Precis Writing Samples - 1 | Course for UPPSC Preparation - UPPSC (UP) PDF Download

Examples of Précis Writing #1

There is an enemy beneath our feet—an enemy more deadly for his complete impartiality. He recognizes no national boundaries, and no political parties. Everyone in the world is threatened by him. The enemy is the Earth itself. When an earthquake strikes, the world trembles. The power of a quake is greater than anything man himself can produce.
But today scientists are directing a great deal of their effort into finding some way of combating earthquakes and, perhaps at some time shortly, mankind will have discovered a means of protecting itself from earthquakes. An earthquake strikes without warning. When it does, its power is immense. If it strikes a modern city, the damage it causes is as great as if it has struck a primitive village. Gas mains burst, explosions are caused and fires are started. Underground railways are wrecked. Buildings collapse, bridges fall, dams burst and gaping crevices appear in busy streets.
If the quake strikes at sea, huge tidal waves sweep inland. If it strikes mountain regions, avalanches roar down into the valley. Consider the terrifying statistics from the past 1755: Lisbon, capital of Portugal—the city was destroyed entirely and 450 killed; 1970: Peru—50,000 killed. In 1968, an earthquake struck Alaska. As this is a relatively unpopulated part, only a few people were killed. But this likely was one of the most powerful quakes ever to have hit the world.
Geologists estimate that during the tremors, the whole of the state moved over 80 feet farther west into the Pacific Ocean. Imagine the power of something that can move an entire subcontinent! This is the problem that scientists face. They are dealing with forces so immense that man cannot hope to resist them. All that can be done is to try to pinpoint just where the earthquake will strike and work from there. At least some precautionary measures can then be taken to save lives and some property. (329 words)

Rough Draft

• Earthquake is one of the worst enemies of mankind.
• It causes great damage as it strikes without warning.
• Scientists are finding ways to combat the disaster.
• Earthquakes cause great damage to life and property.
• Statistics have reported that the intensity of earthquakes can be so terrible that they can move an entire continent.
• Alaska moved over 80 feet farther west into the Pacific Ocean when an earthquake struck in 1968.

Sample Answer

Title: Earthquake—the enemy beneath our feet
Precis: An earthquake is one of the worst enemies of mankind as it causes great damage to life and property. Statistics have reported that the intensity of earthquakes can be so terrible that they can move an entire continent. Alaska moved over 80 feet farther west into the Pacific Ocean when an earthquake struck in 1968. Scientists are finding ways to combat the disaster, but the problem is that it strikes without warning, and only precautionary measures can be taken to save life and property. (84 words)

Examples of Précis Writing #2

When we survey our lives and efforts, we soon observe that almost the whole of our actions and desires are bound up with the existence of other human beings. We notice that the whole of nature resembles that of social animals. We eat food that others have produced, wear clothes that others have made, and live in houses that others have built. The greater part of our knowledge and beliefs has been passed on to us by other people through the medium of a language that others have created. Without language and mental capacities, we would have been poor indeed comparable to higher animals.
We have therefore to admit that we owe our principal knowledge over the least to the fact of living in human society. The individual if left alone from birth would remain primitive and beast-like in his thoughts and feelings to a degree that we can hardly imagine. The individual is what he is and has the significance that he has not much in virtue of individuality, but rather as a member of a great human community, which directs his material and spiritual existence from the cradle to the grave. (193 words)

Rough Draft

• Humans are social animals.
• They depend on each other for necessities and social needs.
• Humans use language to communicate with each other and further their mental development.
• Humans are superior to animals as they live in societies that guide their material and spiritual existence.

Sample Answer

Title: Man and society
Precis: Human beings have their actions and desires bound up with society as they are social animals. They depend on each other for food and clothes and share their knowledge and beliefs, and use language created by others to communicate, which helps in their mental development. They are superior to beasts because they live in human society. An individual left alone since birth would grow utterly beast-like. Human society guides man’s material and spiritual existence. (76 words)

Examples of Précis Writing #3

Teaching is one of the noblest professions. A teacher performs the sacred duty of making his students responsible, compassionate, and disciplined. Apart from developing their intellect, a teacher is also responsible for inculcating the qualities of good citizenship, cleanliness, politeness, and etiquette. These virtues are not easy to be imbibed. Only a person who himself leads a quality life characterized by simplicity, purity, and rigid discipline can successfully cultivate these habits in his pupils.
A teacher always remains young at heart, although he may grow old age. Perpetual contact with budding youngsters keeps him hale and hearty. There are moments when domestic worries weigh heavily on his mind, but the delightful company of innocent children makes him overcome his transient moods of despair. (126 words)

Rough Draft

• Teaching is one of the noblest professions.
• A teacher moulds the intellect and the minds of his students.
• A teacher inculcates good habits in young citizens.
• A teacher himself leads a simple life.
• He remains forever young in the company of his students.

Sample Answer

Title: Being a Teacher
Precis: A teacher is not only responsible for disciplining students but also for moulding their character. A teacher inculcates good habits in students, as he himself leads a simple and disciplined life. A teacher may age physically, but the company of  his students always keeps him young. (46 words)

Examples of Précis Writing #4

It is observed that in schools offering co-education, there is often a power struggle between boys and girls. Even teachers become a part of this when they compare the two and pass gender-biased judgments. Such a treatment is harmful to the overall well-being of the students, as their self-esteem is damaged by receiving undue criticism from teachers.
According to research, boys are often neglected in co-ed schools. Right from their childhood, they are expected to be tougher, stronger, and better than girls. This is a disadvantage for both genders. When girls are not challenged enough, it makes them depressed and dependent. On the other hand, boys are challenged to such an extent that their childhood and innocence are lost. (121 words)

Rough Draft

• Co-education schools display a power struggle between boys and girls
• Teachers too compare and judge
• Negative feedback crushes students’ self-esteem
• Boys are neglected in co-ed schools
• Boys and girls are stereotyped right from school.

Sample Answer

Title: The Challenges in a Co-Education System
Precis: Co-education schools often show a power struggle between boys and girls. Boys are constantly pushed beyond their limits and girls are repressed. Their childhood and innocence are lost in this struggle, as the negativity and stereotyping from the teachers crush their self-esteem. (42 words)

Examples of Précis Writing #5

How I Taught My Grandmother to Read is a short story written by Sudha Murthy who remembers one of her childhood experiences when her grandmother wanted to learn the Alphabet. The author was still young, and the story is about a time when there were no television serials or movies in India. The elders took interest in the stories and novels published in a popular Kannada magazine.
One of the novels was Kaashi Yatra, written by Triveni. It was the grandmother’s favourite novel, as she identified herself with the old woman in the novel. Like the old woman in the novel, the author’s grandmother also dreamt of being educated. After being married at a young age and bearing children, the grandmother had to abandon her studies. Therefore, unable to read or write, she would ask the author to read the novel to her.
Once, when the author had gone to a wedding, the magazine arrived but the grandmother could not read it as the author was away. When the author returned home, her grandmother requested her to become her guru and teach her to read. Grandmother explained to her little granddaughter about her long-forgotten love to learn reading and writing. The author agreed to teach her grandmother. In a few days, the grandmother could read the Alphabet.
On the day of Durga Puja, she read the title of the book, Kaashi Yatra, on her own. The author gave her a copy of the book Kaashi Yatra and her grandmother touched her feet in respect; as she was a student touching the feet of her teacher. (260 words)

Rough Draft

• Sudha Murty’s grandmother liked the novel Kaashi Yatra, written by Triveni.
• Since she couldn’t read, she was dependent on the author who would read the novel to her every week.
• Once when the author was away from home, the magazine arrived.
• Grandmother couldn’t read it and had to wait for her granddaughter to return home.
• Grandmother decided to learn the Alphabet from her.
• Eventually, her grandmother could read the title of the novel on her own.
• On Durga Puja day, the grandmother touched the author’s feet as a mark of respect for her guru.

Sample Answer

Title: Grandmother Learns to Read
Precis: Sudha Murty’s grandmother was dependent on her for reading her favourite novel, Kaashi Yatra published in the weekly magazine because she couldn’t read it on her own. Once when the author was away, the magazine arrived but her grandmother couldn’t read it. When the author returned, her grandmother requested her to become her teacher and help her learn the Alphabet. The author’s grandmother not only learned to read but also touched the author’s feet as a mark of respect for her guru on Durga Puja day. (86 words)