2.3 What is an Abstract?
Abstract is a short description of the chief ideas in a book, speech, etc.
The object in writing an abstract is to express the basic meanings of a longer piece of information without losing any essential information as well as without changing the emphasis of the original information.
How to make an Abstract
Read through the text from the beginning to the end.
Divide the text into meaningful parts and write down their titles in the margins.
Transform the titles into a plan.
Describe briefly every item arranging your text as an abstract. For this purpose pay attention to the title; single out central ideas, facts and details; seek the key words, select the sense phrases.
Note that each point is expressed as briefly as possible. Change the order of points if necessary to make the construction more logical. At the same time take care not to change the meaning of the original or add to it.
In order to present text ideas logically you may need:
to express time-relationship;
to list a number of points or ideas;
to express a cause or a consequence;
to express an idea which is contrary to what has been said before;
to introduce examples or illustrations;
to rephrase what has been said, or underline it;
to sum up what has been said;
to introduce other arguments supporting an idea already mentioned.
The following link words and phrases will help you:
so we can say that; in other words; to conclude
first; then; firstly; secondly; thirdly; one point; another point; the last point; finally
at that time; before; previously; formerly; then; afterwards; next; while; as; during; meanwhile
but; however; nevertheless; yet; in spite of; although; on the other hand; all the same; the trouble is that
indeed; in other words; truly; that is to say
because/since; the reason why; consequently; so; then; therefore; as a result; thus
for example/for instance; an example of; this is clearly; what’s more
Look back at the text and check that you have produced a good summary of what was said in good English. If you are not completely satisfied, make whatever improvements are necessary and rewrite the paragraph.
3.1 What is a Review?
Review - 1. a critical examination of a book, a play, a work of art, etc.,
- 2. a critical account of a book, etc.
(The Advanced Learner’s Dictionary of Current English by A.S. Hornby, E.V.Gatenby, H.Wakefield),
- 3. a magazine or newspaper article giving judgments to a new book, play, television show, etc. (Longman Active Study Dictionary of English).
How to review the text:
1. Define:
Topic - i.e. a subject of discussion or of a piece of writing
Relevance – i.e. significant or important appropriate for smth
Addressee - i.e. a person (or a group) to whom this text is directed
Main issues - i.e. important points being discussed
Novelty - i.e. newness
Methodology - i.e. the set of methods used for study
Theoretical significance - i.e. theoretical importance, value
Practical significance - i.e. possible practical applications of this information
2. Find disputable points
3. Give your critical analysis of the work
The following phrases will help you:
I think / I believe
In my opinion / in my view
I dare say that
It’s no exaggeration to say that
I’m sorry to say that
I (certainty / quite) agree with
That may be true, but
I doubt it.
I have many doubts about that.
I can share this view only to a certain point.
I am afraid I don’t agree / I disagree.
If I am not mistaken
To all this must be added that
I really can’t believe that
The following fact speaks for itself.
I have nothing to say to this.
It’s just the other way round.
This brings us to the conclusion that