Writing Your Abstract

An abstract is intended to be a short summary of your research. Read on for tips on writing an excellent abstract.

  • The main purpose of an abstract is to describe your work, not to defend it. Write with the motivation of informing people outside your area of study about the research that you’ve been doing. 
  • Your abstract should include the:
    • Purpose of the project
    • Problem that motivated your research
    • Methodology you used in conducting your research
    • Conclusions you reached at the end of your project
    • Significance of your results in a larger context 
  • For a good abstract, ensure that your writing covers all the main parts of your project and is as concise, clear, and coherent as possible. 
  • Try to avoid using technical jargon that people outside your area of study wouldn’t understand, so that anyone reading your research is able to glean a basic understanding of the work you’ve been doing. This makes it easier for others to ask questions and engage in discussion with you about your work on the day of the conference. 
  • Take the time to revise and edit your abstract in order to make it as readable as possible to others. Use good grammar, proper sentence structure, smooth transitions between sentences, and correct vocabulary.

Submitting Your Abstract

  • In the MassURC system, the word limit for an abstract being submitted is 250 words, which is two to three paragraphs of writing. 
  • When typing your abstract into the MassURC system, check the word counter for your current word count. If it’s GREEN, you are in the recommended range.

Access Resources for Your Abstract

We’ve assembled a list of the writing centers at the public higher education institutions in Massachusetts. Take advantage of these free resources for help in writing your research abstract.