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Use the menu below to find out how to write each part of a scientific report.

The Abstract

The table below offers guidelines for effective scientific report abstracts.

Question to address:
How to address it:
What is the report about, in miniature and without specific details?

  • State main objectives. (What did you investigate? Why?)

  • Describe methods. (What did you do?)

  • Summarize the most important results. (What did you find out?)

  • State major conclusions and significance. (What do your results mean? So what?)

Additional tips:

  1. Find out maximum length (may vary from 50 to 300+ words).
  2. Process: Extract key points from each section. Condense in successive revisions.

What to avoid:

  1. Do not include references to figures, tables, or sources.
  2. Do not include information not in report.

 

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