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Fig. 2.1.9 The structure of writing executive summary
2.1.4 Abstract Writing
Just as a traveller would check the weather before a
journey, reading an abstract allows you to quickly assess
Glimpse into heart whether a particular research paper is worth exploring
of the paper further. It's a glimpse into the heart of the paper, telling you
what questions were asked, what methods were used, and
what juicy discoveries were made. By skimming through
abstracts, you can quickly decide which trails to follow and
which to leave for another time.
2.1.4.1 Why Do We Need Abstracts?
Abstracts reflect our deeply human impulse to simplify
and distil. Since ancient times, philosophers and scholars
have sought to condense complex thoughts into pithy
Abstracts maxims that capture essential truths. The meditations of
summarise Marcus Aurelius, the poetic epigrams of Confucius, and the
concisely aphorisms of Hippocrates - these teach us profound lessons in
brief yet vivid phrases. The abstract, though a more modern
invention, descends from this ancient tradition. It allows us
to efficiently transmit knowledge between minds. It satisfies
our yearning for brevity, wit, and wisdom. They are like
SGOU - SLM - Foundational Skills for Research and Writing 123