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How to Write an Abstract


An abstract is a paragraph that summarizes periodicals, and sometimes books. They are accompanied by a bibliographical description to enable the publications or articles to be traced. This is the information you need for a complete bibliography: Abstracts can be descriptive, informative or evaluative.
  1. descriptive abstracts: mainly directs to the original document and simply identifies basic subject of article.
  2. informative abstract: gives much information about the original, summarizing the principal arguments and giving the principal arguments and summarizing the principal data.
  3. evaluative abstract: comments on the worth of the original are included.
When writing an abstract, follow this structure:
  1. Topic sentence: identifies main idea or what the article is about.
  2. Main body: to explain the scope, range or depth of the article.
  3. Concluding sentence: to state the major conclusion(s) or recommendation(s).
Example of a descriptive abstract: 
Kozlowski, James C.  "Coaches delay emergency treatment for player suffering heat stress."
		 Parks and Recreation, Jan 92, p. 26.

A high school student died from heat stress in a football workout. [Topic Sentence] The parents brought action against the school board for negligence. [Main body] Legal implications of first aid and assistance in emergency are discussed using the court case as an example. [Concluding Sentence]



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Last Updated: April 11, 2000.

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