UNIT 13 PRECIS WRITING

Structure

13.0 Objectives
13.1 Introduction
13.2 What is a Precis?
13.3 Characteristics of a Good Precis
13.4 Method of Writing a Precis
13.5 Problems in Writing a Precis
13.6 Some Illustrations
13.7 Let Us Sum Up
13.8 Key Words
13.9 Answers to Check Your Progress
13.10 Terminal Questions

13.0 OBJECTIVES

After studying this unit, you should be able to: ‘

• explain the meaning of the term ‘precis’;

• outline the characteristics of a good précis;

• identify the problems in writing a précis;

• describe the method of writing a précis and

• write a precis for a given passage.

13.1 INTRODUCTION

In Unit 12, you learnt about the preparation of various types of reports. In this unit you will
learn about another important secretarial function, precis writing, which involves an exercise
in comprehension and condensation of an article, speech or correspondence. Thus, precis
writing means summarising. In order to make a summary of an article, a speech or a story,
one has to read it carefully and grasp its meaning. Precis-writing forces one to concentrate on
the material which is to be summarised. The primary object of precis writing is to present
facts and information to spend time reading unnecessary details. The necessity of speedily
reading documents mainly arises in business firms and government departments besides other
fields of activity. Lawyers, journalists, students, and secretaries of business executives need
to apply the art of precis writing regularly in their day to day activities. Lawyers have to
summarise the main points of their cases, editors and reporters have to summarise news and
speeches; students have to make notes from lectures and text-books. In this unit, you will
study about all these aspects.
13.2 WHAT IS A PRECIS?

‘Precis’ is a French word derived from the Latin word ‘Praecissus’, past participle of
‘Praecidere’ which means to cut off, to be brief, and is connected with the English word
‘Precis’.

A precis is a summary or the gist of the main ideas of written matter. Thus, precis writing
means summarising. It is an exercise in concentration, comprehension and condensation. In
order to make a summary of an article, a speech or a story, one has to read it carefully and
grasp its meaning. Precis-writing forces one to concentrate on the material which is to be
summarised.

In summarising a passage, though the length of the summary is not fixed, it is generally
expected that the summary would be one third the length of the passage. The summary is
known as precises and precis writing means summarising. It involves preparing a statement
concisely so as to convey the essential ideas contained in a longer passage or article. In other
words, precis is the gist or substance of a lengthy passage. A precis is not a paraphrase. At the
same time, the essential points of the main passage must be presented in the precis in such a
manner that the reader may easily grasp the main ideas of the passage.

The primary object of precis writing is to present facts and information to spend time reading
unnecessary details. The necessity of speedily reading documents mainly arises in business
firms and government departments besides other fields of activity. Lawyers, journalists,
students, and secretaries of business executives need to apply the art of precis writing
regularly in their day to day activities. Lawyers have to summarise the main points of their
cases, editors and reporters have to summarise news and speeches; students have to make
notes from lectures and text-books. The importance of precis writing in business lies in the
economical way of recording and presenting lengthy documents in compressed form. Busy
executives and managers in large organizations can get in the precis all the essential points
and thus can avoid the time-consuming process of going through long correspondence,
reports, etc. An important duty of the secretary of every organisation is to prepare the precis
of business documents including letters, reports and minutes of meetings.

13.3 CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD PRECIS

The characteristics of a good precis may be outlined as follows:

1) A good precis is not merely a list of the main ideas of a passage. The ideas are to be
organised and expressed in a logical sequence so that the precis reads like an original
piece of composition.

2) A good precis should contain all the essential ideas in the original passage, omitting
non-essential detail, examples, etc. The ideas should be, as far as possible, in the same
order as in the original. We should remember that in a precis one should not add
anything that the original passage does not contain. There is no need to comment on
the original matter either.

3) The language of precis should be clear, brief and precis, maintaining at the same time
the style and spirit of the original.
4) A precis should be written in indirect speech.

5) A good precis should, as far as possible, be in the writer’s own words.

6) It should not exceed or fall short of the length prescribed by too large a margin.
Usually, the limit set for a precis is one third in length of the original.

Check Your Progress A

1) Define the term ‘Precis’.

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2) Write the importance of writing a precis.

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3) List four characteristics of a good precis.

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13.4 METHOD OF WRITING A PRECIS

To write a good precis of a passage one needs to practice a lot. The major steps to be
followed while writing a precis are:

1) First of all, one should read the passage two or three times carefully to understand
clearly its general theme. In short, comprehension of the passage is the first step in
precis-writing.

2) Secondly, it is necessary to write down the main points of the passage by picking out
the essential ideas and leaving out the unimportant details. At this stage, compression
or condensation of the passage takes place. Repetitions, illustrations and examples can
be eliminated. Sentences and clauses may also be compressed into shorter by using,
for instance, a word for a phrase, a phrase for a clause and so on. In compressing a
passage, selection, rejection and generalisation are often useful. The words and
sentences of the original passage should be avoided to the extent possible. But one has
to make sure that the sentences are linked up properly to show the interrelationship of
the ideas in the passage. While being a summary of the original, the precis should be a
piece of self contained readable and continuous whole.
3) Next, write down a preliminary or a rough draft, keeping in mind the length of the
precis.

4) If it is necessary to provide a title to the summary, a short title may be given which
will express the ideas in the passage.

5) While making the final draft, one should make sure that all the main points are
included in the precis. One should also check whether the precis reads well and is
within the length prescribed. Give it a suitable heading.

If one is able to write a good precis, it is an indication of his or her ability to think clearly and
to distinguish what is important and what is not.

13.5 PROBLEMS IN WRITING A PRECIS

In writing a precis, one usually faces the following problems.

Accuracy: The first problem in writing a precis is to get the facts straight. One should not
make any statement without the support of facts. It is important to go through the précis
carefully to make sure that whatever is stated is factually correct.

Using Own Words: The second problem is the difficulty using one’s own words in the precis
to convey ideas given in the original passage. The best way to overcome the problem is to
read the passage carefully at least three to four times, and then writing the precis without
looking at the original. In this way, one may be able to use one’s own words, without the
temptation of borrowing directly from the original. However, if some words and phrases have
been used from the original from source, the same may be underlined. At the time of revision,
own words may be used in place of the underlined words. If it is impossible to change some
words, one may retain them from the passage.

Selecting Details: The third problem is deciding on the details to be included in the précis.
One should try to pick out only those details that are important. For example: Two people
may go to a restaurant and order many dishes and engage in lengthy conversation. In a precis
covering the above sentence, you do not need to mention each item of food and drink. If one
of the character gets drunk, however, it may he noted that the observation made by the person
were under the influence of liquor. Similarly, one need not report the entire conversation;
only the relevant part and important points need to be recorded. Certain things are more
important than others, and one must choose details according to the scale of importance.

Avoiding Conclusions: Since a precis is a factual summary of a passage, one should avoid
drawing conclusions based on one’s own interpretation of the facts. Personal opinion has no
place in a precis, so it is better to stick to details.

Avoiding Short Sentences: Although one may concentrate on essentials in the precis, short
and choppy sentences should be avoided. Here is an example:

Mary is beginning to walk to the Church. She is old but cheerful. She walks with a
cane. She has walked this way many times.
Here there are four sentences, all very short and beginning with the subject followed
immediately by the verb. Sentences like these are jerky in style. A revision of such a passage
should reduce the number of sentences but keep the same details as in the following:

Mary begins her familiar walk from her home to the Church. She is an old woman
who needs a cane for support, but she is cheerful.

Check Your Progress B

1) Write three problems faced in writing a precis?

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2) State whether the following statements are True or False ?

i) A precis is an exercise in concentration, comprehension and condensation.

ii) Comprehension of the passage of the original are to be retained in the precis.

iii) The words and sentences of the original are to be retained in the precis.

iv) A precis need not contain all the essential ideas in the original.

v) A precis should be written in direct speech.

vi) The title of the precis should be short and express the theme of the subject.

vii) You cannot write a good precis unless you have carefully studied and
understood the material you want to summarise.

13.6 SOME ILLUSTRATIONS

In earlier sections of this unit, you have learnt the meaning of precis its characteristic, the
problems involved in writing a precis and the method of writing a precis. Now you are in a
position to write a precis of any given passage. Let us do some exercises.

Exercise 1

The passage given below describes the Industrial Revolution of Europe and the improved
conditions of the working class. It consists of 292 words. Let us write a precis of about 100
words and suggest a title:

First, read the passage carefully.

 One of the outstanding features of the century has been the improvement of living
conditions of the working man, greater political power, more wealth and leisure, and
better facilities for health, security and education.

In early civilisations, most communities were sharply divided into two classes, those
who laboured and those who did not. The small number of rulers - kings, priests,
military leaders - lived in great comfort, and did very little work. The vast majority of
the population enjoyed very few comforts, did lot of work, and had scarcely any
political power. In some societies, there was an even more wretched class, the slaves,
who had no rights at all.

The Industrial Revolution of Europe led to the production of vast quantities of goods,
and workers began to be dissatisfied with their poverty. The factory owners needed
skilled workers, and gradually they realised that they must show goodwill to their
workforce, in order to stay in business. As in many other reforms, some enlightened
slowly spread that workers were entitled to some consideration. Since men were free
to work for any master they chose, good master soon had the pick of the workers and
old-fashioned employers found themselves with a factory full of lower-grade
workforce. Such a situation soon led to an all-round improvement in standards, and
good employers tried to raise working conditions still higher. These improvements
were speeded up by the increased organization of workers in Trade Union
movements, particularly in low-standard factories, where the owner often had to deal
with strike action by dissatisfied workers.

Now that the working classes are getting better and better working conditions, the
need to strike has lessened considerably; and employers and workers alike have come
to realise that they depend on each other for their livelihood. (292 words)

As discussed earlier, you are now required to read the passage two or three times
carefully. After reading the passage, the main points are to be listed. Will you now try to
note down the main points of the passage in the space given below?

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We think that the points you develop would be similar to the following points. Compare the
points you listed with the points given below.

Main Points

1) Working classes enjoy better living conditions in the present century.

2) In earlier civilisations, there was a big gap between the conditions of kings, etc. and
those of the masses.

3) The effect of the Industrial Revolution on the lot of the working classes is significant.

4) The starting of the Trade Unions.

With the help of the points given below, we can attempt the rough draft of the precis.

First Draft

An important feature of this century is the improvement in the living conditions of the
working classes, in the form of more power, wealth, leisure and security. At one time,
kings, leaders, priests, etc., lived in comfort doing little or no work while the majority
did all the work and enjoyed few comforts and rights. In some countries there were
slaves who had no rights at all. During the Industrial Revolution of Europe,
production increased and workers started feeling dissatisfied. Employers were
induced to improve working conditions so as to improve production. Some even felt
workers had a right to better conditions. Clever employers selected the best workers.
This led to competition and improvement of working conditions. Soon Trade Unions
were organised to fight for ‘rights’ of workers or even to start strikes. Now employers
and employees have come to realise their mutual dependence and strikes are
disappearing. (148 words)

There are 148 words in the passage above. It is necessary for us to reduce the number to
about 100 words so that it would be one-third of the original passage. We shall, therefore,
reduce the passage further to make it a precis of about 100 words. Read the passage given
below and note how we have condensed almost all the sentences to make it a good précis
within 100 words.

Final Draft

An important feature of this century is the improvement of the lot of the workers. In
earlier civilisations, kings, priests, etc., lived comfortably doing little, while the
majority worked hard with few comforts and rights. Some societies had slaves too.
During the Industrial Revolution, production increased and workers started feeling
dissatisfied. Clever employers attracted the best workers by offering better conditions
and thus led to improvement in production. Some employers thought that workers had
a right to better conditions. Soon Trade unions were organised to fight for workers
rights with strikes, if necessary. Now, there is increasing realisation of the mutual
dependence of employers and their workers. (107 words)

The title we may suggest is:

INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION AND THE WORKING CLASS

Exercise 2

Let us take up another passage and attempt writing a precis in about 85 words and also
suggest a title. This passage is on advertising. Let us read the passage.
 The chief object of the repetitive form of advertisement is to help people to remember
the product. The general principle is similar to that followed by Bajaj Automotives
Ltd: “You just can’t beat a Bajaj”. The repetition of a phrase, the inclusion of a trade
name or a trade mark in every advertisement is intended to impress upon the mind of
the reader/ listener that name or phase or picture. The response sought by the
advertiser is achieved when a customer enters a shop for, say, toothpaste. To the
shop-keeper’s question, “Any particular brand, please?, the customer gives the reply
that is in his mind, not necessarily because he has arrived at a decision by any process
of reasoning, nor because some strong feeling has been aroused for some particular
brand, but simply because he has repeatedly seen the name, and it is associated in his
mind with the idea of a good toothpaste. Some trade names become so common that
they displace the true name of the commodity itself, such as ‘vaseline’, the well-
known trade name for ‘petroleum jelly’. Advertisements which have relied on
repetition have, in the past, proved very powerful, but with the increased variety of
proprietary articles and products intended for the same purpose, this kind of
advertising is losing some of its value because of the confusion of names that arise in
a customer’s mind when he wishes to buy, say, cigarettes, tobacco, soap, chocolates,
tea and other goods which are widely used. (248 words)

Now prepare a brief outline of the main points as we have done in the earlier exercise.

Main Points

1) Simplest form of advertising is repetition; it helps people to remember.

2) A phrase or trade name or trade mark is used repeatedly to make an impression.

3) Customer asks for product, name of which is impressed on her/his mind.

4) Repetition advertising is becoming less effective now.

You can now make an attempt to write the final version of the precis and compare the same
with the one given below.

Precis

The use of repetition is the simplest form of advertising. In advertisements, repeated use of a
particular phrase or trade-mark aims to make such an impression on the customer that he will
tend to buy that product. Indeed, some trade-names, 'vaseline' for example, have become so
well known that they are used instead of the real name of the products. Owing to the large
number of consumer articles and products now in the market, advertising by repetition is less
effective than it was in the past. (87 words)

The title may be suggested as below:

ADVERTISING BY REPETITION

Exercise 3
Let us take up another passage and attempt writing a precis in about 100 words and also
suggest a title. This passage is on effect of COVID-19 on tourism industry (adapted from a
report of International Monetary Fund).

Let us read the passage.

Before COVID-19, travel and tourism had become one of the most important sectors in the
world economy, accounting for 10 percent of global GDP and more than 320 million jobs
worldwide.

In 1950, at the dawn of the jet age, just 25 million people took foreign trips. By 2019, that
number had reached 1.5 billion, and the travel and tourism sector had grown to almost too-
big-to-fail proportions for many economies.

The global pandemic, the first of its scale in a new era of interconnectedness, has put 100
million jobs at risk, many in micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises that employ a high
share of women, who represent 54 percent of the tourism workforce, according to the United
Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO).

Tourism-dependent countries will likely feel the negative impacts of the crisis for much
longer than other economies. Contact-intensive services key to the tourism and travel sectors
are disproportionately affected by the pandemic and will continue to struggle until people feel
safe to travel en masse again.

“There is no way we can grow our way out of this hole we are in,” Irwin LaRocque,
secretary-general of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), said at a virtual event in
September.

From the white sand beaches of the Caribbean, Seychelles, Mauritius, and the Pacific to the
back streets of Bangkok, to Africa’s sweeping national parks, countries are grappling with
how to lure back visitors while avoiding new outbreaks of infection. The solutions range
from wooing the ultra-rich who can quarantine on their yachts to inviting people to stay for
periods of up to a year and work virtually while enjoying a tropical view.

Tourism receipts worldwide are not expected to recover to 2019 levels until 2023. In the first
half of this year, tourist arrivals fell globally by more than 65 percent, with a near halt since
April—compared with 8 percent during the global financial crisis and 17 percent amid the
SARS epidemic of 2003, according to ongoing IMF research on tourism in a post-pandemic
world.

Main Points

1) Before Covid-9, travel accounted for 10 per cent of global GDP.

2) It provided more than 320 million jobs worldwide.

3) The global pandemic has put 100 million jobs at risk.

4) Tourism-dependent countries will feel the negative impacts of the crisis for much
longer.

You can now write the final version of the precis and compare the same with the one given
below.
Precis

The Covid-19 pandemic has put 100 million jobs at risk, many in micro, small, and medium-
sized enterprises that employ a high share of women, who represent 54 per cent of the
tourism workforce. Tourism-dependent countries are most negatively impacted, because it
involves contact-intensive services. In view of this, travel sectors are disproportionately
affected by the pandemic and will continue to struggle until people feel safe to travel en
masse again. From the white sand beaches of the Caribbean, Seychelles, Mauritius, and the
Pacific to the back streets of Bangkok, to Africa’s sweeping national parks, countries are
grappling with how to lure back visitors while avoiding new outbreaks of infection. (120
words).

The title may be suggested as below:

EFFECT OF COVID-19 ON TOURISM

Exercise 4
Let us take up another passage and attempt writing a precis in about 100 words and also
suggest a title. This passage is on vaccination in Delhi (adapted from a report in Hindustan
Times, 8 March, 2021).

Let us read the passage

Over three lakh beneficiaries have received Covid-19 vaccine till date in Delhi since the start
of the inoculation drive a month ago, with more than 27,000 people receiving shots on
Monday, according to the official data. Of these, more than 1.35 lakh are healthcare workers
and over 1.71 lakh frontline workers, as per the data. On Monday, 27,219 beneficiaries
received shots across 306 centres, including 5,459 people who got their second dose, as the
inoculation drive picked up pace, officials said. The overall turnout was about 88 percent.
Eight minor cases of AEFI (adverse events following immunisation) were reported, they
added. Till date, 1,35,034 healthcare workers have been vaccinated. A total of 1,71,079
frontline workers have also received jabs, as per the data shared by the officials. Frontline
workers include police personnel, civil defence staff, sanitation workers, among others. The
vaccination drive, started on January 16, has picked up pace in the last one week. Under the
nationwide mega vaccination drive launched on January 16, a total of 4,319 (53 per cent)
healthcare workers, against a target of 8,117, were administered the shots at 81 centres across
the city on day one. As per doctors, the second dose is given to a beneficiary after a gap of 28
days. On February 13, a total of 13,768 beneficiaries received vaccine shots and second doses
were administered to healthcare workers who had received the first jab 28 days ago. On the
second scheduled day after the roll-out of the exercise on January 16, the figures had stood at
3,598 (44 per cent of the target). The sharp fall had come after one severe and 50 minor
adverse effect cases were reported, on the opening day of the vaccination drive. The count on
third schedule day was relatively much higher at 4,936 (48 per cent).

Main Points

1) Over three lakh beneficiaries have received Covid-19 vaccine till date in Delhi.

2) Of these, more than 1.35 lakh are healthcare workers.

3) And over 1.71 lakh frontline workers.

4) The vaccination drive, started on January 16, has picked up pace in the last one week.

You can now write the final version of the precis and compare the same with the one given
below.

Precis

The vaccination drive in Delhi started on January 16. A total of 4,319 (53 per cent) healthcare
workers, against a target of 8,117, were administered the shots at 81 centres across the city on
day one. Till date, 1,35,034 healthcare workers have been vaccinated. A total of 1,71,079
frontline workers have also received jabs, as per the data shared by the officials. Frontline
workers include police personnel, civil defence staff, sanitation workers, among others. As
per doctors, the second dose is given to a beneficiary after a gap of 28 days. On February 13,
a total of 13,768 beneficiaries received vaccine shots and second doses were administered to
healthcare workers who had received the first jab 28 days ago. Over three lakh beneficiaries
have received Covid-19 vaccine till date in Delhi since the start of the inoculation drive a
month ago, with more than 27,000 people receiving shots on Monday, according to the
official data. (120 words).

The title may be suggested as below:

VACCINATION DRIVE IN DELHI

Check Your Progress C

Write a precis of the following passage in not more than 160 words and suggest a title for it.
Before writing the final version of the precis, note down the main points of the passage.

In the last half of the nineteenth century 'capital' and 'labour' were enlarging and
perfecting their rival organisations on modern lines. Many an old family firm was
replaced by a limited liability company with salaried managers. The change met the
technological requirements of the new age by engaging a large professional element;
and prevented the decline in efficiency that marred the fortunes of family firms in the
second and third generation after the energetic founder. It was, moreover, a step away
from individual initiative, towards collectivism and municipal and stage-managed
business. The railway companies though still private concerns managed for the
benefit of shareholders, were very unlike old family businesses. They existed by
reasons of Acts of Parliament, that conferred on them power and privileges in return
for state control. At the same time the great municipalities went into business to
supply lighting, trams and other services to the ratepayers. The growth of the Limited
Liability Company and municipal trading had important consequences. Such large,
impersonal manipulation of capital and industry greatly increased the number and
importance shareholders as a class, an element in the national life representing
irresponsible wealth detached from the land and the duties of the land-owner; and
almost equally detached from the responsible management of business. All through
the nineteenth century, America, Africa, India, Australia and parts of Europe were
thus being developed largely by British capital, and British shareholders were thus
being enriched by the world's movement towards industrialisation. Towns like
Bournemouth and Eastbourne sprang up to house large 'comfortable' classes who had
retired on their incomes, and who had no relation to the rest of the community except
that of drawing dividends and occasionally attending a shareholders' meeting to bully
the management. On the other hand, "shareholding" meant leisure and freedom which
was used by many of the Victorians for the highest purposes of a great civilisation.

The "shareholder" as such had no knowledge of the lives, thoughts or needs of the
workmen employed by the company in which he held shares, and his influence on the
relations of capital and labour was not good. The paid manager acting for the
company was in more direct relation with the men and their demands, but even he had
seldom that familiar personal knowledge of the workmen which the employer had
often had under the more patriarchal system of the old family business. Indeed the
mere size of operations and the numbers of workmen involved rendered such personal
relations impossible. Fortunately, however, the increasing power and organization of
the trade unions, at least in all skilled trades, enabled the workmen to meet on more
equal terms with the managers of the companies who employed them. The harsh
discipline of the strike and lockout taught the two parties to respect each other's
strength and understand the value of fair negotiation (478 words).

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13.7 LET US SUM UP

A precis is a summary of the whole passage. Precis writing is an exercise in concentration,

comprehension and condensation. One has to read the passage carefully and grasp its
meaning before writing a precis. The art of writing a good precis is very useful to people like
lawyers, journalists, students, secretaries and business managers.

Before one starts writing the precis of a passage, one should read the whole passage at least
twice, slowly carefully and with concentration. This will help him to get a general idea of
what the passage is about and what the author is trying to say.

A precis should be written in indirect speech. Further one must ensure that each idea follows
logically from the one before, so that the precis has a logical flow and cohesion. In addition
to unity, one must also ensure that the precis is factually correct and it does not contain ideas
or opinions which are not in the original passage. One should not add own ideas or comments
or any extra information not contained in the passage.

13.8 KEY WORDS

Beneficiaries: The people who receive benefits. In the present case, people who received
vaccination.

Cohesion: A piece of text in which idea fit well together to form a unified whole.

Comprehension: An exercise in language teaching to find out how well you understand a
piece of spoken and written language.

Condensation: To make something shorter.

Diffuse: A text that is vague and difficult to understand or explain.

Frontline Workers: The people who manage civil duties and defend borders.

Gist: The general meaning or the most important points of a long piece of writing.

Indirect Speech: Where the speakers exact words are not given but the exact meaning of the
remark or speech is given in passive voice.

Phrase: A group of words, containing neither subject nor predicate, which functions as a unit
within a sentence.

13.9 ANSWERS TO CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

B) 2 (i) True (ii) False (iii) False (iv) False (v) False (vii) True (vii) True

C) The main points of the passage are:

 1) In the second half of the 19th century, industry in Britain was reorganised on a
larger and more impersonal basis:
– family firms became limited liability companies; and
– municipalities went into business

2) The class of shareholders

– became numerous and more important; and
investment without having any responsibility.

3) Labour relations declined because of :

– the shareholder's irresponsibility;
– the shareholder's ignorance of the conditions of the working class; and
– the impersonality of large companies.
The developing status of the trade unions enabled work people to resist
management.
The resulting disputes led to mutual respect and a desire for fair negotiation.

4) Industrial relations took on a new pattern.

The following is an acceptable version of the precis

Between 1850 and 1900 British industry became organised on a larger scale and so
became impersonal. Old family firms gave place to limited liability companies, and
municipalities became large-scale employers to provide services for the ratepayers.
These developments led to a growth in the number and significance of shareholders,
who with little effort, gained great wealth from Britain's world-wide trade and
investment and had little or no responsibility for the way that the wealth was gained.
The shareholders irresponsibility, their ignorance of how the poor lived, and the size
of the companies which inhibited personal relations, led to ill-feeling between capital
and labour. However, the growing influence and discipline of the trade unions
enabled the work people to resist unfair management. Strikes and lockouts taught the
two sides to respect each other and to negotiate on a fair basis. In this way industrial
relations moved from the paternalism of the family business to the organizational
pattern of today. (155 words)

The title we may suggest is:

NEW PATTERN OF INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

13.10 TERMINAL QUESTIONS

1) State the characteristics of a good precis?

2) Discuss the various steps in writing a precis.

3) What are the problems you face in writing a precis?

4) Write a precis of the following passage in about 115 words. Your version should
avoid as far as possible the words and phrases of the original. State the number of
words yon have used and suggest a title.
If a business activity does not require anything special to be done, it is not entrepreneurship.
In fact a person cannot be called an entrepreneur unless he introduces something new,
something different, in his venture. This is known as innovation, that is, doing something
different from others. The entrepreneurs are constantly on the look out for something unique
to fulfil the need or want of people. They may or may not be investors of new products or
new methods of production, but they are able to foresee the possibility of making use of the
invention for business. Others who come to know about the same invention are not capable of
thinking about its practical usefulness in business. Or, they may not have the ambition or self-
confidence to take advantage of it.

In a competitive market, an entrepreneur can succeed in his business only through innovation.
An innovation need not necessarily be something big or dramatic. A simple adjustment to
something old, or giving a service without extra charge or a colourful packaging or selling a
product in packets of different weights, and such types of steps may be profitable
innovations. Of course, if similar things are done by a number of producers and sellers, and
entrepreneur has to think of other types of innovations. No wonder that imagination is
something more important than knowledge for innovative thinking. An entrepreneur must
have imagination and also the ability to think creatively.

Take the case of fruit juice. Now-a-days fruit juice is sold in small cartoons instead of bottles
so that you can carry it and throw away the container after drinking the juice. This is an
innovation. Let us take another example. You may have heard of Henry Ford who
established the Ford Motor Company in the United States. He did not invent the automobile,
but he applied new methods of mass production and turned out passenger cars at low cost so
that many people could afford it. (338 words)