How to Write an Abstract for Your Scientific Paper

Abstract is an essential part of every scientific project. It is a short, self-contained piece of writing that describes a larger work. An abstract includes the essential or the most important thoughts about the entire paper to allow the readers understand the point of your work.

Writing an abstract can be a bit intimidating, especially if you face the task for the first time. However, the following information will help you overcome the possible challenges with ease.

What Makes a Good Abstract

• Well-developed, clear and concise paragraphs that can stand alone as a source of information.
• Elements of a full-length paper, including purpose, focus, methods, results and conclusions.
• Plain language understandable to a wide audience.
• Material that doesn’t contain information not included in a paper.
• No referencing.
• Passive structures to describe the findings that focus on the issues rather than people.
• Key words and phrases that quickly identify the content.
• The same style of language found in the original.

Key Elements of Every Abstract

Your abstract should include 5 important sections:

1. Introduction

In your introduction, you should state the purpose of your paper, why you undertook the experiment and why a reader would be interested in the larger work. Something motivated you to explore this topic (an observation, question, frustration you experienced), so let the reader into your head.

2. A statement of the problem

You need to make a clear statement of the problem you’re going to solve in your paper.

3. Methodology

Specify the approaches or models used in your work. Be clear and concise and don’t include details about the materials used unless it greatly influenced the procedures.

4. Results

Indicate the results that lead to the conclusions you have drawn. Mention the contribution you’ve made and again, don’t give too many details.

5. Conclusions

Briefly describe the conclusions that you derived from your investigation.

Important Steps for Writing

Explaining a scientific paper in an abstract of 250 words can be challenging, but if you divide the writing process into logical steps, the task will be much more manageable.

1. First of all, reread your paper attentively.
2. Next read each part and specify the most important information in one or two sentences.
3. Then read the sentences one more time to make sure that they cover the main points of your paper.
4. Ensure that you have written something for every element of an abstract.
5. Check the length of your abstract and reduce the words if necessary.
6. Edit your abstract for flow and language.

Produce an abstract when you have finished your paper because by then you’ll have a clear picture of the findings and results. Make sure your abstract informs the audience of all important points of your scientific paper and remember that grammar, spelling, syntax, originality and neatness are important.