OUTLINE presents a picture of the main

ideas and the subsidiary ideas of any

subject. According to Forlini (1990) , an
outline is organizing information according  TYPES OF ABSTRACTS
to main ideas, major details, and lesser 1. Descriptive abstracts describe the work
details. being abstracted. They are more like an
outline of the work and are usually very short
Types of Outline - 100 words or less.
1. Alphanumeric Outline - The
2. Informative abstracts act as substitutes
alphanumeric outline is the standard format
for the actual papers as all the key arguments
most people learned in high school English.
and conclusions are presented; specifically,
Each main heading, or topic, is noted by a
the context and importance of the research,
Roman numeral and can be separated into
reasons for methods, principal results and
two or more distinct classifications. These
conclusions.
subheadings would be indented and then
noted by a capital letter. An informative abstract is made up of four
parts:
2. Full Sentence Outline - The full
Purpose .
alphanumeric outline in that it follows the
same format. The primary difference is that Methodology .
each topic, or thought, is written out as a full Results
sentence.
Conclusions
3. Decimal Outline - The decimal outline is The purpose section of an informative
similar to the alphanumeric outline. The abstract should state either the reason for or
primary difference between is that the the primary objectives of the experiment or
decimal outline is written using decimals to investigation.
note each heading and subheading. The
main heading would be noted by a whole The methodology section of an informative
number. Each subheading would be noted by abstract should describe the techniques used
a decimal building from the main heading. in conducting the experiment.
The results section of an informative abstract
 ABSTRACT is a succinct summary of a should relate the observations and/or data
longer piece of work, usually academic in collected during the experiment.
nature, which is published in isolation from
The conclusion section of an informative
the main text and should therefore stand
abstract should state the evaluation or
on its own and be understandable without
analysis of the experiment results. It should
reference to the longer piece.
also briefly state the implications of these
Why write an abstract? results.
3. The Indicative Abstract If you are writing
Abstracts are important for both selection and
an abstract for a less-structured document
indexing purposes.
like an essay, editorial, or book, you will
Selection: Abstracts allow readers who may write an indicative abstract. An indicative
be interested in the paper to quickly decide abstract is generally made up of three parts:
whether it is relevant to their purposes and
• Scope
whether they need to read the whole paper.
• Arguments Used
Indexing: Most academic journal databases
accessed through the library enable you to • Conclusions
search abstracts. This allows for quick
retrieval by users. Abstracts must incorporate The scope section of an indicative abstract
the key terms that a potential researcher should state the range of the material dealt
would use to search. with in the original document as well as the
starting premise of the document.
The arguments used section of an indicative precis will be in third person and in the past
abstract should state the main arguments and tense.
counterarguments employed in the original
document. 6. A précis title must be cold and matter of
fact, not attractive to the imaginative mind. It
The conclusions section of an indicative is a précis of the précis.
abstract should state the document's main
closing argument and its implication  REVIEW PAPER is not a pure summary
suggested by the original author. of the information you read review. You
are required to analyze, synthesize, and
4. A Graphical Abstract is a single, concise, interpret the information you read in some
pictorial and visualsummary of the main meaningful way.
findings of the article.
Writing a review is a big job and requires
A Graphical Abstract should allow readers to some breakdown of the tasks. Below are 4
quickly gain an understanding of the main components to writing a review.
take-home message of the paper and is
intended to encourage browsing, promote 1. Your topic: Keeps you on track. Prepare a
interdisciplinary scholarship, and help readers 1-2 sentence objective/description.
identify more quickly which papers are most
2. Annotated bibliography: An annotated
relevant to their research interests.
bibliography is a list of peer reviewed
scientific papers that you are considering
reviewing in your paper and a short summary
 PRÉCIS is a French word, which means " (like an abstract) of findings relative to review.
exact" and "terse", so in précis writing,
the shorter the version, the better. 3. Outline: The outline will help you provide
constructive feedback on your review and will
A précis is a brief summary, written in your hopefully make writing the final version of the
own words, of a longer piece of writing. It is a term paper easier. The outline of your paper
condensed version of the essential content of is meant to help organize your thoughts about
the original material. your review.

 PRELIMINARY TO PRECIS WRITING 4. Review paper. Essentially, a review

summarizes the scientific understanding of a
1. An abstract is a condensation of a general subject. You want to provide an
passage, the important words, phrases, and interesting synthesis. The best reviews will
sentences containing the essential thoughts use a combination of older literature to
being worked as simply as possible into provide a historical perspective on the topic
sentences. and will also provide information from recent
papers to illustrate advances on this topic.
2. A paraphrase is a restatement of a difficult
passage, stating clearly and fully in language Your review paper should include a title and
of the simplest sort just what the passage four general sections:
means.
1. Introduction;
3. In précis writing it is necessary to say as
much as possible in as few words as 2. body of paper;
possible. A word may substitute for a phrase
and a phrase for a clause. 3. conclusion and future direction; and

4. The proper use of the colon and semicolon 4. literature cited; Examples of data that
in punctuation is an aid to good precis support your claims accompanied by the
writing. citations that you read to come up with the
data.
5. Generally a précis should be written in
reported or indirect speech. This means a  REACTION OR RESPONSE PAPER
requires the writer to analyze a text, and
then develop commentary related to it. It
 is a popular academic assignment correct it if the critic is not specific
because it requires thoughtful reading, enough.
research, and writing. 3. Constructive - There is no point in
being destructive when identifying a
A reaction/response paper has an mistake. So try to give support for the
introduction, a body, and a conclusion. writer's true strengths in your criticism
 The introduction should contain all the while presenting the negative aspects
basic information in one or two as "issues that are open to
paragraphs. Your introduction should improvement".
include a concise, one sentence, focused 4. Comprehensive - Your critique should
thesis. This is the focused statement of be balanced and include both good
your reaction/response. and bad points of the student. It should
not leave out any important points
 The body should contain paragraphs that while prioritizing the solution steps.
provide support for your thesis. Each 5. Acceptable - The critic must be
paragraph should contain one idea. Topic perceived as a legitimate authority
sentences should support the thesis, and before the critique can be accepted by
the final sentence of each paragraph the writer.
should lead into the next paragraph.
 The conclusion can be a restatement of 6. Flexible - a critic should be able to
what you said in your paper. It also be a shape his critique depending on the
comment which focuses your overall audience, context, etc.
reaction. Your conclusion should be the
7. Organized - A good critic takes the
best part of your paper.
writer by the hand and leads her
A conclusion should: through as few steps as possible to the
 stress the importance of the desired goal of the instruction or the
thesis statement; critique session.
 give the essay a sense of Modern Languages Association (MLA)
completeness; and Basic In-text Citation Rules
 leave a final impression on the In MLA style, referring to the works of others
reader. in your text is done by using what is known as
CRITIQUE is a genre of academic writing that parenthetical citation. This method involves
briefly summarizes and evaluates a work or placing relevant source information in
concept. Critiques can be used to carefully parentheses after a quote or a paraphrase.
analyze a variety of works such as:  THERE ARE MANY WAYS OF
 *Creative works - novels, exhibits, REFERRING TO OTHER WRITERS
film, images, poetry 1. AP-The Associated Press Stylebook
 * Research - monographs, journal and Briefing on Media Law, usually called
articles, systematic reviews, the AP Stylebook, is a style and usage guide
theories used by newspapers and the news industry in
the United States.
 * Media - news reports, feature
articles  Goldstein, Norm. The Associated
Press Stylebook and Briefing on
 Seven (7) Principles of Effective
Media Law. New York: Basic, 2007.
CRITIQUE that CRITICS should Adhere
Print.
1. Objective - Limit your critique to the  Associated Press Stylebook. AP. 2013.
observed behavior at do not criticize Web. 30 Dec 2013.
her/his personality, general
2. APA-American Psychological
psychological,physical characteristics.
Association style is a set of rules that
Be kind, but honest.
authors use when submitting papers for
2. Specific - A student/writer sometimes
publications in APA journals.
cannot understand an error and
  Publication Manual of the American  CONCEPT PAPER – is about the in-depth
Psychological Association, 6th ed. analysis regarding on intangible thought,
Washington, DC: American theory or idea. To explain a particular idea to
Psychological Association, 2010. Print. the audience objectively. Sometimes called a
 APA Style. American Psychological prospectus, preliminary proposal, or pre-
proposal.
Association. 2013. Web. 30 Dec 2013.
3. Chicago Manual - The Chicago Manual  CONCEPT DRIVEN – writing is discourse
of Style is a style guide for Amran English that begins with a concept such as term,
has been published since 1906 by the hypothesis, or theory and applies the concept
University of Chicago Press. It is a widely to data being analyzed.
used and respected style guide, and it is  DATA DRIVEN – is discourse that begins
preferred by many for American English style, with data that are then used to build a theory
grammar, and punctuation. or support an interpretation.
 The Chicago Manual of Style. 15th
edition. Chicago: University of Chicago  METHODS OF DEFINITION
Press, 2003. Print.
1. Informal Definition – if a speaker will
 The Chicago Manual of Style Online. use a familiar word or phrase for an
The University of Chicago. 2013. Web. unfamiliar word or phrase.
30 Dec 2013.
2. Formal Definition – has 3 principal:
4. Gregg-The Gregg Reference Manual is a SPECIES(word) + GENUS (class) +
manual of style, grammar, usage, and DIFFERENTIAE
formatting. The book, named after John
Gregg, is written by William A. Sabin. The 3. Expanded Definition -
manual is written for students, business need to amplify a definition by general
professionals and editors who are preparing discussion of an object, process, or
material for distribution or publication. The concept.
manual contains detailed answers and  EXPLICATION – can be regarded as
examples that are often not available in other scientific process which transforms and
style manuals. replaces “an inexact pre-scientific concept”,
 Sabin, William A., The Gregg with a “new exact concept.”
Reference Manual: A manual of Style
Grammar, Usage, and Formatting.
11th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill 2011.
Print. MLA -Wilhoit,Stephen. A Brief Guide to Writing
5. MLA-The Modern Language Association Academic Arguments.New York:Longman,2009 Print
of America is a professional association in
the United States for scholars of language APA -Wilhoit,S.(2009) A brief guide to writing
and literature. The MLA aims to "strengthen academic arguments:New York:Longman
the study and teaching of language and
literature. Although founded in the United IEEE - [1] S,Wilhoit, A Brief Guide to Writing Academic
Arguments:New York:Longman,2009
States, the scope of the membership of MLA
is international in scope.
 Gibaldi, Joseph, ed. MLA Handbook
for Writers of Research Papers. New
York: Modern Language Association of
America, 2009.Print.
 Modern Language Association (MLA).
Modern Language Association. 2013.
Web. 30 Dec 2013.