Using the structure of the abstract to clarify and organize students´ thinking

Students in STEM fields, with mountains of details to report, are often overwhelmed by the mass of data and are frequently unable to synthesize, or even begin to write, a coherent narrative. The structure of the journal abstract is a powerful and underutilized tool that instructors can use to help overwhelmed students express their core ideas. This interactive process is a flexible technique that transfers ownership to the students, engaging them in defining and developing the message they will convey. With the focus on communication of key concepts rather than on writing, students discover the story they want to tell. As a result, students focus their thinking better, develop their material more thoroughly, and generate a richer description of their work. Instructors can also use the abstract framework to help students analyze published abstracts in peer-reviewed journals. Using this approach helps students develop stronger abstracts of their own work, thus enabling them to present themselves as knowledgeable members of their academic or professional communities.