On Writing an Abstract

Every submission to the Sparks Journal must be accompanied by an abstract, regardless of topic or format. The purpose of the abstract is to briefly summarize what was done, why it was done (purpose and/or impetus), and how it was done (methods, techniques, and/or procedures). In addition, the abstract should briefly summarize conclusions that can be drawn from the work. What was learned or discovered? How has the work furthered human knowledge or understanding? In the context of science, conclusions are usually data-driven statements of the work’s success at accomplishing the purpose of the study, but in the broader sense conclusions can be based on reflections, feedback, or critiques that address the success or importance of the work. Abstracts should be brief. They are usually a single paragraph and only about 150 to 300 words in length.