How do you write an abstract?
Once you've finished writing, stop and think about the document.
- What is the main subject?
- What is the main conclusion?
- What is its primary purpose?
- What would you expect the reader to do with this document?
Collect this together and write a sentence - this is your topic sentence.
You need to write one topic sentence that covers the entire document, regardless of
whether the document is a one-page letter or a thousand-page manual.
Getting Ideas
Look at the recommendations, conclusions, summaries, and results in the completed
document. When abstracting a manual, look at the tutorial. These sections cover the
essence of the document.
Avoid the document title
This can be misleading. It may not help you write the topic sentence. Chances are the
title will be too vague. Parts of the title might serve as modifiers in your topic
sentence, but you'll probably need to go beyond the title.
Be specific
Make the topic sentence be specific. Avoid writing "This report describes
[document title]." Instead, write something like "The results of this
[subject] study show that [result]."
Use supporting sentences to fill in details
After you identify your topic sentence, write supporting sentences. Make each of these
supply specific details about the ideas in the topic sentence. Think of what supports the
topic sentence. Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? and How much?
Give statistics, results, conclusions, or recommendations that back up the topic
sentence.
Only use two or three major supporting ideas. Include the less important evidence as
subordinate clauses and modifiers.
Transitions holds it together
Arrange the supporting sentences in a logical sequence after the topic sentence. Add
whatever transition is needed to connect the supporting sentences to the topic sentence
and to connect ideas within the sentences to each other. Rewrite the sentences to improve
the connections.
The Tricks
- Write the abstract only when the document is finished. Abstracts written before then are
just previews.
- If you are forced to write an abstract before the document is completed, think about its
purpose and write a topic sentence. Keep in mind that you'll need to rewrite the abstract
when the document is finished because it will no longer accurately reflect the contents of
the document.
- Before starting the abstract, list your thoughts on the document. Group related items
together. Prioritize the list and put the most important group first. The first few groups
form the core of the topic sentence. The rest lead to supporting sentences.
- If you can't create a topic sentence, write the supporting sentences first. The topic
sentence may then become obvious.
- Write for an audience not necessarily up to speed in your subject area. This is
important because you never know who will read your abstract.
- Choose acronyms, abbreviations, and technical terms carefully as they may confuse many
readers.
- Define the scope of the project in the abstract.
- Reread your abstract after several days have passed.
- Remove all superfluous information.
Your Result
Your abstract is now of use to the reader. This technique works for documents of any
length from a couple of pages to multi-volumes. It also works for letters, reports,
articles, scripts, and anything else you have to write.
Your Thoughts?
What are your thoughts on this? Drop me a line at ivan
at klariti dot com |
