abstract

1. How to Write Your
Abstract

2. Complete your entire paper
first

3. Follow the style of another
abstract as you build your
three abstract paragraphs.
Do not worry about length or
language in this draft or stress
about diction or sentence
structure.

4. Check the rubric:
• Paragraph 1: Bolded research
question
• Paragraph 2: States scope and
method
• Paragraph 3: Summarizes your
conclusion

5. Take a word count. If over
300 words, condense. If
under, elaborate following
the examples of others.

6. Delete unnecessary
background information.
This is not an introduction.

7. Eliminate all jargon,
abbreviations, direct
quotations, or citations.

8.  Highlight:
• Your research question (intro)
• Sentences that detail the problem (intro)
• Key phrases that indicate scope (intro)
• Rewrite key sentences of conclusion

9.  Avoid first person. Passive voice is
preferred:
 “This essay discusses the effects of . .
. . Specifically, this paper investigates
(restate research question) . . .”
 “This essay examines how . . . . It
attempts to answer the question . . .”

10. Get to as close as 300 words
as possible, but do not go
over. Place the word count at
the bottom:
Word Count: 298