abstracts & abstracting

Abstracts & AbstractingAbstracts & Abstracting

Types of Document Types of Document SurrogatesSurrogates

Annotation – a sentence description or Annotation – a sentence description or explanation of the documentexplanation of the document

Extract – produced by drawing out sentences Extract – produced by drawing out sentences from this.from this.

Summary – a restatement of the document Summary – a restatement of the document salient findings and conclusions that is intended salient findings and conclusions that is intended to complete the orientation of the reader who to complete the orientation of the reader who has read the previous text.has read the previous text.Terse Literature – a highly abbreviated Terse Literature – a highly abbreviated statement that encapsulated the major points of statement that encapsulated the major points of a document.a document.Synopsis – concise original publication of key Synopsis – concise original publication of key results selected from an available but previously results selected from an available but previously unpublished paper. unpublished paper.

AbtsractAbtsractAn abbreviated and accurate An abbreviated and accurate representation of significant representation of significant substance of a documentary unitsubstance of a documentary unitAccompanied by an adequate Accompanied by an adequate bibliographic descriptionbibliographic descriptionIs a document surrogateIs a document surrogate

Parts of an AbstractParts of an Abstract referencereference body body signaturesignature

Qualities of an AbstractQualities of an Abstract AccuracyAccuracy BrevityBrevity ClarityClarity

Uses of AbstractsUses of AbstractsFacilitate document selection or Facilitate document selection or determination of document relevant to determination of document relevant to user interestsuser interestsFacilitate literature searchesFacilitate literature searchesPromote current awarenessPromote current awarenessSave reading time of the userSave reading time of the userHelp surmount the language barrierHelp surmount the language barrierImprove indexing efficiencyImprove indexing efficiencyAid in the preparation of reviews and Aid in the preparation of reviews and bibliographiesbibliographies

Types of Materials Types of Materials AbstractedAbstracted

journalsjournals technical reportstechnical reports theses/dissertationstheses/dissertations booksbooks patent specificationspatent specifications conferences and symposiums conferences and symposiums proceedingsproceedings reviewsreviews

Types of AbstractsTypes of AbstractsAccording to information contentAccording to information content 1. Indicative (descriptive abstract) 1. Indicative (descriptive abstract) - simply describes or indicates what the - simply describes or indicates what the item is aboutitem is about

- d- discloses what significant information iscloses what significant information and specific data can be found in the and specific data can be found in the document.document.

2. Informative abstract2. Informative abstract-- provides quantitative and qualitative provides quantitative and qualitative informationinformation

- not for theoretical studies and opinion - not for theoretical studies and opinion articlesarticles

Types of AbstractsTypes of AbstractsAccording to information contentAccording to information content3. Indicative-informative abstract 3. Indicative-informative abstract 4. Critical abstract4. Critical abstract- evaluative in nature- evaluative in nature- expresses views on the quality of the - expresses views on the quality of the work and perhaps contrasts it with work and perhaps contrasts it with other worksother works

Types of AbstractsTypes of AbstractsAccording to author of abstractAccording to author of abstract

– Author-prepared abstractAuthor-prepared abstract– Subject expert-prepared abstractSubject expert-prepared abstract– Professional abstractor- preparedProfessional abstractor- prepared

Types of AbstractsTypes of Abstracts According to purposeAccording to purpose

1. Discipline-oriented abstract1. Discipline-oriented abstract- written for a specific area of knowledge/discipline

2. Mission-oriented abstract2. Mission-oriented abstract- written based on a specific - written based on a specific information needinformation need

Types of AbstractsTypes of Abstracts According to purposeAccording to purpose

3. Slanted abstract 3. Slanted abstract often considered as a form of often considered as a form of

mission-oriented abstract. mission-oriented abstract. Highlights or concentrates on a Highlights or concentrates on a selected portion of a document's selected portion of a document's subject content.subject content.

Types of AbstractsTypes of AbstractsAccording to formAccording to form

1.1. Statistical or Tabular abstract Statistical or Tabular abstract - a summary of the data presented in - a summary of the data presented in

tabular formtabular form2. Modular abstract2. Modular abstract- full content description of a document - full content description of a document

that has 5 parts written in the that has 5 parts written in the following order: citation, annotation, following order: citation, annotation, indicative abstract, informative indicative abstract, informative abstract and critical abstract abstract and critical abstract


3.3. Structured abstract Structured abstract - uses a worksheet/template containing items - uses a worksheet/template containing items or elements found in the documentsor elements found in the documents

- for medical journals: background, aim, - for medical journals: background, aim, methods, results and conclusionsmethods, results and conclusions

4. 4. Mini-abstractMini-abstract- machine-readable index-abstract- machine-readable index-abstract- terms are drawn from a controlled - terms are drawn from a controlled vocabulary and are arranged in a specified vocabulary and are arranged in a specified sequence nearly approximating that of a sequence nearly approximating that of a sentence structuresentence structure

Type of Irrigation Soil type Crops Climate

ConditionsPlace Results

Worksheet/ Template for a Structured Abstract**

Example:

/METHOD/DETERM/STRONTIUM/BONE/HUMAN/RADIOACTIVATION/ANALYSIS

A method is described for the determination of strontium and barium in human bone by radioactivation analysis.


5.5. Telegraphic abstract Telegraphic abstract - - presented in incomplete sentences presented in incomplete sentences and resembling a telegram or string of and resembling a telegram or string of terms without syntaxterms without syntax

- originated in the early computerized - originated in the early computerized retrieval system development at retrieval system development at Western Reserve UniversityWestern Reserve University

Types of AbstractsTypes of Abstracts

➢ Miscellaneous typesMiscellaneous types..

1. 1. Homotopic abstract – published Homotopic abstract – published simultaneously with the original simultaneously with the original document. document. 2. Highlight abstract – designed to attract 2. Highlight abstract – designed to attract the reader's attention to an article. To the reader's attention to an article. To arouse readers' curiosity, arouse readers' curiosity, incomplete and incomplete and leading remarks are used. leading remarks are used.

Length of an Original Document and Length of an Original Document and Its AbstractIts Abstract

Articles, portions of monographs

Notes, short communications

Editorials, letters to the editor

Monographs and theses

250 words

100 words

30 words

300 words

Approximate Length of an Informative Approximate Length of an Informative AbstractAbstract

Nature and scope of the study

Objectives Research methods Findings Conclusions

3%

7% 15% 70% 5%

Locations of Bibliographic Locations of Bibliographic CitationCitation

Precedes the abstractPrecedes the abstractImmediately follows the abstractImmediately follows the abstractTitle of the original document Title of the original document precedes the abstract but the precedes the abstract but the remainder of the bibliographic remainder of the bibliographic citation follows the text of the citation follows the text of the abstractabstract

Writing an AbstractWriting an Abstract

Judgements are subjective to the Judgements are subjective to the abstractor.abstractor.

Quality will depend on the Quality will depend on the abstractor's experience.abstractor's experience.

Writing an AbstractWriting an AbstractGeneral steps in abstracting:General steps in abstracting:

1.1. Determine relevancy of the materialDetermine relevancy of the material

2.2.Accurately and fully record the bibliographic Accurately and fully record the bibliographic referencereference

3.3.Reading and understandingReading and understanding

4.4.Carry out content analysis of documentCarry out content analysis of document

5.5. Interpretation through writing an annotationInterpretation through writing an annotation

6.6.Mark and write the required content information for Mark and write the required content information for the abstractthe abstract

7.7.Draft the abstractDraft the abstract

8.8.Edit then write final copy of the abstractEdit then write final copy of the abstract

9.9.Recording the abstractor’s nameRecording the abstractor’s name

10.10.Arrangement of abstractsArrangement of abstracts

Writing an AbstractWriting an AbstractRules for good writing writing of Rules for good writing writing of

abstractsabstracts LanguageLanguage Use of abbreviations commonly Use of abbreviations commonly

understoodunderstood Use of standard and familiar termsUse of standard and familiar terms Avoid using trade jargons and Avoid using trade jargons and

colloquial termscolloquial terms Avoid verbosity and redundancyAvoid verbosity and redundancy

Writing an AbstractWriting an AbstractParagraphing and Structured AbstractsParagraphing and Structured Abstracts

write the abstract as a single paragraphwrite the abstract as a single paragraph structured abstracts, however, the structured abstracts, however, the

major points of the text are presented major points of the text are presented in several labeled paragraphs rather in several labeled paragraphs rather than a single one.than a single one.

Writing an AbstractWriting an AbstractComplete Sentences Complete Sentences

Generally, use complete sentences. Where Generally, use complete sentences. Where incomplete sentences are used, they should be incomplete sentences are used, they should be clear and coherent, for example:clear and coherent, for example:Survey of efforts of Rennaisance architects to interpret Survey of efforts of Rennaisance architects to interpret Vitruvius' description of the ancient Roman House. Vitruvius' description of the ancient Roman House. [Deleted verb.][Deleted verb.]

Examines the ideological relations of the Holy Examines the ideological relations of the Holy Sepulchre, as manifested in writings, ceremonies and Sepulchre, as manifested in writings, ceremonies and architecture. [Deleted subject.]architecture. [Deleted subject.]

Writing an AbstractWriting an Abstract

First SentencesFirst Sentences

Avoid naming the type of document (e.g. Avoid naming the type of document (e.g. “This article evaluates”, “This essay “This article evaluates”, “This essay examines”, or “This study presents”).examines”, or “This study presents”).

Writing an AbstractWriting an AbstractNontextual MaterialsNontextual Materials

Include short tables, structural formulas, equations and Include short tables, structural formulas, equations and diagrams only when necessary for brevity and clarity diagrams only when necessary for brevity and clarity and when no other acceptable alternative exists.and when no other acceptable alternative exists.

Treatment of Added DetailsTreatment of Added Details

Access services that choose to include further details Access services that choose to include further details about the document itself should place them either at about the document itself should place them either at the end of the abstract or as parts of the bibliographic the end of the abstract or as parts of the bibliographic reference. These details need not be in sentence form.reference. These details need not be in sentence form.

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