The following exercise is again a study in contrasts, but in this case there are more than two.

You will have seen from the last exercise that the way to make your prÉcis clear is to arrange all the topics in separate paragraphs.

We may put it in the form of a Rule:

Rule IV.—After you have stated your main subject in the ‘title’, arrange all the different topics in SEPARATE PARAGRAPHS; and whenever you can, make the ‘state of affairs’ clear in your first paragraph.

This rule applies to every prÉcis you write. The best plan is to jot down in pencil Headings for all your paragraphs before you start writing your prÉcis (three in short prÉcis; four, five, or six, in longer prÉcis). The length of each paragraph depends on the importance of the topic.