If you have to write an abstract for an academic or scientific paper, don't panic! Abstract is a simple and short article, a summary of the work (scientific essay) or a stand-alone paper, which can be used by others as an overview (overview). An abstract describes what you did in an essay, whether it be scientific research or a paper on literary analysis. Abstracts help readers understand the paper and help them search and find a particular paper and decide if it fits their purpose. Since an abstract is just a summary of a work you have done, an abstract is relatively easy to write!
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Part 1 of 3: Start Writing an Abstract
Step 1. Write your paper first
Although located at the beginning, the abstract serves as a summary of the entire paper. More than just introducing the topic of the paper, the abstract is an overview (summary) of everything you wrote about in the paper. So, write an abstract at the final stage, after you have finished your paper.
- Overall, thesis and abstract are two completely different things. Thesis-statements supported by arguments-in a paper introduces the main idea or problem, while the abstract aims to review the entire content of the paper, including the methods and results.
- Even if you think you already know what your paper will look like, always write an abstract last time. You can provide a more accurate summary only if you do so-summarizing what you have written.
Step 2. Review and understand the various things you need to write in the abstract section
The paper you are writing may have specific guidelines or requirements, whether related to publication in a journal, a report for a lesson, or part of a work project. Before you start writing, refer to the initial instructions or guide provided to find out the important things to remember.
- Are there any requirements regarding maximum or minimum length?
- Is there a specific writing style that should be used?
- Are you writing for a teacher or for a publication?
Step 3. Consider your readers
Abstracts are written to help readers understand your work. For example, in a scientific journal, the abstract allows the reader to decide whether the research discussion is relevant to their interests. Abstracts also help readers quickly get to the main explanation you provide. Keep all the needs of the reader in mind as you write the abstract.
- Will other academics in the same field also read the abstract?
- Can the abstract be accessed by a lay reader or someone from another field?
Step 4. Decide what type of abstract you should write
While all types of abstracts basically have the same purpose, there are two main types of abstracts: descriptive and informative. You may be asked to use a certain writing style, but if not, you must determine the most appropriate type of abstract. Usually, informative abstracts are used for much longer research as well as technical research, whereas descriptive abstracts are better used for shorter papers.
- Descriptive abstracts explain the aims, objectives, and research methods but do not write down the results of the research. Such abstracts usually only consist of 100-200 words.
- An informative abstract is an abridged version of your paper, which provides an overview of everything related to your research including the results. These abstracts are much longer than descriptive abstracts, and can range from one paragraph to one page long.
- The main information included in both types of abstracts is the same, with the basic difference being that the research results are only included in informative abstracts. Informative abstracts are also much longer than descriptive abstracts.
- Critical abstracts are not used often, but may be required in some circumstances. The critical abstract conveys the same purpose as the other two abstracts, but also wants to connect the study or research into the discussion of the author's own research. This abstract may describe the research design or method.
Part 2 of 3: Writing Abstract
Step 1. Identify your research objectives
For example, you write about the relationship between a lack of lunch at school and poor grades. Then? Why is this important? Readers want to know why your research is important, and what the purpose of this research is. Begin your descriptive abstract by considering the following questions:
- Why did you decide to undertake this study or project?
- How did you do your research?
- What did you find?
- Why is this research and your findings important?
- Why should someone read your entire essay?
Step 2. Describe the problem
The abstract states the “problem” behind your research. Think of it as the specific issue for which your research or project is intended. Sometimes you can combine the problem with the motivation to do research, but it's best to make it clear and separate the two.
- What problem would you like to know or solve better through your research?
- What is the scope of your study/research – a general problem, or something specific?
- What is your main statement or argument?
Step 3. Describe the method you used
You have explained the 'motivation' and 'problem'. How about the 'method'? It is in this section that you present an overview of how to complete your research. If you are doing the research yourself, include a description of it in this abstract. If you're reviewing other people's research, be brief.
- Discuss your research including the various variables as well as the approach you used.
- Describe the evidence that supports your statement.
- Provide an overview of the most important sources.
Step 4. Describe the research results (in informative abstract only)
This is where you start to make a distinction between descriptive and informative abstracts. In an informative abstract, you will be asked to explain the results of your study/research. What did you find?
- What answers did you get from your research or study?
- Do your hypotheses or opinions support the research?
- What are the general findings?
Step 5. Write a conclusion
The conclusion should end the summary and close your abstract. At the conclusion state the significance of your findings as well as the importance of the entire content of the paper. The format for writing a conclusion can be used in both descriptive and informative abstracts, but you only need to answer the following questions in an informative abstract.
- What are the implications of your research?
- Are the results of your research general or very specific?
Part 3 of 3: Compiling an Abstract
Step 1. Arrange the abstract neatly
In your abstract, there are some specific questions that must be answered, but the answers must also be well structured. Ideally, the abstract should fit into the entire format of the essay you are writing, generally including the 'introduction', 'body' and 'conclusion'.
Many journals have specific style guidelines for an abstract. If you have been given a set of rules or instructions, follow them exactly as they are written
Step 2. Provide useful information
Unlike a topic paragraph which may be intentionally vague, an abstract should provide a useful explanation of your paper and research. Write an abstract so that the reader knows exactly what you are talking about and doesn't hang around – unanswered questions arise – with ambiguous phrases or references.
- Avoid using acronyms or abbreviations directly in the abstract, because everything needs to be explained for the reader to consider. Their use makes valuable writing space wasted, and should usually be avoided.
- If your topic is something you know well enough, you can refer to the names of the people or places that are the focus of your paper.
- Do not include long tables, figures, sources, or citations in your abstract. Besides taking up too much space, that's usually not what the reader wants.
Step 3. Write from the doodles
Yes, the abstract is indeed a summary, but nevertheless it must be written separately from the paper. Do not copy direct quotes from your paper, and avoid rewriting your own sentences from any part of the paper. Write an abstract using a new vocabulary and phrases to make it interesting and free from pleonasm-using more words than necessary.
Step 4. Use key phrases and words
If your abstract is going to be published in a journal, you'll want readers to find it easily. Because of this, readers will search for specific keywords in online databases in the hope that papers, like yours, will appear. Try using 5-10 key words or phrases about research in your abstract.
For example, if you are writing a paper on cultural differences related to schizophrenia, be sure to use words like “schizophrenia”, “cross-cultural”, “culture-bound”, "mental illness", and "social acceptance". These are probably the terms people use when searching for papers on the subject you are writing about
Step 5. Use actual information
You need to get people to read your abstract; the abstract is a kind of bait that will encourage them to continue reading your paper. However, don't make the reader interested by providing references to ideas or studies that are not included in your paper. Citing material that you didn't use in your writing will misunderstand your readers and ultimately lower your readership.
Step 6. Avoid writing that is too specific
Abstract is a summary, and should not refer to the important things of the research specifically, except for the name or location. You don't need to explain or define any terms in the abstract, all you need is a reference. Avoid overly detailed explanations in the summary and write an overview of your research.
Avoid using jargon-vocabulary specific to a particular field. This particular vocabulary may not be understood by the general reader in your field and may cause confusion
Step 7. Be sure to make basic revisions
An abstract is a piece of writing that, like any other piece of writing, must be corrected before being finalized. Double check for grammatical and spelling errors and make sure the abstract is well structured.
Step 8. Get feedback from someone
The best way to tell if you have summarized your paper well is to have someone read your abstract. Look for someone who knows nothing about your project. Ask him to read, then tell him what he understands about your abstract.
- Consulting a professor (professor), colleagues in your field of work, a tutor or consultant from a writing center will be very helpful. If you have these resources, use them!
- Asking for help can also keep you aware of any requirements in your field. For example, in science the use of the passive voice (such as 'this experiment was carried out') is very common. However, in literature the use of the active voice is usually preferred.
Tips
- Abstracts usually consist of one or two paragraphs and are no more than 10% of the length of the entire paper. Look at some of the other abstracts in similar publications to get an idea of what your abstract should look like.
- Consider carefully how technical the paper or abstract should be. It's often reasonable to assume your readers have some understanding of your field including the specific language used, but it's best if you do whatever it takes to make the abstract easier to read.
