How to Write an Abstract

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An abstract provides the reader with a summary of your project. Depending on the kind of project, abstracts can take on different forms. This can include an abstract for a(n):

academic journal article
conference proposal
Master's thesis/PhD dissertation
Master’s thesis/PhD dissertation proposal (i.e., a research proposal)
essay in your course

Abstracts vary in length. For journal articles, abstracts are often between 150-250 words. For conferences and dissertations, however, abstracts can be longer (up to 500 words). Always follow the guidelines provided.

The Purpose and Audience of an Abstract

Regardless of the kind of abstract you are writing, it should entice the reader’s interest. Each of these abstracts has a different purpose and audience.

Journal Article Abstracts

For a journal article, the abstract helps the reader determine whether to read the full paper. When writing an abstract for a journal article, it is important to consider the nature of the journal. For example, is it a specialized or an interdisciplinary journal? When writing for a non-specialized audience, it is best to avoid technical language in the abstract. Consider your language use when writing for a journal in a Canadian context versus an international context, too. Since abstracts and keywords for journal articles are used by search engines, be strategic in the language you use to draw readers to your work.

Conference Abstracts

The conference abstract, meanwhile, helps the attendee decide whether to attend the session. When preparing to write a conference abstract, consider the kind of conference: is it a research-oriented or practice-oriented conference? Also consider the kind of conference session. Are you proposing to share research, facilitate a roundtable, develop a workshop? This will shape the direction of the abstract. Also consider the theme of the conference to ensure that your proposal is in alignment.

Thesis and Dissertation Abstracts

The abstract for a Master’s thesis or PhD dissertation, including a proposal, helps the reader to understand the purpose and scope of the project. Since a thesis or dissertation is a large work, the abstract frames the overarching structure for the reader and reveals the thread that unites the project. It can also help orient the reader to particular points of interest.

Course Essay Abstracts

An abstract for an essay in a course provides the reader an overview of the project.

What to Include in an Abstract

Depending on the academic discipline, the abstract includes different kinds of information.

Arts and Humanities Abstracts

Abstracts in the arts and humanities disciplines often include one to two sentences about the following:

Introduction: Includes the topic and the problem or debate being explored
Thesis: Gives a summary of the overarching argument
Theoretical framework: Explains the theoretical background of the research
Line of argumentation: Provides the actual reasoning in the argument
Significance: Positions the importance of the study within a larger field of research

Natural and Social Sciences Abstracts

Meanwhile, abstracts in the natural and social sciences often include one to two sentences about the following:

Introduction: Includes the topic, what we generally know about the topic, and what the research gap is
Objectives: Includes the purpose of the study, the research question(s), and/or the hypothesis
Methodology: Provides a general overview of how the study was conducted
Results: Highlights the most important finding(s) from the research
Significance: Positions the importance of the study within a larger field of research

You may write an abstract for a research proposal that has not yet been conducted. In that case, you will not have information about the results. You should be clear in your framing of the abstract that the research is forthcoming. This could include using the future tense to speak about the methodology.

These are general guidelines. Given the wide range of abstracts, it’s important to tailor the information in an abstract considering the field, audience, and context.