What is an abstract?What is an abstract?

• An abstract is a very concise An abstract is a very concise statement of the major elements of statement of the major elements of your research project. It states the your research project. It states the purpose, methods, and findings of purpose, methods, and findings of your research project.your research project.

Abstracts for Abstracts for experimental research experimental research projectsprojects should include: should include:

• A specific and detailed title.A specific and detailed title.• A brief introduction to the topic-providing context A brief introduction to the topic-providing context

or background.or background.• A statement of the study's objectives--what is the A statement of the study's objectives--what is the

research question?research question?• A summary of results.A summary of results.• A statement of conclusions (or hypothesized A statement of conclusions (or hypothesized

conclusions).conclusions).• Possibly some discussion of the relevance of the Possibly some discussion of the relevance of the

conclusions.conclusions.• Possibly some call for future research Possibly some call for future research

Abstracts for Abstracts for research projectsresearch projects that are that are primarily text-based should include:primarily text-based should include:

• A specific and detailed title.A specific and detailed title.• A brief introduction to the topic-providing context or A brief introduction to the topic-providing context or

background.background.• A statement of the study's objectives--what is the research A statement of the study's objectives--what is the research

question?question?• A summary of the key subtopics explored—what argumentA summary of the key subtopics explored—what argument

are you proposing about the topic?are you proposing about the topic?• A brief reference to the nature of the source material and A brief reference to the nature of the source material and

methodology (if relevant)—library research? analysis of methodology (if relevant)—library research? analysis of fictional texts?fictional texts?interviews or observations?interviews or observations?

• A statement of conclusions (or hypothesized conclusions).A statement of conclusions (or hypothesized conclusions).• Possibly some discussion of the implications of the Possibly some discussion of the implications of the

conclusions.conclusions.

Some things to Some things to avoid:avoid:

• Including too much introductory Including too much introductory materialmaterial

Using too much jargon

Not using complete

sentences:

Not giving the reader sufficient context and completeness

What types of abstracts are typically What types of abstracts are typically used?used?• Descriptive AbstractsDescriptive Abstracts

– tell readers what information the report, article, tell readers what information the report, article, or paper contains. or paper contains.

– include the purpose, methods, and scope of the include the purpose, methods, and scope of the report, article, or paper. report, article, or paper.

– do do notnot provide results, conclusions, or provide results, conclusions, or recommendations. recommendations.

– are always very short, usually under 100 words. are always very short, usually under 100 words. – introduce the subject to readers, who must then introduce the subject to readers, who must then

read the report, article, or paper to find out the read the report, article, or paper to find out the author's results, conclusions, or author's results, conclusions, or recommendations.recommendations.

• Informative AbstractsInformative Abstracts

– communicate specific information from the report, communicate specific information from the report, article, or paper. article, or paper.

– include the purpose, methods, and scope of the include the purpose, methods, and scope of the report, article, or paper. report, article, or paper.

– provide the report, article, or paper's results, provide the report, article, or paper's results, conclusions, and recommendations. conclusions, and recommendations.

– are short -- from a paragraph to a page or two, are short -- from a paragraph to a page or two, depending upon the length of the original work depending upon the length of the original work being abstracted. Usually informative abstracts are being abstracted. Usually informative abstracts are 10% or less of the length of the original piece. 10% or less of the length of the original piece.

– allow readers to decide whether they want to read allow readers to decide whether they want to read the report, article, or paper.the report, article, or paper.

Steps for Writing Effective AbstractsSteps for Writing Effective Abstracts

• Reread the article, paper, or report with the goal of Reread the article, paper, or report with the goal of abstracting in mind. abstracting in mind. – Look specifically for these main parts of the Look specifically for these main parts of the

article, paper, or report: purpose, methods, article, paper, or report: purpose, methods, scope, results, conclusions, and recommendation. scope, results, conclusions, and recommendation.

– Use the headings, outline heads, and table of Use the headings, outline heads, and table of contents as a guide to writing your abstract. contents as a guide to writing your abstract.

– If you're writing an abstract about another If you're writing an abstract about another person's article, paper, or report, the introduction person's article, paper, or report, the introduction and the summary are good places to begin. and the summary are good places to begin. These areas generally cover what the article These areas generally cover what the article emphasizes.emphasizes.

• After you've finished rereading the article, paper, After you've finished rereading the article, paper, or report, write a rough draft or report, write a rough draft without looking without looking backback at what you're abstracting. at what you're abstracting. – Don't merely copy key sentences from the Don't merely copy key sentences from the

article, paper, or report: you'll put in too much article, paper, or report: you'll put in too much or too little information. or too little information.

– Don't rely on the way material was phrased in Don't rely on the way material was phrased in the article, paper, or report: summarize the article, paper, or report: summarize information in a new way.information in a new way.

• Revise your rough draft to Revise your rough draft to – correct weaknesses in organization. correct weaknesses in organization. – improve improve transitions from point to point. from point to point. – drop unnecessary information. drop unnecessary information. – add important information you left out. add important information you left out. – eliminate eliminate wordiness. – fix errors in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. in grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

• Print your final copy and read it again to catch any Print your final copy and read it again to catch any glitches that you find glitches that you find

• TransitionsTransitions help readers connect the ideas in a help readers connect the ideas in a piece of writing; they're the glue that shows how piece of writing; they're the glue that shows how pieces of your text fit together. Often all you'll pieces of your text fit together. Often all you'll need is a word or phrase to lead readers through need is a word or phrase to lead readers through your text.your text.

• lead forwardlead forward

• lead through a sequencelead through a sequence

• lead through cause and effect relationshipslead through cause and effect relationships

• compare and contrastcompare and contrast

• clarify or emphasizeclarify or emphasize

• lead to concessions, reservations, lead to concessions, reservations, dismissals, or conditions.dismissals, or conditions.

• lead to conclusionslead to conclusions

Cues that lead readers forward from Cues that lead readers forward from information they've already read to new information they've already read to new information.information.

• Old Information Transition Old Information Transition NewInformationNewInformation

ADDITIONADDITION Actually, Further,Actually, Further, Additionally, Furthermore,Additionally, Furthermore, Again, Incidentally,Again, Incidentally, Also, Indeed,Also, Indeed, And In fact,And In fact, Besides Lastly,Besides Lastly, Equally important, Moreover,Equally important, Moreover, Finally, Not only this, but this as wellFinally, Not only this, but this as well First, Second, Third, etc. What's more,First, Second, Third, etc. What's more,

To move readers into specific examples To move readers into specific examples

• Generalization Transition ExamplesGeneralization Transition Examples

EXAMPLESEXAMPLES

As an illustration, Namely,As an illustration, Namely,

Especially, Notably,Especially, Notably,

For example, Particularly,For example, Particularly,

For instance, Specifically,For instance, Specifically,

Including To demonstrate,Including To demonstrate,

In particular, To illustrate,In particular, To illustrate,

Cues that lead readers through a sequenceCues that lead readers through a sequenceTo move readers from one time-frame to another To move readers from one time-frame to another

Onetime Transition Another timeOnetime Transition Another time TIMETIME After a few hours, Immediately following,After a few hours, Immediately following, Afterwards, Initially,Afterwards, Initially, At last In the end,At last In the end, At the same time, In the future,At the same time, In the future, Before In the meantime,Before In the meantime, Before this ,In the meanwhile,Before this ,In the meanwhile, Currently, Last, Last but not least, Lastly,Currently, Last, Last but not least, Lastly, During Later,During Later, Eventually, Meanwhile,Eventually, Meanwhile, Finally, Next, Soon after,Finally, Next, Soon after, First, Second, Third, etc. Previously,First, Second, Third, etc. Previously, First of all, Simultaneously,First of all, Simultaneously, Formerly Subsequently,Formerly Subsequently, Immediately before, Then,Immediately before, Then,

To draw readers' attention to a particular To draw readers' attention to a particular location or place location or place

One place Transition Another One place Transition Another place place

PLACEPLACE

Adjacent, In the background,Adjacent, In the background,

Alongside, In the distance,Alongside, In the distance,

At the side, In the front,At the side, In the front,

Here/There In the foregroundHere/There In the foreground

In the back, Nearby,In the back, Nearby,

To let readers know that a digression is To let readers know that a digression is

about to begin or endabout to begin or end Digression Transition back to Digression Transition back to

Main pointMain point

Main point Transition begin Main point Transition begin DigressionDigression

DIGRESSION/RESUMPTIONDIGRESSION/RESUMPTION

Anyhow, Incidentally, Anyhow, Incidentally,

Anyway, To change the subject,Anyway, To change the subject,

As I was saying, To get back to the point,As I was saying, To get back to the point,

At any rate, To return to the subject,At any rate, To return to the subject,

By the way, To resume,By the way, To resume,