Writing the Perfect Abstract

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Writing the Perfect Abstract

• Kelly Standifer
• Pharmaceutical Sciences

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Abstract Ab out, Trahere - to pullTo
selectively pull out important information to
relay the main idea
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Function of a Meeting abstract

• Show that you have a valuable contribution
• Lure an audience to your work
• Potential collaborators, Reviewers Sources of
  future funding,
• Post-doc mentors

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Dont write the abstract hastily!

• The abstract is what gets published in
  proceedings not your poster!!!
• First impressions are everything
• Show your abstract to ALL authors before
  submitting (early enough that they are ABLE to
  review it)
• Have others review it
• Typos are unacceptable!!!!
• Abstract searches based on author names, key
  words

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Abstract text will include

• Your interesting idea (hypothesis) and its
  rationale/significance - Is it novel?
  Controversial? Unexpected? (i.e. Sell it!)
• How you tested the hypothesis (basic methodology,
  model system)
• Results obtained clear and concise
• Conclusion/implications
• Support for the project

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Do

• Use generic terms when possible
• Use abbreviations sparingly. Be concise instead!
• Describe your results. If you have none, dont
  submit!
• Be cognizant of proprietary or preliminary data
• Review your abstract carefully

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Dont

• Use technical jargon from your specific field of
  study
• Use abbreviations as a means of getting around
  word or character limits
• State that results will be discussed

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Title of Abstract

• Identifies the main topic or message
• Attracts Readers
• Active!!!
• Begins with an important term
• Used as search mechanism and for indexing
• Accurate and unambiguous
• Word limits very common

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GREAT abstract requirements

• Studys specific objective
• Brief statement of methods
• Summary of Results
• Conclusions
• Source of funding
• Due Feb. 27!!!!!

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GREAT abstract 2008

• Times New Roman, 11 point font
• 250 word maximum for text
• Title in Bold, UPPER CASE, centered? LETTERS
• Italicize names and initials of all authors
• If multiple affiliations, list in order of author
  appearance. If OUHSC, just list dept name
• Dont use abbreviations w/o spelling word out
  first

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TITLE OF ABSTRACT (CAPS, BOLD CENTERED, TIMES NEW
ROMAN 12)(space)(space) First author (your
name, first name, last name)1, second author
(first name, last name)2, third author (first
name, last name)2 1Affiliation (your department
and institution if different than OUHSC),
2Affiliation (use superscripts if multiple
affiliations, list departmentand
institution)(space)Abstract text Funding
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Learn by doing!!!How might you create an
abstract from the following?(see your handout)
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Study Finds Link Between Being Struck By Cream
Pie, Diminished Social Standing JANUARY 25, 2008
ISSUE 4404, The Onion ITHACA, NYA new study
conducted by the Cornell Institute for Behavioral
and Social Sciences has found what researchers
believe to be a demonstrable link between being
struck with a banana cream pie and a sudden,
significant drop in one's public standing. "What
we have observed is nothing short of astounding,"
Dr. Philip Shaw, a human sciences professor at
Cornell and the study's lead researcher, said
Monday. "By having cream-topped pies forcibly
applied to their facesor kissersmen and women
of high regard were seen to immediately fall in
both status and esteem. "Whether the subjects
were wealthy shopkeepers, pompous barons of
British descent, or matronly women sporting tiny
opera glassesour results were always the same,"
Shaw added. The study, which was conducted with
the help of 25 dignified members of the
aristocracy and three rather clumsy butlers,
showed a direct correlation between unexpected
contact with the custard-based stimulus and a
loss of social stature
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BANANA Cream Pie Strike Diminishes Social Standing

• Philip Shaw
• Cornell Institute for Behavioral and Social
  Sciences, Ithaca, NY

Sharp, rapid decline in status and esteem can
occur without warning by a variety of mechanisms
including seltzer discharge and fruit
skin-induced falls down stairs into manure. We
extended these findings by employing delivery of
a custard-based stimulus to determine if site of
delivery, repeated delivery or method of delivery
altered the subjects overall reputation in the
community.
The study utilized banana cream pies and was
conducted with 25 dignified members of the
aristocracy and three rather clumsy butlers in a
highly controlled masquerade-ball setting. The
?1/2 (time at which 50 loss of social standing
was achieved) was determined for all subjects.
Pie delivery resulted in at least a 12 loss of
privilege and hubris in each instance, with
strikes in the crotch reducing entitlement
immediately by 35 (p
This reveals a direct correlation between
unexpected contact with a custard-based stimulus
and a loss of social stature (r0.95), and
suggests that those soliciting donations avoid
dessert-laden areas.
Support provided by the Airborne Confectioners
Association.
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Other abstract formatting points to consider

• Electronically submitted abstracts will
  automatically count characters and/or spaces
  instead of words.
• Symbols or other special text may be lost with
  electronic submission always check!
• Conversion errors are common!
• Dont wait until the last minute to write OR
  submit your abstract!