An excellent step-by-step guide to writing an abstract
An abstract is:
What is an abstract?
The research analyzes the different approaches to reducing traffic congestion in the UK and provides conclusions and recommendations for future implementation.
A descriptive abstract:
Subjects’ car clocks were set ten minutes fast in order to determine if deliberately setting a clock ahead will reduce lateness. One group of subjects knew their clocks had been set ahead, while a second group of subjects was not informed of the change. Over a four-week period, the subjects who were aware of the clock change regularly arrived on time or late for their scheduled appointments. Over the same period of time, the subjects who were unaware of the clock change tended to arrive early or on time for their appointments. Data suggest that intentionally setting a clock to run fast does not reduce lateness because one accounts for that extra time in his or her schedule.
A technical/scientific abstract would also include key statistical detail.
An informative abstract
Example of format
Informative: Based on an exhaustive review of currently
available products, this report concludes that
none of the available grammar-checking software
products provides any useful function to writers.
Descriptive: This report provides conclusions and recommendations
on the grammar-checking software that is currently
available.
From Consortium Library of UAA / UAP
Abstracts may also vary depending on the type of study or project being described. A few examples include: