a. Abstracts
In simple terms, an abstract is just a summary of the paper or work, which helps the reader to get the gist of the paper. The abstract is very useful, especially when people are searching for particular information since it gives an overview of what the paper contains. They can decide whether the work suits their purpose or not. Therefore, an abstract should be written after completing the rest of the paper. Abstracts usually contain 250-300 words.
Reviews
A review, on the other hand, is a summary of a paper or an opinion on any kind of product which can either criticize or support a piece of work or product depending on how good or bad they are.
Essays
An essay is a piece of writing that uses methodical analyses to evaluate a topic of any kind. Most importantly, essays are meant to show the writer’s academic point of view on a particular issue or topic. Whereas abstracts have a word limit, reviews and essays can be as wordy as the write or instructor requires. Essays and abstracts can be defended, but reviews are often difficult to defend.
b. According to Good Study, there are specific steps you should follow when writing a good essay. Begin by choosing a topic which you are comfortable with. This can be an area in which you have a passion, though the instructor might opt to tie you to a central idea. Then proceed to have a better understanding of what your instructor is looking for. You should ensure that you have an intensive evaluation of the necessary literature and given an original analysis.