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Abstracts and Abstracting: A genre and set of skills for the twenty-first century

Tibor Koltay, Szent István University, Hungary

 - despite the relatively large number of textbooks on the topic there is no up-to-date book on abstracting in the English language
 - in addition to providing a comprehensive coverage of the topic, the proposed book contains novel views - especially on informative and indicative abstracts
 - the discussion is based on an interdisciplinary approach, blending the methods of library and information science and linguistics
 - the book strives to a synthesis of theory and practice. The synthesis is based on a large and existing body of knowledge which, however, is often characterised by misleading terminology and flawed beliefs

Despite their changing role, abstracts remain useful in the digital world. Highly beneficial to information professionals and researchers who work and publish in different fields, this book summarizes the most important and up-to-date theory of abstracting, as well as giving advice and examples for the practice of writing different kinds of abstracts. The book discusses the length, the functions and basic structure of abstracts, outlining a new approach to informative and indicative abstracts. The abstractors’ personality, their linguistic and non-linguistic knowledge and skills are also discussed with special attention.

ISBN 1 84334 517 X
ISBN-13: 978 1 84334 517 6
March 2010
236 pages  234 x 156mm  paperback  
£47.00 / US$80.00 / €60.00

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About the author

Dr Tibor Koltay is Professor, Head of Department and Course Director for Library and Information Science curricula at the Department of Information and Library Studies, Szent István University, Faculty of Applied and Professional Arts, Jászberény. He also teaches at the Department of Library and Information Science, University of West Hungary, Szombathely, Hungary. He is an experienced abstractor who wrote over 200 abstracts and has been teaching abstracting since 1992.

Contents

Introduction
 - Who is this book for?
 - What is abstracting and what is an abstract?
 - Why abstracts and abstracting?
 - The structure of the book

Definitions
 - The abstract
 - The original
 - Related concepts and genres

The characteristics of the abstract
 - The length
 - Functions
 - Types of abstract
 - The objectivity of the abstract
 - The author abstract

What does an abstractor have to know?
 - Who can be an abstractor?
 - The knowledge base of the abstractor
 - Professional summarisation
 - The information literacy context
 - Abstracting education
 - The rewards of abstracting

The practice of abstracting: structure, processes and language
 - The structure of abstracts
 - The process made simple
 - The language
 - Reflections on the abstracting process
 - How to evaluate abstracts

The practice of abstracting: examples
 - Examples of abstract writing
 - Example 1
 - Example 2

Beyond language and style
 - Approaches and models
 - Abstracting and comprehension

Conclusion