The following prÉcis is quite straightforward. Start with Mr. Hunt’s reasons for writing the letter, and then proceed with the events in the order in which they happened, leaving out all unessential talk.

This exercise will afford a good example of the following important rule:

Rule VII.—Never put in any critical or explanatory remarks of your own.

In this prÉcis, for instance, one is tempted to point out that Mr. Hunt was not in a normal state, that on his own showing he was dreadfully depressed and lonely, and that this would affect the value of his evidence. But one must do nothing of the sort. One’s business in this, as in every prÉcis, is to write a concise summary of the story as it stands, and leave all criticism to the reader’s common sense.