Lesson 4 · 8 min

Abstract and keywords

The abstract is the most-read part of an article. Many readers read only the abstract and decide from it whether to open the article.

Abstract (150–250 words)

Aim — one sentence.
Method — where, what data, what analysis.
Main result — with a number.
Conclusion — what the result means.

Keywords (5–7)

Terms people type into search.
Do not repeat words from the title — they are indexed already.
Both general (irrigation) and specific (drip irrigation) terms.

Example

First sentence of the abstract: “The study assessed the effect of drip irrigation on cotton yield and water use in Syrdarya region.” Keywords: water saving, irrigation methods, cotton growing, small farms, economic efficiency.

Exercise

Choose 5 keywords for your article and write the first sentence of the abstract.