Abstract/Call for Papers

[kneeshooter]

Help needed from researchy types - I'm trying to write an abstract for a conference next year. It's not strictly an abstract of a paper as a paper doesn't exist yet - but my collaborators and I think it will be a good topic for a talk (it's about the operational basis for procurement/management decisions rather than documenting research).

Anyone know any "Abstracts for Dummies" websites?

Comments

[kt-peasant.livejournal.com]

Fraid not. But from my misty past the instruction I was always given was 'tell them what the problem is and why your solution is a good one in as few words as possible'

[kneeshooter]

That's very helpful. I'll take the "Delete" key to some of my text right now!

[steer.livejournal.com]

Don't worry, "abstract" or "extended abstract" usually mean that the paper doesn't exist. Sometimes it means the research hasn't been done either. The ideal abstract says what you're doing, why you're doing it and what you found out. It says it in the amount of words specified by the conference organiser or if they haven't specified then as few words as possible.

I don't know of a "for dummies" about it.

[kneeshooter]

Brill. Sounds like I've not done too badly then. Now I only have to wait a couple of months to see what the competition is like :-)

[ellefurtle.livejournal.com]

Yep - keep it short: aims/purpose, the thing focused on, very brief methods used (i.e. the names of the processes, not details) and what the result/main conclusion was.
The idea being that one could read the abstract and know immediately if it will be useful for your research. This saves one reading papers that aren't relevant and allows people to choose what they want to listen to/read. They can then read the paper if they want to know exactly what was done and how.
Archaeologist's point of view but there you are!

[kathbad]

I used to have a link to a really useful site, but I seem to have lost it along the way...

I think that it was jfs who pointed me to it (if that helps)

I did find this one which looks simple and useful: http://www.academic-conferences.org/abstract-guidelines.htm

Good luck!