research paper
zaina
Wk9.2Abstract.pptx
Abstracts
Thursday, 30 May 2019
A brief summary providing the basic concept and main point of the article.
Acts as a reference tool and should include keywords and technical language to help with searching for the paper.
There are three types:
Informative
Descriptive
Proposal
Informative Abstracts
State the essence of the entire paper
Must provide all the main points or parts of the paper including:
A description of the study or project
The methods
The results
The conclusions
Descriptive Abstracts
Briefer than informative abstracts
Quick overview inviting the reader to read the whole paper
Do not summarize the entire paper, give or discuss results, or set out the conclusion or its implications
Proposal Abstracts
Contains the same basic information as the informative abstract
Used to persuade someone (a journal, program, conference) to let you write on a topic, pursue a project, conduct an experiment, or present a paper at a conference
Usually written before the proposed paper/project.
Titles and other aspects of the proposal reflect the theme of the proposed work
Can use the future tense to describe the work not yet completed
Key Elements
Summary of basic information:
Informative: enough information to substitute for the report itself
Descriptive: only enough information to let the audience decide to read further
Proposal: provides an overview of the planned work
Objective description
Present information on the contents of a report or a proposed study
Do not present arguments about or personal perspectives on those contents.
Brevity
May vary based on the journal or conference
Usually 120-250 words
Tips for Writing an Abstract
Generating ideas and text: unless you are writing a proposal abstract, you should write the paper first
Use the finished work as a guide for the abstract, as it will follow the same basic structure and outline
Reverse Outlining
Write a simple sentence for each paragraph in the paper or group the main ideas of each section (introduction, history, methods, etc.) into a single sentence.
Create a rough draft.
Summarize the key ideas; edit out unnecessary words and details.
Introduce the scope of the study/paper and include vital information.
Cover basic ideas, not personal opinion.
Conform to any requirements.
Ways to Organize an Abstract
Informative Abstract
State nature of study
Summarize method of study
Summarize results or findings of study
Summarize discussion of results or findings
State implications of study
State conclusions of study
A descriptive abstract
A proposal abstract
Announce subject of study
Give brief overview of full paper
Announce subject of study
Summarize method to be used
Rubric
Provide critical ideas, experiments, and conclusions of paper without providing unnecessary detail
Self-contained – no mention of figures, data
Clear and concise, good flow
No first person
No references in abstract
Abstract Activity
What is the problem or question being answered/analyzed?
What method or methods were used?
What was discovered?
What is the significance of the findings?
What type of abstract is this i.e. informative, descriptive, proposal?
