Writing an Abstract

What is an abstract?

An abstract is a summary of your paper and/or research project. It is NOT an introduction to your paper; rather, it should highlight your major points, explain why your work is important, describe how you researched your problem, and offer your conclusions. Typically, an abstract should be approximately 250-300 words; for OUR symposia, we ask for a maximum of 250 words. 

How do I prepare an abstract?

Review the components of an abstract

The exact content of your abstract will depend on the status of your project, disciplinary norms, and feedback from your mentor; however, it should include several of the components listed below: 

  • Problem: What is the central problem or question you investigated? 
  • Context: Provide brief background to place your project into context. Explain previous studies, concepts, or theoretical or critical frameworks relevant to your research (i.e., what’s already known or has been done on this topic). 
  • Purpose: Outline how your work is contributing to the existing knowledge or is addressing gaps within your field (i.e., why this area of research is important and what’s the rationale for your work). 
  • Hypothesis: What prediction(s) did you make based on your research question? 
  • Methods: Describe the important methods you used to perform your research or evidence you examined. 
  • Results: What are the major results, findings or arguments of the research project?  
  • Interpretation: How do your results relate back to your central problem? 
  • Implications: Why are your results important? What can we learn from them? 

Understand the structure of an abstract

Once you are familiar with the key components of an abstract, the next step is to understand how to organize these elements effectively. The composition of your abstract can also take different forms depending on the type of research and the conventions of your specific discipline. Below are common structures for projects in STEM fields and in the humanities suggested by The Writing Center. 

For STEM and experimental projects

  • Objective/Goal/Significance (Why did you do it or why did it need to be done? Why is this question important/worth asking?) 
  • Methods/Approach (What did you do? How did you attempt to answer this question?) 
  • Results (What did you find/expect to find? What did the research reveal?) 
  • Conclusions (What did you learn?) 

For humanities projects

(Version 1)

  • Background (What’s the importance of your topic?) 
  • Thesis (What argument or claim are you making?) 
  • Theoretical Approach (if applicable) 
  • Conclusion 

(Version 2)

  • Background (Existing conversation, contribution of research) 
  • Theoretical Approach (if applicable) 
  • Thesis 
  • Conclusion 

Consider your audience

For the purposes of the symposium, the wording of an abstract should be understandable to a well-read, interdisciplinary audience. Specialized terms should be either defined or avoided. 

Consult additional resources

  1. Creating an Abstract resource from WUSTL University Libraries 
  2. How to construct a Nature summary paragraph (biological and biomedical sciences) 
  3. Abstract Guide from the American Psychological Association 
  4. Writing an Abstract for Your Research Paper from the University of Wisconsin Writing Center 
  5. View students’ abstracts from last year’s Fall and Spring Undergraduate Research Symposia 

Get help and feedback

Share your abstract with your mentor well in advance of the deadline to receive their input. Your abstract must have the approval of your research mentor or advisor. 

In addition you may wish to make an appointment with The Writing Center at any stage of the abstract writing process.