Home Guides Writing Abstracts A More Detailed Comparison of Descriptive vs. Informative

Introduction

Definition of Abstract

Purposes for Abstracts

Types of Abstracts

Descriptive Abstract

Example descriptive abstract

Informative Abstract

Example Informative Abstract based on Non-experimental work

Example Informative Abstract based on Experimental work

More Detailed Comparison of Descriptive vs. Informative

Descriptive Table of Contents of the Argument

Informative Abstract of the Decision

Bibliographic Citation or Identification

Processes for Writing Abstracts

Key Issues in Preparing Abstracts

Abstracts in Specific Disciplines

Additional Resources

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Authors & Contributors

A More Detailed Comparison of Descriptive vs. Informative

Back to Types of Abstracts

The typical distinction between descriptive and informative is that the descriptive abstract is like a table of contents whereas the informative abstract lays out the content of the document. To show the differences as clearly as possible, we compare a shortened Table of Contents for a 100-page legal argument presented by the FDA and an informative abstract of the judge's decision in the case.

• Descriptive Table of Contents of the Argument
• Informative Abstract of the Decision