This document provides guidance on writing effective abstracts for reports. It outlines three types of abstracts - informational, descriptive, and qualitative. An effective abstract uses well-developed paragraphs in an introduction-body-conclusion structure to summarize the purpose, findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the report in a concise yet intelligible manner for a wide audience. Tips are provided to write abstracts that are easy to read, concise, exact, and unambiguous using an organizational scheme that clearly conveys the information to the reader.

1. Informational Abstracts
• communicate contents of reports
• include purpose, methods, scope, results, conclusions, and recommendations
• allow readers to decide whether they want to read the report
Descriptive Abstracts
• tell what the report contains
• include purpose, methods, scope, but NOT results, conclusions, and
recommendations
• introduce the subject to readers, who must then read the report to learn study
results
Qualities Of A Good Abstract
An effective abstract
• uses one or more well-developed paragraphs, which are unified, coherent, and
concise.
• uses an introduction-body-conclusion structure in which the parts of the report
are discussed in order: purpose, findings, conclusions, recommendations
• provides logical connections between material included
• adds no new information but simply summarizes the report
• is intelligible to a wide audience
Tips for Writing Effective Abstracts
The style of an abstract should be concise and clear, and the wording should be very
direct.
1. Make the abstract easy to read.
a. Use familiar words. If unfamiliar words are necessary, define them.
Avoid jargon.
b. Use active verbs rather than passive verbs whenever possible.

2. c. Vary sentence structure.
d. Use complete sentences. Don't omit articles or other small words to
save space
2. Be concise.
a. Rephrase ideas from the article to condense the meaning.
b. Give information only once.
3. Be exact and unambiguous.
4. Use an organization scheme that will make the information clear to the
reader.
Usually, an abstract that puts the thesis first and then provides
conclusions or findings, and supporting data or details is most useful.
5. If you are writing an abstract for another writer's article, remember that
your job is not to evaluate the article but simply to report what is in it.
How not to write an abstract:
• Do not refer extensively to other works.
• Do not add information not contained in the original work.
• Do not define terms.