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How to write an Abstract for an eJournal
Paper
As we are now receiving a large number of Abstracts
I feel that it might be useful to those who are not experienced in writing
Abstracts to have a short note on How to write an Abstract.
The single most important thing about an Abstract is that it is a short
document that is intended to capture the interest of a potential reader of
your paper. Thus in a very important sense it is a marketing document for
your full paper. If the Abstract is poorly written or if it is boring then
it will not encourage a potential reader to spend the time reading your
work.
Thus the first rule of Abstract writing is that it should engage the reader
by telling him or her what your paper is about and
why they should read it. Although strictly not part of your Abstract, the
title of the proposed paper is most important. Short attention-catching
titles are the most effective. However, it is also important, to ensure
that the title describes the subject you are writing about.
With regards the body of the Abstract you need to make a clear statement of
the topic of your paper and your research question. You need to say how
your research was/is being undertaken. For example, is it empirical or
theoretical? Is it quantitative or qualitative? Perhaps it follows the
critical research method. What value are your findings and to whom will
they be of use?
The Abstract should then briefly describe the work to be discussed in your
paper and also give a concise summary of the findings. Finally your
Abstract should not include diagrams and in general references are not
required in the Abstract.
The marketing of your proposed paper needs to be done within the word limit
of 300 to 500 words. It is poor
practice not to use the 300 words and it is considered a bad tactic to go
over the limit of 500.
Currently Abstracts received by us are often:
1.
Too short. Some Abstracts are
less than 50 words.
2.
Too long.
3.
Do not explain what the proposed
paper is about.
4.
Spend too long defining the
general topic of the paper as opposed to the particular issues the paper
intends to address.
5.
Are boring.
Although not part of the Abstract as such, most journals now expect
authors to provide key words at the same time as the Abstract. Key words
are used to find the paper, especially during computerised searches.
Somewhere between 5 and 10 Key Words are normally required and they should
be the words which most closely reflect the content of the paper.
Finally many journals now requiring a short biography to be sent along with
the Abstract. The bio usually needs to be about 50 to 60 words long and a
passport photo is also normally required.
We want to encourage all researchers who submit to our eJournals
to make the most of the important opportunity publication of your Abstract
represents.
Authors who do not follow these guidelines are more likely to have their
work rejected.
Dan Remenyi
Visiting Professor
School of Systems and Data Studies
Trinity College
Dublin
dan.remenyi@tcd.ie
http://www.tcd.ie/Statistics/staff/danremenyi.shtml
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