Prcis Writing Tips and Examples for SBI Bank PO

Exams
Friends, all of you know that SBI has announced its notification for Probationary
Officers (PO) recruitment for the year 2014. This exam consists of two sections.
1. Objective Test and 2. Descriptive Test. We've already updated plenty of
materials on Objective Section. With a good practice and observation, people
can easily do better in Objective Test. So not going to say anything about it
now. Lets talk about the Descriptive Section. This section is going to play a
crucial role in your final selection of the exam. So, We've planned to give you a
complete set of materials on Descriptive Section. This set consists of

the

topics Comprehension, Short Prcis,Letter writing & Essay. As an initiative

of this, today we are starting with short notes on Precis writing. We hope
that this surely will help you doing good in upcoming SBI PO Exam's descriptive
section .Feel free to use the comments box below if you have any questions /
comments...
Origin of the word Precis :
The word prcis (not Precis, but we actually got used to type it in this way.. so
no issues....you should pronounce it as pray-see) is cognate to the word
precise coming from a Latin word meaning to cut. It has been variously
referred

to

as

abbreviation,

subtraction,

abstract,

summary,

and

condensation. A precis, then, is a cut version of the original, retaining the main
ideas and omitting all or most of the examples and secondary ideas.

What is Prcis Writing ?

As we discussed in the above paragraph we can simply say, A precis is a Short
Summary. It is not a paraphrase, which merely says in different and simpler
words exactly what the passage being paraphrased has to say. A paraphrase
may be as long as the passage itself whereas a precis rarely is more thanonethird the length of the original selection and may be only one-fourth as long

(for bank exams' descriptive section, its advisible to limit your precis to the
1/3rd of the given paragraph.
A precis gives only the "heart" of a passage. It omits repetition and such
details as examples, illustrations and adjectives unless they are of
unusual importance.
A precis is written entirely in the words of the person writing it, not in the words
of the original selection. Avoid the temptation of lifting long phrases and whole
sentences from the original. It wont help you. And in fact it may lessen your
good impression and may lead to less score in the exam.
As we've already mentioned above, a precis is written from the point of the
author whose work is being summarized. Don't begin with such expressions as
"The paragraph means" or "The author says".. etc... Just begin as though you
were summarizing your own writing.
Now lets have a look at some basic rules you should follow in order to write a
good precis.
1. How to write Good Precis for SBI PO Exams ?
2. Approach to Precis Writing
3. Important Techniques to Compress the given data for Precis
Writing (important)
4. Precis Writing Examples

How to Write Precis in SBI Bank PO Exam ?

In writing a precis just proceed as follows :

o

Read Carefully, sentence by sentence, the passage to be summarized. Try

to grasp the writer's main point. Spotting the topic sentence will help. As
you read, take brief notes to be used in your writing.

When you have finally decided what the author's main point is, write it out
in your own words. Do not use the wording of the original except for certain
key words which you may find indispensable. If you cant translate the idea
into your own language, you do not understand them very well. Be
especially careful not to rely too much on the topic sentence. Do not add
add any ideas or opinions of your own.

Revise your writing until you are sure that you have given an accurate
summary.

Usually you will find your precis is too long, if it is more than one-third the
length of the original. Continue your revision until you have reduced the
precis to the proper length In this careful revision lies the principal value of
the precis as a composition exercise.

Approach to Precis Writing for Bank PO Exams

o

A precis should reduce the lenght of the original passage by at least two thirds.

Every important idea must be retained, preferably in the order in which it

appears in the original.

Unimportant points, including details, illustrations and anecdotes, should be

discarded.

A first draft of the precis should be written, then checked to see that it
contains the main ideas of the passage.

Although you should be as brief as possible, guard against being so

condensed that you obscure the point of passage.

Try to capture the tone or feeling of the original, particularly if it is

deliberately humorous ironic or biased.

Check the draft for expression errors, repetition or vague phrasing; then
write a smoother final version.

Important Techniques to Compress the Given Data for

Precis Writing

A good precis is without all superfluities. This is not quite easy to achieve and
requires a lot of patience, hard work and practice. Certain devices, like one
word substitution, help to reduce words in a precis and assists in compressing
it.
Something a single word is sufficient fro many. Hence the more one-words you
know, the better for you. This requires vocabulary development which extensive
reading

and

god

dictionaries

and

other

sources

can

provide.

For clear understanding, have a look at the following examples.

o

One who is not professional - Amateur

An assembly of hearers - Audience

A battle or match in which neither party wins - Drawn

Fit to be eaten - Edible

That which cannot be conquered - Invincible

Sentences can be compressed in two ways

1. by removing redundancies and ornamental expressions, and
2. by combining a number of sentences into one sentence.
Examples :
o

When sorrows come, they do not come alone but in battalions

o

you can compress the above sentence and simplify it as Misfortunes

never come alone

The thunder-storm continued unabated and did not cease until after it was
dawn
o

you can compress the above sentence and simplify it as The thunderstorm continued till dawn

I was standing at the gate. it was the time of sunset. At that time a
carriage drew up. The carriage contained a gentleman. The gentleman was
middle aged.
o

you can compress the above sentence and simplify it as While I was
standing at the gate at sunset, a carriage containing a middleaged gentleman drew up.

A paragraph consists of a number of sentences dealing with a single topic or

idea. It has thus a unity of purpose and is quite easy to summarize. The first
sentence generally states the theme. Each sentence develops the subject in a
logical manner. All sentences which elaborate or explain the main idea are
omitted while writing a precis. We deal only with the crux of the paragraph.

Precis Writing Examples for SBI Bank PO Exams

Precis Writing Example :
Trees give shade for the benefit of others, and while they themselves stand in
the sun and endure the scorching heat, they produce the fruit of which others
profit. The character of good men is like that of trees. What is the use of this
perishable body if no use is made of it for the benefit of mankind ? Sandalwood,
the more it is rubbed, the more scent does it yield. Sugarcane, the more it is
peeled and cut up into pieces, the more juice does it produce. The men who are
noble at heart do not lose their qualities even in losing their lives. What matters
whether men praise them or not? What difference does it make whether they
die at this moment or whether lives are prolonged? Happen what may, those
who is unprofitable to a man who does not live for others. To live for the mere
sake of living one's life is to live the life or dog and crows. Those who lay down
their lives for the sake of others will assuredly dwell forever in a world of bliss.
Now they will ask you to make a precis out of the above paragraph and put a
suitable title for it. Make it the habit of reading twice before going to write
precis. First read little slowly because you are new to this para. Later read lil
faster and try to pick important points mentioned in the paragraph.
What will be the suitable title for our precis ?
Life of trees? Smell of Sandal wood? Death of good men? or Juice of Sugar
Cane? See, don't confuse with the lines. Try to pick the soul of the paragraph.
About what they are talking of. Now just think of a suitable name for the above
para

And now you should write precis... Remember all the points we've discussed in
our earlier precis writing tips. Just pick important points from the given para

and

write

them

on

your

own.

All

the

best.

Precis : The character of good men is like that of trees. They live for others and
do not lose their qualities even in losing their lives. They always follow the right
path. Praise is immaterial to them. To live for one's own sake is to lead the life
of beasts. Only those who lay down their lives for others will live forever in a
world of bliss.