
2. Special Report
This type of report is prepared and presented before the top management on
specific request. It usually contains the opinions or recommendations of the
reporter with the help of facts and arguments. Examples for special report are
opening of branch, introducing a new product, Improving the quality or changing
the shape or size of the product and the like.
1. Formal Report
Formal report is prepared in a prescribed format and presented before the
competent authority in an established procedure. Reports submitted by officials
or committees of constituted bodies (example: Companies, Cooperative
Societies, Local Bodies etc.) are usually formal report.
2. Informal Report
Informal report is prepared in a format of the convenience of the reporter and
presented directly before the required person as and when demanded. An
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informal report is presented as in the form of letter or memorandum. Generally,
it takes the form of a person to person communication.
The formal reports are classified into two types. They are statutory report and
non-statutory report.
1. Problem Solving Report: A problem may arise in any one of the department
or in the whole organization. Hence, the top management may seek a report for
solving the problem. When, the reporter collects various information to find the
causes for such problem. Moreover, the report is concluded with the ways of
solving the problem. Such type of report is called Problem Solving Report.
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2. Fact Finding Report: A machine may be breakdown in the factory premises.
Sometimes, there may be a rivalry between the two group of workers. Now, the
management wants to know the real reason for machine break down and group
clash between the workers. In this case, the reporter analyze the incident
through detailed investigation and find the truth. Finally, the reporter presents
the facts in the report form before the top management.
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4. Majority Report: Generally, all the members of the committee or
subcommittee including chairman have unanimous opinion among them. If so,
only one report is prepared and presented before the responsible body. If not so,
majority members of the committee or subcommittee have different opinion than
minority members. In this case, majority members are going to submit a report
before the responsible body. Such report is termed as majority report.