1/25/09 - L9 Abstracts and Summaries Copyright Joanne DeGroat, ECE, OSU1 Abstracts and Summeries

1/25/09 - L9 Abstracts and Summaries Copyright Joanne DeGroat, ECE, OSU2 Class 10 outline  Abstracts  Summaries

Abstracts  A special summary of a report, paper, document.  Summarize what is in the document.  Located at the start of a document and thus the reader has not yet read the paper/report. Limited as to jargon and concepts that you can use that may have been introduced in the report. 1/25/09 - L9 Abstracts and Summaries Copyright Joanne DeGroat, ECE, OSU3

Come in a few flavor  Descriptive Abstracts  Informative Abstracts  Executive Summary  Tootie Fruite  Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum 1/25/09 - L9 Abstracts and Summaries Copyright Joanne DeGroat, ECE, OSU4

Descriptive Abstract  Summarize the structure of the report but not its substance  A table of contents in essence  Provides no substantive details except for general topic areas and scope. 1/25/09 - L9 Abstracts and Summaries Copyright Joanne DeGroat, ECE, OSU5

Descriptive Abstract Example  Quantum Chips Corporation’s Quantum CPU This research report provides a state-of-the-art investigation and theoretical review of Quantum Chips’ QCPU device. The report begins with a description of its purpose, problem, and scope. Next it provides theoretical background on the device’s operation. The main discussion deals with the genesis of the QCPU and provides nonproprietary information on the main parts and basic operation of the device. 1/25/09 - L9 Abstracts and Summaries Copyright Joanne DeGroat, ECE, OSU6

From this abstract  You know that the report deals with Quantum Chips’ QCPU Covers the purpose, problem and scope A theoretical review of the QCPU A theoretical background on QCPU operation The genesis of QCPU Nonproprietary information 1/25/09 - L9 Abstracts and Summaries Copyright Joanne DeGroat, ECE, OSU7

Information Abstracts  Also called complete abstracts  Summarize the substance of the report, not just the structure  Provides a condensed version of the important points.  Text gives example of such an abstract for the QCPU. (pg ) 1/25/09 - L9 Abstracts and Summaries Copyright Joanne DeGroat, ECE, OSU8

Executive Summary  Normally used with large technical reports  Extended, stand-alone abstracts that have both informative and descriptive characteristics.  Capture much of the full report’s substance in a fraction of the space.  A manager can read an executive summary and get 80% of the knowledge that would have been derived from the full report, but in about 1/10 th of the time.  An executive summary spans several pages. Typically they are 2-5 pages, but can be upwards to 30 or so. 1/25/09 - L9 Abstracts and Summaries Copyright Joanne DeGroat, ECE, OSU9

Executive Summary (2)  By reading an executive summary a manager knows if he needs to read the full report.  Abstracts and Summaries let you know if you need the information of the full report or paper. 1/25/09 - L9 Abstracts and Summaries Copyright Joanne DeGroat, ECE, OSU10

Other info  Work time today, some Wed and Fri  The next few lectures will cover the various sections and contents of the proposal. 1/25/09 - L9 Abstracts and Summaries Copyright Joanne DeGroat, ECE, OSU11