Scribd
Upload
209 views

Why Write Abstracts and Keywords? Chapter Abstracts

This document provides guidance on writing abstracts and keywords for books and chapters. Abstracts are concise summaries that describe the key elements and conclusions of a work, while keywords are important search terms. The document outlines how to write abstracts and keywords for books overall and for individual chapters, including style guidelines. Abstracts should be 3-5 sentences and 250 words or less for books, and 3-5 sentences and 150 words or less for chapters. Keywords should be 1-2 words when possible to aid in online searching. Together, informative abstracts and relevant keywords help readers find and understand a work.

Uploaded by

Supradip Das
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
209 views

Why Write Abstracts and Keywords? Chapter Abstracts

This document provides guidance on writing abstracts and keywords for books and chapters. Abstracts are concise summaries that describe the key elements and conclusions of a work, while keywords are important search terms. The document outlines how to write abstracts and keywords for books overall and for individual chapters, including style guidelines. Abstracts should be 3-5 sentences and 250 words or less for books, and 3-5 sentences and 150 words or less for chapters. Keywords should be 1-2 words when possible to aid in online searching. Together, informative abstracts and relevant keywords help readers find and understand a work.

Uploaded by

Supradip Das
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

Writing Abstracts and Keywords

WHY WRITE ABSTRACTS AND KEYWORDS? CHAPTER ABSTRACTS


Abstracts are a short and concise description of your book or Each chapter, including the introduction and conclusion, in your
chapter. They are different than blurbs or marketing copy because book needs a separate abstract. Begin each chapter abstract
they are targeted for finding content rather than selling content. with the chapter number and chapter title as your heading. Each
They provide a reader with a brief, informative guide to your work chapter abstract should be concise, 3–5 sentences, and no more
for online research. Authors of journal articles, especially in the than 150 words (excluding the chapter number and title). Avoid
science and medical fields, have provided abstracts for many years. personal pronouns and use the impersonal voice: for example,
Keywords are important terms that can be found in your abstract “This chapter explores . . .” is better than “In this chapter, I explore . . .”
and chapters, but they also stand alone as search terms.
Abstracts and keywords together help researchers find content. CHAPTER KEYWORDS
Electronic search engines and databases use words found in your Provide 3–5 keywords for each chapter. These keywords will
title, subtitle, and abstract as well as keywords to choose what enable the chapter’s content to be successfully searched online.
content to display to interested readers. Think of abstracts and These terms are similar to search terms in an index. Keep keywords
keywords as helping your book and its chapters become more to one or two words rather than a phrase, if possible, and specific
visible in the online environment. Titles and abstracts are usually to the chapter. Because the words in the title of your chapter are
the elements of a journal article or book that are freely available also used as keywords, you do not have to include them in your list
online. An informative abstract includes the information that can of chapter keywords.
be found in a descriptive abstract (purpose, methods, scope), and
it incorporates the conclusions of the research and the viewpoints
STYLE GUIDELINES FOR ABSTRACTS
of the author.
• Capture the essence of the book or chapter in the first
sentence
BOOK ABSTRACT • Limit each abstract to a single paragraph that identifies
The book abstract should be concise, 5–10 sentences, and no the content it is describing
more than 250 words. Abstracts provide a clear idea of the main • Do not use personal pronouns or your name when
arguments and findings of your book. Think about what your referring to your book
research does, how it does it, what resources you draw on, and • Only use abbreviations or acronyms if they are understood
what your conclusion is. Avoid the personal pronoun and use by a wide audience
instead an impersonal voice: for example, “The book discusses . . .” • Summarize the content, rather than “sell” it
Don’t include references to other published works or to chapters,
• Include your keywords in your abstract
page numbers, illustrations, or tables within your book.

STYLE GUIDELINES FOR KEYWORDS


BOOK KEYWORDS
• Keep each keyword short (one word, two to three words if
Provide 5–7 keywords that can be used to describe the content of they are specialized terms)
your book and that enable the full text of the book to be searched
• Use lowercase unless the keyword is a proper noun
online. These terms are similar to search terms in an index. Consider
what search terms would be most useful to readers in locating your • Use roman type only, no italic
book. Keep keywords to one or two words rather than a phrase, • Ensure keywords for names appear as Frank Ryan, not
if possible, and be specific. Because the words in the title of your Ryan, Frank
book are also used as book keywords, you do not have to include • Be as specific as possible
them in your list of book keywords. Book keywords should appear • Use variants as separate keywords as necessary, e.g., “NSA”
in your book abstract. and “National Security Agency”

DUKE UNIVERSITY PRESS :: CONTACT YOUR EDITOR WITH QUESTIONS :: FIND ALL OF OUR AUTHOR GUIDELINES AT WWW.DUKEUPRESS.EDU/AUTHORS

You might also like