However, it can be difficult for students to create an effective extended or simple abstract. After all, it is commonly said that most academic papers get rejected due to weak abstracts. Therefore, in today’s article, we will discuss both these abstracts in detail, along with the tips and the best practices for writing them. So, let’s get started with the definitions first.
What Is An Extended Abstract?
An extended abstract is nothing, but an additional document submitted with a research paper. This separately submitted paper contains all the information that a reader needs to understand and comprehend the research. Such an abstract is usually 1500 to 2000 words in length and is written following the strict guidelines of the journals. In simple words, this abstract is also a research paper whose ideas and concepts can be understood in less than an hour. Hence, this is what an extended abstract is.What Is An Abstract?
An abstract is a concise text that functions as a synopsis of the contents of a research paper. This important paragraph in a research article outlines the key details and results discussed in the paper. When reading this part of the paper, you will not see any detailed information on the topic. Rather there will be a discussion on the main points, primary methods used, and key results & finding obtained. An abstract, or you can say a normal abstract is part of the research paper and is 150 to 300 words in length.Tips And The Best Practices For Writing A Good Abstract
A comprehensive and chronological abstract is the requirement of every research paper. The reason is that it exposes the readers to the core findings of your research project and tells them about the technicality of your research paper. However, do you know how to write such an abstract? No. So, a brief description of the tips to follow when writing this is as follows:Complete The Paper First.
Although an abstract comes at the start of the paper, you must complete your paper first. A completed paper serves as the best guide for writing this section of your paper. All the main points and results are before you.Keep It Short.
An abstract is the synopsis of your research. It cannot be longer up to several pages and paragraphs. It should be a single-paragraph text which contains key information related to the research.Structure Is Same As Paper.
It means the structure of your abstract is the same as your research paper. In the first lines, you should introduce the topic, then review it, explain the methods, and in the end, report some key findings.Read Published Abstracts.
One of the best practices for writing an abstract is crafting them after reading several abstracts published online. There are many academic websites as well as research proposal help portals where you can find online samples.Tips And The Best Practices For Writing A Perfect Extended Abstract
An extended abstract contains the following information: title of the paper, author’s name, author’s affiliations, information about previous research done in your field, and the summary of key findings. As it is a lengthy writing project than a normal abstract, you need to follow some out-of-the-box strategy to write this. Hence, the best practices for this are as follows:Do Not Overlook The Introduction.
The introduction section is the main section of this abstract. If you craft the introduction poorly, it will fail to grab the attention of the reader, and your paper may be rejected.Address Each Research Question.
When writing an extended abstract, do not forget to address each research question set by you in the original research paper. Missing answering one question means getting ready to face rejection.Keep The Page Limit In Mind.
The journals are very strict about the page and word count limit. As an extended abstract should contain 1500 to 2000 words, so it must not exceed the limit of 10 pages.Present The Ideas Well.
A perfect extended abstract is one that grabs the attention of its reader in initial 5 minutes. It excites the reader in the next 10 minutes and satisfies him in the final 20 minutes. So, make sure that you present all the research ideas in a very well manner.Conclusion
Conclusively, an abstract is part of a research paper and is written after completing the paper. On the other hand, an extended abstract is a separately submitted document which contains the same information as in an abstract but with some details. To write both abstracts in the perfect way, you must follow all the tips and best practices mentioned above.