According to the official APA Style Abstract and Keywords Guide, "The abstract needs to provide a brief but comprehensive summary of the contents of your paper. It provides an overview of the paper and helps readers decide whether to read the full text" (APA, 2020).
Abstract basics:
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The abstract is the second page of your paper (after the Title page).
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At the top of the page, center and bold the word Abstract.
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The first line of the abstract is NOT indented.
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APA recommends the abstract be no more than 250 words.
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One line below the Abstract comes the Keywords. “Keywords need to be descriptive and capture the most important aspects of your paper.” Indent like a regular paragraph and type Keywords: (capitalized and italicized). Then in lowercase, type 3-5 words or phrases.
Sample APA Abstract Page for NWTC Students
