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How To Write An Abstract

The document discusses two basic styles of abstracts: descriptive and informative. Descriptive abstracts are shorter, around 100-200 words, and briefly explain the background, purpose, and objectives of the research but omit the results and sometimes the methods and conclusions. Informative abstracts are longer, one paragraph to one page, and summarize every aspect of the study including results. The document also provides guidelines for writing an effective abstract, including understanding the purpose, identifying key components, writing a clear purpose statement, summarizing methods and results, and concluding with implications.

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50 views

How To Write An Abstract

The document discusses two basic styles of abstracts: descriptive and informative. Descriptive abstracts are shorter, around 100-200 words, and briefly explain the background, purpose, and objectives of the research but omit the results and sometimes the methods and conclusions. Informative abstracts are longer, one paragraph to one page, and summarize every aspect of the study including results. The document also provides guidelines for writing an effective abstract, including understanding the purpose, identifying key components, writing a clear purpose statement, summarizing methods and results, and concluding with implications.

Uploaded by

amanahlali28
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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All abstracts are written with the same essential objective: to give a summary of your

study. But there are two basic styles of abstract: descriptive and informative. Here is
a brief description of the two:

Descriptive abstract
Around 100-200 words (or shorter) in length; indicates the type of information found in the
research; briefly explains the background, purpose, and objective of the research but omits the
results, often the methods, and sometimes also the conclusion

Informative abstracts
One paragraph to one page in length; a truncated version of your paper that summarizes every
aspect of the study, including the results; acts as a “substitute” for the research itself, standing
in for the larger paper.
Informative abstracts apply to lengthier and more technical research and are common in the
sciences, engineering, and psychology, while descriptive abstracts are more likely used in
humanities and social science papers.

Guidelines and Requirements


The main purpose of your abstract is to let readers decide whether the research discussed is
relevant to their own interests or study.
It is an executive summary, a separate section that summarizes the findings in your report so
readers know what to expect.
Abstracts also help readers understand your main argument quickly. Consider these questions
as you write your abstract:
 Are other academics in your field the main target of your study?
 Will your study perhaps be useful to members of the general public?
 Do your study results include the wider implications presented in the abstract?
Just as your title should cover as much ground as possible in a few short words, your abstract
must cover all parts of your study in order to fully explain your research. Because it must
accomplish this task in the space of only a few hundred words, it is important not to include
vague references or phrases that will confuse the reader
Writing an abstract is all about capturing the essence of your research succinctly, conveying its
purpose, methods, results, and conclusions in a concise paragraph. Here's a step-by-step guide
to help you write an effective abstract:

Understand the Purpose: Know why you're writing the abstract. Abstracts are typically used to
provide a brief summary of an academic paper, conference presentation, or research project.

Identify Key Components: Determine the key elements of your paper that need to be included
in the abstract. These usually include the research question or objective, methods, results, and
conclusions.

Write a Clear Purpose Statement: Start your abstract with a clear statement of the purpose or
objective of your research. What problem are you trying to address or what question are you
trying to answer?

Summarize Methods: Briefly describe the methods or approach you used to conduct your
research. Include any relevant details about the study design, participants, materials, and
procedures.

Present Key Results: Summarize the most important findings of your research. Highlight any
significant outcomes, trends, or outlines that emerged from your analysis.

Conclude with Implications or Conclusions: End your abstract by briefly discussing the
implications of your findings or the conclusions you drew from your research. What are the
broader implications of your work, and how does it contribute to the existing body of
knowledge?
Check for Clarity and Conciseness: Ensure that your abstract is clear, concise, and free of
unnecessary terminologies and technical words. Use straightforward language to communicate
your ideas effectively.

Review and Revise: Once you've written your abstract, review it carefully to make sure it
accurately reflects the content of your research and effectively communicates your key points.
Revise as needed to improve clarity and unity.

Adhere to Guidelines: If you're writing an abstract for a specific journal or conference, make
sure to follow any specific formatting or word count guidelines provided by the organizers.

Proofread: Finally, proofread your abstract to check for any spelling or grammatical errors. A
polished abstract will make a better impression on readers and increase the chances of your
work being understood and appreciated.

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