This includes: 1. Definition of abstract 2. Uses of importance of abstracts 3. Reasons for writing abstracts 4. Parts or sections of an abstract 5. Types of abstracts 6. Tips on how to write abstracts 7. Qualities of a good abstract

1. Abstract of a Research
FERDINAND C. IMPORTADO CPA, MBA

2. Definition of abstracts
Comes from the Latin
abstractum
Condensed form of a
longer piece of
writing.
It summarizes, usually
in one paragraph of
200 – 300 words or
less, the major
aspects of the entire
(research) paper

3. Uses or importance of abstracts
Selection
• Allows readers to quickly
decide whether it is
relevant to their purposes
and whether they need to
read the whole paper
Indexing
• Enable searches in abstracts
• Allows for quick retrieval by
users
• Incorporates the key terms
that a potential researcher
would use to search

4. Reasons for writing abstracts
Submission of articles to journals
Application for research grants
Completion and submission of theses
Submission of proposals for conference papers

5. Parts or sections of an abstract
Reason for
writing
Problem Methodology
Results Implications

6. Types of abstracts
Critical Descriptive
Informative Highlight

7. Critical abstract
Describes the
main findings
and
information
Judgement or
comment
about the
study’s
validity,
reliability, or
completeness
Evaluates the
paper and
often
compares it
with other
works on the
same subject
Generally
400-500
words in
length due to
the additional
interpretive
commentary

8. Descriptive abstract
Usually very short, 100 words or less
Incorporate key words found in the text and may include the purpose, methods, and scope of the research
Makes no judgments about the work, nor does it provide results or conclusions of the research
Indicates the type of information found in the work

9. Informative abstract
Acts as a surrogate for the work itself
Presents and explains all the main arguments and the important results and evidence in the
paper
Includes the information that can be found in a descriptive abstract as well as the results and
conclusions of the research and the recommendations of the author
Usually no more than 300 words in length

10. Highlight abstract
Written to attract the reader’s attention to the study
No pretence is made of there being either a balanced or
complete picture of the paper
Cannot stand independent of its associated article
Rarely used in academic writing

11. How to write an abstract
Re-read all the
sections of the
paper
Pick up major
points from
each section
Check word
length for each
major point
Edit for flow
and cohesion

12. Qualities of a good abstract
Coherent, concise, and
independent with good
transition
Covers all of the parts
or sections of a
research or paper in a
chronological order
Contains information
only included in the
paper
Written in plain English
understandable by the
majority of the readers
Focuses on issues
rather than people

13. References
Source Web address
University of Adelaide
https://www.adelaide.edu.au/writingcentre/learnin
g_guides/learningGuide_writingAnAbstract.pdf
University of Kentucky
http://www.uky.edu/academy/sites/www.uky.edu.a
cademy/files/How%20to%20Write%20Research%20
Abstract.pdf
University of Melbourne
http://services.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_f
ile/0007/471274/Writing_an_Abstract_Update_051
112.pdf
University of Southern
California
http://libguides.usc.edu/writingguide/abstract