Sample of a research paper abstract

Let’s face it, most of us are used to writing essays and research papers. We’ve written them throughout our entire academic careers. The abstract, on the other hand, is likely a relatively new endeavor. Without a lot of practice and experience writing abstracts, it can be pretty daunting.

The abstract of your paper provides a quick rundown of the aim, method and results of your research. See how to write an effective research abstract by exploring several examples. What Is a Research Abstract? A professional or academic research paper abstract provides the gist of the paper without having to read the whole thing.

When to write an abstract. You will almost always have to include an abstract when writing a thesis, dissertation, research paper, or submitting an article to an academic journal. In all cases, the abstract is the very last thing you write.

An abstract is a short summary of your (published or unpublished) research paper, usually about a paragraph (c. 6-7 sentences, 150-250 words) long. A well-written abstract serves multiple purposes: an abstract lets readers get the gist or essence of your paper or article quickly, in order to decide whether to read the full paper;