Abstracts & abstracting

1. Abstracts & AbstractingAbstracts & Abstracting

2. Types of Document SurrogatesTypes of Document Surrogates
Annotation – a sentence description or explanation of Annotation – a sentence description or explanation of
the documentthe document
Extract – produced by drawing out sentences from this.Extract – produced by drawing out sentences from this.
Summary – a restatement of the document salient Summary – a restatement of the document salient
findings and conclusions that is intended to complete findings and conclusions that is intended to complete
the orientation of the reader who has read the the orientation of the reader who has read the
previous text.previous text.
Terse Literature – a highly abbreviated statement that Terse Literature – a highly abbreviated statement that
encapsulated the major points of a document.encapsulated the major points of a document.
Synopsis – concise original publication of key results Synopsis – concise original publication of key results
selected from an available but previously unpublished selected from an available but previously unpublished
paper. paper.

3. AbtsractAbtsract
An abbreviated and accurate representation An abbreviated and accurate representation
of significant substance of a documentary of significant substance of a documentary
unitunit
Accompanied by an adequate bibliographic Accompanied by an adequate bibliographic
descriptiondescription
Is a document surrogateIs a document surrogate

4. Parts of an AbstractParts of an Abstract
referencereference
body body
signaturesignature

5. Qualities of an AbstractQualities of an Abstract
AccuracyAccuracy
BrevityBrevity
ClarityClarity

6. Uses of AbstractsUses of Abstracts
Facilitate document selection or determination Facilitate document selection or determination
of document relevant to user interestsof document relevant to user interests
Facilitate literature searchesFacilitate literature searches
Promote current awarenessPromote current awareness
Save reading time of the userSave reading time of the user
Help surmount the language barrierHelp surmount the language barrier
Improve indexing efficiencyImprove indexing efficiency
Aid in the preparation of reviews and Aid in the preparation of reviews and
bibliographiesbibliographies

7. Types of Materials AbstractedTypes of Materials Abstracted
journalsjournals
technical reportstechnical reports
theses/dissertationstheses/dissertations
booksbooks
patent specificationspatent specifications
conferences and symposiums proceedingsconferences and symposiums proceedings
reviewsreviews

8. Types of AbstractsTypes of Abstracts
According to information contentAccording to information content
1. Indicative (descriptive abstract) 1. Indicative (descriptive abstract)
- simply describes or indicates what the item is - simply describes or indicates what the item is
aboutabout
- d- discloses what significant information and iscloses what significant information and
specific data can be found in the document.specific data can be found in the document.
2. Informative abstract2. Informative abstract
-- provides quantitative and qualitative provides quantitative and qualitative
informationinformation
- not for theoretical studies and opinion articles- not for theoretical studies and opinion articles

9. Types of AbstractsTypes of Abstracts
According to information contentAccording to information content
3. Indicative-informative abstract 3. Indicative-informative abstract
4. Critical abstract4. Critical abstract
- evaluative in nature- evaluative in nature
- expresses views on the quality of the work - expresses views on the quality of the work
and perhaps contrasts it with other worksand perhaps contrasts it with other works

10. Types of AbstractsTypes of Abstracts
According to author of abstractAccording to author of abstract
Author-prepared abstractAuthor-prepared abstract
Subject expert-prepared abstractSubject expert-prepared abstract
Professional abstractor- preparedProfessional abstractor- prepared

11. Types of AbstractsTypes of Abstracts
According to purposeAccording to purpose
1. Discipline-oriented abstract1. Discipline-oriented abstract
- written for a specific area of
knowledge/discipline
2. Mission-oriented abstract2. Mission-oriented abstract
- written based on a specific information - written based on a specific information
needneed

12. Types of AbstractsTypes of Abstracts
According to purposeAccording to purpose
3. Slanted abstract 3. Slanted abstract
often considered as a form of mission-often considered as a form of mission-
oriented abstract. Highlights or oriented abstract. Highlights or
concentrates on a selected portion of a concentrates on a selected portion of a
document's subject content.document's subject content.

13. Types of AbstractsTypes of Abstracts
According to formAccording to form
1.1. Statistical or Tabular abstract Statistical or Tabular abstract
- a summary of the data presented in tabular - a summary of the data presented in tabular
formform
2. Modular abstract2. Modular abstract
- full content description of a document that - full content description of a document that
has 5 parts written in the following order: has 5 parts written in the following order:
citation, annotation, indicative abstract, citation, annotation, indicative abstract,
informative abstract and critical abstract informative abstract and critical abstract

14. Types of AbstractsTypes of Abstracts
According to formAccording to form
3.3. Structured abstract Structured abstract
- uses a worksheet/template containing items or - uses a worksheet/template containing items or
elements found in the documentselements found in the documents
- for medical journals: background, aim, methods, - for medical journals: background, aim, methods,
results and conclusionsresults and conclusions
4. 4. Mini-abstractMini-abstract
- machine-readable index-abstract- machine-readable index-abstract
- terms are drawn from a controlled vocabulary and - terms are drawn from a controlled vocabulary and
are arranged in a specified sequence nearly are arranged in a specified sequence nearly
approximating that of a sentence structureapproximating that of a sentence structure

15. Type of
Irrigation
Soil type Crops Climate
Conditions
Place Results
Worksheet/Template for a Structured Abstract**

16. Example:
/METHOD/DETERM/STRONTIUM/BONE/HUM
AN/RADIOACTIVATION/ANALYSIS
A method is described for the
determination of strontium and barium in
human bone by radioactivation analysis.

17. Types of AbstractsTypes of Abstracts
According to formAccording to form
5.5. Telegraphic abstract Telegraphic abstract
- - presented in incomplete sentences and presented in incomplete sentences and
resembling a telegram or string of terms resembling a telegram or string of terms
without syntaxwithout syntax
- originated in the early computerized retrieval - originated in the early computerized retrieval
system development at Western Reserve system development at Western Reserve
UniversityUniversity

18. Types of AbstractsTypes of Abstracts
Miscellaneous typesMiscellaneous types..
1. 1. Homotopic abstract – published Homotopic abstract – published
simultaneously with the original document. simultaneously with the original document.
2. Highlight abstract – designed to attract the 2. Highlight abstract – designed to attract the
reader's attention to an article. To arouse reader's attention to an article. To arouse
readers' curiosity, readers' curiosity, incomplete and leading incomplete and leading
remarks are used. remarks are used.

19. Length of an Original Document and Its Length of an Original Document and Its
AbstractAbstract
Articles, portions of
monographs
Notes, short
communications
Editorials, letters to the
editor
Monographs and theses
250 words
100 words
30 words
300 words

20. Approximate Length of an Informative AbstractApproximate Length of an Informative Abstract
Nature and scope of
the study
Objectives
Research methods
Findings
Conclusions
3%
7%
15%
70%
5%

21. Locations of Bibliographic CitationLocations of Bibliographic Citation
Precedes the abstractPrecedes the abstract
Immediately follows the abstractImmediately follows the abstract
Title of the original document precedes the Title of the original document precedes the
abstract but the remainder of the abstract but the remainder of the
bibliographic citation follows the text of the bibliographic citation follows the text of the
abstractabstract

22. Writing an AbstractWriting an Abstract
Judgements are subjective to the abstractor.Judgements are subjective to the abstractor.
Quality will depend on the abstractor's Quality will depend on the abstractor's
experience.experience.

23. Writing an AbstractWriting an Abstract
General steps in abstracting:General steps in abstracting:
Determine relevancy of the materialDetermine relevancy of the material
Accurately and fully record the bibliographic referenceAccurately and fully record the bibliographic reference
Reading and understandingReading and understanding
Carry out content analysis of documentCarry out content analysis of document
Interpretation through writing an annotationInterpretation through writing an annotation
Mark and write the required content information for the abstractMark and write the required content information for the abstract
Draft the abstractDraft the abstract
Edit then write final copy of the abstractEdit then write final copy of the abstract
Recording the abstractor’s nameRecording the abstractor’s name
Arrangement of abstractsArrangement of abstracts

24. Writing an AbstractWriting an Abstract
Rules for good writing writing of abstractsRules for good writing writing of abstracts
LanguageLanguage
Use of abbreviations commonly understoodUse of abbreviations commonly understood
Use of standard and familiar termsUse of standard and familiar terms
Avoid using trade jargons and colloquial termsAvoid using trade jargons and colloquial terms
Avoid verbosity and redundancyAvoid verbosity and redundancy

25. Writing an AbstractWriting an Abstract
Paragraphing and Structured AbstractsParagraphing and Structured Abstracts
write the abstract as a single paragraphwrite the abstract as a single paragraph
structured abstracts, however, the major points structured abstracts, however, the major points
of the text are presented in several labeled of the text are presented in several labeled
paragraphs rather than a single one.paragraphs rather than a single one.

26. Writing an AbstractWriting an Abstract
Complete Sentences Complete Sentences
Generally, use complete sentences. Where incomplete Generally, use complete sentences. Where incomplete
sentences are used, they should be clear and coherent, sentences are used, they should be clear and coherent,
for example:for example:
Survey of efforts of Rennaisance architects to interpret Survey of efforts of Rennaisance architects to interpret
Vitruvius' description of the ancient Roman House. [Deleted Vitruvius' description of the ancient Roman House. [Deleted
verb.]verb.]
Examines the ideological relations of the Holy Sepulchre, as Examines the ideological relations of the Holy Sepulchre, as
manifested in writings, ceremonies and architecture. manifested in writings, ceremonies and architecture.
[Deleted subject.][Deleted subject.]

27. Writing an AbstractWriting an Abstract
First SentencesFirst Sentences
Avoid naming the type of document (e.g. “This Avoid naming the type of document (e.g. “This
article evaluates”, “This essay examines”, or article evaluates”, “This essay examines”, or
“This study presents”).“This study presents”).

28. Writing an AbstractWriting an Abstract
Nontextual MaterialsNontextual Materials
Include short tables, structural formulas, equations and Include short tables, structural formulas, equations and
diagrams only when necessary for brevity and clarity and diagrams only when necessary for brevity and clarity and
when no other acceptable alternative exists.when no other acceptable alternative exists.
Treatment of Added DetailsTreatment of Added Details
Access services that choose to include further details about the Access services that choose to include further details about the
document itself should place them either at the end of the document itself should place them either at the end of the
abstract or as parts of the bibliographic reference. These abstract or as parts of the bibliographic reference. These
details need not be in sentence form.details need not be in sentence form.

29. THANK YOU!