Transcript of How to Write an Abstract The Do’s and Don’ts for Writing an Effective Abstract Dr. Thomas Tomasi...
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- How to Write an Abstract The Dos and Donts for Writing an
Effective Abstract Dr. Thomas Tomasi Associate Dean, Graduate
College Biology Professor
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- What Should Be Included??? Basic question being addressed Why
does this question matter? Methods used to find answer the question
Findings of this study What has been added to our knowledge ? It is
unacceptable to state: The results will be discussed.
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- Abstract (projects with data) Methods should include: Subjects
of the study (humans, animals, balloons) Sample sizes Treatments
compared
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- Abstract (projects with data) Research findings (Results)
should include: Statistical findings What is different from what
Different vs. higher/lower, bigger/smaller, etc.
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- Abstract (projects without numerical data) Theoretical
framework (if applicable) Methods Procedure or analysis used
Selecting sources and/or subjects Discussion/Results Findings
(themes, content, rhetoric, etc.) Implications for future
research/study
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- Simple Formula for a Thesis Abstract Two sentences of
Introduction Two sentences of Methods Two sentences of Results One
sentence of take-home message Seven sentences 100 words 600 800
characters Edit from here as needed
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- Example #1 During World War II, the United States Air Force
submitted women pilots for the first time into a program called the
Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP). These women pilots faced
gendered discrimination and reactions from Air Force men and
American society. Many assumed women were physically, emotionally,
and intellectually inferior to male pilots. The WASP program
concluded in 1944 and women were not admitted into the Air Force
again until the late 1970s. This study focuses on an analysis of
the media's coverage of these women pilots during the war. The War
Department Bureau of Public Relations, Air Force officials, and
WASP Director Jacqueline Cochran worked to control the media's
access to the WASP program. As a result of public fears surrounding
military women, Cochran assigned specific rules and guidelines to
protect the pure, feminine image of the WASP. Overall, media
outlets portrayed the WASP as glamorized, feminine aviators. Issues
largely ignored by the media, including the dangerous roles
assigned the WASP, flying demonstrations to prove the safety of
certain aircraft to men, and the women's outstanding physical,
mental, and emotional record, illuminate the gendered relations of
the period.
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- Example #2 Indiana bat (Myotis sodalis) populations continue to
decline despite current conservation efforts. As hibernacula
temperatures increase, bats generally use more energy to maintain
their torpid state and arousals may occur more frequently. This
increase in metabolism sacrifices energy reserves and bats may not
survive winter. To determine the effects of temperature on the
hibernation of the Indiana bat, we quantified energy budgets of
Indiana bats at several ambient temperatures to determine the
optimal hibernation temperature (i.e., with the greatest amount of
energy savings). Bats were housed in an environmental chamber that
mimicked cave conditions of 4-6 o C and 77+% humidity. Arousal
patterns at target temperatures were determined at 3, 5, 7, and 9 o
C by the use of iBBat data loggers affixed to the bats back. Oxygen
consumption rates at 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9 o C were measured in
metabolic chambers. Metabolic rates declined with decreasing
temperature to 5 o C, then increased to 1 o C. Arousals occurred
more frequently at higher temperatures, leading to the conclusion
that bats hibernating at higher temperatures are more likely to
deplete energy reserves prior to the end of the hibernation season.
Knowing the temperature range that provides the greatest success
for hibernation (minimal metabolic rates) will contribute to
conservation efforts of this endangered species.
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- Submitting the Abstract for IDF Graduate College website
(http://graduate.missouristate.edu/
)http://graduate.missouristate.edu/ Click on Interdisciplinary
Forum link Click on Submit an Abstract Deadline: Noon on Monday,
March 14 Cutting/pasting Unusual fonts (italics, subscripts, bold,
underscore) Size limits & instructions Title = 175 characters,
all CAPS Abstract = 1350 characters (includes spaces)
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- Dates to Remember Graduate Interdisciplinary Forum Saturday,
April 2, 8:00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. (PSU) Presentation Pointers: Oral and
Poster Presentation Success Thursday, March 17, 4:00 -5:00 p.m.
(PSU 317) Thesis Deadline Monday, April 25, 2011