How To Find An Excellent Sample APA Research Paper Abstract
If you’re studying social sciences, you could be required to use the APA (American Psychological Association) format and style. The guidelines for this can be found in the 6th edition, 2nd printing of the APA manual. So if you have an abstract to write, be sure to follow the instructions in the book.
You don’t only need to get the format right though- you also need to craft an abstract of precise content. Despite these being rather short affairs, it doesn’t mean they are any easier to write! So if you really want to create a shining one, there’s nothing like looking at different examples to aid you in your content and structure. So… where can you find these invaluable samples? Here are a few ideas:
Handouts can be handy!
Have you been looking everywhere and perhaps overlooked what’s under your nose? It’s possible your tutor gave you a fantastic handout regarding the topic of abstracts, way back at the start of term, and you’ve forgotten all about it. Look through your notes, handouts and course books and you may find you already have some great examples.
Check out your libraries.
Using your campus library should be a no brainer. There will be plenty of examples here. Peruse abstracts used in past student essays; and be sure to examine ones that are of the best quality.
If you can’t locate what you’re looking for, then ask a librarian for assistance. Easy!
In your campus or public library, you will be able to find examples in books and academic magazines as well. It’s most certainly worth looking at as many different examples as you can.
Looking online.
The internet is a wonderful resource of course, and you will be able to easily locate examples online. The only problem with this form of research is it can often take some time to find what you’re looking for- there being such an overwhelming amount of data to sift through. You don’t want to be stuck with some poor, badly written examples- so search on renowned educational websites and the like to ascertain you’re finding the best ones.
Never be afraid to ask!
If you still can’t find what you need, then it’s always worth asking! Have a chat with your teacher and they may be able to point you in the right direction. Indeed, they might even know of that one example that is ideal.