Note how skillfully the student writes this abstract. She summarizes the to explain literature in one sentence. In that sentence, she manages not only why she is doing the study, but also to give a definition of the theory that her research works against. She summarizes her study in two sentences, describing the methods and the population. She carefully details all three of the study's findings. Finally, she states her conclusions(and argument) elegantly and convincingly. (Note that her regular use of the passive voice has not weakened the abstract) Since the abstract is a bit long for many journals(at 209 words), it was shortened upon publication(to 150 words).6 Here is another good social science abstract, one that journal published Simon, Patrick. 2003. "France and the Unknown Second Generation: Preliminary Results on Social Mobility." International Migration Review 37, no. 4(Winter): 1091-1120 The growing concern about the future of the offspring of immigrants in France has prompted the rise of a second generation question Access of"new second generations" (i.e., those born