undergraduate research program abstract writing workshop writing abstracts in the sciences "i...

Undergraduate Research ProgramUndergraduate Research Program

Abstract Writing Workshop

Writing Abstracts in the Sciences

"I didn't have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead." - Mark Twain

University of Washington

Overview

1. Abstracts and Extended Abstracts

2. Qualities of good abstracts

3. Guidelines for writing abstracts

4. Strategies for the writing process

5. Discussion and questions

1.1 Definition

Abstracts

• 100-350 words• No finite details or specific data• No argumentation• For presentation at small symposia, conferences, etc.• Accompany reports, articles, etc.

An abstract is a very concise textual summary that highlights major ideas covered in a larger text or body of research.

1.2 Purpose

Personal

• A chance to gather your thoughts

• Decontextualize your methods, data, and assertions

• Reinforce your knowledge on the subject

• Maintain your ability to be clear and concise

Academic

• Useful summary of large amounts of work

• Efficient way to share new ideas

• Tool to easily decide whether further reading is needed

• Archive document

1.3 Context

• Always consider the context

• Always read the application or submission instructions carefully and follow them

• Read examples in publications or conference proceedings

• Determine the level of expertise of your audience

• Observe any special formatting rules

Overview






2.1 Form

• Uses an “introduction-body-conclusion” structure

1. Introduction

2. Theory

3. Experiment

4. Results [Discussion]

5. Conclusion [Recommendations]

• Is a coherent whole, able to stand on its own

• Uses consistent organizing principles, descriptive headings

• Uses appropriate citation methods and formatting*

• Is clear, easy to read, and contains the proper content

2.1 ContentIdeas

1. What was the purpose of the research? Importance?

2. What does the current research say? What problem did you address?

3. How did you attempt to / solve this problem?

4. What method(s) were used? What was done?

5. What significant data were collected?

6. What new ideas, problems emerged? What can be concluded?

Language

1. Formal diction: no casual or colloquial phrasing

2. Avoid jargon whenever possible*

3. Do not use contractions (couldn’t, didn’t, etc.)

4. Use abbreviations to avoid repetition, but only after you have defined them

5. Do not include personal narrative, opinion or commentary

6. Use active voice when possible

Overview






3.1 Voice, Tense, Distance

1. Passive voice is not a universal rule: use active constructions when possible (ex. 1)

2. Past tense is the dominant, but present and future should be used when appropriate (ex. 2)

3. Use personal constructions where appropriate (ex. 3)

The goal is to be clear about who did what, and when, not to seem objective at all costs; detachment, not vagueness.

3.2 Diction, Jargon, Flow

1. Use plain language whenever possible

2. Vary sentence complexity and rhythm to avoid choppiness (ex. 4)

3. Avoid wordiness (ex. 5)

4. Avoid “roundabout” and unusual phrasing (ex. 6)

5. Use lowest level of abstraction at all times (ex. 7)

The goal is to make your text easy to read and follow; clarity, not pedantry.

3.3 Content Revisited

1. Concision: Say only what you mean• Avoid unnecessary adjectives

• Avoid tangents and unwarranted commentary

2. Narrative: Form a logical narrative of ideas, not a story of the experience• Avoid step-by-step coverage outside of describing critical

procedures, important causal phenomena, etc.

• Avoid speculation, deviation from main idea or line of inquiry

3. Scope: Select only what is needed to make your point• Use illustrations and figures only to show new techniques,

results or to support your argument

Overview






4.1 Strategies

1. Talk about your research with others, non-experts

2. Read texts in your research area

3. Use an outline with content headings

4. Start with what you are most comfortable describing

5. Write the first draft without your notes (abstract only)

6. Leave time for personal and peer revision

"Nothing clarifies ideas in one's mind so much as explaining them to other people” –Vernon Booth, Communicating in Science

Overview






Using High Intensity Focused Ultrasound to Disrupt the Blood Brain Barrier & Enhance Drug Delivery to the Brain

Despite advancement in the treatment of many cancers, therapies for brain tumors have gone without significant change over the past few decades. One major impediment to treating brain tumors is the blood brain barrier (BBB), which is comprised of tightly aligned endothelial cells lining the walls of blood vessels in the brain. In the central nervous system (CNS) the BBB plays a protective role, restricting the movement of molecules into the brain. As a result, many therapeutic compounds known to be successful in vitro are prohibited from entering the CNS in vivo. We have found that application of high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) to the brain causes disruption to the tight junctions between endothelial cells of the BBB. This technique opens the BBB in a selective, yet reversible manner without causing tissue damage. This capability allows a method for drug delivery to the CNS to destroy both malignant brain tumors and isolated residual tumor cells involved in tumor recurrence after surgical resection. In order for HIFU-induced BBB disruption to be clinically useful, HIFU treatment must be shown to provide a means for safe and effective drug delivery to the CNS. It is currently unclear how the HIFU-treated regions of the brain evolve overtime and what, if any, long-term negative effects are associated with this brief BBB opening. Preliminary work suggests that it is possible to disrupt the BBB without causing tissue damage. My current work aims to replicate these findings by identifying a protocol that reversibly opens the BBB acutely in such a way as to maximize flux into the treatment site, while minimizing damage to the surrounding tissue. This protocol will be used to assay any long-term HIFU effects to the treatment site. Successful completion of this work will mark an important step towards the implementation of HIFU therapy into clinical practice to treat neurological disorders.

Verde Base: An Automated Lunar Greenhouse

A plan cultivated to provide food supply for a permanent station on the Moon. Verde Base: An automated lunar greenhouse is based in a lava tube in the South Pole region, using inflatable liners to enclose a pressurized environment. It will yield grains such as wheat and rice for a 6-12 person crew. Plants will be grown in a lunar regolith derived soil combined with starter compost brought from Earth. An experiment was conducted on Earth for this feasibility study with simulated regolith and compost. Radishes were grown to determine which regolith-compost ratio produces the best results for growth. Inedible plant products will be reused as compost to fertilize the soil in future planting cycles. Verde Base will use a combination of solar panels and a sunlight reflection system to heat, light, and power the greenhouse during the day as well as survive the 14-days long lunar nighttime. The enclosed system will use robots to farm and store plants for use, as well as to mine water at the South Pole. This research was conducted as part of the NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts’ Student Visions of the Future Program. Verde Base could become a possible construction project in the next 10-50 years.

undergraduate research program abstract writing workshop writing abstracts in the sciences "i...

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