How do I write an abstract?

The format of your abstract will depend on the work being abstracted. An abstract of a scientific research paper will contain elements not found in an abstract of a literature article, and vice versa. However, all abstracts share several mandatory components, and there are also some optional parts that you can decide to include or not. When preparing to draft your abstract, keep the following key process elements in mind:

Key process elements:

  1. Reason for writing:
    What is the importance of the research? Why would a reader be interested in the larger work?
  2. Problem:
    What problem does this work attempt to solve? What is the scope of the project? What is the main argument/thesis/claim?
  3. Methodology:
    An abstract of a scientific work may include specific models or approaches used in the larger study. Other abstracts may describe the types of evidence used in the research.
  4. Results:
    Again, an abstract of a scientific work may include specific data that indicates the results of the project. Other abstracts may discuss the findings in a more general way.
  5. Implications:
    What changes should be implemented as a result of the findings of the work? How does this work add to the body of knowledge on the topic?

(This list of elements is adapted with permission from Phil Koopman, "How to Write an Abstract," http://www.ece.cmu.edu/~koopman/essays/abstract.html.)


All abstracts include:

  1. The most important information first.
  2. The same level of language found in the original, including technical language.
  3. Key words and phrases that quickly identify the content and focus of the work.
  4. Clear, concise, and powerful language.

Abstracts may include:

  1. The thesis of the work in the first sentence.
  2. The background that places the work in the larger body of literature.
  3. The same chronological structure of the original work.

How not to write a abstract:

  1. Do not refer extensively to other works.
  2. Do not add information not contained in the original work.
  3. Do not define terms.

This excerpt is taken from the following website:  http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/abstracts.html.

For additional information about abstract writing, click here and here.