ABSTRACT WRITINGS AND THEIR TYPES

INTRODUCTION 
An abstract is a brief summary, generally from 100 to 200 words, of the contents of a document such as a research paper, journal article, thesis, review, conference proceeding, and other academic or legal document. The primary purpose of an abstract is to facilitate a selection of documents. A reader can grasp the essential points of the document without reading a full document. A reader can decide what to read and what not to read. Abstracts thus expedite the process of selection and saves time. An abstract, together with index, is a key finding aid of information in today's overabundance of information.
There are mainly two types of abstracts—indicative (descriptive) and informative. Indicative abstracts describe only a metadata (data about the data) of a document, which includes the key research components such as purpose, scope, and research methodology. Indicative abstract simply describes what kind of research or writing the document is about and it does not contain any material content of the document such as conclusions. Informative abstracts, on the other hand, explain both material contents as well as its metadata. Other types of abstracts include critical abstracts which are "condensed critical reviews". A critical abstract is an evaluative summary of the document and the abstractor describes the strength and weakness of the paper often comparing with other works in the field.
Authors are often asked to submit abstracts when they submit research papers. Abstractors are required to have both a professional training and general knowledge about the subject area.
Abstracts are also an important element for indexing. Indexers and search engines use abstract to find metadata of the contents the document for the purpose of compiling indexes.

Types of abstracts
An abstract is not only a brief summary of a document but it also must be an "accurate representation of the contents of a document." To create an abstract, an abstractor or a writer needs to identify two kinds of information about the document, metadata (data about the data) and the essence of its informative contents. Metadata is a description of what kind of information it is, which includes the purpose, scope, and research methodology. Informative contents are material contents of the document, which includes conclusions, suggestions, and recommendations. Depending on which information it contains, an abstract can be classified into two types: indicative (or descriptive) abstract and informative abstract.

Indicative abstract
Telephone interviews were conducted in 1985 with 655 Americans sampled probabilistically. Opinions are expressed on whether: (1) the establishment of a Palestinian state is essential for peace in the region; (2) U.S. aid to Israel and to Egypt should be reduced; (3) the U.S. should (a) participate in a peace conference that includes the PLO,(b) favor neither Israel nor the Arab nations, (c) maintain friendly relations with both. Respondents indicated whether or not they had sufficient information concerning various national groups in the region.

Informative abstract
Telephone interviews conducted in 1985 with 655 Americans, sampled probabilistically, brought these results: most (54-56%) think U.S. aid to Israel and Egypt should be reduced; most (65%) favor U.S. participation in a peace conference that includes the PLO; more than 80% consider it important that the U.S. should maintain friendly relations with both Israel and the Arab countries; 70% believe that the U.S. should favor neither side; most (55%) think that the establishment of a Palestinian state is essential to peace in the region. The Israelis are the best known of the national groups and the Syrians the least known. The Arab-Israeli situation is second only to the conflict in Central America among the most serious international problems faced by the U.S.
Critical abstract
A critical abstract is a critical evaluation of the document. An abstractor evaluates the document and often compares it with other works on the same subject. Critical abstract is a "condensed critical review.

 
Telegraphic Abstract 
Telegraphic Abstract is an abstract compose of key words of phrase (usually) taken from the original document. Few syntactic relations are preserved in such an astract, hence there is no structure corresponding to a sentence in the telegraphic abstract. A portion of a telegraphic abstract might have this appearance: “propenoyl chroride; preparation; reaction; benzene derivatives.”
Many other types of abstracts have been described, but the four mentioned above are the most important types. All others may be considered to be variants or combinations of these types

Other types of abstract
A modular abstract is a full content description of a document, consisting of five components: Citation, Annotation, Indicative abstract, Informative abstract, and Critical abstract. An abstracting service can use it for various purposes and needs.
 
CONCLUSION 
In journal articles, research papers, published patent applications and patents, an abstract is a short summary placed prior to the introduction, often set apart from the body of the text, sometimes with different line justification (as a block or pull quote) from the rest of the article.
An abstract allows one to sift through copious amounts of papers for ones in which the researcher can have more confidence that they will be relevant to his research. Abstracts help one decide which papers might be relevant to his or her own research. Once papers are chosen based on the abstract, they must be read carefully to be evaluated for relevance. It is commonly surmised that one must not base reference citations on the abstract alone, but the entire merits of a paper.
 
References
Borko, Harold, and Charles L. Bernier. Abstracting Concepts and Methods. New York: Academic Press, 1975. ISBN 0874360781ISBN 9780874360783 ISBN 087436079X ISBN 9780874360790
Cleveland, Donald B., and Ana D. Cleveland. Introduction to Indexing and Abstracting. Littleton, Colo: Libraries Unlimited, 1983. ISBN 0872873463 ISBN 9780872873469
Collison, Robert Lewis. Abstracts and Abstracting Services. Santa Barbara, Calif: ABC-Clio, 1971. ISBN 0874360781 ISBN 9780874360783 ISBN 087436079X ISBN 9780874360790
Lancaster, F. Wilfrid. Indexing and Abstracting in Theory and Practice. Champaign, Ill: University of Illinois, Graduate School of Library and Information Science, 1991. ISBN 0878450831 ISBN 9780878450831
Neufeld, M. Lynne, Martha Cornog, and Inez L. Sperr. Abstracting and Indexing Services in Perspective: Miles Conrad Memorial Lectures, 1969-1983, Commemorating the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary of the National Federation of Abstracting and Information Services. Arlington, Va: Information Resources Press, 1983. ISBN 0878150439 ISBN 9780878150434
Rowley, J. E. Abstracting and Indexing. London: C. Bingley, 1988. ISBN 0851574114 ISBN 9780851574110