Abstracts
What is an abstract? An abstract is an original and concise version of a text, such as a research
paper, thesis, journal article, or book. It should provide enough information so readers will be
knowledgeable about the text’s content without needing to read it in its entirety. The abstract
only provides a condensed version of the text; it should not evaluate the information contained in
the text. Abstracts can vary from discipline to discipline; however, generally, most abstract have
five common elements.
Elements of an Abstract
Purpose
Why was the article written? How does this article relate to the larger
academic picture?
Issue
What specific topic is being studied in the text? What is the text looking to
identify or solve within the bounds of the thesis?
Methodology
Results or Outcome
Implications and
Conclusion
What are the steps taken to study the topic? What information was
gathered for the topic and what was the process for gathering that
information? Was original experimentation or data gathering performed or
was outside research consulted?
What facts and data were discovered through the research? What are the
most important specific findings? Give specific data, like quotes or
statistics, and avoid generalizations or relative modifiers like very, many,
most, more, slightly, or mostly.
What does it all mean? Was the study successful or were flaws detected?
What improvements need to be made to the study or to the subject studied?
Now that the facts have been discovered, how can they be used in
academia?
Elements not to Include in an Abstract
Criticism and/or opinions about the text
Quotations from the text
References to outside sources
Jargon and definition of terms
Unnecessary details
Types of abstracts: The two common types of abstracts are descriptive and informative.
Descriptive Abstract (100 or fewer words)
As the name suggests, a descriptive abstract describes information in a text. It should include the
problem or topic studied, the manner in which the problem or topic was studied (also called the
methodology), and any research or resources used. A descriptive essay does not include the
conclusions or results of the text and is, in general, very short.
Updated: 6-11-12-JM
Example:
Haubegger, Christy. “The Legacy of Generation Ñ.” The College Writer: A Guide to Thinking,
Writing, and Researching. Edited by Randall VanderMey, et al. Boston: Houghton
Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company, 2009. 191-192. Print.
This Newsweek article discusses the influence of Latino culture on the United States. Starting with
the Latino expansion in the 1980s and 90s, Haubegger addresses Latino influences—population
growth, language, food, politics, advertising, and television—on the cultures of the 21st century U.S.
Therefore, America should prepare for “re-Latinization.”
Informative Abstract (100-250 words)
An informative abstract is the most common type of abstract. It is a short overview of the
specific information contained in a text. An informative abstract should include some or all of
the following information: the problem or topic studied, the manner in which the problem or
topic was studied (also called the methodology), research or resources used, data discovered
during the research, conclusions (also called the findings) of the experiment or research and any
recommendations resulting from the conclusions.
Example:
Pizano, Andrea. “The Effects of Temperature and Inhibitors on the Fermentation Process for
Ethanol.” The College Writer: A Guide to Thinking, Writing, and Researching. Eds.
Randall VanderMey, et al. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009. 343-46. Print.
Alcoholic beverages have been brewed for many centuries by combining sugar(s) and a fermenting
agent (yeast). Scientists are only now coming to understand the chemical processes of alcohol
fermentation. This experiment studies temperature and chemical additives and their effects on the
fermentation process. Hot and cold temperatures and chemical additives, including sodium fluoride
and 95% ethanol, were applied or added to a standard fermentation recipe. Bubbles produced in the
reaction tube were collected using a septum, tubing, and water-filled collection tube over a fiveminute observation period. The fermentation for the cold water, sodium fluoride, and room
temperature water (control) samples all peaked between the two minute and four minute marks and
then declined. The hot water and ethanol samples produced non-typical results: hot water did not
ferment over the observed period and ethanol peaked at the beginning observation point and fell
steeply to terminate at the three minute mark. The hypotheses presented in the paper are generally
supported, although the author suggests repeating the cold water test to clarify results. One flaw
identified is the sensitivity of measurement for observed results. This and other research adds to the
body of knowledge about the effects of temperature and chemicals on fermentation.
Works Consulted:
American Psychological Association. Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. Washington, D.C.:
American Psychological Association. Print.
Cember, Elizabeth, et al. “The Report Abstract and Executive Summary.” Perdue OWL. Purdue, 11 Nov. 2011. Web. 24 April
2012.
Driscoll, Dana Lynn. “Writing Report Abstracts.” Perdue OWL. Purdue University, 21 April 2010. Web. 24 April 2012.
The Writing Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. “Abstracts.” UNC, n.d. Web. 24 April 2012.