CSS 2003 Solved Precis

• Precincts (noun): The area within the walls or boundaries of a particular place or building
  • Contextual Explanation: A University may have contained miracles of nature (geniuses) within its precincts, meaning within its bounds or property.
• Aspirations (noun): Hopes or ambitions of achieving something
  • Contextual Explanation: It supplies true principles to popular aspirations, providing sound guidance for the hopes and ambitions of the general public.
• Eloquence (noun): Fluent or persuasive speaking or writing
  • Contextual Explanation: A university education gives a man eloquence in expressing his judgments, referring to fluent and compelling expression.
• Skein (noun): A length of yarn or thread wound in a coil; in this context, a tangled mass
  • Contextual Explanation: The phrase "a skein of thought" refers metaphorically to a tangled or convoluted mass of ideas.

The passage discusses the practical purpose and broader function of a university in society. It emphasizes that a university does not aim to produce only geniuses, heroes, or specialists, but rather to train well-rounded, socially responsible, intellectually capable members of society. Moreover, the author seeks to clarify the true purpose of a university: to cultivate the intellectual tone, moral sense, and judgment of society, equipping students with mental clarity, critical thinking, and social utility, instead of producing extraordinary geniuses or specialists.

Main Idea of the Passage

• The practical purpose of a university is to cultivate well-rounded, intellectually and morally capable citizens who can contribute effectively to society, instead of producing exceptional geniuses or specialized professionals.

Supporting Ideas Helping the Main Idea

• Universities differ from schools in producing heroes, poets, or great leaders.
• They are not bound to specific professions but provide broad intellectual training.
• University education raises the intellectual tone of society, purifies taste, and develops the public mind.
• It teaches students to form clear opinions, reason correctly, and express ideas effectively.
• Graduates are prepared to fill any position with competence and master any subject with facility.

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

A university’s practical aim is to form competent, responsible members of society. It does not promise to produce extraordinary geniuses or only specialized professionals. Instead, it cultivates their intellect, refines their judgment, and develops the public mind. Through training, students gain clarity, truthfulness, eloquence, and analytical ability, enabling them to detect sophistry and focus on relevance. Therefore, graduates acquire the skill and adaptability to learn any subject and perform any duty effectively, fulfilling the ordinary yet essential purpose of higher education.

• Original Words in the Passage: 283
• Precis Word Count: 80
• Title: University Education and Social Purpose

Precis 2

A university primarily seeks to prepare students as capable members of society rather than geniuses or exceptional leaders. It develops their intellectual abilities, sound judgment, and public-mindedness. Moreover, by providing clarity, truth, rhetoric, and analytical skills, it equips students to identify their irrelevant or false reasoning. Thus, university education enables graduates to perform any task competently and adapt to diverse responsibilities, fulfilling its essential role in cultivating helpful, responsible, and capable individuals.

• Original Words in the Passage: 283
• Precis Word Count: 72
• Title: Purpose of University Training

Precis 3

The main aim of a university is to train competent individuals for society, not to create geniuses or extraordinary professionals. In fact, it cultivates their intellect, judgment, and public-mindedness while imparting clarity, expression, and analytical expertise in them. Thus, graduates are prepared to tackle any subject or duty effectively, signifying the ordinary yet vital purpose of higher education in strengthening societal intelligence and capability.

• Original Words in the Passage: 283
• Precis Word Count: 64
• Title: University and Social Preparation

Precis 4

A university exists to develop capable, responsible members of society rather than geniuses or heroes. Undoubtedly, it nurtures their intellect, judgment, clarity, articulacy, and analytical prowess. By doing so, it equips graduates to grasp subjects and perform duties effectively, fulfilling its practical and essential role in shaping a thoughtful, competent, and socially useful citizenry.

• Original Words in the Passage: 283
• Precis Word Count: 54
• Title: The Essential Aim of a University