1. Anatomy of an Abstract Malika Moutawakkil Bell
Education & Human Resources
Center for Adaptive Optics
University of California Santa Cruz

2. What is an Abstract? A mini paper One paragraph
Describes what you are going to discuss, present or write about
Gives reader and overview of the facts
Source of new ideas
Gets reader interested (ie: at a conference)

3. Anatomy of an Abstract Introduction Hypothesis/Goal/Problem
Observations/Experiment/Methods
Results (May not have these by the time you write your abstract)
Discussion and Conclusion

4. Know Your Audience Play up the news Write with a person in mind
What forum?
Scientific conference
School Symposium
Journal article
SACNAS or AMOS

5. Questions to Ask Yourself
What problem did I solve?
What goal did I reach?
Why does it matter (to industry, science, etc)?
How can my work be applied?
How does my work fit in with the work of others?
Can I support my claims?
Is my result expected or is this a new way of thinking about the subject?
What assumptions did I make?

6. What Must an Abstract Have?
Adequate information on which to make a judgment.
Brief description
Results, observations and a conclusion.
Possible applications

7. How to Write It Sketch out your findings
Separate main findings from supporting findings
Construct the main sentence
Include supporting evidence
Add something interesting
Tie everything together in logical order with good transition.

8. What an Abstract Doesn’t Include
Description of secondary findings
References
Jargon and unexplained acronyms
Too many words
Lots of detail

9. Before Submitting Your Abstract
Discuss each draft with your mentor
NO errors or typos
Get your institution’s approval (learn their policy as soon as you start work!!!)
Follow guidelines of who ever is requesting the abstract

10. Your Assignment Today Write an abstract about either:
The Camera Obscura Inquiry OR
The Lenses and Refraction Inquiry
Include what we talked about today
Due: Friday AM
We’ll do peer review in class on Friday AM

11. Abstracts Within Your Internship
Thurs. June 3
1st draft Short Course Abstract Due + Peer Review
- Peer review, get staff review at end of day
Sat. June 4
2nd draft Short Course Abstract due
- Get staff review at end of day
Tues. May 30
Anatomy of an Abstract
Mon. June 14
Final Short Course Abstract Due
- Save for portfolio
Fri. July 7
1st draft of Project Abstract Due
- Get staff review by July 11th
Fri. July 14
2nd draft of Project Abstract Due
- Get staff review by July 18th
Fri. July 20
Abstract due to SACNAS (if applicable)
Fri. July 21
Final of Project Abstract Due

12. You will do GREAT!!!