How to Write a Winning Abstract and Getting Your Work Published

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How to Write a Winning Abstract and Getting Your
Work Published

• Byron Cryer, M.D.
• University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
• Dallas VA Medical Center

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Example of a Winning AbstractDDW 2005
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Example of a Winning AbstractDDW 2005

• Presentation
• Organized into categories
• Categories are separated bolded

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Example of a Winning AbstractDDW 2005

• Background
• Gives the perspective of the field and
  describes unknown questions
• Sets up why your work is important
• Should be concise clear(1-2 lines)

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Example of a Winning AbstractDDW 2005

• Aim
• One sentence
• Clearly describe what you propose to study

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Example of a Winning AbstractDDW 2005

• Methods
• Clearly describe project
• Sufficiently long to have complete description
• Eliminate unnecessary detail
• Show METHODS to colleague who is unfamiliar
  with your work and ask them if the description
  is clear
• Define all abbreviations

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Example of a Winning AbstractDDW 2005

• Results
• Show main results
• Make 2 to 4 major points
• Use Tables Figures when possible
• Always have statistics
• P values
• 95 Confidence Intervals

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Example of a Winning AbstractDDW 2005

• Conclusion
• Make 1 to 2 major points
• Make sure conclusion supports
• AIM
• RESULTS

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Example of a Winning AbstractDDW 2005

• Grant Support
• Always acknowledge supporting agency
• If grant support is competitive, highlighting
  this fact gives the reviewers the impression
  that someone else believed that this project
  would be really important

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Example of a Winning AbstractDDW 2005

• Category Selection
• When there is a choice of categories for
  submission, select the one with fewer
  submissions historically
• Your work will have a greater chance of
• Getting noticed
• Being more highly rated
• Making it to an oral presentation

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Example of a Winning AbstractDDW 2005

• Consideration for Abstract Award
• AGA/FDHN Travel Award
• GRG/ AGA Travel Award
• GRG Abstract of Year Award
• GRG Trainee of Year Award

YES
NO
X
X
X
X

• Indications that you want your abstract
  considered for an award sends the message to
  the review committee that this is really
  important work

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Example of a Winning AbstractDDW 2005

• Presentation Preference
• ALWAYS ORAL
• Sends message of its importance

• Elements of Style
• Proof read
• Good grammar
• Correct spelling
• Do not use every square inch of space

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Example of a Successfully Published Manuscript
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Example of a Successfully Published Manuscript

• Expediency
• Convert the abstract into a manuscript while
  the topic is relevant
• Submit for publication as soon as abstract has
  been accepted for the program

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Example of a Successfully Published Manuscript

• Style Elements
• Same as they were for the abstract
• Categories
• Background
• Aims
• Methods
• Results
• Discussions
• Conclusion

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Example of a Successfully Published Manuscript

• Background
• Gives the perspective of the field and
  describes unknown questions
• Sets up why your work is important
• Should be concise clear(1-2 lines)

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Example of a Successfully Published Manuscript
General Manuscript Goals Background Tell the
reviewer what important work needs to be done in
this area Methods / Results Describe the
important work that you did which fulfills this
unmet need Discussion Describe 1) why the work
is important 2) unique contributions of your
work 3) limitations
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Example of a Successfully Published Manuscript

• Discussion
• No more than 5 to 8 paragraphs
• Describe the major points of your study
• Your DISCUSSION is not a review paper
• Goals are to
• Capture the reviewers attention
• Stop after major points have been made

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Example of a Successfully Published Manuscript

• Cover Letter
• Ask your colleagues which of the Associate
  Editors would be most receptive to your work
• Let the editor know why this work is important
• Let the editor know where you are in your
  career
• If work was supported by a career development
  grant, state so in the cover letter

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After CRYERS recommendations forWinning
AbstractsProlific Publications,you will soon
rise to this point