A research summary is an aspect of academic writing that concisely and briefly presents the conclusions of a research study. It’s widely believed that creating a study summary is a simple and quick effort. After all, writing 300-400 words can’t possibly be difficult. Contrary to popular belief, a research summary’s truth is somewhat different.
So, why is it important to summarize your research paper? Students must distill this complicated paper - their research paper, into an educational, self-explanatory document for every report. Because of this, creating a research summary is frequently the last activity on the list. Therefore, to make this activity more effortless, we’ll analyze the details of writing a research paper summary.
How to write a summary of a research paper: college student guide
To create a research summary, you must know the subject matter. This knowledge will make it simple for you and the intended audience to understand the paper’s contents. The following summary writing tips - which you may not be aware of but which you genuinely need—include:
1. Fundamentals
Before writing, you must study further to understand the research’s substance, style, and arrangement. When creating a solid research summary, you must consider three key components.
- Description - it’d help if you gave a succinct but detailed description. This description shows how the study paper’s conclusions have practical implications that benefit others.
- Length - how long is a summary supposed to be? Research summaries are typically limited to between 300 and 400 words. However, attempt to stay below the 10%-word limit of the entire research paper if you’ve picked a lengthy paper.
- Paragraphs - try to offer each element of the research paper in a distinct paragraph. These paragraphs maintain the summary’s status as a well-structured piece of academic writing.
2. Read the research paper thoroughly
To ensure you fully comprehend the subject presented in your research paper, read it through several times carefully. To have a good comprehension, you can read in these three stages:
- Scan: read it only once to grasp the fundamental ideas and approaches.
- Skim: carefully read the article by skimming through each part, underlining the essential details. Then make a list of the subjects you want to cover in the research summary.
- Interpret: read the paper briefly to understand how the experimental findings, data analysis, and applicability are interpreted in diverse circumstances.
3. Use visuals
Using visuals like graphs, charts, pie diagrams, and other graphics is among the ideal summary strategies for a research report. Using visualization, you may quickly and effectively communicate a concept’s facts, historical patterns, and probabilistic numbers.
4. Avoid plagiarism
Based on how well-written particular parts are, it’ll be highly enticing to pick up some sentences or the entire sections. In any case, you must refrain from copy-pasting. Even paraphrasing needs to be done with extreme caution.
The easiest technique to do this is to start fresh with each part. While doing this, you should use the notes you’ll make as you read the original page. Using your words to integrate your knowledge is best to ensure that your work is free of plagiarism.
5. Proofread severally
Drafting a summary in research paper is often a laborious and tiresome procedure. However, you shouldn’t let this be an excuse to avoid proofreading your academic work thoroughly for errors. These errors could include typos, grammatical errors, wordiness, and formatting problems. If your research summary is precisely written regarding technicality and intelligibility, it might distinguish itself from the rest.
6. Be attentive
You should write the detailed research summary in the most objective, exact, factually accurate, and evidence-based style possible. Keep an attentive check on your writing style. It would be preferable if you exercise caution about what should be in a summary. In any circumstance, you should avoid using language to convey your ideas about the subject.
7. Seek the assistance of a friend or teammate
Ask a friend or teammate to view your research summary once you have finished the last draft. You must see if they can understand everything without consulting the original paper. This summarizing strategy will assist you in guaranteeing the article’s clarity.
Conclusion
Writing a research summary won’t be difficult if you understand the notion behind research paper summaries. This article explains the essential information to consider while composing the research summary section.
