Dear fellows and seniors..

Generally it is advised that the précis should be written in the past tense but what about the situation when we are given a present tense passage to make a précis? It MUST be in the past tense even then or can we make it the present one in that case?

Will be thankful for the guidance..

Best,

As per my knowledge, when precis is about universal truth or in present tense we need not change it. otherwise it should be written in past tense.

Any other friend??

I feel confusing because it is written in almost all instructions (various précis books) to make in the past one..

I am no expert,but I write both present and past tense compared to the original passage.

2003

If then a practical end must be assigned to a University course, I say it is that of training good members of a society. Its ah is the art of social life, and its end is fitness for the world. It neither confines its views to particular professions on the one hand, not creates heroes or inspires genius on the other. Works indeed of genius fall under no art; heroic minds come under no rule; a University is not a birthplace of poets or of immortal authors, of founders of schools, leaders of colonies, or conquerors of nations. It does not promise a generation of Aristotle or Newtons of Napoleons or Washingtons of Raphaels or Shakespearcs though such miracles of nature it has before now contained within its precincts. Nor is it content on the other hand with forming the critic or the experimentalist, the economist or the engineer, through such too it includes within its scope. But a University training is the great ordinary means to a great ordinary end; it aims at raising the intellectual tone of society, at cultivating the public mind, at purifying the national taste, at supplying true principles to popular aspirations. It is the education which gives a man a clear conscious view of his own opinions and judgments, a truth in developing them, an eloquence in expressing them, and a force in urging them, ft teaches him to sec things as they arc, to go right to the point, to disentangle a skein of thought, to detect what is sophistical and to - discard what is irrelevant. It prepares him to fill any post with credit, and to master any subject with facility. (John H. Ncwman)
PRECIS

University course,by basic means,train fine members of a society.It aims to soothe social life and make one fit for the world.It is neither limited to specific prefession nor produces heroes and genius.A university is not also,a childbed of poets,scholars,leaders or conquerors nor it is made to generate critics,economists or engineers,though certain subjects of this kind include in its horizon.University,in all means,seeds intellectual ideals cleanse national thought,builds and shapes the society.University provides education and it is education which gives man clear view of life and help him differentiate right and wrong.Education makes him ready to take any job and master any subject with ease.

written in present tense

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All are lunatics, but he who can analyze his delusion is called a philosopher.

Tense will be same as that of original passage