Photo credit: Caitlin Regan

NIMBioS Education Module

Writing the Abstract

This module was created by NIMBioS for undergraduate and graduate students, but could also be used by anyone interested in some tips on abstract writing. Writing an abstract is a very specialized skill for communicating research. One must follow conventions, distill the most important information from his or her study into 150-250 words, and be aware that this single paragraph will be the most widely seen and re-read portion of the entire paper. This module introduces what an abstract is, why it is important to write it well, general guidelines, and some abstract writing strategies.

Worksheet Files:   Writing the Abstract (pdf)  (docx)

Materials Needed: Worksheet, pencil, computer

Other NIMBioS education modules

For further information, please contact:

NIMBioS
1122 Volunteer Blvd., Suite 106
University of Tennessee
Knoxville, TN 37996-3410
PH: (865) 974-9334
FAX: (865) 974-9461
Contact NIMBioS

From 2008 until early 2021, NIMBioS was supported by the National Science Foundation through NSF Award #DBI-1300426, with additional support from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.