In this post, you will find information on the why, what and how of an abstract.
An Abstract
Often when asked to write a report or article, you will be required to include an abstract. This is usually a very concise summary of what the report or article is about and is usually placed before the body of your writing. The abstract can be read to get a quick overview. It tells the reader what to expect in your work and it should be based on all you have written.
Definition
The word abstract comes from the Latin abstractum, which means a condensed form of a longer piece of writing. There are two main types of abstract: the (1) Descriptive and the (2) Informative abstract. The type of abstract you write depends on your discipline area.
Why do we Write Abstracts?
Abstracts are important parts of reports and research papers and sometimes academic assignments. The abstract is often the last item that you write, but the first thing people read when they want to have a quick overview of the whole paper. We suggest you leave writing the abstract to the end, because you will have a clearer picture of all your findings and conclusions.
“Leave writing the abstract to the end, because you will have a clearer picture of all your findings and conclusions.”
How do I Write an Abstract?
· First re-read your paper/report for an overview. Then read each section and condense the information in each down to 1-2 sentences.
· Next read these sentences again to ensure that they cover the major points in your paper.
· Ensure you have written something for each of the key points outlined above for either the descriptive or informative abstract.
· Check the word length and further reduce your words if necessary by cutting out unnecessary words or rewriting some of the sentences into a single, more succinct sentence.
· Edit for flow and expression.
What Makes a Good Abstract?
A good abstract:
· uses one well-developed paragraph that is coherent and concise, and is able to stand alone as a unit of information
· is written in plain English and is understandable to a wider audience, as well as to your discipline-specific audience
· often uses passive structures in order to report on findings, focusing on the issues rather than people
· uses the language of the original paper, often in a more simplified form for the more general reader
· usually does not include any referencing
· in publications such as journals, it is found at the beginning of the text, while in academic assignments, it is placed on a separate preliminary page.
In the next blog post, we will describe a descriptive abstract and an informative abstract. We will also summarise the main features of, as well as the differences between, the two types of abstracts.
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