Precis Writing Practice Passage Seventeen for Beginners

• Distractions (noun): Things that prevent someone from concentrating on something else

  • Contextual Explanation: Refers to activities that divert attention from important tasks like learning

• Illusion (noun): A thing that is or is likely to be wrongly perceived or interpreted by the senses; a deceptive appearance or impression

  • Contextual Explanation: Describes the false belief that we have unlimited control over our lifespan

• Finite (adjective): Having limits or bounds

  • Contextual Explanation: A core concept stresses that time is limited and not endless.

The passage is about the tendency of people to delay tasks, leading to wasted time, regret, and missed opportunities. It emphasizes that time must be treated as a limited, precious resource. Moreover, the purpose of the passage is to highlight the futility of procrastination, which reminds individuals that time is limited and irretrievable and urges them to use it wisely.

Main Idea of the Passage

• Time is a finite resource that should not be wasted through procrastination and delay.

Supporting Ideas Helping the Main Idea

• People often delay tasks, waiting for a perfect time.
• Time is not too short; instead, people waste it.
• Once lost, time can never be regained.
• Time is finite and should be valued like a scarce currency.

Confused About Main and Supporting Ideas?

Kindly make sure to revise all five lectures on Precis Writing that I have already delivered. In these sessions, we discussed in detail:

• What a precis is and its purpose.
• What the main idea means and how to extract it effectively.
• What supporting ideas are and how to identify them.
• How to coordinate the main and supporting ideas while writing a concise, coherent precis.

Additionally, go through the 20 examples I shared in the WhatsApp groups. These examples highlight the Dos and Don’ts of Precis Writing, and revising them will help you avoid common mistakes and refine your technique.

Precis 1

Time is limited and valuable, but procrastination wastes people's opportunities, leaving no repayment for them. Therefore, conscious management ensures their productivity because illusions of control cannot extend their life's finite span.

• Original Words in the Passage: 78
• Precis Word Count: 31
• Title: The Value of Time

Precis 2

Time is finite; wasting it through delay and distractions invites regret for people. Hence, human life demands careful and conscious use of every moment.

• Original Words in the Passage: 78
• Precis Word Count: 24
• Title: Time as a Precious Resource

Precis 3

Time is a precious resource; succumbing to distractions leads humans to irrevocable loss, highlighting the wisdom of conscious and disciplined management of every moment.

• Original Words in the Passage: 78
• Precis Word Count: 24
• Title: Time: Life’s Irreplaceable Currency