Guide to Scientific WritingAbstract
The abstract is the most widely read portion of the paper (as you will discover when looking for literature to cite). You must efficiently summarize your study to enable readers to decide if they want to read further. The abstract is usually written last and should be no more than 300 words. It should include:
- A sentence or two about the general nature and importance of the problem.
- Why are you doing this experiment?
- Why are you doing this experiment?
- The specific questions you address, and often your hypotheses.
- What are you testing?
- What are you testing?
- The methods used
- How did you test these questions?
- Principle results as they relate to the central question(s)
- What happened?
- What happened?
- Your conclusions
- What do your results mean?
- So what, who cares?