Dr Lucas Kohnke, EdD Programme Coordinator and Senior Lecturer from the Department of English Language Education, delivered a workshop on writing effective abstracts on March 4th. The face-to-face workshop was the fourth in a series of six aimed at enhancing students’ academic communication skills.

Drawing on his experience as a journal editor and researcher, Dr Kohnke explained the purpose and structure of an abstract. He emphasized its role as a concise summary that helps readers quickly assess the relevance of research. Participants learned to identify their target audience, such as researchers and conference organizers.

Key components of a well-structured abstract were explored, including the introduction, which provides context; the purpose, outlining research aims; the methodology, detailing research approaches and participant numbers; the results, presenting key outcomes; and the conclusions, highlighting the study’s significance and impact.

Dr Kohnke stressed the importance of clear, concise language, advising participants to avoid jargon and vague terminology. He also underscored the need to state the research gap explicitly and demonstrate how the study contributes new insights to the field.

The workshop concluded with a Q and A session, where students addressed specific concerns about writing abstracts for journal submissions and conference presentations. Dr Kohnke also provided a checklist to help participants ensure their abstracts met the necessary criteria, reinforcing the value of revision and feedback.