Don't worry if you need to write an abstract.Your abstract is a summary of the work that others can use as an overview.An abstract describes what you do in your paper, whether it is a scientific experiment or a literary analysis paper.It should help your reader understand the paper and help people who are searching for it decide if it suits their purposes.A summary that identifies the purpose, problem, methods, results, and conclusion of your work is what you need to write an abstract.All you have left is to format it correctly.An abstract is only a summary of the work you have already done.
Step 1: Write something on paper.
An abstract acts as a summary of your entire paper even though it goes at the beginning of the work.It will be an overview of everything you write about in your paper.After you have finished your paper, write your abstract.An abstract and a thesis are completely different things.An abstract works to review the entire paper, including the methods and results, while the thesis introduces the main idea or question.If you don't know what your paper is going to be about, save the abstract.If you summarize what you've already written, you will be able to give a more accurate summary.
Step 2: Understand any requirements for writing an abstract.
It is likely that the paper you are writing has specific guidelines and requirements, whether it is for publication in a journal or part of a work project.Refer to the rubric or guidelines you were presented with to identify important issues to keep in mind.Is it a maximum or minimum length?Is there style requirements?Are you writing for a publication or an instructor?
Step 3: You should consider your audience.
Readers will find your work in the abstract.Scientific journals allow readers to quickly decide if the research is relevant to their own interests.Your readers can get at your main argument quickly.As you write the abstract, keep in mind the needs of your readers.Will other people in your field read this abstract?Is it possible for a lay reader or someone from another field to read it?
Step 4: You must write an abstract.
Descriptive and informative are the two primary styles of abstract.If you weren't assigned a specific style, you will have to decide which one is right for you.Descriptive abstracts are better for shorter papers than informative ones.The purpose, goal, and methods of your research can be explained in a descriptive abstract.These are usually 100 to 200 words.The informative abstracts give an overview of everything in your research including the results.These can be anything from a single paragraph to a whole page.The basic information in both styles of abstract is the same, with the main difference being that the results are only included in an informative abstract and not a descriptive one.A critical abstract may be required in some courses.A critical abstract accomplishes the same goals as the other types of abstract, but will also relate the study or work being discussed to the writer's own research.It is possible to critique the research design.
Step 5: Define your purpose.
There is a correlation between poor grades and lack of lunches in schools.So what?Why does this matter?The reader wants to know why your research is important.Consider the questions "Why did you decide to do this study or project?"How did you do your research?What did you find?Why is your research important?Why do you want someone to read your entire essay?
Step 6: Give a solution to the problem at hand.
The problem behind your work is stated in the abstract.This is the issue that your research or project addresses.Sometimes the problem and motivation can be combined, but it is best to separate the two.What problem is your research trying to solve?What is the scope of your study?What is your main point of view?
Step 7: Discuss your methods.
Check for motivation.Check the problem.What are the methods?You will give an overview of how you accomplished your study.You should include a description of your work if you did it yourself.It can be explained if you review the work of others.Discuss your research with the variables and approach.Give an overview of your most important sources and describe the evidence you have to support your claim.
Step 8: Tell us about your results in an abstract.
There is a difference between a descriptive and an informative abstract.You will be asked to provide the results of your study in an informative abstract.What did you find?What answer did you come up with?Was your argument supported?What are the general findings?
Step 9: You should give your conclusion.
This should be the end of your summary.Address the meaning of your findings as well as the importance of the paper in it.You will only address the following questions in an informative abstract if you use this format of having a conclusion.What are the consequences of your work?Are your results general or specific?
Step 10: It should be in order.
The answers must be kept in order if you want to answer specific questions.It should mimic the overall format of your essay, with a general introduction, body, andclusion.Follow the rules if they have been given to you.
Step 11: Provide helpful information.
An abstract should give a helpful explanation of your paper and research, unlike a topic paragraph, which may be intentionally vague.Don't leave the reader hanging with ambiguous references or phrases in your abstract, it's important to know what you're talking about.Direct abbreviations will need to be explained in order to make sense to the reader, so don't use them in the abstract.That uses up a lot of writing room, and should be avoided.You can reference the names of people or places that your paper focuses on if your topic is well-known.Tables, figures, sources, and long quotations are not included in your abstract.These are not what your readers want from an abstract anyways.
Step 12: Write it from the beginning.
Your abstract should be separate from your paper.Don't copy and paste quotes from yourself, and avoid using your own words in your writing.Use completely new vocabulary and phrases to keep your abstract interesting.
Step 13: Key phrases and words are used.
You want people to be able to find your abstract easily if it is published in a journal.Readers will use online databases to look for certain queries in hopes that papers like yours will show up.Try to use at least five important words or phrases in your abstract.If you are writing a paper on the cultural differences in perception of schizophrenia, be sure to use words like "schizophrenia," "cross-cultural," and "culture-bound," as well as "societal acceptance."
Step 14: Real information should be used.
The hook that will encourage people to read your paper is your abstract.Do not include ideas or studies that you don't include in your paper in order to reference them.Citing material that you don't use in your work will hurt your ratings.
Step 15: It's a good idea to not be too specific.
An abstract is a summary and should not refer to specific points of your research other than possibly names or locations.A reference is all you need to explain any terms in your abstract.Stick to a very broad overview of your work if you want to avoid being too explicit in your summary.Don't use jargon.It can cause confusion if general readers in your area don't understand this specialized vocabulary.
Step 16: It is important to do basic revisions.
The abstract is a piece of writing that needs to be revised.Make sure it is formatted correctly and check for spelling and grammatical errors.
Step 17: Receive feedback from someone.
It is a good idea to have someone else read your abstract.Someone who doesn't know everything about your project is a good choice.Ask him or her to read your abstract and tell you what he or she understood.If you have adequately communicated your key points in a clear manner, this will let you know.It's helpful to consult with your professor, a colleague in your field, or a writing center consultant.You can use these resources if you have them.Asking for help can let you know about any conventions in your field.In the sciences, it is very common to use the passive voice.In the humanities, active voice is preferred.