English for Academic Purposes Dr. Muslim Suardi, MSi., Apt. Faculty of Pharmacy University of Andalas Abstract

Abstract “A brief summary of a research article, thesis, review, conference proceeding or any in-depth analysis of a particular subject or discipline”

Abstract Often used to help the reader quickly ascertain the paper's purpose. Often used to help the reader quickly ascertain the paper's purpose. Always appears at the beginning. Always appears at the beginning. It usually comes after the title & before the introduction. It usually comes after the title & before the introduction. Provides an overview of the study based on information from the other sections of the report. Provides an overview of the study based on information from the other sections of the report.

Abstract The reader can read the abstract to obtain enough information about the study to decide if they want to read the complete report. The reader can read the abstract to obtain enough information about the study to decide if they want to read the complete report. Because it contains elements from the whole report, it is usually written last. Because it contains elements from the whole report, it is usually written last. In some subject areas, this section may be titled “summary". In some subject areas, this section may be titled “summary".

Abstract It may also contain brief references, although some publications' standard style omits references from the abstract, reserving them for the article body (which, by definition, treats the same topics but in more depth). It may also contain brief references, although some publications' standard style omits references from the abstract, reserving them for the article body (which, by definition, treats the same topics but in more depth).

Abstract Abstract length varies by discipline & publisher requirements. Abstract length varies by discipline & publisher requirements. Typical length ranges from words, but very rarely more than a page & occasionally just a few words. Typical length ranges from words, but very rarely more than a page & occasionally just a few words. An abstract may/may not have the section title of "abstract" explicitly listed as an antecedent to content. An abstract may/may not have the section title of "abstract" explicitly listed as an antecedent to content.

Structure Unstructured abstracts: Unstructured abstracts: Comprise one paragraph Comprise one paragraph Structured abstracts: Structured abstracts: With explicit subheadings. With explicit subheadings.

Synopsis Used in some publications to refer to the same thing that other publications might call an "abstract". Used in some publications to refer to the same thing that other publications might call an "abstract". In management reports, an executive summary usually contains more information (and often more sensitive information) than the abstract does. In management reports, an executive summary usually contains more information (and often more sensitive information) than the abstract does. Also called précis. Also called précis.

Ordering Your Information Ordering Your Information Abstracts from almost all fields of study are written in a very similar way. The types of information included & their order are very conventional.

Impotancy of Abstract As such, an abstract is used by many organizations as the basis for selecting research that is proposed for presentation in the form of a poster, platform/oral presentation or workshop presentation at an academic conference. As such, an abstract is used by many organizations as the basis for selecting research that is proposed for presentation in the form of a poster, platform/oral presentation or workshop presentation at an academic conference.

Impotancy of Abstract Most literature database search engines index only abstracts rather than providing the entire text of the paper. Most literature database search engines index only abstracts rather than providing the entire text of the paper. Full texts of scientific papers must often be purchased because of copyright/publisher fees. Full texts of scientific papers must often be purchased because of copyright/publisher fees. A significant selling point for the reprint/electronic form of the full text. A significant selling point for the reprint/electronic form of the full text.

Outlines of Abstract Elements in Abstract The research focus. Some background information The research focus. Some background information Purpose/principal activity of the study & its scope Purpose/principal activity of the study & its scope The research methods used (experimental research, case studies, questionnaires, etc.). Informations about the methodology used in the study The research methods used (experimental research, case studies, questionnaires, etc.). Informations about the methodology used in the study Most important results or findings of the research Most important results or findings of the research Main conclusions or recommendations Main conclusions or recommendations

Analysis Read the following abstract carefully. It is taken from the field of computer assisted learning. Identify the sentences in the abstract that correspond to the elements in the preceding box.

Use Of A Writing Web-Site By Pre-Masters Students On An English for Academic Purposes Course. A. J. Gillett, University of Hertfordshire Abstract 1. However, very little empirical research has been carried out to determine the effectiveness of this use. 2. This suggests that the use of computer assisted learning programmes for at least some of the teaching time available can be recommended for EAP writing courses. 3. Results of the assessment showed significant differences between the two groups, the group that used the on-line web-site performing much better on all aspects of the test. 4. The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the effectiveness of using the World-Wide-Web on an EAP writing course. 5. Two groups of students were taught writing by two different methods: one group was taught by a teacher in a traditional classroom, while a second group included use of an on-line web-site in their course. 6. The two groups were assessed in the same way after a twelve-week period of instruction. 7. During the last 10 years, use of the World-Wide-Web for educational purposes has increased dramatically. 7

Use Of A Writing Web-Site By Pre-Masters Students On An English for Academic Purposes Course. A. J. Gillett, University of Hertfordshire Abstract 1 During the last 10 years, use of the World-Wide-Web for educational purposes has increased dramatically. 2 However, very little empirical research has been carried out to determine the effectiveness of this use. 3 The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the effectiveness of using the World-Wide-Web on an EAP writing course. 4 Two groups of students were taught writing by two different methods: one group was taught by a teacher in a traditional classroom, while a second group included use of an on-line web-site in their course. 5 The two groups were assessed in the same way after a twelve-week period of instruction. 6 Results of the assessment showed significant differences between the two groups, the group that used the on-line web-site performing much better on all aspects of the test. 7 This suggests that the use of computer assisted learning programmes for at least some of the teaching time available can be recommended for EAP writing courses.

Exercise: Answer Exercise: Answer Identify the information elements you find in each sentence of the text. Identify the information elements you find in each sentence of the text. Sentence 1: Background Sentence 1: Background Sentence 2: Background Sentence 2: Background Sentence 3: Purpose Sentence 3: Purpose Sentence 4: Method Sentence 4: Method Sentence 5: Method Sentence 5: Method Sentence 6: Results Sentence 6: Results Sentence 7: Conclusion Sentence 7: Conclusion

Abstract An abstract is a short informative or descriptive summary of a longer report. An abstract is a short informative or descriptive summary of a longer report. It is written after the report is completed, although it is intended to be read first. It is written after the report is completed, although it is intended to be read first. In a technical report, the abstract appears on a separate page after the table of contents and list of illustrations. In a technical report, the abstract appears on a separate page after the table of contents and list of illustrations. In an essay written for a humanities class, it most likely should appear on a separate page, just after the title page and therefore just before the essay itself. In an essay written for a humanities class, it most likely should appear on a separate page, just after the title page and therefore just before the essay itself.

Several Potential Uses for Abstracts An executive preparing a comprehensive report might ask her assistant to abstract articles from different levels of periodicals to provide information quickly and to help her decide whether to read the complete articles. An executive preparing a comprehensive report might ask her assistant to abstract articles from different levels of periodicals to provide information quickly and to help her decide whether to read the complete articles. A professional might read the abstract accompanying a journal article to decide if it is worth her time to read the full article. A professional might read the abstract accompanying a journal article to decide if it is worth her time to read the full article. Libraries subscribe to abstracting journals and series (including Dissertation Abstracts International) to provide an overview of content. Libraries subscribe to abstracting journals and series (including Dissertation Abstracts International) to provide an overview of content. Certain congressional and association newsletters provide abstracts of newspaper articles that pertain to issues relevant to their memberships. Certain congressional and association newsletters provide abstracts of newspaper articles that pertain to issues relevant to their memberships.

2 Distinct Types of Abstracts A DESCRIPTIVE abstract merely identifies the areas to be covered in the report. It is an extended statement of purpose or scope. Such an abstract is only useful for a very long report, because it demonstrates only the paper's organization, not its content. A DESCRIPTIVE abstract merely identifies the areas to be covered in the report. It is an extended statement of purpose or scope. Such an abstract is only useful for a very long report, because it demonstrates only the paper's organization, not its content. An INFORMATIVE abstract summarizes the entire report and gives the reader an overview of the facts that will be laid out in detail in the paper itself. It is rarely longer than one page and should never exceed more than 10% of the length of the entire report; otherwise it defeats its own purpose. An INFORMATIVE abstract summarizes the entire report and gives the reader an overview of the facts that will be laid out in detail in the paper itself. It is rarely longer than one page and should never exceed more than 10% of the length of the entire report; otherwise it defeats its own purpose.

How to Write an Informative Abstract Plan to write an abstract that is no more than 10% of the length of the essay. Plan to write an abstract that is no more than 10% of the length of the essay. In the first draft, note key facts, statistics, etc. that you need to include. In the first draft, note key facts, statistics, etc. that you need to include. Do not include a statement of scope; a sentence like "this paper will look at...." is inappropriate in an informative abstract. Do not include a statement of scope; a sentence like "this paper will look at...." is inappropriate in an informative abstract. Be sure to omit or condense lengthy examples, tables, and other supporting detail. Be sure to omit or condense lengthy examples, tables, and other supporting detail. Revise the draft into smooth, stand-alone prose; the abstract itself should be a mini-essay. Revise the draft into smooth, stand-alone prose; the abstract itself should be a mini-essay. Edit the revision. Be sure that the abstract is complete and accurate. Double check that the abstract is written in the same voice as is the paper. Edit the revision. Be sure that the abstract is complete and accurate. Double check that the abstract is written in the same voice as is the paper.

Abstract Because on-line search databases typically contain only abstracts, it is vital to write a complete but concise description of your work to entice potential readers into obtaining a copy of the full paper. Because on-line search databases typically contain only abstracts, it is vital to write a complete but concise description of your work to entice potential readers into obtaining a copy of the full paper. Writers should follow a checklist consisting of: motivation, problem statement, approach, results, and conclusions. Following this checklist should increase the chance of people taking the time to obtain and read your complete paper. Writers should follow a checklist consisting of: motivation, problem statement, approach, results, and conclusions. Following this checklist should increase the chance of people taking the time to obtain and read your complete paper.

Introduction Now that the use of on-line publication databases is prevalent, writing a really good abstract has become even more important than it was a decade ago. Abstracts have always served the function of "selling" your work. But now, instead of merely convincing the reader to keep reading the rest of the attached paper, an abstract must convince the reader to leave the comfort of an office and go hunt down a copy of the article from a library (or worse, obtain one after a long wait through inter-library loan). In a business context, an "executive summary" is often the only piece of a report read by the people who matter; and it should be similar in content if not tone to a journal paper abstract. Now that the use of on-line publication databases is prevalent, writing a really good abstract has become even more important than it was a decade ago. Abstracts have always served the function of "selling" your work. But now, instead of merely convincing the reader to keep reading the rest of the attached paper, an abstract must convince the reader to leave the comfort of an office and go hunt down a copy of the article from a library (or worse, obtain one after a long wait through inter-library loan). In a business context, an "executive summary" is often the only piece of a report read by the people who matter; and it should be similar in content if not tone to a journal paper abstract.

Parts of an Abstract Despite the fact that an abstract is quite brief, it must do almost as much work as the multi-page paper that follows it. Despite the fact that an abstract is quite brief, it must do almost as much work as the multi-page paper that follows it. Use the following as a checklist for your next abstract: Use the following as a checklist for your next abstract:

Why do we care about the problem and the results? If the problem isn't obviously "interesting" it might be better to put motivation first; but if your work is incremental progress on a problem that is widely recognized as important, then it is probably better to put the problem statement first to indicate which piece of the larger problem you are breaking off to work on. Why do we care about the problem and the results? If the problem isn't obviously "interesting" it might be better to put motivation first; but if your work is incremental progress on a problem that is widely recognized as important, then it is probably better to put the problem statement first to indicate which piece of the larger problem you are breaking off to work on. Motivation

Motivation Include: The importance of your work, The importance of your work, The difficulty of the area, The difficulty of the area, The impact it might have if successful. The impact it might have if successful.

Problem statement What problem are you trying to solve? What is the scope of your work (a generalized approach, or for a specific situation)? Be careful not to use too much jargon. In some cases it is appropriate to put the problem statement before the motivation, but usually this only works if most readers already understand why the problem is important.

Approach How did you go about solving or making progress on the problem? Did you use simulation, analytic models, prototype construction, or analysis of field data for an actual product? What was the extent of your work (did you look at one application program or a hundred programs in twenty different programming languages?) What important variables did you control, ignore, or measure?

Results What's the answer? Specifically, most good computer architecture papers conclude that something is so many percent faster, cheaper, smaller, or otherwise better than something else. Put the result there, in numbers. Avoid vague, hand-waving results such as "very", "small", or "significant." If you must be vague, you are only given license to do so when you can talk about orders-of-magnitude improvement. There is a tension here in that you should not provide numbers that can be easily misinterpreted, but on the other hand you don't have room for all the caveats.

Conclusions: What are the implications of your answer? Is it going to change the world (unlikely), be a significant "win", be a nice hack, or simply serve as a road sign indicating that this path is a waste of time (all of the previous results are useful). Are your results general, potentially generalizable, or specific to a particular case ?

Other Considerations An abstract must be a fully self- contained, capsule description of the paper. It can't assume (or attempt to provoke) the reader into flipping through looking for an explanation of what is meant by some vague statement. It must make sense all by itself. Some points to consider include: An abstract must be a fully self- contained, capsule description of the paper. It can't assume (or attempt to provoke) the reader into flipping through looking for an explanation of what is meant by some vague statement. It must make sense all by itself. Some points to consider include:

Other Considerations Any major restrictions or limitations on the results should be stated, if only by using "weasel-words" such as "might", "could", "may", and "seem". Any major restrictions or limitations on the results should be stated, if only by using "weasel-words" such as "might", "could", "may", and "seem". Think of a half-dozen search phrases and keywords that people looking for your work might use. Be sure that those exact phrases appear in your abstract, so that they will turn up at the top of a search result listing. Think of a half-dozen search phrases and keywords that people looking for your work might use. Be sure that those exact phrases appear in your abstract, so that they will turn up at the top of a search result listing.

Meet the word count limitation. If your abstract runs too long, either it will be rejected or someone will take a chainsaw to it to get it down to size. Meet the word count limitation. If your abstract runs too long, either it will be rejected or someone will take a chainsaw to it to get it down to size.

Your purposes will be better served by doing the difficult task of cutting yourself, rather than leaving it to someone else who might be more interested in meeting size restrictions than in representing your efforts in the best possible manner. An abstract word limit of 150 to 200 words is common. Your purposes will be better served by doing the difficult task of cutting yourself, rather than leaving it to someone else who might be more interested in meeting size restrictions than in representing your efforts in the best possible manner. An abstract word limit of 150 to 200 words is common.

Usually the context of a paper is set by the publication it appears in (for example, IEEE Computer magazine's articles are generally about computer technology). But, if your paper appears in a somewhat un-traditional venue, be sure to include in the problem statement the domain or topic area that it is really applicable to. Usually the context of a paper is set by the publication it appears in (for example, IEEE Computer magazine's articles are generally about computer technology). But, if your paper appears in a somewhat un-traditional venue, be sure to include in the problem statement the domain or topic area that it is really applicable to.

Some publications request "keywords". These have two purposes. They are used to facilitate keyword index searches, which are greatly reduced in importance now that on-line abstract text searching is commonly used. Some publications request "keywords". These have two purposes. They are used to facilitate keyword index searches, which are greatly reduced in importance now that on-line abstract text searching is commonly used.

However, they are also used to assign papers to review committees or editors, which can be extremely important to your fate. So make sure that the keywords you pick make assigning your paper to a review category obvious (for example, if there is a list of conference topics, use your chosen topic area as one of the keyword tuples). However, they are also used to assign papers to review committees or editors, which can be extremely important to your fate. So make sure that the keywords you pick make assigning your paper to a review category obvious (for example, if there is a list of conference topics, use your chosen topic area as one of the keyword tuples).

Conclusion Writing an efficient abstract is hard work, but will repay you with increased impact on the world by enticing people to read your publications. Make sure that all the components of a good abstract are included in the next one you write. Writing an efficient abstract is hard work, but will repay you with increased impact on the world by enticing people to read your publications. Make sure that all the components of a good abstract are included in the next one you write.

Abstract worksheet example Use one or two concise sentences to summarize the most important aspects of your project for each section listed below. Use one or two concise sentences to summarize the most important aspects of your project for each section listed below. Project Title (the same as the title of your scientific paper) Project Title (the same as the title of your scientific paper) Introduction (What is this project about? Why is this project interesting or important?) Introduction (What is this project about? Why is this project interesting or important?) Hypothesis (What did you think you would find? Why?) Hypothesis (What did you think you would find? Why?) Methods (Briefly explain your procedure.) Methods (Briefly explain your procedure.) Results (What did you find when you performed your experiment?) Results (What did you find when you performed your experiment?) Discussion (Are your results consistent with your initial hypothesis? Why or why not?) Discussion (Are your results consistent with your initial hypothesis? Why or why not?) Conclusion (What is your interpretation of what these results mean? Why should anyone become excited about or interested in your findings?) Conclusion (What is your interpretation of what these results mean? Why should anyone become excited about or interested in your findings?)

Writing an abstract involves boiling down the essence of a whole paper into a single paragraph that conveys as much new information as possible. Writing an abstract involves boiling down the essence of a whole paper into a single paragraph that conveys as much new information as possible. One way of writing an effective abstract is to start with a draft of the complete paper & do the following: One way of writing an effective abstract is to start with a draft of the complete paper & do the following: How do you write an abstract?

Cont. Highlight the objective and the conclusions that are in the paper's introduction and the discussion. Highlight the objective and the conclusions that are in the paper's introduction and the discussion. Bracket information in the methods section of the paper that contains keyword information. Bracket information in the methods section of the paper that contains keyword information. Highlight the results from the discussion or results section of the paper. Highlight the results from the discussion or results section of the paper.

Cont. Compile the above highlighted & bracketed information into a single paragraph. Condense the bracketed information into the key words & phrases that identify but do not explain the methods used. Delete extra words & phrases. Delete any background information.

Cont. Rephrase the first sentence so that it starts off with the new information contained in the paper, rather than with the general topic. One way of doing this is to begin the first sentence with the phrase "this paper" or "this study." Revise the paragraph so that the abstract conveys the essential information.

How to Write an Abstract ? The following is an outline for writing an abstract. Not all papers or instructors require abstracts. Abstracts & executive summaries are similar in structure & content.

Statement of purpose of the research Statement of purpose of the research Scope of the research - what research consisted of Scope of the research - what research consisted of Importance/significance of the research Importance/significance of the research Major points of literature review Major points of literature review Out line of an Abstract

Research method selected and why Research method selected and why Objectives Objectives Proposed interventions Proposed interventions Cont.

Cont. Data collection method (questionnaires/interviews, etc.) Results summarized (in general) Conclusions (your interpretation) Recommendations