12 Steps On How To Write An Abstract

Abstracts have played a critical role in describing the research study to journal editors and researchers. It is the most important part of any research paper that gives readers an overview of your paper and what to expect.

Writing a persuasive abstract, on the other hand, is far more vital today than it was previously. It is critical to devote time and effort to it since it is how potential readers determine whether or not to read your work.

A summary, findings, observations, and trends must also be included in an abstract. These aspects will make it easier for the viewers to assess your work.

Read this article to learn how to write an abstract. Learn to generate original ideas for enticing readers.

What is an Abstract

An abstract is a brief synopsis of your study. It informs readers about the main topic of your article as well as the goals and consequences.

A solid abstract also helps the audience to determine whether or not to continue reading your work. It is a required component of every research paper or thesis, and no work is regarded as complete without it.

It is around 150 to 250 words long and must be written after the paper has been completed. Furthermore, this section follows the title page and acknowledgments but before the table of contents.

Types of an Abstract

There are four main types of abstract given below:

• Critical Abstract – This type of abstract allows the reader to critically evaluate the paper for analyzing its reliability. It is about 400-500 words in length.
• Descriptive Abstract – It usually states the type of information found in the research work in less than 100 words.
• Informative Abstract – Like the descriptive abstract, it also mentions the information along with the results, conclusion, and recommendation. The length of the abstract is no more than 300 words.
• Highlight Abstract – It is written to provide the complete picture of the research study to attract readers.

How to Write an Abstract

Typically, professors demand students to include an abstract in their research paper. This portion, however, is frequently missed by pupils. As a result, manuscripts with poor abstracts are more likely to be rejected by reviewers.

Follow the important steps given below to write a good abstract.

Check Out the Instructions

Every research report has a set of guidelines. These instructions serve as recommendations for all students who must write an abstract. So, before beginning a research paper, review the guidelines provided by your teacher.

These guidelines may include:

• The type of abstract to write about
• A proper structure or pattern to follow
• Any specific organization rules to apply
• The required word count
• Style and formatting requirements

Following these procedures will entice people to continue reading your work.

Write the Research Paper First

The abstract should be written at the conclusion of your manuscript. This section summarizes the most essential aspects of your work. As a result, you won’t realize these crucial elements until you’ve finished writing the body of your paper.

Add the Background of the Research Study

In the abstract, include some background information about your study topic. Keep the content succinct, concise, and focused on the core study issue by avoiding extraneous and long details.

Only include information that is relevant to your research. It will assist you in explaining the relevance of your research’s project conclusion.

Describe the Research Problem and Objectives

Begin your abstract by stating the goal and objectives of your research. Explain its importance to people and society, as well as the research question(s) you want to address.

Use phrases like assess, analyze, and research to do this. Furthermore, this part may be written in the simple past or present tense, but never in the future.

Answer the following questions while stating your research problem:

• Why are you conducting this research?
• How will the study contribute to the field?
• Why should the audience read the full paper?
• What is the main problem that your research is trying to solve?
• What is the scope of the study, i.e., specific or general?
• What is the major argument?

Mention the Research Methods

Every study project adheres to a specified technique. An abstract will talk about the research methodologies you employed to address the study topic.

It generally consists of one or two phrases written in the past tense. Make no attempt to explain everything in it. Instead, be succinct and to the point.

The major purpose here is to provide a general overview of the techniques, procedures, and sources you employed. It might be qualitative, quantitative, a case study, or anything else. Simply explain why you choose a certain strategy and how it aids your study.

Discuss the Previous Researches

Some abstracts highlight prior and pertinent research on the chosen topic. After you’ve identified them, make sure to indicate that your study has a distinct viewpoint. However, it should not be overly extensive or comprehensive. Just a quick summary of how your study differs from others.

An abstract is a condensed representation of the research. As a result, include enough information to keep the reader interested.

Summarize Findings and Results

In this part, summarize your study’s key findings and outcomes. Avoid using ambiguous qualitative terminology and write in straightforward past and present tense.

Also, define your study’s impact in tangible words, such as percentage, trends, numbers, and so on. Similarly, compare the procedures and outcomes to the hypothesis, noting whether or not the investigation was effective.

State Your Conclusion

In the final portion of the abstract, provide the conclusion of your investigation. It must include an explanation for the solution to your study topic and difficulty.

Mention any research limitations, such as sample size or methodology. It will help the audience grasp the research’s trustworthiness and the circumstances under which it was conducted.

In this part, a writer might also give comments and recommendations for further study as well as a call to action. Make certain that your findings bring value to the relevant realm of knowledge.

Use Keywords to Attract the Audience

To entice the reader, provide a list of keywords at the conclusion of your abstract. These should be the most frequently used and relevant words.

Potential readers can readily locate your article throughout their searches if you include such keywords in your study. As a result, incorporate 5 to 10 key terms from your research study.

Remember that the Publication Manuals of the American Psychological Association (APA) style has certain special formatting requirements for these terms.

Read Some Abstract Samples

The greatest and quickest method to learn something is through examples. Read some internet samples relating to various areas before drafting your paper’s abstract. Science, social sciences, and humanities are examples of such subjects.

While writing a literature review, reading samples offers an excellent notion of the type of abstract that each subject should have.

Make a Rough Draft First

Create an outline for your abstract. At this point, don’t worry about the word restriction or the sort of content you’re employing. Simply concentrate on the primary subject of your paper and jot down everything that comes to mind.

However, avoid adding the following elements in the abstract.

• Lengthy background details
• Unnecessary phrases, adverbs, and adjectives
• Repetitive information
• Acronyms or abbreviations
• References to other research work
• Incomplete sentences
• Ellipticals or jargon language
• Citations to others work
• Any type of image, table, or illustration
• Definitions of the keywords and terms

After you’ve finished writing, go over it again and again. Remove anything that reveals too many details. Make it brief and only hint at the information included in the main parts.

Proofread Before Submission

No writing process is complete without thorough proofreading. When you have finished writing the abstract, proofread and revise it thoroughly.

Many students try to circumvent this section by submitting their papers without proofreading. As a result, they receive low grades.

Also, before giving it over to your instructor, read the rest of the paper and double-check the results section.

Tips to Write an Abstract for a Research Paper

Here are some useful tips for you to write an effective abstract for a paper.

• Write the abstract by using a reverse outlining process. Start with making a list of keywords. Write the sentences that summarize the central argument, and then revise them to get a clear framework of your abstract.
• Read other sample abstracts to get a better idea of the style and structure.
• Write clearly and concisely by avoiding unnecessary words and jargon language. Make sure that each sentence should present one major argument. It will make it easy for readers to understand the topic.
• Present the original contributions of your research instead of discussing other’s work.