Precis

The word précis means summary. The key to writing a good précis is to stay concise, organized, and specific in your word choice. Because a précis is only seven sentences long, you must follow a structured format to complete it correctly. You will review and apply the following terms in your précis: setting, character, plot, conflict, resolution, and opinion. You can find the definitions for the terms below.

Setting: the time and place in which events in a story occur.

Character: a person, animal, or natural force in a literary work.

Plot: the sequence of events or actions in a story.

Conflict: the problem(s) in the story.

Resolution: outcome of the story.

Theme: What the author was trying to say or teach us.

Format for the Précis

Top line: Title of novel and author (Remember to underline or italicize book titles.)

Skip a line. (You must write the précis in single-spaced paragraph form. Indent the first sentence. If you

are handwriting, use blue or black ink. If you are typing it, use a standard font size and type.)

1st Sentence: Discuss the setting.

2nd Sentence: Tell about the main character/characters.

3rd Sentence: Discuss the main conflict.

4th Sentence: Discuss the plot.

5th Sentence: Discuss more of the plot.

6th Sentence: Tell about the resolution of the story.

7th sentence: Tell about the theme.

Sample Précis

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

The story takes place in the English countryside during WWII. The main characters are sibling Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie. The conflict begins when the children discover the magical land of Narnia and encounter an evil White Witch who has cast a spell on the land and has taken away Christmas. Edmund betrays his siblings and must forfeit his life to the White Witch. In turn, the White Witch murders Aslan, the lion who represents all good things and who sacrificed his own life so that Edmund can live. The story ends with Aslan coming back to life and defeating the White Witch and her force. The theme of this novel is that good will always triumph over evil in the end.