This is the complete guide on how to write an abstract for an academic journal. Whether you have no idea how to get started or you have some clues but you still can’t structure the section, you’ll find this post incredibly helpful.
An abstract is an important section of a research assignment and academic journal. Purposefully as a block of text fit in 150 to 300 words, the abstract presents a condensed version of an entire research project. More often than not, the goal of this section of the paper is to give a reader a complete summary of the research project they conducted.
Whether you write the abstract for an academic journal first or last, you want it to be comprehensive enough to establish a strong reading ground for your audience. So follow our advice on writing academic journal abstract for the right lead.
What is an Abstract for An Academic Journal?
An abstract is a part in the structure of a research paper. It’s the shortest part of the journal article, with the word limit often being between 150 and 300 words. While the content of an abstract often varies depending on the topic that a journal article covers, the abstract must follow a certain format (or structure) as we’ll see later in this guide.
The purpose of an abstract in a journal article is give the readers an overall summary of the paper in a condensed form. Although it’s 150 to 300 words long, the abstract should tell a reader what an entire research project is about without reading other parts of the paper.
As to when to write the abstract, we strongly recommend that you work on it as the last section of the paper. Doing so makes it easy for you to make it as comprehensive as possible albeit the limitations in the expected word count.
How to Write an Abstract for an Academic Journal
The following is a step-by-step guide on how to write an abstract for an academic journal:
1. Start by Checking the Style Guide
The first step to write a comprehensive abstract for an academic journal is to check the required style guide of the journal directory (or database) to which you wish to submit your article. You don’t have to overthink this part because the information is already available on the publisher’s website.
All you have to do is log on to the site and check the style guide.
The style guide includes the instructions you need to follow to prepare an abstract that meets the standards of the journal database to which you wish to submit the article. Also, you should check the minimum and maximum word count requirement so that you limit your writing within that scope.
2. Create a Template for the Abstract
One of the things that should be very clear is that even if the exact content of your abstract varies based on what you intent to write (or already have), you’ll need to structure the write up in a manner accepted by most academic journal.
In other words, your abstract should feature:
- Background information and research objectives
- Research methods
- The important findings of your research
- Conclusion and practical or theoretical impact of your work
Aim at providing just enough information that communicates what your paper is about. And although the abstract isn’t by itself a standalone project, your reader should know upfront what your entire journal article is about by reading the abstract alone.
You don’t have to provide in-depth explanations. However, make sure the abstract focuses only on the most important information because you’re writing for an expert audience.
3. Write the Abstract – Clearly and Concisely
Now that you understand the requirements of the journal database to which you would like to submit your article, it’s time to write the abstract.
Many students fail at this point because they use a technical language. The right approach is to make your writing easy to read while retaining the formality of the language as best as possible. Use a simple language that’s easy to read and understand.
In addition to conciseness and clarity, make sure you stick to the expected word limit. The limit is often between 150 and 300 words, but make sure to check the requirements of the journal database so you write based on their requirements.
- Write your abstract in active voice
- Go straight to the point. Your work shouldn’t have any form of wordiness or redundant expressions
- Don’t include citations and references here. Reserve them for the main paper instead
- Don’t include information that isn’t present in your journal article
- Do not use undefined acronyms because they can easily confuse the reader
You should use a formal, objective tone when writing the abstract for your journal article.
Tips to Write a Better Abstract for Academic Journal
Here are some tips that will help you write a better abstract for an academic journal:
- Write the paper first: Work on your research paper as soon as you finish your research. A complete research will guide you to write a better abstract, so you can end up with a concise summary that’s overall interesting to read.
- Write a clear background information: The first three sentences of your work should provide a clear background about your research. You should also explain what information you believe is lacking in the field, or what existing research has already done to offer a solution to the problem in question. This helps to grab the attention of the reader fast.
- Describe the methodology: Including the methodology of your research in brief will explain the research design of your study. This will arouse your reader’s interest because they’ll be curious to know more about your research design.
- State your research finding: People want to know what you find while conducting your research, so make sure you provide this information. It will give them a reason to keep reading beyond the abstract.