diff --git a/proposals/scripts/template.md b/proposals/scripts/template.md
index b470dbb499eb..0e1ef1d8f6b1 100644
--- a/proposals/scripts/template.md
+++ b/proposals/scripts/template.md
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@ SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 WITH LLVM-exception
 ## Table of contents
 
 -   [TODO: Initial proposal setup](#todo-initial-proposal-setup)
+-   [Abstract](#abstract)
 -   [Problem](#problem)
 -   [Background](#background)
 -   [Proposal](#proposal)
@@ -38,6 +39,11 @@ SPDX-License-Identifier: Apache-2.0 WITH LLVM-exception
 TODOs indicate where content should be updated for a proposal. See
 [Carbon Governance and Evolution](/docs/project/evolution.md) for more details.
 
+## Abstract
+
+TODO: Describe, in a succinct paragraph, the gist of this document. This
+paragraph should be reproduced verbatim in the PR summary.
+
 ## Problem
 
 TODO: What problem are you trying to solve? How important is that problem? Who