Abstracts provide a summary and preview of an academic work, such an article, research proposal, or conference presentation. Abstracts are the first part of an article that readers will see: They set expectations and help readers understand what will come next. 

Why are abstracts important? Abstracts are used in a variety of academic contexts. First, readers use them to decide if an article belongs in their research and warrants being read completely. Second, many professional and research conferences require presenters to submit an abstract before being accepted. Third, writers use abstracts in their research papers and often in applications for funding opportunities. Undergraduate writers might read abstracts when conducting research, but it's a genre of writing that most students do not have to do themselves until they reach graduate school. Abstracts are increasingly important as you become an expert in your field of study. 

Refer to our Writing Center handout about writing abstracts for more detail. Download the PDF for your reference.