The Greatest” civilization before ours was the Greek. They, too, lived in a dangerous
world. They were a little, highly civilized people, surrounded by barbarous tribes and always threatened by the greatest Asian power, Persia. In the end they succumbed, but the reason they did was not that the enemies outside were so strong, but that their spiritual strength had given way. While they had it, they kept Greece unconquered. Basic to all Greek achievements was freedom. The Athenians were the only free people in the world. In the great empires of antiquity — Egypt, Babylon, Assyria, Persia — splendid though they were, with riches and immense power, freedom was unknown. The idea of it was born in Greece, and with it Greece was able to prevail against all the manpower and wealth arrayed against her. At Marathon and at Salamis overwhelming numbers of Persians were defeated by small Greek forces. It was proved there that one free man was superior to many submissively obedient subjects of a tyrant. And Athens, where freedom was the dearest possession, was the leader in those amazing victories. Greece rose to the very height, not because she was big, she was very small, not because she was rich, she was very poor, not even because she was wonderfully gifted. So doubtless were others in the great empires of the ancient world who have gone their way leaving little for us. She rose because there was in the Greeks the greatest spirit that moves in humanity, the spirit that sets men free.” (255 words / 3 = 85 words)

ANS

Greek civilization was one of the greatest in history. At that time, many other powers were superior in size, wealth, and magnificence than Greeks. Despite smaller in size, the people of Greece were able to defeat the strong and magnanimous force of aggressors. The convictions of Greeks on freedom of spirit and dignity of humanity were the real factor behind the rise of their civilization. Therefore, as soon as they lost such principle of the liberty of human consciousness, the downfall of them took place. (85 words)

1. Make a précis of the given passage and suggest a suitable heading (20 +5)

Basically, psychoses and neuroses represent man’s inability to maintain a balanced or equated polarity in conducting his life. The ego becomes exclusively or decidedly one sided. In psychoses there is a complete collapse of the ego back into the inner recesses of the personal and collective unconsciouses. When he is repressed toward fulfilling some life goal and where he is further unable to sublimate himself toward another goal, man regresses into goal structures not actually acceptable to himself or to the society. Strong emotional sickness of the psychotic type is like having the shadow run wild. The entire psyche regresses to archaic, animal forms of behaviors. In less severe forms of emotional sickness there may be an accentuated and overpowering use of one of the four mental functions at the expense of the other three. Either thinking, feeling, intuiting or seeing may assume such a superior role as to render the other three inoperative. The persona may become so dominant as to create a totally one-sided ego, as in some forms of neurotic behavior. All in all, whatever the type of severity of the emotional disorder, it can be taken as a failure of the psyche to maintain a proper balance between the polarities of life. Essentially, psychoses and neuroses are an alienation of the self from its true goal of self actualization. In this sense the culture is of no consequence. Emotional disorder is not a question of being out of tune with one’s culture so much as it is of being out of tune with one’s self. Consequently, neurosis is more than bizarre behavior, especially as it may be interpreted by contemporaries in the culture. This interpretation avoids the sociological question of what is a mental disorder, since form of behavior which is acceptable in one culture may be considered neurotic in other culture. To Jung, the deviation from cultural norms is not the point. The inability to balance out personal polarities is. (325) / 3 = 108.33

ANS:

Misconception about Psychotic Disorders

Psychoses and Neurosis are divergence from self as well as society. The personality sets in a disharmonious relation with the world and becomes wild in its behavior. Consequently, one becomes so erratic in such disorders that people relate these abnormalities with deviance from the cultural norms; however, the truth is opposite to this common belief and perception. A conduct of psychotic disorder might be tolerable in one culture but be weird in another. Therefore, experts do not believe in association of culture and psychotic disorders. According to them, the incapacity of equating self with the realities of life is the real cause of the psychotic disorders. (106 words)

__________________
Lo! man is in a state of loss. (Al-Asr:103:2) And every small and great thing is recorded. (Al-Qamar:54:53) And guard yourselves against a day in which ye will be brought back to Allah. Then every soul will be paid in full that which it hath earned, and they will not be wronged. (Al-Baqara:2:281)

Dear Members

I m really sorry for this delay, Actually I had to travel for attending a seminar during this time thus it taken long to add a passage. As it is said "its better late then never" so do consider it suitable for me although its not. I have read the comments of members thanks @ hayat khan, Kashinov, Qurat & secondopinion.

Here I m once again starting with very simple and easy passage for begginers so try to squeeze the passage into 1/3. Hopefuly during my absence you have gone through previous exercises for having an idea about the thread. So here it goes for your disection.

Make a Precis of the Following Passage

There are, I suppose, two ways of celebrating a great man’s centenary. Either we can take him off his pedestal for the moment, admire his great qualities and say how much he did to enrich the human race; then, having dutifully done this, we put him back again, if possible a little higher up and further out of reach than before and conveniently forget about him; or we may bring him right down from his pedestal, examine his life more carefully than before, in the light of a rather longer perspective, and keep him well down among us to inspire us in facing the world’s problems.

In the case of Jinnah especially, the only valid way to celebrate his centenary is the second. Already he is in danger of being regarded too much as a mere future on a statue, far off above our heads. Our job during this centenary year is to bring him down to earth again, as a living man among men, which is the only thing he ever wanted to be. I am tempted to say: Let us strip him of his leadership and look at him, if we can, as plain Mr. Muhammad Ali Jinnah if you like.

Having said this, let me hasten to add that as perspective lengthens, I find that Jinnah’s greatness grows upon me; it does not diminish. Of course he had his human failings, his errors of judgment and all the rest, like any other man. But these need not concern us especially today. What we want to see, as far as we are able, is the long term value of his way of life and of the principles he tried to live by. And if we are honest in looking at him, we must be prepared for some shocks. He was always, and must always be, a disturbing man, who tries to shake us out of our complacency.

Perhaps the main thing to learn from Jinnah’s early independence campaigns is that even people who seem to suffer from a slave mentality can learn to stand up to overwhelming power. Years before I ever visited Pakistan or met Jinnah a Pakistani student whom I think that Jinnah has done for us is to show us how to stand up on our own feet. He has put backbone into us. I think Jinnah wanted all men to believe that, if they have faith in some great cause, they are not strong enough. ‘You are as strong as you think you are’ he would say, “you are as strong as I am”.

This faith in the ordinary man meant also that he was determined that the Pakistan of his dreams-let us rather say, the world of his dreams-should be a world that offered the possibility of a good life to all; not just to the majority, but to all. Pakistan has a word “Unity” which signifies the welfare of all. Those who still try to be loyal to Jinnah in their public work carry this word on their banner. (Words 507)

__________________
"When Allah leads you to the edge of the cliff, Trust Him Fully, only 1 of 2 things will happen either He will catch you when you fall or He will teach you how to fly"

There are, I suppose, two ways of celebrating a great man’s centenary. Either we can take him off his pedestal for the moment, admire his great qualities and say how much he did to enrich the human race; then, having dutifully done this, we put him back again, if possible a little higher up and further out of reach than before and conveniently forget about him; or we may bring him right down from his pedestal, examine his life more carefully than before, in the light of a rather longer perspective, and keep him well down among us to inspire us in facing the world’s problems.

In the case of Jinnah especially, the only valid way to celebrate his centenary is the second. Already he is in danger of being regarded too much as a mere future on a statue, far off above our heads. Our job during this centenary year is to bring him down to earth again, as a living man among men, which is the only thing he ever wanted to be. I am tempted to say: Let us strip him of his leadership and look at him, if we can, as plain Mr. Muhammad Ali Jinnah if you like.

Having said this, let me hasten to add that as perspective lengthens, I find that Jinnah’s greatness grows upon me; it does not diminish. Of course he had his human failings, his errors of judgment and all the rest, like any other man. But these need not concern us especially today. What we want to see, as far as we are able, is the long term value of his way of life and of the principles he tried to live by. And if we are honest in looking at him, we must be prepared for some shocks. He was always, and must always be, a disturbing man, who tries to shake us out of our complacency.

Perhaps the main thing to learn from Jinnah’s early independence campaigns is that even people who seem to suffer from a slave mentality can learn to stand up to overwhelming power. Years before I ever visited Pakistan or met Jinnah a Pakistani student whom I think that Jinnah has done for us is to show us how to stand up on our own feet. He has put backbone into us. I think Jinnah wanted all men to believe that, if they have faith in some great cause, they are not strong enough. ‘You are as strong as you think you are’ he would say, “you are as strong as I am”.

This faith in the ordinary man meant also that he was determined that the Pakistan of his dreams-let us rather say, the world of his dreams-should be a world that offered the possibility of a good life to all; not just to the majority, but to all. Pakistan has a word “Unity” which signifies the welfare of all. Those who still try to be loyal to Jinnah in their public work carry this word on their banner. (507 words) / 3 = 169 words

ANS

M.A. JINNAH – A SOURCE OF INSPIRATION

There are different ways of commemorating the centenary of a remarkable personality. However, the best way to pay homage and to celebrate the important dates attached with the father of nation, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, is to scrutinize more closely his unique life and endeavors. For a long time, he has been made a showpiece worthy of merely sightseeing as well as admiration and nothing more. Although, his life, as closely analyzed, is not without failures and disorders, but it is in a perfect harmony with his paramount principles of righteousness with which he never compromised. He, through his persistent movements, revolutionized the physically and mentally subjugated nation into an indispensable force to reckon with. He taught the nation how to prepare itself for a sublime cause of freedom, thus invigorated in the lives and souls of the masses that Pakistan was the reality of their dreams for an independent life. Still, many people believe in and practically follow the Jinnah's utmost principles of public welfare. (165 words)

__________________
Lo! man is in a state of loss. (Al-Asr:103:2) And every small and great thing is recorded. (Al-Qamar:54:53) And guard yourselves against a day in which ye will be brought back to Allah. Then every soul will be paid in full that which it hath earned, and they will not be wronged. (Al-Baqara:2:281)

Its wonderful to see you so much active secondopinion. There should be a clap for you
I will add important points and analysis of your precis after getting some more responses.
All those members who were waiting quite long for the activity should participate quickly. 2 days has been passed dear members.

__________________
"When Allah leads you to the edge of the cliff, Trust Him Fully, only 1 of 2 things will happen either He will catch you when you fall or He will teach you how to fly"

Jinnah’s life a source of inspiration

.

A great man centenary can be celebrated in two ways. First, we formally admire the person; praise his great qualities and his services for the human being. Secondly, we not only admire him but examine his life carefully. His life can be a source of actuation while facing difficult situations. The valid way to celebrate Jinnah’s centenary is the second. We have already admired him too much jeopardizing him as a superhuman. After all he was human and every human has its own strength and weaknesses. If we sideline his leadership for a while and examine his personal life, we would notice that he was always committed to his principles he lived by. He was always a distinguished man. The main thing that one can learn form Jinnah’s independence campaign is the self confidence and self belief. He was very much determined that his dream land Pakistan would be a land of equal opportunities for all as Pakistan has the word “Unity” which elaborates welfare of all. (167 words)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Waiting for your analysis honorable Miss Naqi.

precie title;importance of freedom spirit

the spirit of fredom is very important to any nation,and it was found in its full spirit in Greece whose civilization is famous till today.they remaimed the gloriuos civilization till the moment they had it,despite of their small size.they stood firmly infront of huge powers like persia.all the other great empires were devoid of this spirit.it was only because of the liberal spirit that Greece outshown all other civilizations,till they kept it.

title;jinnah,s view of pakistan.

there are two ways to show one,s greatness;either praising him much and forgetting him the next moment or by leading a life on his beliefs and principles.the best way to acknowledge Jinnah is by practicing his principles and following his way of life.his personality taught us,no matter how meek we are we can stand beore huge powers.he wanted us to believe in ourselves regardless of our causes,this would make us strong.he dreamt of a prosperous pakistan;where every one cd get equal oppertunities regardless of their status..

dear miss naqvi,
how can i know about my precie?is it ok.plz do inform me.thanx

Dear Diya

I will send you reply to the same thread. You dont worry for it.

Its really good to see you participative.

Keep it up......!

__________________
"When Allah leads you to the edge of the cliff, Trust Him Fully, only 1 of 2 things will happen either He will catch you when you fall or He will teach you how to fly"

Dear Members here I m adding analysis of the passage and will check the precis written by you in next sitting Inshahallah.

First Paragraph

Topic Point

• There are two ways to celebrate a great man's centenary.

Supporting Arguments

1. One method is to admire his qualities too much and forget about him
2. Another is to examine him as a man and keep him as a source of inspiration

Second Paragraph

Topic Point

• Jinnah's centernary should be celeberated in the second manner

Supporting Arguments

1. Jinnah is regarded more as an exalted figure than a man and he wanted to be a man among men.
2. He should be consdered as a man.

Third Paragraph

Topic Point

• Jinnah's greatness lay in his principles and shaking us out of our complacency.

Supporting Arguments

1. By making him man we donot reduce his greatness.
2. Principles he lived by are the source of his greatness.
3. He laways shook us out of complacency.

Fourth Paragraph

Topic Point

• Jinnah gave power to stand against the more powerful.

Supporting Arguments

1. Independance campaigns gave confidence to oppose the most powerful.
2. Jinnah wated people to believe that faith in a cause gives power to suffer and power to fight.

Fifth Paragraph

Topic Point

• His faith in the common man made him think of good of all.

Supporting Arguments

1. Independence was his aim and his loyal followers should preach it.

Topic Point of the Passage

• Proper way to celebrate Jinnah's centernary is to get inspiration from him as a man.

Now members you have to analyze your precis in the light of these suggestions. Definately I will be checking them one by one but if you think you would like to take another chance you are welcome. I will be adding corrections and suggestions for your precis by 14th of August and will add new passage as well.

So once go through it and then be the teacher of your own writings and start disecting it.

With Best Regards

__________________
"When Allah leads you to the edge of the cliff, Trust Him Fully, only 1 of 2 things will happen either He will catch you when you fall or He will teach you how to fly"