1. Writing Effective Abstracts
Presented by
Martin MacDowell, DrPH
University of Illinois College of Medicine and College of Pharmacy
at Rockford

2. Tips on Abstract Writing
What is an abstract?
Condensed version of longer piece of writing
Highlights major points covered
Concisely describes content and scope of writing

3. Tips on Abstract Writing
Types of Abstracts:
A. Descriptive and B. Informative
A. Descriptive – You will be doing this when planning your COPC in early 2015:
Tells reader what info the report, article, paper contains
Includes purpose, methods and scope of paper
Does NOT include results, conclusions or recommendations
Very short, under about 150 words
Introduces subject to reader who must go find the material to get results, conclusions or recommendations. Can include brief mention of prior related research

4. Tips on Writing Abstracts
B. Informative Abstracts – You will be doing this for Research Day Poster Presentation in Spring 2016
Communicates specific information from report, article or paper
Includes purpose, methods, scope of report
Provides paper’s results, conclusions and recommendations
Can be a paragraph to 2 pages long
Allows reader to decide if they want to read the report, article or paper

5. Tips on Writing Abstracts
Uses one or more well developed paragraphs: unified, concise, able to stand alone
Uses an introduction/body/conclusion structure presenting:
purpose
methods
results, conclusions and recommendations

6. Tips on Abstract Writing
Provides logical connections (or transitions) between the information included
Adds no NEW information, simply summarizes the report
Is understandable to a wide audience
Often uses passive verbs

7. Steps for Writing Effective Abstracts
1. Think about the goal(s) of the COPC project
Specifically consider: for descriptive abstract your purpose and methods (WHY, WHEN, HOW),
Add for informational abstract results regarding results, conclusions and recommendations (the WHAT after the project is done)
Use headings or an outline as guides to writing abstract
2. After considering above point, try writing a rough draft

8. Steps for Writing Effective Abstracts
3. Revise your rough draft
correct weaknesses in organization
improve transitions from point to point
drop unnecessary information
add important information you left out
eliminate wordiness
fix errors in grammar, spelling, punctuation
4. Print final copy AND read again

9. Steps for Writing Effective Abstracts
Other thoughts:
Abstract should be re-written after research or paper is completed
Abstract is often only means by which other researchers determine what information the paper contains and may base decision to read paper by abstract information alone
Many publications have required style for abstracts: Check Guidelines for Authors provided by the publisher
See distributed example of well done abstract

10. Tips for Writing Abstracts
Contents
State main objectives (What did you investigate? Why?)
Describe methods (How will/did you do project?)
Summarize the most important results (What did you find out?)
State major conclusions (What do your results mean? So what?)
Requirements, Advice
Do not include references to figures, tables, or sources
Do not include information not in the report
Process: Extract key points from each section. Condense in revision process

11. Tips for Writing Abstracts
Web References: