This document provides information on writing abstracts and executive summaries. It defines an abstract as a brief summary that allows readers to quickly understand the key points of a longer document, while an executive summary provides a more detailed high-level overview. The document outlines the components and characteristics of well-written abstracts and executive summaries, such as being concise, accurate and including the purpose, methods, scope, conclusions and recommendations. It also provides examples and tips for writing abstracts and executive summaries.

1. Abstract and Executive Summary
Giving the Skinny

2. Objectives
 Define what an abstract is
 Understand the components of a good abstract
 Write an abstract
 Define an executive summary
 Understand the components of a good executive
summary
 Write an executive summary
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3. Abstract
An abstract is a brief summary of a longer paper. It
allows the reader to survey the contents of an
article quickly.
A well-prepared abstract can be the most important
paragraph in the paper.
APA Publication Manual
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4. Importance
 Introduction to the paper
 Key ideas and conclusions
 Prompts the reader to read the entire paper
 Allows the reader to get key concepts without
reading the paper
 Frequently used in professional reports
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5. Types of Abstracts
Descriptive Abstract Informative Abstract
 Give the important  Is an expanded
information version of the
 Includes descriptive
 Purpose (thesis)  Includes
 Methods  Purpose
 Scope of paper  Method
 Does not include  Scope
 Conclusions  Conclusions
 Recommendations  Recommendations
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6. Format
 Separate page
 Page after title page
 Identified with a heading as an Abstract
 May be a page by itself
 Usually 200 – 250 words
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7. Characteristics of a Good Abstract
 Accurate—correctly  Nonevaluative—do not
reflects the purpose and add comments which
content of paper are not in the paper
 Self-contained—can  Coherent and readable
stand on its own. Does  Use active voice
not need the paper to  Use present tense verbs
be understood for conclusions
 Use third person
 Concise and specific—
 Avoid cliché phrases
 State the thesis
 ―This paper proves.‖
 Do not repeat the title
 ―This paper was written
 Give four or five key points with the intention of…‖
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8. Writing the Abstract
 Write the abstract after the paper is completed to
ensure that the abstract reflects the paper
 Double check for clarity of sentences
 Since the abstract is the distillation of the paper,
good grammar is imperative
 Sentence flow is less important in an abstract
than in the paper. Transitions are used less
 Avoid jargon
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9. Sample 1
Diabetes screening targeted to people with hypertension
is more cost-effective than universal screening. The
most cost-effective strategy is to screen people at age
55 to 75 years because hypertension is more common
and cardiovascular death rates are higher in older
people.
From Screening for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cost-
Effectiveness Analysis. Thomas J Hoerger, Russell
Harris, Katherine A Hicks, Katrina Donahue, et al. Annals of
Internal Medicine. Philadelphia: May 4,
2004. Vol. 140, Iss. 9; pg. 689, 11 pgs
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10. Sample 2 diet is billed as neither a low-carbohydrate diet nor
The South Beach
a low-fat diet. Its goal is to teach dieters to select the right
carbohydrates and the right fats.
From The South Beach Diet; Weighing the Pros and Cons.
Lisa Schnirring. Minneapolis. The Physician and
Sportsmedicine. Minneapolis: Jan 2004. Vol. 32, Iss. 1; pg. 9
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11. Sample 3 pregnancy is at the center of much current social
Although teenage
concern and political debate, the focus tends to be on the young
mothers and their children. The lives and parenting experiences of
young fathers typically receive less attention from researchers,
practitioners, and policymakers. This article presents findings from
a qualitative research study of 25 low-income young fathers.
Young men were asked questions about their own life experiences
and social contexts, their connections with their children and
female partners, and the implications these had for sense of self.
They were interviewed again one year later. The majority of young
fathers were found to be involved significantly in the lives of their
children, despite their own struggles. This in turn helped them feel
positive about their sense of self. Implications for social policy and
programs are discussed
From Low-Income Young Fathers: Contexts, Connections, and Self
Helen Glikman. Social Work. New York: Apr
2004. Vol. 49, Iss. 2; pg. 195, 12 pgs
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12. Executive Summary
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13. Executive Summary
An executive summary is a condensation of a
longer report. Unlike an abstract, which is a one
paragraph synopsis, executive summaries are
miniatures of the report.
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14. Importance
 Often the executive summary is read in place of
the report
 Includes all major information found in the report
 Clearly states
 Purpose
 Major findings
 Conclusions and recommendations
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15. Format
 The executive summary is about 10% the length
of the report or one to ten pages
 Separate pages before the full report
 It should keep the formatting of the report
 It should use headings and bullets
 It should follow the structure of the report
 Headings should be duplicated
 Content should be summarized
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16. Writing the Executive Summary
 Remember who is going to read it
 It is a stand-alone document
 Only information included in the full document
should be included in the executive summary
 Use technical words with caution–define
 Write after the full report is done.
 Use same format as the full report
 Bullets
 Fonts
 Section headings
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17. Summary
 Abstracts are brief summaries of the paper
 Abstracts should include purpose, method, and
scope
 Executive summaries are longer summaries of
the paper
 The executive summary should follow the
organization of the paper.
 Accurate and concise writing is required
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18. Resources
 Abstract Writing Workshop
http://www.washington.edu/oue/summer_institute/writing.html
 Alred, G.J. & Brusaw, C.T. & Oliu, W.E.
 How to Write an Abstract
http://www.klariti.com/business-writing/How-to-Write-
Abstract.shtml
 Leo: Writing Abstracts
http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/bizwrite/abstracts.html
 Publication manual of the American
Psychological Association. (2001). Pg 12-15
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19. Resources 2
 Writing the Executive Summary
http://www.columbia.edu/~ftg1/WRITING%20EXECUT.SUMMAR
Y.html
 Summaries, Abstracts, Executive Summaries
http://www.engr.udayton.edu/Special/Writing/summary/default.ht
m
 Executive Summaries Common Mistakes
http://www.korepetycje.com/summaries-mistakes.html
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