Writing Your Abstract
The abstract is a brief (150-250 word) overview -- an
"executive summary" -- that states the nature, purpose, and benefits
of your article or chapter.
It helps the reader decide whether or not to continue
reading.
Your abstract should:
- detail the subject of your article or chapter,
- identify its primary audience (and any secondary audiences),
- indicate the approach your article or chapter takes to its subject
(especially how that approach separates it from existing literature)
- highlight the results, conclusions, and benefits it offers readers
- be written in narrative form
- not include an outline, bulleted lists, or lists of keywords
- not provide biographical information about the author
- not substitute for or repeat extensively information that should
be in the introduction
For additional advice on writing abstracts, visit: