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How to Write an Abstract
* A research abstract serves as a brief synopsis
of the larger work.
* And its purpose is to give the maximum
amount of pertinent information in the
minimum amount of space.
Your abstract will:

1. be concise

2. be coherent. There should be a logical
progression from sentence to sentence.

3. add no new information but simply
summarize.

4. be intelligible to a wide audience.
Your abstract will:

1. be no more than 250 words.

2. begin with 1-2 sentences of Introduction, usually specific information
which grounds the information to follow.

3. focus primarily on data, which will come from a combination of the
Methods and Results. Basically, the summation of the data is given
along with the technique used to obtain the data.

4. end with 1-2 sentences of Discussion, explaining what the data’s
significance.

5. include (either at the very beginning or very end) a phrase/sentence
talking about the Importance of work being done and how it affects (i.e.
advances or contributes to) the field of study and the world.
*When composing an abstract, your goal is to be
concise.
*Focus on meeting the basic requirements of a quality
abstract first and then address issues of length.
*You can meet all the basic requirements in less than
250 words.
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1. Introduction
2. Methods-Results
3. Discussion
4. Importance
Please note that this is not a required ordering
of the pieces, but merely one logical ordering
of an abstract.
Mori et al. Circadian clock protein KaiC forms ATP-dependent hexameric rings
and binds DNA. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 99:17203-8.
KaiC from Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 (KaiC) is an essential circadian clock
protein in cyanobacteria. Previous sequence analyses suggested its inclusion in the
RecA/DnaB superfamily. A characteristic of the proteins of this superfamily is that they
form homohexameric complexes that bind DNA. We show here that KaiC also forms
ring complexes with a central pore that can be visualized by electron microscopy. A
combination of analytical ultracentrifuation and chromatographic analyses
demonstrates that these complexes are hexameric. The association of KaiC molecules
into hexamers depends on the presence of ATP. The KaiC sequence does not include
the obvious DNA-binding motifs found in RecA or DnaB. Nevertheless, KaiC binds
forked DNA substrates. These data support the inclusion of KaiC into the RecA/DnaB
superfamily and have important implications for enzymatic activity of KaiC in the
circadian clock mechanism that regulates global changes in gene expression patterns.

Introduction-general information about the issue or overall
field of research is included here. What basics need to be
provided to help the reader understand everything to follow?
 KaiC from Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 (KaiC) is an essential circadian
clock protein in cyanobacteria. (What is it?)
 Previous sequence analyses suggested its inclusion in the RecA/DnaB
superfamily. (Where does it belong?)

A characteristic of the proteins of this superfamily is that they form
homohexameric complexes that bind DNA. (Defining characteristics?)
The example abstract begins with basic declarative sentences, which logically build
upon one another. Notice that the information is specific to the work being done..

The Results (the “what”) are presented with accompanying
Methods (the “how”). How did you get your outcomes or
conclusions?
 We show here that KaiC also forms ring complexes with a central pore that can
be visualized by electron microscopy.
 A combination of analytical ultracentrifuation and chromatographic analyses
demonstrates that these complexes are hexameric.
 The association of KaiC molecules into hexamers depends on the presence of
ATP.
 The KaiC sequence does not include the obvious DNA-binding motifs found in
RecA or DnaB. Nevertheless, KaiC binds forked DNA substrates.

Notice that specific experimental details are omitted (e.g. the
concentration of ATP, numerical values or amounts, etc.)

Discussion - The meaning of the results in relation
to your hypothesis/contention/argument is given.


These data support the inclusion of KaiC into the RecA/DnaB
superfamily and have important implications for enzymatic activity of
KaiC in the circadian clock mechanism that regulates global changes
in gene expression patterns.
The end result of the data is summarized and explained in
regards to the hypothesis/contention/argument.

Importance-why the work was done. What is
its importance to the reader and the field?
 These data support the inclusion of KaiC into the RecA/DnaB
superfamily and have important implications for enzymatic activity of
KaiC in the circadian clock mechanism that regulates global changes
in gene expression patterns.

The last sentence leaves the impression that this work has
“important implications” on the clock model “that regulates
global changes in gene expression patterns”.
 This example could be stronger. For example, assuming space
allowed, the author could have provided a specific important
implication.
Mori et al. Circadian clock protein KaiC forms ATP-dependent hexameric rings
and binds DNA. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 99:17203-8.
KaiC from Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942 (KaiC) is an essential circadian clock
protein in cyanobacteria. Previous sequence analyses suggested its inclusion in the
RecA/DnaB superfamily. A characteristic of the proteins of this superfamily is that
they form homohexameric complexes that bind DNA. We show here that KaiC also
forms ring complexes with a central pore that can be visualized by electron
microscopy. A combination of analytical ultracentrifuation and chromatographic
analyses demonstrates that these complexes are hexameric. The association of
KaiC molecules into hexamers depends on the presence of ATP. The KaiC sequence
does not include the obvious DNA-binding motifs found in RecA or DnaB.
Nevertheless, KaiC binds forked DNA substrates. These data support the inclusion
of KaiC into the RecA/DnaB superfamily and have important implications for
enzymatic activity of KaiC in the circadian clock mechanism that regulates global
changes in gene expression patterns.
Spiritual Education for Hospice Nurses: A Case Study
Hospice care helps those faced with terminal illness to die with dignity and without
pain. Spiritual care for patients is an important part of quality hospice care. Because of
the nature of their work, hospice nurses are in a key position to provide spiritual care
to patients. However, several barriers exist that limit nurses’ ability to provide optimal
spiritual care. Spiritual education for nurses has been shown to improve the quality of
care they provide to their patients and to improve the well-being of the nurses
themselves. The purpose of this case study was to understand the roles of spirituality
and spiritual care in the provision of hospice care within a private, religiously affiliated
healthcare system in a small city in the southeastern U.S. and to understand the
nature of spiritual education provided to hospice nurses there. Data included
qualitative interviews of five staff members and educational materials provided to
nurses. Data were content-analyzed for emergent themes. Confirming previous
research, all participants saw connections among nursing, hospice care, and spiritual
care. Reported barriers to nurses’ provision of spiritual care included lack of
understanding of patients’ spiritual needs, feeling unprepared to address spiritual
needs, lack of communication skills, lack of confidence in discussing spiritual issues,
conflicting personal values, and lack of spiritual self-care. Results supported previous
findings that learning ways to overcome barriers improved nurses’ ability to perform
their jobs and increased their personal well-being and job satisfaction.
Recommendations for improving education for hospice nurses within this healthcare
system are provided.
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Report what data you have. The more actual data the better.

For work that hasn’t been done, write about how the work will be done and
what importance it has.
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You can talk about the technique, but don’t overdo it. Excessive emphasis on technique
can unnecessarily emphasize all that hasn’t been done.

Spend more time on background and importance.
State clearly what and how experiments will be performed as if it has been
done, BUT NEVER, NEVER WRITE RESULTS AND/OR DISCUSSION FOR
WORK THAT HASN’T BEEN DONE. This is unethical.
 In other words, you can say that X was analyzed by Y method even if the work
hasn’t been done YET so long as it will be before your talk; but you can’t say X was
analyzed by Y method, which then gave you Z.

Be conservative in your estimates of how much work will be done. Never
overstate your case.
Curtis et al. An Endogenous Lipid Chemoattractant During Development of Myxococcus xanthus
The mechanism of cellular aggregation during fruiting body development has not been fully
elucidated. One model of aggregation involves chemotaxis towards a chemical attractant. It has
been previously shown that the phospholipid dihexadecanoyl phosphotidylethanolamine (di
16:1w5c PE) serves as a chemoattractant during development, and that the fatty acid 16:1w5c is
present in the phospholipid profile of M. xanthus at physiological relevant concentrations, yet
the exact lipid species containing this fatty acid is not known. Of further interest is the
complexity of the organism's phospholipid profile. M. xanthus has at least seven different
phosphatidylethanolamine species and ten unique fatty acid chains. This remarkable variety of
phospholipids has an equally remarkable biochemical synthesis system. Whereas Escherichia coli
has only one enzyme (plsB) to transfer an acyl group to the sn-1 position of glycerol-3-phosphate,
and one enzyme (plsC) for the sn-2 position, M. xanthus has two putative enzymes for the sn-1
position and five putative enzymes for the sn-2. To investigate the relationship between these
acyl transferases and the phospholipid profile, knockout mutations were made for some of the
genes and the phospholipid profiles of the mutants were analyzed by fast-atom bombardment
mass spectrometry to elucidate the fatty acid subset of each acyl transferase. The purpose of this
experiment is to generate a mutant defective in producing this lipid chemoattractant and
determine if it is the aggregation signal. If this lipid serves as the aggregation signal, then
removing the signal should arrest fruiting body development at the aggregation stage.
Notice the bulk of the abstract is introduction.
 Also notice that work was stated without results:

 To investigate the relationship between these acyl transferases and the
phospholipid profile, knockout mutations were made for some of the genes and
the phospholipid profiles of the mutants were analyzed by fast-atom
bombardment mass spectrometry to elucidate the fatty acid subset of each acyl
transferase.

Then the purpose of the work was stated and concluded with the importance
and a little bit of speculation:
 The purpose of this experiment is to generate a mutant defective in producing this
lipid chemoattractant and determine if it is the aggregation signal. If this lipid
serves as the aggregation signal, then removing the signal should arrest fruiting
body development at the aggregation stage.

Eventually this work was completed, but in the time between abstract
submission and the talk given. It is important that the work stated be
completed before the talk. Otherwise, you promise on something and don’t
deliver. This is also unethical.
The Dawning of a (Somewhat) New Devil: The All-too-human Dialogical and
Diabolical Malefactor
This paper will examine the text "Dyalogue, et ung merveilleux parlement," a quarto
pamphlet first printed in French in 1522. It is an attack on certain Lutheran and papist
ideas that, on its first page, actually contains a printed image of the devil along with
two traveling companions. The text is somewhat of a puzzle in that it is anonymous.
Aside from this basic mystery, my paper will attempt to gauge the ideology not only
behind the anti-clerical sentiments but, more importantly, behind the representation
of the devil - his darkness, his clothing, his manners and his wittiness. One can
almost certainly point to a direct relation between the appearance and personality of
this devil and the medieval stage. The academic dialogue, mentioned in the title,
certainly also has its place in this characterization. This pamphlet has never received
any critical study or attention even though it stands in the gap between medieval
and Reformation portrayals of the devil. I want to know whether or not this devil is a
character that the audience would have recognized as such. Exactly what, if
anything, is new about this devil? This paper will examine the textual descriptions of
the devil, his own words within the text, and the image at the beginning in order to
arrive at the answers to these questions.
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Abstract should be ONE well-developed paragraph.
Remember you are writing for an educated, but general,
audience.
Give your abstract a title! When submitting to the CURO
Symposium, make sure the first letter of every word in the
title is capitalized, except for articles and conjuntions (e.g.
Violence, Subalternity, and El Corrido Along the US/Mexican Border)
ONE space between sentences.
Avoid long-winded, complex sentences.
Avoid excessive use of jargon. Define abbreviations and
acronyms.
 Avoid judgmental language – just state the facts.
 Use correct spelling and grammar with no typos.*
 Stick to the 250-word limit.*
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 * failing to do either guarantees your abstract will be rejected.