This document provides guidance on writing an abstract for a research paper or thesis. An abstract is a short, concise summary of a larger work that highlights its key concepts, research purpose, findings, and importance. It allows readers to quickly understand the main points and decide if they want to read the full work. An abstract should include the research problem, methodology, results, and implications in no more than 250 words. It is written after completing the larger work and placed at the beginning for selection and indexing purposes.

1. By:
Mudassir Zaman

2.  A concise summary/picture of a research
paper or thesis.
 An abstract is a self-contained, short, and
powerful statement that describes a larger
work.
 It makes sense by itself without outside
references or sources.

3.  It highlights key concepts, research purpose,
importance of your work and the outcomes.
 Single paragraph (250) words, indented,
single spaced.
 Placed at the beginning but written at the
end of the research work.

4.  An abstract is not a review, nor does it
evaluate the work.
 An abstract is an original document rather
than an excerpted (cut and paste) passage.

5. 1. For selection:
Abstracts allow readers who may be
interested in a longer work to quickly decide
whether it is worth their time to read it.
2. For indexing:
Many online databases use abstracts to
index larger works.Therefore, abstracts should
contain keywords and phrases that allow for
easy searching.

6.  When submitting articles to journals,
especially online journals
 When applying for research grants
 When writing a book proposal
 When completing the Ph.D. dissertation or
M.A. thesis
 When writing a proposal for a conference
paper
 When writing a proposal for a book chapter

7.  The format of your abstract will depend on
the work being abstracted.
 However, all abstracts generally cover the
following parts:
 1. Reason for writing:
What is the importance of the research?Why
would a reader be interested in the larger
work?

8.  2. Problem:
What problem does this work attempt to
solve?What is the scope of the project?What
is the main argument/thesis/claim?
 3. Methodology:
An abstract of a scientific work may include
specific models or approaches used in the
larger study. Other abstracts may describe
the types of evidence used in the research.

9.  4. Results:
Again, an abstract of a scientific work may
include specific data that indicates the results
of the project. Other abstracts may discuss
the findings in a more general way.
 5. Implications:
What changes should be implemented as a
result of the findings of the work? How does
this work add to the body of knowledge on
the topic? Uses of the research?

10.  The most important information first.
 The same type and style of language found in
the original, including technical language.
 Key words and phrases that quickly identify
the content and focus of the work.
 Clear, concise, and powerful language.

11.  Do not refer extensively to other works.
 Do not add information not contained in the
original work.
 Do not define terms.