Precis Writing Samples - 3 | Course for UPPSC Preparation - UPPSC (UP) PDF Download

Examples of Précis Writing #1

A man in the east gave up all worldly concerns and went to a wood, where he built a hut and lived in it. His only clothing was a piece of cloth that he wore around his waist. But as ill luck would have it, rats were plentiful in the wood; so he had to keep a cat. The cat requires milk; so he had to keep a cow. The cow required tending, so a cowboy was employed.
The boy required a house to live in. So a house was built for him. To look after the house a maid had to be engaged. To provide company for the maid a few more houses had to be made, and people were invited to live in them. In this manner, a little township sprang up in the lovely wood. (136 words)

Sample Answer

Title: A forest turns into a town
Precis: A man gave up all worldly things and went to live in a block of lovely wood. Rats troubled him. So he kept a cat. To feed the cat he kept a cow. Then came one by one a cowboy, a maid, and her companions. They needed houses to live in. Thus the forest turned into a town. (58 words)

Examples of Précis Writing #2

Nelson, as a child, was not of a strong body. Yet he gave proof of that resolute heart and nobleness of mind which during the whole of his glorious career so eminently distinguished him. One day he strayed from his grandmother’s house in the company of a cowboy. The dinner hour passed; he was absent and could not be found. The alarm of the family became very great, for they feared that he might have been carried off by the gipsies.
At length after a long search, he was discovered sitting composedly by the side of a brook which he could not get over. “I wonder, child,” said the old lady, when she saw him, “That hunger and fear did not drive you home”, Fear! grandmamma,” replied the future hero,” I never saw fear; what is it?” (137 words)

Sample Answer

Title: Nelson the fearless boy
Precis: Nelson gave proof of his fearlessness even in his childhood. One day he strayed away from his grandmother’s house and did not return even at dinner time. At last, he was found sitting by a brook. To his grandmother’s wonder how even hunger and fear could not drive him home, he said he had never seen fear and did not know either what it was. (65 words)

Examples of Précis Writing #3

One night a holy man, Abu Ben Adhem by name, suddenly woke up from a deep dream of peace and saw in his moonlit room an angel writing something in a book of gold. He did not feel at all frightened. The peaceful face of the angel made Abu bold and he said to the angel, “What are you writing?” The angel looked up and replied in a kind and sweet tone, “I am taking down the names of those who love God.” “And is my name one among them?” Asked Abu. But the angel replied, ” No, it is not.” “I pray thee then,” said Abu, “To write me down as one who loves his fellowmen.”
The Angel wrote and vanished. The next night the angel came again with a great light which awaked Abu Ben Adhem: and he showed Abu the names of those who had been blessed by the love of God. And behold! the name of Abu was at-he top of the list. (166 words)

Sample Answer

Title: To love men is the best way to love God
Precis: One night Abu Ben Adhem was sleeping in his room. An angel came there and wrote down the names of the lovers of God. But Abu’s name was not there. At Abu’s request, the angel wrote his name as a lover of man. The next night it was seen that Abu’s name headed the list of the lovers of God. (60 words)

Examples of Précis Writing #4

Man first appeared on earth half a million years ago. Then he was little more than an animal. Even so, early man had certain advantages over animals. He had a large brain, he had an upright body with quick-moving hands. He invented a language to communicate with his fellow men.
This ability to speak was of supreme value because it allowed men to share ideas and plan together: speech enabled ideas to be passed on from generation to generation. These special advantages put men far ahead of all other living creatures. Since those far-off times, when he first made his appearance, man has achieved a great deal. (110 words)

Sample Answer

Title: How Man Makes Himself
Precis: From his first animal-like existence man developed with the help of a big brain and quick-moving hands and the invention of language and speech. He achieved much by communicating with others and passing on knowledge to posterity. (37 words)

Examples of Précis Writing #5

Religion is based I think, primarily and mainly on fear. It is partly the terror of the unknown and the wish to feel that you have a kind of elder brother who will stand by in all your troubles and disputes. Fear is the basis of the whole thing-fear of the mysterious, fear of defeat, fear of death. Fear is the parent of cruelty and therefore, it is no wonder if cruelty and religion go hand in hand.
It is because fear is at the basis of those two things in this world that we can now be a little to understand things and master them with the help of Science, which has forced its ways step by step against the Christian religion: against the churches, and against the opposition of all the old precepts. Science can help us to get over this grave fear in which mankind has lived for so many generations. Science can teach us no longer to invent allies in the sky, but rather to look to our own efforts here below to make this world a fit place to live in. (186 words)

Sample Answer

Title: Science Versus Religion
Precis: Fear of the unknown and the wish to get help from other sources in his distress led men to put faith in Religion. Science has made man independent of all this. With the help of Science man has gotten over the fears of unseen powers. As a result, Science is thus undermining the awe and fear of Christianity and the power of the churches. (64 words)