Précis, Paragraph and Essay Writing Notes for Competitive Exams

Many competitive examinations have a descriptive English paper, where you have to write a précis, a paragraph, an essay or a letter. The SSC CGL descriptive paper (Tier 3), state public service commissions, defence services and many other examinations test your ability to express ideas clearly and correctly in writing. Writing is a skill that improves with a method and practice. This note explains how to write a précis, a paragraph and an essay, with step-by-step rules, a sample passage with its précis, useful connectors and the common mistakes to avoid. The language is simple, so that students from any background can follow it.

Part 1: Précis Writing

A précis is a short summary of a passage in your own words, which keeps all the main ideas and leaves out the examples, details and repetition. The word comes from French and means "cut short". A good précis is clear, correct and complete, and it can be understood without reading the original passage.

Rules of Précis Writing

• Length: About one-third of the original passage. If the passage has 300 words, the précis should have about 100 words.
• Own words: Do not copy long phrases from the passage. Use simple, direct sentences.
• Third person and indirect speech: Write in the third person and, usually, in the present or past tense. Convert direct speech into indirect speech.
• No personal opinion: Do not add your own views, comments or criticism.
• Keep the order: Follow the order of the ideas in the original.
• Remove: Examples, quotations, figures of speech, repetition and unnecessary adjectives.
• Add a title: A short and suitable title that reflects the main idea.

Steps to Write a Précis

1. Read the passage twice, first for the general idea and then for the details.
2. Underline the main points and the topic sentences of the paragraphs.
3. Write a rough draft in your own words, in about one-third of the length.
4. Check that all the main ideas are present and that no opinion is added.
5. Count the words, correct the grammar and write the final copy with the title.

Sample Passage and Précis

Passage: Time is the most valuable resource that a student has, and yet it is the most wasted. Many students spend hours in useless talk or in aimless browsing on their phones, and then complain that the day is too short. Great people of every age have stressed the value of time. They planned their day, set small goals and followed their schedule with discipline. A student who makes a timetable and keeps to it will find that there is time for study, for play and for rest. In the end, the difference between the successful and the unsuccessful is often not talent, but the way in which time is used.

Précis (Title: The Value of Time): Time is a student's most precious resource, but it is often wasted on idle activities. Successful people planned their days, set goals and followed a routine. A student who follows a timetable can balance study, play and rest. Success depends more on the proper use of time than on talent.

The original has about 110 words, and the précis has about 45 words, which is a little less than half; for longer passages, the ratio becomes one-third. Notice that the examples (phone browsing) and the general remarks are removed, and the main message is kept.

Part 2: Paragraph Writing

A paragraph is a group of sentences about one central idea. It has three parts. The topic sentence states the main idea. The supporting sentences give reasons, facts or examples. The concluding sentence closes the idea or links it to the next. A paragraph in an examination is usually 100 to 150 words. Use simple sentences, one idea only and a logical order.

Example (topic: Importance of reading): Reading is one of the best habits that a person can develop. It improves vocabulary, sharpens thinking and increases knowledge about the world. A person who reads regularly also writes and speaks with more confidence. Moreover, reading is a source of calm in a busy life, as a good book takes the mind away from worries. Therefore, everyone should spend at least half an hour a day in reading.

Part 3: Essay Writing

An essay is a longer piece of writing on a topic, normally 250 words in competitive examinations, though the limit may vary by examination. It has three parts: the introduction, the body and the conclusion.

Sample Outline: Digital India

• Introduction: Meaning of Digital India and the year of launch (2015).
• Body 1: Benefits - online services, digital payments through UPI, easy access to information.
• Body 2: Challenges - the digital divide, cyber crimes, lack of digital literacy.
• Body 3: Solutions - training, strong cyber laws, internet in villages.
• Conclusion: Digital India can empower every citizen if it is inclusive and safe.

Linking Words (Connectors) to Improve Flow

Practice Passage for Précis

Try to write a précis of the following passage in about 35 words, and then compare it with the model. Passage: Water is essential for life, but in many parts of the world, it is becoming scarce. Rivers are polluted by factories and homes, groundwater is pumped out faster than rain can refill it, and climate change is making the rains less certain. Villages that once had enough water now depend on tankers. Experts say that the solution lies in saving water at home, reusing waste water, harvesting rain and protecting rivers from pollution. If every person takes a small step, the crisis can be reduced. Model précis (Title: Saving Water): Water is becoming scarce because of pollution, over-use of groundwater and uncertain rain. Experts suggest saving and reusing water, harvesting rain and protecting rivers. Small efforts by everyone can reduce the crisis.

Formal Style for Examinations

Use a formal style in descriptive answers. Avoid short forms such as "don't" and "can't", slang and spoken expressions. Use precise words in place of vague ones, for example, "increase" instead of "go up". Prefer the active voice for clarity, and use the passive voice only when the doer is not important. Keep sentences short, ideally less than 20 words, and use one idea per sentence. Make sure that the subject and verb agree, and use the correct tense throughout. These small habits improve the quality of your writing more than the use of difficult words.

Useful Phrases for Essays

• To begin: In today's world... / It is widely believed that... / The importance of ... cannot be denied.
• To argue: One of the main reasons is... / This has led to... / On the positive side... / On the negative side...
• To conclude: In conclusion... / Hence, it is clear that... / The need of the hour is...

Common Mistakes

• Copying sentences from the passage in a précis, or writing more than half of the original length.
• Mixing tenses and persons within the same paragraph.
• Writing long, complex sentences with grammar errors; short and correct sentences are better.
• No clear structure in the essay or no conclusion.
• Spelling mistakes and wrong use of articles and prepositions. You can revise them in our notes on articles and prepositions and commonly misspelt words.

How to Practise

Take one passage a day from a newspaper editorial or an English book and write its précis. Write one paragraph on a simple topic every day, and one full essay twice a week with a time limit of 30 minutes. Get your writing checked by a teacher or compare it with a model answer. Keep a vocabulary notebook for useful words and phrases, and read good English every day. Over time, you will see that your speed, accuracy and confidence improve.

Quick Revision

• Précis: one-third length, own words, third person, no opinions, add a title.
• Paragraph: topic sentence, supporting sentences, concluding sentence.
• Essay: introduction, body of three or four paragraphs, conclusion.
• Use connectors, short sentences and correct grammar.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is a précis?

A précis is a short summary of a passage in your own words that keeps all the main ideas.

What should be the length of a précis?

A précis should be about one-third of the length of the original passage.

In which person and tense should a précis be written?

It is written in the third person, usually in the present or past tense, and in indirect speech.

Should I add my own opinion in a précis?

No. A précis should not include any personal opinion or comment.

Should a précis have a title?

Yes. A short and suitable title is a good practice.

What are the parts of a paragraph?

The topic sentence, the supporting sentences and the concluding sentence.

What is the structure of an essay?

An essay has an introduction, a body of several paragraphs and a conclusion.

How many words are generally needed in an essay in competitive exams?

About 250 words is common, but you should follow the instructions of the particular examination.

What are connectors in writing?

Connectors are words and phrases like moreover, however, therefore and for example that link ideas and improve flow.

How can I improve my English writing?

Read regularly, write daily, use simple correct sentences, and get your writing checked.

What should I remove while writing a précis?

Remove examples, quotations, repetitions, figures of speech and unnecessary details.

Is writing practice useful for the SSC descriptive paper?

Yes. Regular practice of précis, paragraph, essay and letter writing prepares you well for the descriptive paper.