What is an What is an abstract?abstract?An abstract is a condensed version of An abstract is a condensed version of a longer piece of writing that a longer piece of writing that highlights the major points covered, highlights the major points covered, concisely describes the content and concisely describes the content and scope of the writing, and reviews the scope of the writing, and reviews the writing's contents in abbreviated writing's contents in abbreviated form. form.

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What types of abstracts What types of abstracts are typically used?are typically used? Two types of abstracts are typically used: Two types of abstracts are typically used: 1. 1. Descriptive AbstractsDescriptive Abstracts

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

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

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

are always very short, usually under 100 are always very short, usually under 100 words. words.

2. 2. Informative AbstractsInformative Abstracts communicate specific information from the communicate specific information from the

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

the report, article, or paper. the 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. Usually informative abstracts are 10% or less Usually informative abstracts are 10% or less

of the length of the original piece. of the length of the original piece.

Qualities of a Good Qualities of a Good AbstractAbstract uses one or more well developed uses one or more well developed

paragraphs: these are unified, coherent, paragraphs: these are unified, coherent, concise, and able to stand alone. concise, and able to stand alone.

uses an introduction/body/conclusion uses an introduction/body/conclusion structure which presents the article, structure which presents the article, paper, or report's purpose, results, paper, or report's purpose, results, conclusions, and recommendations in conclusions, and recommendations in that order. that order.

follows strictly the chronology of the follows strictly the chronology of the article, paper, or report. article, paper, or report.

provides logical connections (or provides logical connections (or transitions) between the information transitions) between the information included. included.

adds adds nono new information, but simply new information, but simply summarizes the report. summarizes the report.

is understandable to a wide is understandable to a wide audience. audience.

oftentimes uses passive verbs to oftentimes uses passive verbs to downplay the author and emphasize downplay the author and emphasize the information.the information.

Steps for Writing Steps for Writing Effective AbstractsEffective Abstracts Reread the article, paper, or report. Reread the article, paper, or report.

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 scope, results, conclusions, and recommendation. 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.

After you've finished rereading the article, After you've finished rereading the article, paper, or report, write a rough draft paper, or report, write a rough draft without looking backwithout looking back at what you're at what you're abstracting. 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 article, paper, or report: you'll put in too much or too little information. much or too little information.

Don't rely on the way material was phrased Don't rely on the way material was phrased in the article, paper, or report: summarize in 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 in grammar, spelling, and

punctuation. punctuation. Print your final copy and read it Print your final copy and read it

againagain

TransitionTransition

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

To move readers into specific examples

To move To move readers readers

from one from one time-time-

frame to frame to anotheranother

To draw readers' attention to a To draw readers' attention to a

particular location or placeparticular location or place

To let readers know that a digression is about To let readers know that a digression is about to begin or end to begin or end