Writing Skill: Preparing an Abstract PDF

# Writing Skill: Preparing an Abstract ## What is an abstract? An abstract is a brief or short form of a reading text. It concisely restates the main idea, relevant details, and conclusion of the text. ## Why write an abstract? An abstract is important because it gives a first impression of your...

# Writing Skill: Preparing an Abstract ## What is an abstract? An abstract is a brief or short form of a reading text. It concisely restates the main idea, relevant details, and conclusion of the text. ## Why write an abstract? An abstract is important because it gives a first impression of your writing (an essay, research, a project proposal). An abstract lets readers decide whether to continue reading, and it shows them what to look for in your writing if they do. ## How is it written? 1. Plan your abstracts. Use an outline. 2. Restate or paraphrase the main idea. 3. Summarize the details by paraphrasing only the most relevant details to help your readers make sense of the main idea. 4. Use the simple present tense when reporting facts. Check and correct sentence fragments. Refer to Grammar Learning Support on pp. 153, 157 for review exercises. 5. Use appropriate transition words, such as moreover, however, as a result of, or finally. Refer to Grammar Learning Support on pp. 155, 157 for review exercises. 6. Observe appropriate tone. Do not use personal pronouns (For example: I or we instead of the researchers). Do not use contractions (For example: I'm for I am or It's for It is). Use at least five new words learned in this unit. 7. ## How to publish? 1. Scan the QR Code to download and access Google Blogger for free. 2. Post the two abstracts in Google Blogger. 3. Share your posts in a social media. # HOTS Box: Reinforcing Workplace Employability Skills Learning outcome scenario: You work as an editor of a publishing company. Write your reaction about the two readings, and comment about the campaign in Reading Text 6 poster before they will be published in your company's online magazine. Present your commentary in class through a role play. Use Google Slides for your presentation. Brainstorming points to consider: What is a publishing company? Give examples of popular online magazine companies. # Writing Strategy: Presenting a Reaction Paper and a Critique ## What is a reaction paper? What is a critique? A reaction is a commentary about a particular issue presented in the text. It agrees or disagrees with the author's idea or argument. On the other hand, a critique is also a commentary which assesses on the efficacy of the author's argument or whether it has sufficient supporting evidence and logical reasoning. For artworks, a critique makes impression on the details in the work and comment on how effective or ineffective the elements have conveyed the message of the theme. A critique is a more formal evaluation of a reading text, or an artwork compared to a review. It follows a structured critical approach compared to a review which can be written casually or subjectively and informally. ## Why write a reaction paper and a critique? Both reaction paper and critique demonstrate the writer's ability to analyze the text or the artwork objectively. Both present opportunity for the writer to be able to show the points of the other side of an issue especially when these points are left out in the text or in the artwork. ## How do we write a reaction paper? 1. Reread the text and identify the thesis statement of the author, and the reasons and facts that one employs to support and develop one's thesis or argument. 2. Analyze if there are “holes” or weak and/or missing points in the author's use of logic or reasons and their presentation of evidence or supporting facts. Check if the author's introduction and conclusion are logical. 3. Zero in on these "holes” and develop your main argument around them using one or two literary criticism approaches. 4. Plan your reaction paper. Develop it using CER Framework. Use an outline. 5. Form a thesis statement or your main opinion/claim. 6. Cite specific evidence to support your claim. 7. Raise legitimate counterarguments and refutation in presenting your evidence. 8. Synthesize your argument by stating a logical reason at the conclusion. 9. Use appropriate transition words such as moreover, however, as a result of, finally, and in addition. 10. Use the simple present in the first paragraph when you introduce your opinion, reason, and supporting facts. 11. Use either simple past or present perfect when you describe how the garbage island was formed and when you narrate the successful experience of Curitiba City as supporting facts. Refer to Grammar Learning Support for review exercises on pp. 159-161. 12. Use complex sentence and new vocabulary learned in this unit. ## How do we write a critique? 1. Identify the message or the slogan of the theme in the artwork. 2. Evaluate the appropriateness of the symbols and symbolisms, lines, shapes, colors, depths, and their relevance in conveying the message of the theme. 3. Check for weak or missing elements in the symbols, lines, shapes, colors, and depths and explain their relevance in conveying the message of the theme. 4. Zero in on these “holes,” and develop your argument around them using one or two literary criticism approaches. 5. Plan your critique. Use CER Framework. 6. Form a thesis statement or your main opinion or claim. 7. Cite specific evidence to support your claim. 8. Conclude appropriately by explaining the connection between the claim and the evidence. 9. Use appropriate transition words such as moreover, however, as a result of, finally, and in conclusion. 10. Observe appropriate tone. Do not use personal pronouns (For example: I or we instead of the researchers). Do not use contractions (For example: I'm for I am or It's for It is). 11. Use new vocabulary learned in this unit. # Writing Skill: Presenting a Concept Paper ## What is a concept paper? A concept paper or otherwise known as a project or a proposal brief is a concise presentation of ideas about a particular proposed project or product. By protocol, it is a requirement before the submission of a full or detailed project proposal. ## Why write a concept paper? The purpose of submitting a concept paper is to capture the interest of person or group who is going to fund or to be a part of a project. The concept paper should be able to demonstrate clearly how the ideas in the project work effectively to achieve a purpose, and therefore, worthy of funding consideration. ## How is it written? 1. A concept paper is composed of major parts, namely: 1. Introduction provides a background of the problem or need; project goals and objectives. 2. Project Description explains the strategies or activities, including contingencies for achieving goals and objectives. It also provides timelines, expected benefits, and outcomes. Moreover, it explains what makes the project or product unique, otherwise known as a unique selling proposition (USP) and how it can stand out among its competitors in the market in accordance with differentiation competitiveness. Use appropriate elucidation techniques. 3. Project Requirements list down and rationalize support needed like financial, technical, and manpower support. 4. Conclusion reiterates the project's unique selling proposition and differentiation competitiveness. It also explains the next course of action. ## Here are the steps: 1. Plan your concept paper. Use an outline. 2. Be convincingly clear with the main idea or thesis statement about the concept. 3. Use concept elucidation techniques specifically in the Project Description section of your concept paper. Utilize definition and explication or clarification techniques liberally. 4. Use in-text citations in all quoted reference sources. 5. Use appropriate transition words such as moreover, however, as a result of, and finally. 6. Observe appropriate tone. Do not use personal pronouns (For example: I or we instead of the researchers). Do not use contractions (For example: I'm for I am or It's for It is). 7. Use the present perfect tense liberally, but appropriately. Check for run-on sentence errors. Refer to Grammar Learning Support for review exercises on pp. 162-168. 8. Use new vocabulary learned in this unit. # What is a graphic aid? Why use a graphic aid? A graphic aid is any chart or table that is used to present data or numerical information and graphic representation or an image about a subject. It is used to exhibit data trend or movements, including distribution or shares. The most common are line graph, bar graph, circle or pie chart, and table. They can be generated using can be generated using spreadsheet software like Microsoft Excel and graphic design software or websites like Adobe Illustrator and Canva. Using graphic aids in a concept paper has the following advantages: It provides a strong statistical support to its ideas or claims; it enables readers to grasp relevant data easily and clearly; and it leaves an impression of being scientific and objective in its presentation. ## An effective graphic aid has the following characteristics: 1. Appropriate to the data in the concept report. For example: sales trend – line graph; market distribution – circle graph. 2. Clear and accurate or it summarizes effectively and accurately the data in the concept report. 3. Aesthetically attractive or its visual helps readers understand better the data in the concept paper. ## How to present concept paper with graphic aid? 1. Make a two- to three-slide presentation of your concept paper using Google Slides. 2. Design a graphic aid for your concept paper. Scan the QR Code to download and access Canva Poster for free. 3. Present it in class in a role-play format such as a talk show.