Abstracts

Descriptive

Purpose & Audience

Content & Format
Style conventions Suggested Process

Purpose & Audience

The purpose of a descriptive abstract is to

  • let the readers know the essential information of a paper, presentation, article, etc.
  • help the reader decide whether to read further or to accept or attend your conference presentation.

One of the purposes, therefore, of this brief statement is to draw the appropriate audience to your material.

As you write the abstract, keep in mind this audience in terms of

  • information needs
  • previous knowledge
  • interests.