An abstract is a brief, one-paragraph summary of your paper – generally 150-250 words. The abstract, like the title, should be able to stand alone and fully explain what your paper is about. A good abstract is accurate, nonevaluative, readable, and concise. Show
Not all instructors will require you to write an abstract, but if you publish professionally you will likely be asked to write one for any article/paper. If you include an abstract in your paper, begin it on page two (its own page). Center and capitalize the word ‘Abstract.’ Do not indent the first line of your abstract, it should be written in block format. APA format is the official style of the American Psychological Association. It is used in writing for psychology and other social sciences. These style guidelines specify different aspects of a document's presentation and layout, including how pages are structured, how references are organized, and how sources are cited. This format also stipulates the use of an abstract designed to briefly summarize the key details contained in a paper. While it is sometimes overlooked or only an afterthought, an abstract is an important part of any academic or professional paper. This brief overview serves as a summary of what your paper contains, so it should succinctly and accurately represent what your paper is about and what the reader can expect to find. The abstract is a critical component of an APA-formatted paper. By following a few simple guidelines, you can create an abstract that follows the format. Done well, an abstract generates interest in your work and helps readers learn if the paper will be of interest to them. APA Format Abstract BasicsThe abstract is the second page of a lab report or APA-format paper and should immediately follow the title page. Think of an abstract as a highly condensed summary of your entire paper. The purpose of your abstract is to provide a brief yet thorough overview of your paper. It should function much like your title page—it should allow the person reading it to quickly determine what your paper is all about. Your abstract is the first thing that most people will read, and it is usually what informs their decision to read the rest of your paper. The abstract is the single most important paragraph in your entire paper, according to the APA Publication Manual. A good abstract lets the reader know that your paper is worth reading. According to the official guidelines of the American Psychological Association, an abstract should be brief, but packed with information.Each sentence must be written with maximum impact in mind. To keep your abstract short, focus on including just four or five of the essential points, concepts, or findings. An abstract must also be objective and accurate.The abstract's purpose is to report rather than provide commentary. It should accurately reflect what your paper is about. Only include information that is also included in the body of your paper. How to Write an Abstract in APA FormatFirst, write your whole paper. While the abstract will be at the beginning of your paper, it should be the last section that you write. Once you have completed the final draft of your psychology paper, use it as a guide for writing your abstract.
Experimental Report AbstractsThe format of your abstract also depends on the type of paper you are writing. For example, an abstract summarizing an experimental paper will differ from that of a meta-analysis or case study. For an experimental report, your abstract should:
Literature Review AbstractsIf your paper is a meta-analysis or literature review, your abstract should:
Lab Reports and ArticlesPsychology papers such as lab reports and APA format articles also often require an abstract. In these cases as well, the abstract should include all of the major elements of your paper, including an introduction, hypothesis, methods, results, and discussion. Remember, although the abstract should be placed at the beginning of your paper (right after the title page), you will write the abstract last after you have completed a final draft of your paper. In order to ensure that all of your APA formatting is correct, consider consulting a copy of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association. A Word From VerywellThe abstract may be very brief, but it is so important that the official APA style manual identifies it as the most important paragraph in your entire paper. Careful attention to detail can ensure that your abstract does a good job representing the contents of your paper. If possible, take your paper to your school's writing lab for assistance. Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Additional Reading
By Kendra Cherry
Thanks for your feedback! What comes after abstract?Your APA paper should include five major sections: the Title Page, Abstract, Main Paper, Paper Format and References And Citations.
What are the 4 components of an APA paper?All APA reference list entries contain four main components: author, date, title, and source. Those components are organized as follows: Author. (Date).
What are the steps to APA format?Unless instructed otherwise, students should use the student title page format and include the following elements, in the order listed, on the title page:. Paper title.. Name of each author (also known as the byline).. Affiliation for each author.. Course number and name.. Instructor name.. Assignment due date.. What is the correct order of manuscript parts in an APA document?Order of manuscript pages: The pages of a manuscript should be arranged: title page, abstract, text, references, tables, figures, appendices. When you are done reviewing this information, test your knowledge here!
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