ABSTRACT

List as many SYNONYMS as you can for the word ABSTRACT.

 ABSTRACT

Nonconcrete Intellectual Mental Non-representational

Immaterial Intangible Non-figurative Theoretical
Conceptual Hypothetical Speculative Academic
Summary Extract Precis Abridgement
Synopsis Conceptualize Theorize Hypothesize

Intellectualize Abbreviate Extract Remove

Separate Condense Synopsize Summarize
During this session, students will…

Define ABSTRACT
Identify its author, purpose, audience, and
contexts
Analyze sample abstracts
TRUE OR FALSE?
What is an ABSTRACT?

1. A short, self-contained, powerful summary of an

article, paper or thesis;
2. Length: between 10 and 500 words;
3. Layout: usually one single paragraph; font size is
different from the main text;
4. Position: usually at the beginning of the paper (but
it can appear elsewhere, e.g. in book of abstracts or
on-line);
What is an ABSTRACT?

5. An abstract is an original document, not a

collection of quotations taken from the text it
summarizes, i.e. it must be able to stand alone.
6. Readers must refer to the main text to
understand what the abstract means.
Who writes the ABSTRACT?

7. Only the author of the paper because they have

a first hand knowledge their piece of research
What is an ABSTRACT for?

8. To persuade the reader to see the full text

9. To help readers decide if the article is
interesting or not
10.To answer a call of paper in a conference
11.To make it possible for your piece of research
to appear in an online news portal
Who is an ABSTRACT written for?

12.Professionals from another field to help them

understand;
13.Teachers having to evaluate future specialists’
achievements;
14.Students charting research in a given area.
TYPES OF ABSTRACT
 Descriptive Informative
Abstract Abstract
for humanities and for science,
social science engineering, or
papers or psychology reports
psychology essays.
 Descriptive Informative
Abstract Abstract
Key parts:  Key parts:
Background  Background
 Issues and problem explored
Issues and problems
 Purpose and methodology used
explored  Findings/results
Purpose and methodology  Conclusion and
used recommendations
 Each of these parts might
consist of one or two
sentences.
 Descriptive Informative
Abstract Abstract
This type of abstract Get the essence of
is usually very short what your report is
(50-100 words). about, usually in
Often written BEFORE about 200 words
completion of project Often written AFTER
project completion
What makes a good
ABSTRACT?
An effective abstract…

 Composed of one well-developed paragraph:

coherent, concise, clear, and independent as a
unit of information
 Comprehensive
 Contains only relevant information
 Understandable to a wide audience
An effective abstract…

 Often uses passive structures in order to report on

findings
 Simplified version of the original paper
 Usually does not include any referencing
 Found at the beginning of the text (journals) OR a
separate preliminary page (academic assignments)
 Exercise 1: Steps

Arrange the following steps then use the appropriate

transition words to make the arrangement more cohesive.
A. Read each section and shrink the information in each down to one or two
sentences.
B. Check the word length and further reduce your words if necessary by cutting
out unnecessary words or rewriting some of the sentences into a single,
more succinct sentence.
C. Edit for flow and expression.
D. Read these sentences again to ensure that they cover the major points in
your paper.
E. Re-read your paper/ report for an overview.
F. Ensure you have written something for each of the key points outlined above
for either the descriptive or informative abstract.
Steps to Writing an Abstract

1. First re-read your paper/ report for an overview.

2. Then read each section and shrink the information in each down to one or
two sentences.
3. Next read these sentences again to ensure that they cover the major points
in your paper.
4. Ensure you have written something for each of the key points outlined above
for either the descriptive or informative abstract.
5. Check the word length and further reduce your words if necessary by cutting
out unnecessary words or rewriting some of the sentences into a single, more
succinct sentence.
6. Finally, edit for flow and expression.
 Exercise 2: Go over the
following abstracts then fill
out the chart.
TIT FIEL TYPE Problem/ Aim/ Purpose Methods Conclusion
LE D (Descriptive Issue & Recom-
mendation
or
Informative)
The Prevalence of Theoretical Behavior Change Components in the Top Breast Cancer Websites to
Encourage Detection or Prevention Behaviors and to Solicit Donations
Carolyn LaPlante Samantha Munday
Under the direction of Dr. Sandi Smith, Communication; Dr. Pamela Whitten, Telecommunication,
Information Studies, and Media

The Internet has become a primary resource for the general public who seek health information about a
variety of topics, including breast cancer. This particular research is part of a larger study which evaluated
the use of basic design tenets and theoretical behavioral change components in the top 157 breast cancer
websites. Fourteen components were taken from three behavioral change theories. The focus of this
particular project was to assess the use of these 14 theoretical components on breast cancer websites as they
persuade users towards prevention or detection behaviors. It will also discuss how some of these
components were additionally used to persuade users to contribute money to the organizations that sponsor
the websites. It should first be noted that overall, theoretical components were absent from the websites in
general. Nine out of the 14 components were found to be used primarily for detection, as opposed to
prevention. This is an important finding because it is just as valuable, if not more so, for a person to prevent
a disease as it is to detect it early. Four of the 14 were considered when assessing persuasion in terms of
fundraising. Of these four that were assessed, three were used more than 50% of the time when soliciting
money. These results lend ideas for future research on such topics as well as ideas to better the current state
of the top breast cancer websites.
Sensitivity Analysis of DSC Measurements of Denaturation of a Protein Mixture
Matt Ryerkerk
Under the direction of Dr. Neil Wright, Mechanical Engineering

Quantifying the kinetics of denaturation of heated proteins can lead to insight into protein
folding, for example. Differential scanning calorimetery (DSC) measures changes in enthalpy
of a specimen as its temperature is changed. DSC is a popular method to study the kinetics of
polymers and biological materials. Increasingly, researchers are using DSC to measure
changes in the enthalpy of mixtures of proteins and in cells. The confidence region of the
parameters reported in these studies maybe unclear, because numerous parameters are being
estimated using a single enthalpy trace. The present study examines using DSC to denature
rattail tendon, which is predominantly Type I collagen. Analyzing the resulting data provides
values for the kinetic parameters, in particular those describing a first-order Arrhenius model,
governing the reaction. Several different methods for determining the parameters have been
presented in past studies. In this study, the sensitivity of the parameters to the variables of the
reaction, including the method to determine the parameters, is investigated. The results can be
used to as a starting point to study the reliability of parameters for DSC experiments
involving the denaturation of multiple protei
Recycling in Michigan
Erin Seavoy Jennifer Copus Erik Jonasson
Under the direction of Mark Largent, James Madison

Within our culture, recycling is seen as an important way in which we can help preserve
our wildlife and protect the earth for our children’s future. With this positive reputation
and strong public interest it would be reasonable to believe that recycling programs are
widely supported and funded throughout the state of Michigan. However, this is not the
reality. Within our research we plan on investigating three prominent Michigan cities,
Lansing, Detroit and Ann Arbor. Each city has its own recycling history and we are
delving into the legislation and statics surrounding the emergence, or absence of a
recycling program in each city. We hope to discover trends which point to why some
cities have become more involved in the recycling phenomenon. We seek to determine
what types of economic, social and political conditions are necessary in order for a city to
introduce and fund a comprehensive recycling program.
The Role of Src-Homology-3 in the Activation Mechanism of MLK3

Waleed Brinjikji Ramy Goueli

Under the direction of Dr. Kathleen Gallo, Physiology

Mixed-lineage kinases (MLKs) are mammalian protein kinases that play critical roles in mitogen-
activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. MLK3 is activated by the small GTPase,
Cdc42. Our lab has demonstrated that the src-homology 3 (SH3) domain of MLK3 is involved in
an autoinhibitory interaction with a single proline containing sequence located between the
Cdc42-binding region and leucine zipper domain of MLK3 The purpose of this study is to
determine the thermodynamic parameters (?G, ?S, ?H and Ka) of the binding interaction between
the SH3 domain of MLK3 and a peptide corresponding to the MLK3 autoinhibitory region using
isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). The SH3 domain of MLK3 was digested from pGEX-2T-1-
SH3 plasmid and re-ligated into a bacterial expressed vector pGEX-6P-1, which contains a
PreScission protease sequence, using the BamHI and EcoRI restriction sites. pGEX-6P-1-SH3
plasmids were transformed into Rosetta (DE3) pLysS cells. The GST-SH3 fusion proteins were
induced by adding IPTG and then purified using glutathione affinity agarose. We are currently
working to remove the GST tag from the purified fusion protein in order to produce pure SH3 of
MLK3 for ITC experiments.
Embodying Social Advocacy
Samantha Mitchell Megan Brumbill Christine Mccullough Mary McGorey Janelle Orser
Under the direction of Sherrie Barr, Theatre

Whether on or offstage or in or out of the classroom, social advocacy is integral to dance.

Choreographers often engage elements of social advocacy in order to empower dancers in
their learning and understanding of dances. This notion is critical for students as their
education enhances awareness of the art form. Such empowerment invites them to have
ownership – in movement vocabulary and choreographic intent. Dancers’ voices, visually
and audibly, become active agents of the creative process. We are investigating ideas
concerning humanity and humanitarians. A unique research model is evolving as we
investigate, creatively and through scholarship on socio-political issues. An overarching
question is how, if at all, do our attitudes reflect in our dancing? As we interface physical
and cognitive research, we have the opportunity to arrive at new ways of embodied
knowing.
Individual Differences in Memory in Relation to Emotional Stimuli
Katherine Morabito
Under the direction of Dr. Christine Larson, Psychology

Although research has been done showing that dysphoria correlates with an increased amount of mood
congruent false memories in both dysphoric participants and negative mood induced participants, no
research prior to this study has examined how inducing a negative mood in dysphoric participants affects
mood congruent false memories. One hundred undergraduate participants viewed lists of depression-
relevant, neutral and positive words that they were asked to recognize later among lure words. Participants
were grouped as dysphoric, mid-dysphoric, or non-dysphoric as determined by BDI-II scores. This study
hypothesized that dysphoric participants induced into a negative mood would have a greater number of
mood congruent false memories than all of the other groups. A 2 x2 x3 x 3 – way mixed-model analysis of
variance (ANOVA) with Mood Induction (positive, negative), Gender (male, female), and Group
(dysphoric, mid-dysphoric, non-dysphoric control participants) as between-subject variables and Word
Type (depression-relevant, neutral, positive) as a within-subject variable and correlation analyses were used
to examine the depression relevant false memory results. Correlation analyses revealed that dysphoria is
related to an increased amount of mood congruent false memories (r = .22; p< .04). The results of this study
add to previous research in the field of depression and memory on a small scale. Further research in the
area is needed for a more complete understanding of how memory functions in dysphoric individuals, and
may be used to augment or create treatment techniques.
Memoirs of Genocide: From Poland to Sudan
Jasmine Angelini-Knoll
Under the direction of Dr. Kenneth Waltzer, Jewish Studies Program

For this project, related to my research assistance for Dr. Kenneth Waltzer in his work on "The Rescue of
Children and Youth in Buchenwald," I will look at several different memoirs rooted in experiences of mass
violence undergone by children and youth. I want to draw parallels between memoirs of youthful survivors
who lived through the Nazi Holocaust in Europe, and the “Lost Boys,” who survived recent violent conflict
in Sudan. My sample of memoirs includes works in French by Polish Jewish boys who survived the
Holocaust in ghettos and work camps, finally winding up in Buchenwald. The Sudanese memoirs trace the
paths of boys as they fled from destroyed homes to refugee camps. They are written in English, often
involving the collaboration of American authors. Besides engaging each story individually, the exploration
of these works urges broader questions about memory of horrific violence. How is memory presented and
organized in memoir? What is emphasized and why? What are the motivations for speaking as witnesses of
horror and survivors of violence? What are the implications of personal memoir for the larger task of
preventing violence and genocide? These stories are diverse—they take place in worlds and times apart,
they involve different actors and contexts. Yet they are also connected, involving experiences by youth of
mass violence, survival, and finally efforts to represent memory years later as warning, as remembrance,
and as an effort to help others understand.