Lecture 19a What is an abstract.pptx

Writing Abstract BITS F112: Technical Report Writing Abstract • An abstract is a 150- to 250-word paragraph that provides readers with a quick overview of one’s essay or report and its organization. • It should express one’s thesis (or central idea) and the key points • It should suggest any impl...

Writing Abstract BITS F112: Technical Report Writing Abstract • An abstract is a 150- to 250-word paragraph that provides readers with a quick overview of one’s essay or report and its organization. • It should express one’s thesis (or central idea) and the key points • It should suggest any implications or applications of the research one discuss in the report.  Generally designed for technical specialists and includes:  Objectives  Methods  Results 2 Objectives of Writing an Abstract • To describe the report. • To state the research problem or issue, followed by a description of the research method and design, the major findings, and the conclusions reached. • To present an overview of the report. Abstract or summary Abstract • Overview of the report • Abstract is a concentrated form of the report where methodology and results are mentioned • Helps the reader to gather important information without having to go through the main report Summary • Summary is an overall report in a nutshell • A brief overview of the whole report and not just of the conclusions and recommendations • Used for longer reports ( with more than 100 pages) Executive Summary • Entire substance in nutshell • Significant gleanings (summary of chapters) • If necessary, contains illustrations • Meant for very voluminous reports (50 pages or more) • Designed often for non-technical readers (simple Language) 5 Some Don’ts in abstract writing • Do not evaluate or defend the report. • Do not begin your abstract with phrases like, “This essay will examine...” or “In this research paper I will attempt to prove...” An example for a Good Abstract • Begun in 1988, the human genome project intends to map the 23 chromosomes that provide the blueprint for the human species. The project has both scientific and ethical goals. The scientific goals underscore the advantages of the genome project, including identifying and curing diseases and enabling people to select the traits of their offspring, among other opportunities. Ethically, however, the project raises serious questions about the morality of genetic engineering. To handle both the medical opportunities and ethical dilemmas posed by the genome project, scientists need to develop a clear set of principles for genetic engineering and to continue educating the public about the genome project. (The examples above are originally taken from Form and Style (10th ed.), by Carole Slade; The Scott, Foresman Handbook for Writers (5th ed.); and the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (5th The Structure of an Abstract Abstracts usually spend • 25% of their space on the purpose and importance of the research (Introduction) • 25% of their space on what the researcher(s) did (Methods) • 35% of their space on what the researcher(s) found (Results) • 15% of their space on the implications of the research (scope) The Structure of an Abstract: An Example This paper analyzes how novices and experts can safely adapt and transfer their skills to new technology in the medical domain. To answer this question, we compared the performance of 12 novices (medical students) with the performance of 12 laparoscopic surgeons (using a 2D view) and 4 robotic surgeons, using a new robotic system that allows 2D and 3D view. Purpos e Method s The Structure of an Abstract: An Example Our results showed a trivial effect of expertise (surgeons generally performed better than novices). Results also revealed that experts have adaptive transfer capacities and are able to transfer their skills independently of the human-machine system. However, the expert’s performance may be disturbed by changes in their usual environment. From a safety perspective, this study emphasizes the need to take into account the impact of these environmental changes along with the expert’s adaptive capacities. Results Implicati ons https://writingcenter.gmu.edu/guides/writing-an-abstrac Exercise • Write an abstract for your report in about 250 words.