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Writing An Abstract

The document provides guidance on how to write an abstract, including that an abstract should be a single paragraph summary of around 150 words or less that is placed on a separate page after the title page. It describes what should be included in an abstract such as the topic, purpose, methods, conclusions, and implications. The document also provides tips for writing a good abstract that is accurate, self-contained, concise, nonevaluative, and coherent.

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116 views3 pages

Writing An Abstract

The document provides guidance on how to write an abstract, including that an abstract should be a single paragraph summary of around 150 words or less that is placed on a separate page after the title page. It describes what should be included in an abstract such as the topic, purpose, methods, conclusions, and implications. The document also provides tips for writing a good abstract that is accurate, self-contained, concise, nonevaluative, and coherent.

Uploaded by

abcbatata
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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What in the world is an abstract anyway?

-In general, an abstract is simply a very brief summary of your paper


-It gives the reader a quick, comprehensive survey of the paper's content

And how will I know an abstract when I see one?


1) An abstract should be typed as a single paragraph in a block format
This means no paragraph indentation!
2) A typical abstract should only be about 6 sentences long or 150 words or
less.
3) The abstract page should not be numbered
4) The abstract should be on a separate page following the title page (in
some cases it may be on the title page itself)
5) The word "Abstract" is used as a title and is centered at the top of the
page. There should be a double space between the title and the
abstract.
6) The abstract should not contain quotations from the text.

Let's pretend that I want to write my own abstract.


Where exactly do I begin?
1) Generally, it is best to begin an abstract with a statement of the topic or
problem that you address in your paper. (Keep in mind though, that an
abstract in itself is not an introduction to your paper.)
- Example: "Counseling adolescents is filled with pitfalls."

2) The remaining part of the abstract should state the paper's purpose
- Your abstract should include:

A description of the nature of the problem


A description of the major points and thesis
A description of the methods or evidence used
A description of the major conclusions reached

-You may find it helpful to write your abstract by summarizing each


major section of your paper with a single sentence

3) The final sentence of the abstract normally states the general


conclusions, implications, or applications of the research

How will I know if my abstract is good?


-The APA Publication Manual describes a good abstract as being:
-Accurate – It should correctly reflect the contents of the paper. It
should not contain information that you don't already have in your
paper.
-Self-contained – The abstract should define all abbreviations and
acronyms. (Instead of writing ADD, you would have to write out
Attention Deficit Disorder)
-Concise and specific – Each sentence should be informative but as
brief as possible. Check every word to make sure it is essential.
-Nonevaluative – An abstract is not a place to throw in your own
creative insight. Do not comment on what you wrote about in your
paper.
-Coherent and readable – Write it clearly; don't try to impress the
reader with unimportant gobbledygook or jargon.

As you can see, it can be very easy to construct an abstract. Hopefully


you can now sit down and write one on your own. If you are a bit
confused though, or just not sure you are on the right track, please
feel free to come to the Writing Center to have a one-on-one consult
with a trained consultant!
The Writing Center Clarion University of Pa. ©2009

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