What are the 7 (seven) steps to writing an effective precis?

SEVEN-STEPS TO WRITING AN EFFECTIVE PRECIS

Follow the seven-steps given below to produce an effective précis.

(1) Read and comprehend:

In order to write a précis, we have to first of all read and understand the original piece of writing. Read the original piece of writing as many times as required and make sure that you have understood what the author has expressed in his/her words.

(2) Prepare a skeleton of the main ideas:

After reading and understanding the précis, list out the important points discussed in it.

(3) Assimilate the essentials:

Once you write down the main points mentioned in the précis focus on each of the points noted down and rephrase them in your words. This will help you reshape the overall idea of the original passage in your words without distorting or losing its sense.

(4) Think of a title:

Think of a suitable title based on the central idea of the précis.

(5) Prepare the first draft:

Once you have completed all the steps mentioned above, prepare the first draft of your précis. While doing so, remember to neither delete any important idea nor add anything of your own.

(6) Review and compare: 

You must review and compare your précis with the original. By doing so, you can find out if you have missed out on any point or if you have made any addition to it. While doing so, ask yourself questions such as—Does my précis have the essence of the original passage? Does my précis include all the important ideas expressed in the original? Has any idea been unnecessarily added, repeated, or deleted? Does it follow a coherent structure? Does it have clarity and compactness of expression? Does it use linkers and punctuation marks correctly? At this stage, you can also count the number of words used in your précis.

(7) Edit and revise: 

Since you have reviewed your first draft critically you can now revise your second draft and shape it as the final version of your précis. At this final step of précis writing, incorporate all the alterations, modifications, and changes you thought while reviewing your first draft. This is one way of giving the passage the final touches.