Abstract

What is it?

An “Abstract” is a form of assessment which refers to a written summary or concise representation of a more extensive academic work, such as a research paper, thesis, or scientific articles. The purpose of an abstract is to provide a brief but comprehensive overview of the main points, objectives, methods, findings, and conclusions of larger work, allowing the reader to quickly understand the content without having to read the entire document. Generally, this would have a word count of 300 to 500 words.

Advantages & Challenges

Advantages

Challenges

Advantages

Abstract writing requires students to critically analyse and synthesize information from various sources. It encourages them to identify key points, summarise complex ideas, and present them concisely.
Abstracts provide valuable preparation for academic writing and research. Students gain experience in summarising scholarly articles, formulating research questions, and presenting findings.
Engaging in abstract writing requires students to conduct thorough research and evaluate scholarly literature. They learn how to locate relevant and reliable sources.

Challenges

Tips for Use

Clearly define the learning objectives that students should demonstrate through abstract writing. These objectives may include summarising key concepts, analysing research findings, synthesizing information, and communicating ideas effectively.
Give students clear guidelines and instructions for writing abstracts. Explain the purpose of the assignment, the expected format and structure, and any specific criteria or expectations for evaluation.
Provide students with examples of abstract to show them what is expected of them when completing this assessment.
Get students to conduct research and analyse academic literature to inform their abstracts. Encourage them to critically evaluate sources, extract key information, and identify relevant findings or arguments to include in their abstracts

Resources

Education Training Boards Ireland (ETBI): Abstracts – Academic Writing – LibGuides at Education and Training Boards Ireland, ETBI
Leeds Institute for Teaching Excellence- from the students perspectives- Microsoft Word – Pugh|CompendiumOfAssessment.docx (leeds.ac.uk)(page 8)

Charles Darwin University: Writing an abstract | Charles Darwin University (cdu.edu.au)

Sample Rubrics

Manchester University: rubricforevaluatingabstracts0c7ec5922d02625b9ff6ff0000763cab.pdf (manchester.edu)

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