ISL Community Heritage Services

Report Abstract Generator

Drop in an archaeological report PDF. Get a citation-ready abstract in the ISL house style and a Zotero RIS file.

What makes a good abstract

A good abstract is one concise paragraph (~100 to 180 words) that tells a reader everything they need to know without opening the report:

  1. Who conducted the study, as a company or First Nation only (not individual staff).
  2. Why it was done, including the client and the project being supported.
  3. When it was done, including year and fieldwork date if relevant.
  4. Where it was done, with enough geographic specificity to locate it.
  5. Methods used, with specific counts where the report gives them (e.g. "7 shovel tests", "12 auger tests", "one evaluative unit") and the governing permit number if stated.
  6. Results, including site designations, materials recovered and a short summary of listed finds.
  7. Recommendations (permits required, monitoring, avoidance, further work).

Writing style: Canadian Press, no Oxford comma, Canadian spellings, "AIA", "AOA" and "PFR" spelled out in title case on first mention with the abbreviation in parentheses, passive framing where natural, no credential-heavy phrasing, and no inference beyond what the report states.

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