An abstract is a short, objective description of an intellectual resource, usually a written document. Professors often assign students to write abstracts to accompany their papers. (For instance, in this class!)
When writing an abstract, it is important to keep in mind the purposes of an abstract:
- Provide readers with useful information about a document
- Help readers to evaluate and select a document that they would find useful in their own research
- Allow readers to get the bare-bones information about a document without requiring them to read the actual document
Keep in mind the ABCs of a good abstract:
- Accuracy - a good abstract includes only information included in the original document
- Brevity - a good abstract gets straight to the point, contains precise language, and does not include superfluous adjectives
- Clarity - a good abstract does not contain jargon or colloquialisms and always explains any acronyms.
Writing Abstracts. (n.d.). Retrieved October 09, 2016, from http://www.indiana.edu/~wts/pamplets/abstracts.shtml
