Guide to Researching and Writing Seminar Papers

The abstract section of the seminar paper is intended to describe your paper and draw people in. It is intended to inform a reader and catch their interest.

Steps to Writing the Abstract:

Paragraph 1:

• Sentence 1: One short sentence, that uses active verbs and states the current state of things on your topic.
• Sentence 2: Describe the problem with the situation as it currently is, possibly including a worst-case-scenario for what will happen if things continue in their current state. 
• Sentence 3: In one sentence - what needs to be done to correct the problem from Sentence 1 and avoid the scenario described in Sentence 2? Try to describe your entire paper here in one sentence.
• Sentence 4: What has been written about this? If there is a common consensus among legal scholars, what is it? (Note major scholars)
• Sentence 5: What are those other scholars and their arguments missing?

Paragraph 2:

• Sentence 1-3: How would you do it differently? Do you have a theoretical lens that you are applying in a new way?
• Sentence 4: In one sentence, state the intellectual contribution that your paper makes. This sentence should show why your research and paper are important. 

("How to Write a Good Abstract for a Law Review Article," The Faculty Lounge, 2012). 

Things to do:

• If you can, draft the abstract AFTER you have finished the article.
• Write in third-person present tense.
• Review and revise the abstract before you submit your article for review.
• Revise the abstract if you revise your article.

Things to NOT do:

• Provide general facts 
• Write in the first-person
• Provide a summary of the entire literature
• Include citations or references
• Use overly technical language

("Writing an Effect Abstract," Cambridge African Studies Review)

The following are abstracts from published journal articles authored by law students. 

Megan Ristau Baca, Barriers to Innovation: Intellectual Property Transaction Costs in Scientific Collaboration,

5 DUKE L. & TECH. REV. [1] (2006-2007)

Alan F. Blakley, Daniel B. Garrie & Matthew J. Armstrong, Coddling Spies: Why the Law Doesn't Adequately Address Computer Spyware, 4 DUKE L. & TECH. REV. [1] (2005-2006).

Timothy O'Neill, Dispute Settlement under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court: Article 119 and the Possible Role of International Court of Justice, 5 CHINESE J. INT'l L. 67 (March 2006).