How to Write a Precis: Definition, Guide, & Examples

A précis is a brief synopsis of a written piece. It is used to summarize and analyze a text’s main points. If you need to write a précis for a research paper or the AP Lang exam, you’ve come to the right place.

In this comprehensive guide by Custom-Writing.org, you’ll find:

• explanations of different précis formats,
• a step-by-step writing guide,
• 4 précis samples,
• answers to frequent questions.

📚 What Is a Precis?

Précis is a type of writing that represents a text’s crucial ideas and has a fixed structure. It’s close to an essay in format, but it consists of only 4 sentences with specific content:

1. Author’s name, genre, and title of work. It also contains the thesis statement (what the author claims or suggests.)
2. Close examination of the thesis and its revelation, usually in the same order as in the original text.
3. Explanation of the work’s purpose. This part answers the questions “why?” and “what for?”
4. Description of the tone and the audience. This sentence discusses who the author appeals to.

Writing a précis can be helpful in numerous cases, such as:

• preparation for complex text analysis,
• creation of an annotated bibliography,
• summarizing a lengthy research paper,
• improvement of critical thinking and analytical skills.

How Long Should a Precis Be?

The length of a précis can vary depending on the format and original text. According to précis writing rules, the rhetorical format should consist of 4 sentences, each being a separate paragraph. A précis is supposed to be about 100-200 words long. Sometimes, it can be 1/5 of the original text’s length.

Difference between Summary and Precis

Even though “summary” is a synonym of “précis,” there are several essential differences between these two notions. The main distinction lies in structure: a précis always consists of 4 sentences, while a summary’s format can vary.

Have a look at the comparison below:

📌 Précis

• Comprises exactly 4 laconic sentences.
• Covers only the essential ideas.
• Emulates the original text’s writing tone and style.

📌 Summary

• Varies in structure and usually follows the analyzed work.
• Incorporates all of the text’s aspects.
• Can be written in any style and doesn’t have to follow the text’s original tone.

📝 Precis Format Types

Now, you know what a précis is, but that’s not all of it. There are also different formats of précis writing: critical, rhetorical, research, and literary. In this section, we will examine their components and structure.

Critical Precis Definition & Structure

A critical précis focuses on an argument and reveals the text’s reasoning. It’s also the most frequent of all formats. While working on such a précis, follow these writing rules for each segment:

1. Formulate an argument expressed in the original piece.
2. Indicate the author’s reasoning and its essential components.
3. Analyze the evidence the author uses to corroborate their argumentation.
4. Discuss what kind of audience the work appeals to.

Rhetorical Precis Definition & Structure

A rhetorical précis is an analytical review of the original text’s subject matter and persuasive techniques. It reveals the fundamental ideas of the paper and shows how it works rhetorically. This format is one of the AP Lang assignments.

Each of the 4 elements of a rhetorical précis structure expresses particular information:

1. Background and thesis statement.
2. The argument used to support the core point.
3. Explanation of the text’s purpose.
4. Analysis of the rhetorical devices the author utilizes to convince the readers.

Research Precis Definition & Structure

Research précis is similar to the critical one, except it’s meant to present a concise, structured synopsis of a scholarly paper.

The 4 elements of this précis type are as follows:

1. Description of the work’s purpose and issues raised in it.
2. Overview of all the methods utilized by the researcher.
3. Summary of the practical results and findings.
4. Reasoning of the study’s significance.

Literary Precis Definition & Structure

Literary précis is an argumentative overview of a text with special attention to its literary devices. The purpose and contents of this type significantly differ from others.

Have a look at this format’s structure:

1. The work’s title, genre, and central theme.
2. Plot summary: the principal characters, place and time of the narration, and the primary conflict.
3. The text’s overall purpose: what thoughts it intends to evoke in the minds of the audience.
4. The exploration of literary devices that help to accomplish the desired result.

✅ How to Write a Precis Step by Step

Now, let’s see what exactly you need for developing a perfect précis.

We’ll start with the pre-writing stage. As soon as this part is done, the rest of the process will be far more manageable. These actionable tips can help you with it:

• Read the original text comprehensively and note down essential information.
• Boil down each segment to a single sentence.
• Don’t forget to mention the text’s arguments, methods, and purpose in your notes.

It can be beneficial if you use the mind mapping to organize the key aspects from the reading. Putting all the main points on the chart or diagram helps you manage your thoughts and establish a suitable plan for your essay. To do it, you simply need to connect the elements you’ve already outlined. Check out this article by the University of Kansas to discover more about mind mapping and other pre-writing techniques.

Precis Outline

Below you’ll find a detailed outline for each of the 4 précis parts. Follow the steps to make your writing process effortless:

Rhetorical Precis Template

To help you structure your précis, we’ve created a sample template that you can download in PDF format below. All you need to do is to print it out and fill in the blanks.

Rhetorical Precis: Verbs & Sentence Starters

Want to make your précis stand out? You can do it by using certain clichés and rhetorically accurate verbs. They will help you describe the writer’s reasoning precisely.

Check out this list of common précis words and sentence starters that you can use:

Precis Format Tips

When you finish the writing, it’s time to start proofreading your text. Proofreading means looking for grammar and spelling errors in your text, and it helps you improve your text and correct all the mistakes. Here are some tips for proofreading your text successfully:

• If you have doubts about the sentence structure, it’s better to use simple sentences.
• Check the spelling errors. If you can’t use a dictionary, it’s better not to use words that you barely know.
• Give your text to someone else to check if everything is correct.
• You may also use grammar and spell checkers.

It’s also crucial to format your text correctly. Be sure that you’re following style requirements:

1. Use 12 font size and double space intervals and at least 1-inch margins on all sides.
2. Write your name at the end.
3. Write in the author’s voice instead of reporting their words indirectly.
4. Keep the same order of ideas as in the original text.

Precis Writing Checklist

Now you’re all set to start working on your précis. To make things even easier for you, we’ve prepared a checklist you can use while writing:

📋 Precis Examples: Different Types

We’ve prepared for your high school and college examples of different précis to help you write one of your own. Feel free to use them as inspiration.

Critical Precis Example

Rhetorical Precis Example

Research Precis Example

Literary Precis Example

Precis Essay Topics

1. Précis of Everyday Use by Alice Walker
2. Write a summary of COVID-19 related articles
3. Synopsis of On the American Working Class
4. Create a précis of Wearables by Linnie Greene
5. Present a brief summary of Overview of the Immune Response
6. Write a synopsis of 3 lung cancer articles
7. Précis of an article by Douglas C. Engelbart
8. Write a concise synopsis of Consider the Lobster
9. Present a précis of a journal article
10. Summary of the article Coming to the Aid of Women in U.S. Prison by D.S. McClellan
11. Come up with a synopsis of an article in Journal of Nutritional Biochemistry
12. Summary of the article The HR Challenges Shaping the Healthcare Industry
13. Write a synopsis of a research paper on evidence-based interventions for anxiety
14. Make a précis of the study Practice Nurse Use of Evidence in Clinical Practice
15. Present a short summary of the article Robotic Kidney Transplantation: One Year After the Beginning
16. Create a synopsis of an article critique
17. Short summary of the film The Great Debaters
18. Summary of the article Breast Cancer and Exercise
19. Write a synopsis of the article Assessment and Management of Sexual Dysfunction in the Context of Depression
20. Précis of the article Maternal Stress and Sensitivity: Moderating Effect of Positive Affect
21. Make a reading summary of two social articles
22. Summary of Examining Evidence-Based Interventions to Prevent Inpatient Falls
23. Short synopsis of the article You Know Nothing, John Doe!
24. Précis and analysis of the article My Turn: $15 an Hour Minimum Wage Would Slow Economy
25. Summary of McCallum’s Followership
26. Present a comparative synopsis of Woolf’s and Brady’s feminist articles
27. Précis of Business Careers with High Pay
28. Summary of Women Should Have to Register for the Draft
29. Write a synopsis of The Spirit in Creation by D. Williams
30. Précis of sports and organizational conflict articles
31. Write a summary and analysis of the article New Bases of Competitive Advantage
32. Synopsis of Asleep on the Job
33. Précis of Sleep, Health, and Wellness at Work
34. Summary of Leadership Characteristics and Digital TransFormation
35. Present a synopsis of Tweeting Social Change by Guo & Saxton
36. Précis of the article The Nature of Things: Biomimicry
37. Summary of How to Develop a Strategic Mindset
38. Synopsis of Coalition Brings Pressure to End Forced Uighur Labor
39. Write a précis of 2 gender inequality articles
40. Present a summary of Chopin’s The Story of an Hour
41. Synopsis of The Necklace
42. Make a précis of The Garden Party by Catherine Mansfield
43. Summary of Zika Virus Disease: A Public Health Emergency of International Concern
44. Write a synopsis of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House
45. Create a short précis of Letter from Birmingham Jail
46. Make a summary of Seven Jewish Children by Caryl Churchill
47. Synopsis of A Rose For Emily by Faulkner
48. Present a précis of Googling Your Date by Martha Irvine
49. Write a summary of Get Your Bonds Ready for a Fed Rate Boost

Now you’re ready to write your précis! Use this guide every time you need to write a task for college or if you need to prepare for AP Lang exams. We wish you best of luck with your writing assignments!

Further reading:

• How to Write an Abstract Step-by-Step: a Guide + Examples
• How to Write a Reflection Paper: Example & Tips
• How to Write a Critical Thinking Essay: Examples & Outline
• How to Write a Personal Essay: Topics, Structure, & Examples

🔍 References

1. A Review of Critical Reading Skills: Palomar College
2. Writing a Summary or Rhetorical Précis to Analyze Nonfiction Texts: University of Wisconsin-Madison
3. Rhetorical Précis: Lumen Learning
4. Writing a Useful Précis for a Research Article: University of Washington
5. Précis: Texas A&M University
6. How to Write a Précis: Monmouth University
7. Writing a Précis: Wilfried Laurier University
8. Mapping: Gallaudet University
9. The Rhetorical Précis: Folsom Cordova Unified School District
10. All about Précis Writing: Purdue University