How to Write Abstract

Abstract :

An abstract is a brief summary of the contents of a work. A well prepared abstract can be the most important single paragraph (APA, 2010). As noted in the sixth edition of APA Manual, a good abstract should be:

 Accurate
 No evaluative
 Coherent and readable
 Concise
 Should describe the problem under investigation
 Study method
 Basic findings
 The conclusion

          Furthermore, an abstract looks like introduction but its structure differs from the latter. According Ezeh (2011:16), an abstract is a brief summary of a research report and it often used to help the reader to quickly ascertain the purpose of the study. He contends further that it focuses on the following:
 The statement of the problem >  Research questions and hypotheses addressed
 The research method
 The finding or results of the research
 The main conclusions and recommendations

      In addition it also contains a theoretical framework used in the study.
Note: due to its structure and contents you write abstract when you have concluded the research.  It is a summary of what you have done.