How do I write an abstract?

An abstract is "a brief, comprehensive summary of the contents of the paper" (American Psychological Association, 2020, p. 38). It usually comes at the very beginning of your work and is separate from your text. This summary is intended to share the topic, argument, and conclusions of a research study or course paper, similar to the text on the back cover of a book. Abstracts are required elements of Walden capstone projects and may be required for certain course assignments.

When composing your abstract, keep in mind that it should be:

• Direct. Do not include too much detail, context, or any in-text or parenthetical citations. Save this content for the body of the paper.
• Concise. Abstracts should be no more than one page in length. For a dissertation, doctoral study, or capstone the abstract may not exceed one page.
• Complete. The abstract should give the reader the full scope of the arguments made or conclusions drawn in the paper. You should summarize your paper in the abstract, rather than introducing it.

Additional Resources:

• For more tips on abstracts, see the Form and Style page on abstracts.
• If you are a doctoral capstone student, review the Office of Research and Doctoral Services's abstract assistance for doctoral studies.

Further Questions?

Other questions about your doctoral capstone or the form and style review? Email the Form and Style editors at [email protected].