A précis is a concise account of a text’s main argument or message, written in your own words. It preserves the original meaning and relationships between ideas while removing detail that is not essential to the summary’s purpose.
Read for the central argument
Identify what the source is trying to establish and how its main sections contribute. Separate the author’s position from supporting illustrations and background. If the text contains qualifications, note them before condensing it; a summary that removes every limit can make the original argument more absolute than it is.
Plan what must remain
List the central claim, main reasons and important conclusion. Choose details according to the required length and audience. A précis is not a collection of isolated sentences taken from different paragraphs. The shortened version should still show how the reasoning develops and which points depend on others.
Write without copying the source’s structure mechanically
Put the main ideas into clear, connected prose. Paraphrase meaning rather than replacing individual words with synonyms. Keep technical terms where changing them would distort the content. If exact wording is necessary, quote and attribute it according to the assignment rules rather than disguising a quotation as a paraphrase.
Keep summary separate from evaluation
Do not insert your agreement, criticism or additional evidence unless the task explicitly asks for a combined summary and response. Represent the source fairly even where you disagree with it. An introductory attribution can make clear whose argument is being summarised, while the required citation identifies the work.
Check accuracy and compression together
Compare the précis with the source. Look for missing qualifications, altered causal claims and examples that have displaced a main idea. Then remove repetition and unnecessary framing phrases. Confirm the word limit and reference requirements. A précis is successful when a reader can understand the original line of reasoning in a shorter form.
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For general study guidance, visit the knowledgebase. Follow your own course requirements when applying this article to assessed work.