WRITING AN ABSTRACT, PRECIS or
SUMMARY
WHAT IS A SUMMARY?
Summary is a group of sentences,
paragraphs or essay telling the main ideas
of the article in a shorten restatement or in
your own words.
WHAT IS AN ABSTRACT?
An Abstract is simply a short standalone
summary in a few paragraphs of a work or
research paper to help the reader know
your paper’s purposes.
DESCRIPTIVE ABSTRACTS- A kind of
summary that is to tell the brief
background of the story but not the actual
content
SUMMATIVE ABSTRACTS- A kind of
summary that presents the ideas and
major findings of the study direct to the
point.
WHAT IS AN PRECIS?
Précis is a summary of an article or the
other people’s works.
Other terms:
SYNOPSIS- is a brief outline or overview
of a story, book or any other paper work.
PARAPHRASING- is a process of
restatement of ideas, works, article or
story. In short, restating a written work in
your own words.
GUIDELINES IN WRITING AN
ABSTRACT, PRECIS or SUMMARY.
Read the text.
Annotate the text.
State the author name, the title of the
passage, and the main idea.
Use words or phrases the authors claim
and the author clarifies.
Write the main idea of each paragraph
using your own words
Never copy in verbatim a single sentence
from the original text
Combine the main idea to form one
paragraph
Refrain from adding comments about the
text
Edit your draft abstract, precis,or summary
by eliminating redundant ideas
Compare your output with the original text
to ensure accuracy
WRITING A REACTION PAPER,
REVIEW, AND CRITIQUE
REACTION PAPER – is a form of writing
which requires personal opinion, reflection
and evaluation of a given work.
REVIEW – evaluates a work in detail which
focuses may fall on the technical aspects,
plot of the story, characters, flow and
objective of the work. The reviewer states
if he/she particularly like or dislike the
work.
CRITIQUE – is a form of writing usually
done with expertise to a specific field being
reviewed, which critically assess a piece of
work with objective comprehension. The
critic states the positive and negative side
of the work.
NOTE: A REACTION PAPER, REVIEW,
AND CRITIQUE are specialized forms
of writing which a reviewer or reader
evaluates a scholarly work, a work of
art, designs or graphic designs.
It usually composed of 250-750 words
in length.
Critical approaches in writing a
CRITIQUE
1. FORMALISM – intrinsic properties
of the text.
2. FEMINISM/FEMINIST CRITICISM
– gender
3. READER RESPONSE CRITICISM –
viewer’s reaction
4. MARXIST CRITICISM – social class
Structure of Critique for Academic
Researches and Articles
1. Introduction
2. Summary
3. Review/Critique
4. Conclusion
CONCEPT PAPER
- Proponents are requested to submit a
summary of what a project is all about.
- Concept paper provides an overview of
the project and helps funding agencies
eliminate proposals that are likely to be
disapproved.
Three ways of explaining a concept
1. DEFINITION
2. EXPLICATION
3. CLARIFICATION
1. DEFINITION
-It is the method of identifying a given
term and making its meaning clearer. Its
main purpose is to clarify and explain
concepts, ideas and issues by answering
the question, WHAT DOES IT MEAN?
a. Informal Definition is done through a
parenthetical or brief explanation.
b. Formal Definition explains a term by
incorporating:
Species- the term to be defined
Genus- general category of the term
Differentia- the quality that makes the
term different from other terms
c. Extended Definition is a detailed way
of defining a term and is usually composed
of at least one paragraph. This type of
definition incorporates various patterns of
development (formal and informal,
comparison and contrast, narration,
description, classification, cause and effect
etc.)
2. Explication
- It is a method of explanation in which
sentences, verses, quotes or passages are
taken from a literary or academic work and
the interpreted and explained in a detailed
way.
3. CLARIFICATION
-It is a method of explanation in which the
points are organized from a general
abstract idea to specific and concrete
examples.
PARTS OF CONCEPT PAPER
Concept paper usually ranges from 500-
2000 words and is usually divided into
several parts.
Concept Paper for a Project
1. Cover Page
2. Introduction
3. Rationale
4. Project Description
5. Project Needs and Cost
Concept Paper for a Research Paper
1. Title Page
2. Background of the Study
3. Preliminary Literature Review
4. Statement of the Problem/Objectives
5. Abridged Methodology
6. Timeline
7. References
POSITION PAPER
What is a Position Paper?
-A position paper presents the writer’s
stand or viewpoint on a particular issue
PARTS OF A POSITION PAPER
1. INTRODUCTION
 it state your main arguments
 provide sufficient evidence for each
argument such as statistical data,
interviews with experts etc.
 provide counter arguments against
the possible weaknesses of your
position.
2. BODY
 it is where you restate your position
and main arguments
 you suggest a course of action
 state what makes your position
superior and acceptable
 end with a powerful closing
statement with statement, a
question or a challenge
3. CONCLUSION
 Restate your position and main
arguments.
 Suggest a course of action.
 State what makes your position
superior and more acceptable.
 End with a powerful closing
statement such as a quotation, a
challenge, or a question.
PREPARING AND IMPLEMENTING
RESEARCH INSTRUMENTS
A research instrument is a tool used to
gather data on a specific topic of interest.
When preparing an instrument you must
ensure that it is valid and reliable. It is
valid when it directly answers your
research quations, it is reliable when it
provides you consistent and stable data
over a period of time.
TYPES OF INSTRUMENT
1. Survey – contains planned questions
which are used to measure attitudes,
perceptions and opinions; contains
responses directly related to each specific
research question.
3 TYPES OF QUESTIONS WHEN
CONDUCTING A SURVEY
The Recall – asks for specific infos like
years of service, age & address.
The Recognition – asks for response to a
specific questions where options are given
such as multiple choice, dichotomous (2
choices only) and rating scale format.
The Open-Ended – elicits brief
explanations from the respondents.
 Questionnaire – lists written
questions to get specific answers.
Responses are usually dichotomous
and use an identifiction type of test.
PARTS OF QUESTIONNAIRE
1. Personal Information Section –
includes personal info about the
respondents. *Note that only personal
information relevant to the research should
be asked.
2. Basic Questions Section – To establish
that the person you are asking is the right
person for the study and to build rapport
with the interviewees.
3. Main Questions Section – contains
questions that are directly related to your
study.
4. Open-Ended Questions Section –
asks for brief explanation/response.
2. Interview – Allows the researcher to
qualitatively gather data. Responses are
usually open-ended.
STAGES OF INTERVIEW
Pre Interview – An interview guide is
prepared and respondents are indeitified
and contacted.
Warm-up – when questions that will make
the respondents feel at ease are asked.
Main Interview – main questions related
to the research are asked.
Closing – Questions are asked to wind
down the interview and respondents are
thanked.
3. Observation – allows the description of
behavior in a naturalistic or laboratory
setting. Usually used to cross-validate the
results of other instrument.
TYPES OF OBSERVATION
Non-Participant – allows the researcher
to observe the subject w/o interacting with
them.
Participant – allows the researcher to
interact with the subjects.
Structured – when the researcher has a
list of behaviors that he-she wants to
observe.
Unstructured – when the researcher
allows behaviors to emerge.
Covert – when the subjects are not aware
that they are being observed.
Overt – when the subjects are aware that
they are being observed.
4. Experiment – a procedure done
systematically and scientifically to make a
discovery or test hypothesis.
1. Make observations
2. Develop hypothesis
3. Design experiment
4. Conduct/Replicate the experiment
5. Analyze results
6. Accept/reject the hypothesis
LESSON 12 – INTERPRETING AND
PREPARING VISUALS
Visuals
1) Graph
2) Tables
3) Diagrams
4) Charts
5) Visual Images
6) Maps
A. Chart
 - a graphical representation of data
using symbols like boxes, lines,
arrows.
- PURPOSE: show ranks, levels,
procedures and classifications.
Two Common Types of Charts:
1) Organizational Chart – presents
rankings, classification and levels of
ideas.
2) Flow Chart – process or direction of
steps.
Shapes used in Flow Chart and their
meaning
1) Rectangle – event which is part of
the process; usually used for steps
2) Diamond – to show decision point in
the process, generally, text inside is
answerable by yes or no
3) Rounded Box – represent event
which occurs automatically, usually
denotes start and end of the process
B. Table
- useful in displaying numbers in
columns.
- Condenses and classifies information
to make comparisons that helps the
readers grasp relationship
- Contains atleast two columns and
headings
Contains:
1)Boxhead – heading on the top
2) Stub – heading on the far left
column
C. Graph
- graphical representation of data
using bars(bar graph), lines(line
graph), circles (pie graphs) and
pictures (pictographs).
TYPES
1) Bar Graph
- uses vertical and horizontal bars
that compare amounts and
quantities
2) Line Graph
- shows trends and changes in data.
- Usually, bottom grid scale represents
time
3) Circle graph(pie Graph)
- uses pie-shaped sections to show
the relations of the parts to the
whole in percentages and
proportions
WRITING A RESEARCH REPORT
Research – a systematic & scientific way
of investigating and gathering information
to answer a problem, establish facts and
reach conclusion.
Survey Report – a paper which presents
the results of the author’s research.
Field Report – used in the field of social
sciences to link theory and application;
contains the author’s observation when out
on a field and analysis using theoretical
concepts from the discipline; can be
informal and personal.
To begin a research, you have to determine
your topic. When choosing a topic a
researcher should consider the ff criteria:
- Should be relevant, interesting and
manageable.
Once you have chosen your topic, you need
to formulate your thesis statement. A
thesis statement guides and serves as a
central point of all the ideas in your paper.
The details in your thesis statement can be
used as a basis for your specific research
quations. These specific questions should
be answered through your instrument to
support your research.
Research Report – an expended paper
that presents results and interpretation of a
phenomenon. A research report is
produced through formal investigation and
scientific inquiry.
PARTS OF A RESEARCH REPORT
1. Title Page – contains an informative
title whcih describes the content of the
paper, name of author/s and addresses or
affliation and date when it is submitted.
2. Abstract – contains the summary of
findings and conclusions; presents the
context of the study, research
questions/objectives, methodology, major
findings, conclusions and sometimes
implications, with minimal number of
citations and statistical data; ranges from
100 to 250 words.
3. Introduction – explains the current
state of the field of discipline & identifies
gaps addressed by the study
4. Literature Review – contains the
summary and synthesis of all sources
related to the study; divided into two:
Related Concepts – explains some
fundamental concepts needed by reader to
better understand the study
Related Studies – based on previously
conducted studies related to the study
5. Methodology – contains the steps
taken in gathering data for research.

Context and Participant – explains the

number and demographic profile of
participants involved and the place where
the study was conducted.

Instrument – presents the tools you used

in gathering the data.

Data Gethering – presents how the data

were collected.

Data Analysis – presents how the data are

analyzed.

6. Results – describes the data gathered;

usually contains tables and graphs that
summarized the collected data with
interpretations.

7. Discussion – provides an explanation

for all the results in relation to the previous
studies presented in the lit review; The new
findings uncovered should be included.

8. Conclusion – contains the restatement

of major findings, limitations of the study,
recommendation and implications.

9. References – contains the different

sources used in the study. These may be
academic books, journals and online
sources.