Writing an Abstract,

Precis, or
Summary
 What is an Abstract, Precis, or a
Summary?
• Technically speaking, texts classified as either abstract,
precis, or summary, and sometimes synopsis, are all the
same.
• Whatever they may be called, these texts aim to
precisely condense a larger work to present only the key
ideas.
• They tell the audience the gist of what has been read,
listened to, or viewed.
Kinds of Abstracts
•Descriptive Abstracts
•Summative Abstracts
• Since an abstract aims to present the key ideas of the text,
the general rule is to CONDENSE THE
INFORMATION INTO AROUND 5% TO 15% OF
THE ORIGINAL LENGTH OF THE TEXT.

• e.g. 6000-word research article for an academic journal

may require only 200 to 250 words for its abstract.
A research abstract….
•does not use any citation;
•does not include specific result
statistics; and
•is last to be written.
Structure:
• Rationale (around 20%)
• Research problems (around 10%)
• Methodology (around 20%)
• Major findings (around 40%)
• Conclusion and implications (around 10%)
Guidelines in Writing an Abstract,
Precis, or Summary

(1)
Read the text at least twice until
you fully understand its content.
Guidelines in Writing an Abstract,
Precis, or Summary

(2)
Highlight the key ideas and
phrases.
Guidelines in Writing an Abstract,
Precis, or Summary

(3)
Annotate the text.
Guidelines in Writing an Abstract,
Precis, or Summary
(4)
State the author’s name, the title of
the passage, and the main idea at
the beginning sentence.
Guidelines in Writing an Abstract,
Precis, or Summary
(5)
Use words or phrases indicating that
you are presenting an abstract, precis, or
summary. Reporting verbs are most
useful for this purpose.
 Guidelines in Writing an Abstract,
Precis, or Summary
(6)
Write the main idea of each paragraph using
your own words. In some cases, you can
write one main idea for multiple paragraphs
particularly for a research paper.
Guidelines in Writing an Abstract,
Precis, or Summary

(7)
Never copy in verbatim a single
sentence from the original text.
Guidelines in Writing an Abstract,
Precis, or Summary

(8)
Combine the main ideas to form one
paragraph. Use appropriate cohesive
devices to improve cohesion.
Guidelines in Writing an Abstract,
Precis, or Summary
(9)
Refrain from adding comments
about the text. Stick to the ideas
presented in the text.
Guidelines in Writing an Abstract,
Precis, or Summary
(10)
Edit your draft abstract by eliminating
redundant ideas and making sure it
contains the properties of a well-written
text.
Guidelines in Writing an Abstract,
Precis, or Summary

(11)
Compare your output with the
original text to ensure accuracy.
 Write smile if the statement
shows an effective strategy in
writing an abstract, precis, or
summary and pout if it does
not.
 1.
Ross adds his own explanation
to some of the key ideas he
writes in his summary.
 2.
Joey copies in verbatim some of
the sentences from the original
text.
 3.
Rachel highlights the key ideas
in the original text while
reading it.
 4.
Monica includes the specific
examples that the original text
used to support a certain key
idea.
 5.
Janice presents her summary in
bullet form.
 6.
Mona reads her summary and
compares it to the original text.
 7.
Emily reads the original text
several times until she fully
understands it.
 8.
Gunther writes a research
abstract without any major
findings in it.
 9.
Ross writes his summary how
he feels after reading the text to
be summarized.
 10.
Chandler writes the name of the
author, year of publication, and the
title of the text at the beginning of
the summary.