1, reverse outline Not all abstracts contain exactly the same elements. If your research has a different structure (for example, humanities papers build arguments through thematic chapters), you can write an abstract through a reverse outline. For each chapter or part, list the key words and draft 1-2 sentences to summarize the central point or argument.
This will provide a framework for your summary structure. Next, modify the sentences, make connections and show how the argument develops. The whole story should be compressed and contain only the information that can be found in the text. Reread your abstract and make sure it clearly summarizes your whole argument.
2. Read other abstracts in your topic. The best way to learn the habit of writing abstracts is to read others'. In the process of literature review, you may have read the abstracts of many journal articles-try to use them as the framework of structure and style. You can also find a large number of abstract examples in papers and paper databases.
3. Write clearly and concisely. A good summary should be short and influential, so make sure every word is valuable. Every sentence should clearly convey a main point. Avoid unnecessary filler words and obscure terms that need to be explained. The abstract should be understood by readers who are not familiar with your research topic.
The purpose of focusing on your own research abstract is to report the original contribution of your own research, so avoid discussing other people's work, even if you have a certain space to mention it in the text. You can summarize the academic background in one or two sentences to position your research and show its relevance to the broader debate, but there is no need to mention specific publications. Don't quote in the abstract unless absolutely necessary (for example, if your research directly responds to another research or revolves around a key theorist).
5. Check your format If you are writing a paper or contributing to a magazine, you usually have specific format requirements for the abstract to ensure that you meet the requirements. For the research papers of APA, you can follow the abstract format of APA. Be sure to stick to the word limit. If you don't get any guidance about the length of the abstract, you'd better not write more than one page.