Grad Writing Engineering - Abstract Writing

8/2/2019 Grad Writing Engineering - Abstract Writing

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How to Write anHow to Write an

AbstractAbstract

Adapted from PhilAdapted from Phil KoopmanKoopmanhttp://http://urc.ucdavis.eduurc.ucdavis.edu

http://www.ce.gatech.eduhttp://www.ce.gatech.edu

http://college.ucla.edu/urchttp://college.ucla.edu/urc--care/spdhowabstract.pdfcare/spdhowabstract.pdf

Presented by the Effective Writing Program, UWOPresented by the Effective Writing Program, UWO

What is an Abstract?What is an Abstract?

A oneA one--paragraph (150 to 200 word) documentparagraph (150 to 200 word) document

A condensed version of the paper it proceedsA condensed version of the paper it proceeds A complete but concise statement of the major elements ofA complete but concise statement of the major elements of

your research project, including the purpose, methods, andyour research project, including the purpose, methods, andfindingsfindings

An opportunity to sell your workAn opportunity to sell your work Tries to get potential readers interestedTries to get potential readers interested

Why Write an Abstract?Why Write an Abstract?

Entice potential readers to your paperEntice potential readers to your paper

Keep profs up to date on your project statusKeep profs up to date on your project status

For conferences:For conferences: Enables organizers to decide if your project fits theEnables organizers to decide if your project fits the

conference criteriaconference criteria

Helps conference audience (faculty, administrators,Helps conference audience (faculty, administrators,peers, etc.) decide whether or not to attend yourpeers, etc.) decide whether or not to attend yourpanelpanel

How Abstracts AppealHow Abstracts Appeal

to a Broad Audienceto a Broad Audience

Limit use of technical language.Limit use of technical language.

If you do use technical language:If you do use technical language:

explain itexplain it

always use the full term in firstalways use the full term in first

reference (then use acronym)reference (then use acronym)

show you rhow you rknow ledgenowledge

comprehens ib leomprehens ib leto laypeopleo laypeople

Find a BalanceFind a Balance TipsTips


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Steps to Writing an AbstractSteps to Writing an Abstract

1.1. Assess your writing task:Assess your writing task: deadlinedeadline length requirement (150length requirement (150--200 words; 250 is maximum)200 words; 250 is maximum)

purpose (to clearly communicate your research)purpose (to clearly communicate your research)

audience (faculty, students, etc.)audience (faculty, students, etc.)

2.2. Write a draftWrite a draft

3.3. Get feedbackGet feedback

4.4.

Revise based on feedbackRevise based on feedback Plan on several revisions with time away from the draftPlan on several revisions with time away from the draft5.5. Edit and ProofreadEdit and Proofread

Parts of an AbstractParts of an Abstract

Parts of an AbstractParts of an Abstract

Title (specific and detailed)Title (specific and detailed)

MotivationMotivation

Problem Statement/Research QuestionProblem Statement/Research Question

ApproachApproach ResultsResults

Conclusions (actual or hypothesized)Conclusions (actual or hypothesized)

Background (Background (optionaloptional))

Scope (Scope (optionaloptional))

Relevance of the conclusions (Relevance of the conclusions (optionaloptional))

Call for future study (Call for future study (optionaloptional))

Section ConsiderationsSection Considerations

Be briefBe brief

Abstract must do as much work as a multiAbstract must do as much work as a multi--pagepage

paper it proceedspaper it proceeds Each section is usually one sentence (althoughEach section is usually one sentence (although

there is room for creativity)there is room for creativity)

Sections may be mergedSections may be merged


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Parts of an Abstract:Parts of an Abstract:

ResultsResults

Briefly explain the facts of the outcomeBriefly explain the facts of the outcome

Avoid vague wordsAvoid vague words

EgEg. very, small, significant. very, small, significant


ConclusionConclusion

Give the implications of your answerGive the implications of your answer

May be actual or hypothesizedMay be actual or hypothesized

Indicate if results are general or case specificIndicate if results are general or case specific


BackgroundBackground

Background information (optional) oftenBackground information (optional) often

explains theexplains the motivationmotivation or engineering contextor engineering context

of the experiment.of the experiment.


Optional DetailsOptional Details

Scope defines the experimentScope defines the experiments limits ors limits or

parametersparameters

Relevance of the conclusions describes theRelevance of the conclusions describes thesignificance of the researchsignificance of the research

Call for future study gives context to the articleCall for future study gives context to the article


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Problems to AvoidProblems to AvoidThe Black-Capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)is a species of North American songbird inhabitingthe United States and Canada. Unlike many othersongbirds whose songs vary geographically,previous studies done on chickadee populationsfrom Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New York,Ontario, Missouri, Wisconsin, Alberta, Utah,British Columbia, Washington, and California haveshown that males sing a typical two tone song,"fee-bee-ee," with little variation betweenpopulations. Researchers have also shown that anisolated population from Martha's Vineyard, anisland offshore of Massachusetts, demonstratessinging patterns different from the usual two notesongs

Avoid Including Too MuchAvoid Including Too Much

Introductory MaterialIntroductory Material

Avoid JargonAvoid Jargon

In the works of Stone, a predominant

concept is postcultural narrativity. The

premise of subdeconstructive Marxism

suggests the significance of the writer isdialectic form, assuming Foucauldian power

relations are valid. Thus, the subject is

interpolated into a constructivism that

includes consciousness as a paradox.

Courtesy of the Postmodernism GeneratorCourtesy of the Postmodernism Generatorhttp://www.elsewhere.org/pomo

Avoid Incomplete SentencesAvoid Incomplete Sentences

To determine and describe the

ancient Mayan calendar system.

To ascertain how they tracked

time for their civilization.

Included is...


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Avoid Lack of ContextAvoid Lack of Context

We have used infrared reflectance to

study the effects of melt

recrystallization on the structure

of thin polymer films. We

hypothesized that slowly melting and

then resolidifying the thin polymer

films will lead to higher levels of

crystallinity and orientational

order in very thin polymer films.

Other ConsiderationsOther Considerations

Other ConsiderationsOther Considerations

Avoid vague statements, references, or phrasingAvoid vague statements, references, or phrasing

Acknowledge any major restrictions orAcknowledge any major restrictions or

limitationslimitations Okay to use use words such as: might, could, may, seemOkay to use use words such as: might, could, may, seem

EditingEditing

Be sure the abstract meets the fourBe sure the abstract meets the four CCs:s:

1.1. CompleteCompletecovers projectcovers projects major partss major parts2.2. ConciseConcisecontains no wordiness orcontains no wordiness or

unnecessary informationunnecessary information

3.3. ClearClearreadable, well organized, and not tooreadable, well organized, and not too

jargonjargon--ladenladen

4.4. CohesiveCohesivesmooth flow between partssmooth flow between parts


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KeywordsKeywords

Some publications requestSome publications request keywords,keywords,

which have two purposes:which have two purposes:

To facilitate keyword index searchesTo facilitate keyword index searches

To assign papers to review committees orTo assign papers to review committees or

editors (which can be extremely important toeditors (which can be extremely important to

your fate).your fate).

Choosing KeywordsChoosing Keywords

Think of sixThink of six search phrasessearch phrasesandand keywordskeywordsthat peoplethat people

looking for your work might use.looking for your work might use.

Hint: try to include the words and phrases inHint: try to include the words and phrases in

your abstract and/or title so your article will turnyour abstract and/or title so your article will turn

up in a search result listingup in a search result listing

Samples of AbstractsSamples of Abstracts

Estimating Gas Transfer Rates in Bag Cultivation of Shiitake Mushrooms

Previous studies have shown that growth rate and fruiting quality of Letinulaedodes may be affected by levels of O2, CO2, and H2O. By knowing the gasexchanges rates within the growth substrate and across the filter patch oncultivation bags, growth and quality of shiitake mushrooms may be maximized.

This study was performed in an effort to develop a simple, non-invasive methodfor measuring the rate of gas exchange within the substrate and across the fil terpatch. The mushroom growth substrate consisted of sawdust supplemented withrice bran and millet at an initial moisture content of 65%. Air was supplied to

cultivation bags continuously at various constant airflow rates. Patch permeabilitywas also tested using Trichoderma harzianum. Both experiments showed that foridentical aeration rates, patch permeability varied considerably. Patchpermeability did not seem to be affected by autoclaving time. Another set ofexperiments was conducted to measure the rate of water exchange across thepatches. Patch permeability to water vapor was approximately the same,regardless of aeration rate or autoclaving time.

Sample AbstractSample Abstract

From: http://urc.ucdavis.edu/howtowriteanabstract.html


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BibliographyBibliography

Adapted from:Adapted from:

1.1. PhilPhil KoopmanKoopman, How to Write and Abstract,, How to Write and Abstract,http://http://www.ece.cmu.edu~koopman/essays/abstract.www.ece.cmu.edu~koopman/essays/abstract.htmlhtml, 1/26/06, 1/26/06

2.2. How to Write an Abstract for the Conference onHow to Write an Abstract for the Conference onUndergrad Research,Undergrad Research, http://http://urc.ucdavis.eduurc.ucdavis.edu,,1/30/061/30/06

3.3. Examples of Abstracts: Good, Bad, and Ugly,Examples of Abstracts: Good, Bad, and Ugly,

http://www.ce.gatech.eduhttp://www.ce.gatech.edu, 1/30/06, 1/30/064.4. Writing an Abstract,Writing an Abstract, http://college.ucla.edu/urchttp://college.ucla.edu/urc--

care/spdhowabstract.pdfcare/spdhowabstract.pdf, 1/30/06, 1/30/06

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Grad Writing Engineering - Abstract Writing