Transcript Slide 1

Undergraduate 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
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3.
4.
5.
Abstracts and Extended Abstracts
Qualities of good abstracts
Guidelines for writing abstracts
Strategies for the writing process
Discussion and questions
1.1 Definition
An abstract is a very concise textual summary that highlights
major ideas covered in a larger text or body of research.
Abstracts
Extended Abstracts
• 100-350 words
• No finite details or specific
data
• No argumentation
• For presentation at small
symposia, conferences,
etc.
• Accompany reports,
articles, etc.
• ~5 double-spaced pages
• Some focused details and
significant data
• Argumentation and often
recommendations
• For major presentations
1.2 Purpose
Personal
Academic
• 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
• 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
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Abstracts and Extended Abstracts
Qualities of good abstracts
Guidelines for writing abstracts
Strategies for the writing process
Discussion and questions
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 Content
Ideas
Language
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2.
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6.
What was the purpose of the
research? Importance?
What does the current research
say? What problem did you
address?
How did you attempt to / solve
this problem?
What method(s) were used?
What was done?
What significant data were
collected?
What new ideas, problems
emerged? What can be
concluded?
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3.
4.
5.
6.
Formal diction: no casual or
colloquial phrasing
Avoid jargon whenever
possible*
Do not use contractions
(couldn’t, didn’t, etc.)
Use abbreviations to avoid
repetition, but only after you
have defined them
Do not include personal
narrative, opinion or
commentary
Use active voice when possible
Overview
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Abstracts and Extended Abstracts
Qualities of good abstracts
Guidelines for writing abstracts
Strategies for the writing process
Discussion and questions
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
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Abstracts and Extended Abstracts
Qualities of good abstracts
Guidelines for writing abstracts
Strategies for the writing process
Discussion and questions
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
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Abstracts and Extended Abstracts
Qualities of good abstracts
Guidelines for writing abstracts
Strategies for the writing process
Discussion and questions
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.