Abstract Outline
Phil Druker, Department of English, UI
Here is an outline for a typical abstract:
Use this for a heading or place the abstract on the
title page:
Heading (or place the abstract on
the title page):
Title
of report
Author’s name
Affiliation (organization)
Date
Follow
this outline:
1.
Main point
/ purpose
(2.
Methods ß
only if important)
3.
Main results/ important findings
·
one sentence summary of
each section
·
give the main results –
the major findings
4.
Conclusions
5.
Recommendations
6.
(List key terms)
Notes
on writing an abstract:
1. Keep
it short: 100 words. 6 – 8
sentences.
2. Focus on results and conclusions/recommendations.
è Focus on
technical issues here (rather than business issues).
3.
Use an
appropriate level of technicality:
·
write for
other researchers,
·
avoid
specialized jargon so experts in other fields can read it.
4.
Make it
stand on its own
·
inform
(give the results) rather than describe.
5.
Write it
after you have written the whole report.
6.
Do not
use it as an introduction or background section.
·
Summarize
the whole report.
·
Anything
that appears here should appear in the report.
7.
Consider
format:
·
single
space.
·
indent
left and right margins.
Sample
Abstract