ABSTRACTS

Writing an Abstract What is an abstract? It is “a concise summary of the entire paper.” An abstract is a 150- to 250-word paragraph that provides readers with a quick overview of your essay. It should express your thesis (or central idea) and your key points; it should also suggest any implications or applications of the research you discuss in the paper. The function of an abstract is to describe, not to evaluate or defend, the paper. The abstract should begin with a brief but precise statement of the problem or issue, followed by a description of the research method and design, the major findings, and the conclusions reached. The abstract should contain the most important key words referring to method and content: these facilitate access to the abstract by computer search and enable a reader to decide whether to read the entire dissertation. Write the abstract at the very end, when you’ve completed the rest of the text. There are four things you need to include: Your research problem and objectives Your methods Your key results or arguments Your conclusion An abstract is usually around 150–300 words, but there’s often a strict word limit, so make sure to check the requirements. Keywords These keywords should reference the most important elements of the research to help potential readers find your paper during their own literature searches. Be aware that some publication manuals, such as APA Style, have specific formatting requirements for these keywords. Checklist: The word count is within the required length, or a maximum of one page. The abstract appears after the title page and acknowledgements and before the table of contents. I have clearly stated my research problem and objectives. I have briefly described my methodology. I have summarized the most important results. I have stated my main conclusions. I have mentioned any important limitations and recommendations. The abstract can be understood by someone without prior knowledge of the topic.