How to Write a Précis

What is a Précis?

A précis is a concise summary of essential points, statements, or facts from a longer text, such as a book, article, or speech. A précis is a concise summary of a longer text, capturing its essential points while maintaining completeness, clarity and coherence.

Here are the key characteristics of an effective précis:

• Conciseness: A précis should be brief and to the point.
• Clarity: It should be easy to understand and free from ambiguity.
• Completeness: The précis summary should cover all essential points.
• Unity: The précis must maintain the original flow of ideas.
• Coherence: The summarized content should be logically connected.

For example, if you were to write a précis of a lengthy passage, you would condense the main ideas and essential details into a shorter form while preserving the overall meaning. It’s a valuable skill for professionals, students, and anyone dealing with documents or information.

The goal of a rhetorical précis is to distill the essential elements of a text’s rhetorical situation into a clear and concise format, aiding in comprehension and analysis. It’s a useful tool for students and scholars to articulate and engage with the arguments presented in a text.

How Long Should a Precis Be

The length of a précis can vary, but here are some guidelines:

• Word Count: A précis should be much shorter than the original passage. An ideal précis would not contain more than one-third of the number of words in the original text. For academic purposes, a précis typically falls within the range of 100 to 200 words.
• Proportions: Aim for a length that reflects the relative importance of the content. While there’s no fixed rule, consider that a précis should be approximately one-fifth to one-sixth of the original reading.

The most important difference between a precis outline and a finished piece of writing lies in the details. Let me elaborate:

Outline:

• An outline serves as a blueprint for your writing.
• It summarizes the content, listing the topics you plan to cover and the order in which they will appear.
• It breaks down the structure, helping you organize your thoughts logically.
• Typically, outlines include main topics, supporting evidence, and the thesis statement.
• Think of it as a skeleton—a framework upon which you build your final work.

Finished Piece of Writing:

• A finished piece contains all necessary and important information.
• It goes beyond the précis summary provided by the outline.
• In a complete article, essay, or speech, you delve into specific details, examples, and elaborations.
• Your writing is polished, coherent, and ready for readers.
• Unlike the précis outline, it’s the fleshed-out version—the culmination of your ideas and efforts.

How to Write a Rhetorical Precis

A précis paragraph is a concise summary of a longer text, capturing its essential points while maintaining clarity and coherence. Here are the key characteristics of a rhetorical précis paragraph:

Précis Structure:

• A précis paragraph typically consists of four sentences.
• Each sentence serves a specific purpose.

Précis Format:

• Author’s Information: The first sentence includes the author’s name, the genre of the work, and the title of the original text.
• Thesis Statement: The second sentence presents the thesis statement—what the author claims or suggests.
• Explanation of How the Thesis Is Revealed: The third sentence discusses how the author reveals the thesis, often following the same order as in the original text.
• Purpose and Audience: The fourth sentence describes the text’s purpose and the intended audience to whom the author appeals.

Purpose and Benefits of Rhetorical Précis:

Writing a précis paragraph helps with:

• Complex Text Analysis: It prepares you for analyzing intricate texts.
• Annotated Bibliography: It aids in creating concise précis summaries for bibliographic entries.
• Research Paper Summary: It assists in summarizing research papers effectively.
• Critical Thinking and Analytical Skills: It enhances your ability to extract essential information.

Rhetorical Précis Examples

Here are a couple of examples of rhetorical précis to illustrate how they are structured:

Example 1: Economist Jeremy Rifkin on Human-Animal Similarities:

• Author: Economist Jeremy Rifkin
• Context: In the LA Times editorial titled “A Change of Heart About Animals” (September 1, 2003)
• Major Assertion: Rifkin argues that new scientific evidence demonstrates that humans and animals are more alike than previously assumed.
• Method of Development: He supports this claim by introducing human attributes assumed lacking in animals and then providing evidence that shows animals share these characteristics.
• Purpose: Rifkin’s purpose is to raise awareness about the similarities between humans and animals.
• Audience: His intended audience includes readers interested in the topic of human-animal relationships.

Example 2: Community-Based Fisheries Management:

• Author: Vicki Wedell
• Context: In her master’s thesis titled “Community-based fisheries management in Port Orford, Oregon: Partnering local and scientific knowledge through a geographic information system to support long-term planning on the South Coast” (2003)
• Major Assertion: Wedell demonstrates that local knowledge interviews and GIS provide important ecological, economic, and social information relevant to fisheries management.
• Method of Development: She shows that these methods also offer fishing communities a process for active participation in management discussions about local areas.
• Purpose: Wedell’s purpose is to emphasize the value of local knowledge and GIS in sustainable fisheries management.
• Audience: Her intended audience includes researchers, policymakers, and fishing communities interested in effective management strategies.

Rhetorical précis aims to concisely capture the essential elements of a text, allowing readers to understand the author’s argument, method, purpose, and audience. Use these examples as models when creating your own rhetorical précis!

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Writing a Précis

When writing a rhetorical précis, it’s important to avoid certain common mistakes to ensure clarity and effectiveness.

Here are some key points to keep in mind:

• Avoiding Complex Vocabulary: Do not use overly complicated words or jargon that might make your précis difficult to understand. Aim for simplicity and clarity.
• First-Person Pronouns: Refrain from using first-person pronouns like “I” or “my”. A précis is a summary of another author’s work, so it should remain objective and impersonal.
• Adding Personal Opinion: A précis should not include your personal opinions or interpretations. It’s a summary, not a critique or review.
• Straying from the Source: Stick closely to the source text. Do not include information that is not present in the original work.
• Being Too Vague: Be specific about the author’s argument and the methods they use. Vague summaries can misrepresent the original text.
• Exceeding the Length: A précis is meant to be brief. Avoid the temptation to include too much detail or to make it longer than necessary.
• Misrepresenting the Argument: Ensure that you accurately represent the author’s thesis and main points. Misinterpretation can lead to a misleading précis.
• Ignoring the Structure: Follow the four-sentence structure of a rhetorical précis. Deviating from this format can result in an incomplete or disorganized summary.

By avoiding these common pitfalls, you’ll be able to write a clear and concise rhetorical précis that effectively communicates the essence of the original text.

Dissertation Précis

A dissertation précis is a concise summary of a longer dissertation or thesis. It captures the essential elements of the original work while maintaining the tone, proportions, and meaning. Here are some key points about writing a dissertation précis:

• Purpose and Length: A dissertation précis summarizes the main arguments, research methods, and findings of a dissertation. The length of a précis can vary, but it is typically much shorter than the original dissertation—usually around two to three double-spaced pages for a 20-page article.
• Focus on Argument and Reasoning: Unlike a general summary, a précis emphasizes the argumentative structure of the dissertation. It highlights the evidence, reasoning, and steps the author takes to support their thesis or answer their research question.
• Writing Process: Read the dissertation multiple times to understand its content thoroughly. Take notes on key points, underline essential sentences, and create an outline. Summarize each paragraph into one to two sentences, focusing on the core ideas. Combine these sentences logically to create your own paragraphs that mirror the dissertation’s structure. Ensure that your précis maintains the same tone and meaning as the original text.

Key Elements to Include:

• Thesis or Purpose: Clearly state the author’s main argument or research goal.
• Author Information: Mention the author’s name and relevant source details.
• Conciseness: Be concise while including all crucial points.
• Avoid Opinion: Use your own words but avoid personal opinions.
• Restate, Don’t Argue: Refrain from making your own argument; focus on restating the author’s argument.

Dissertation précis serves as a critical summary, not a review. It allows readers to grasp the dissertation’s core without unnecessary details.

How to Hire a Precis Writer Online

Hiring a précis writer online can be a great way to get concise and well-structured summaries of longer texts. Here are some steps and advice on how to find a reliable précis writer.

Determine Your Needs:

Evaluate the scope and content: Consider topics, length, and structure to provide specific guidelines to the writer. Decide whether you need a one-time precis or ongoing services.

Freelance Platforms:

Utilize freelance platforms such as Upwork, Freelancer, and Fiverr. These platforms offer a pool of writers, allowing you to review bids, portfolios, and reviews before making a hiring decision.

Content Writing Services:

Consider professional content writing services that specialize in essay précis writing. These services like BestCustomPapers.com often have experienced writers who can create concise summaries. They offer reasonable prices, good communication, and editing services.

BestCustomPapers.com provides professional editing and writing services.

• Fast turnaround, good client portal, reasonable quality.
• Proven results, high-quality content. Wide range of services.
• Pricing may be higher than some other services, based on the writer, word count and complexity.
• Reliable platform, experienced editors and writers.

It’s always better to start with a smaller order or single article to assess the service before committing to a larger project. Each service has its strengths, so choose one that aligns with your specific needs and budget!