论文摘要

nullAbstractAbstractGeneral functions of abstracts General features of abstracts Writing requirements Special attention BY Chen Yuhong April 20,2008General Functions of AbstractGeneral Functions of AbstractAbstract is usually regarded as the most important component of a professional paper owing to its unique functions: A. It frames the writer’s ideas for those who are beginning to read his paper. B. It identifies the writer’s contribution for those who are using an information-retrieval service.Basic Functions of AbstractBasic Functions of Abstract1. Miniaturizing the Text 2. Deciding “Yes” or “No” 3. Expanding the Circulation 1. Miniaturizing the Text1. Miniaturizing the TextBeing the first part of a professional paper and a self-contained entity, the abstract holds a critical role compared with other parts of the whole manuscript. Essentially, an abstract is a condensed statement of the contents of a paper. As a short, concise and highly generalized text, an abstract is viewed as a mini-version or a miniature of the document, summarizing the content of the main body.Continued:Continued:A well-prepared abstract, which serves as a useful tool in searching for information, enables readers to identify the basic content of a document more quickly and conveniently, to determine its relevance to their interest, and finally to decide whether they need to read the whole document. 2. Deciding “Yes” or “No”2. Deciding “Yes” or “No”The abstract of a paper may directly influence its acceptance to a learned journal: the reviewer or editor may be perilously close to a final judgment of the manuscript after reading it alone. What makes a justification crucial is that many international conference sponsors just review the abstract and make the decision without referring to the whole text.Continued:Continued:So if the abstract fails to generalize the whole paper or to meet the requirements of the conference, the submission of the full manuscript and the qualification of the attendance would be affected. Further, the submitted and accepted abstracts also serve as an important guide for the conference participants to determine which session they are going to attend. A good abstract should attract audience and promote thorough discussion on the relevant subject.3. Expanding the Circulation3. Expanding the CirculationAn abstract usually precedes the whole paper and appears separately. So an abstract will be more widely read than the document itself. It can be circulated much wider and farther than the paper itself, thus producing wider and deeper academic influence than the full text of the paper.Linguistic Features of AbstractLinguistic Features of AbstractThere are four linguistic features of abstract: 1) Limited Length 2) Categories of Abstracts 3) Complete Content 4) Formalized Structure 1) Limited Length1) Limited LengthNormally, 200 words should be a sensible maximum for a relatively long paper or report, but never more than 500 words; 50-100 words may suffice for a short article. The length of an abstract greatly varies depending on the length of the paper and where the abstract appears: each journal has a different requirement. As a rule, an abstract will be approximately 3-5% of the length of the paper, but is seldom more than 2/3rds of a page. It is confined to one paragraph only. nullHowever, many abstracts are much shorter and can still summarize research very clearly and succinctly. Here is an example of an abstract with only three sentences… Example: a short abstract (61 words)Example: a short abstract (61 words)Major advances have recently been made concerning the optical properties of solid-state materials. Four notable areas of research are: upconversion and downconversion luminescence, new high-efficiency scintillator materials, and photonic band gap materials or photonic crystals. Each of these research fields has contributed greatly to our basic understanding of solid-state optical materials as well as contributing to applied research. 2) Categories of Abstracts2) Categories of AbstractsAbstracts can be classified into three categories: A. Descriptive (Indicative) Abstracts B. Informational Abstracts C. Informational-indicative AbstractsA. Descriptive AbstractsA. Descriptive AbstractsA descriptive abstract usually states the general subject matter of the document that follows. It tells in a qualitative way what the paper or report contains. Let’s examine one example of this type entitled The Design of a High-efficiency Solar Energy SystemExample: The Design of a High-efficiency Solar Energy System Example: The Design of a High-efficiency Solar Energy System The successful design of cost-effective solar energy systems depends mainly on the development of higher conversion efficiencies. A theory is given for the thermal performance of a new solar collector array that combines reflected and refracted light rays. The theory is applied to the design of a complete system for solar heating of a building. Dynamic operating characteristics of a one-month interval are given for the collector array and heat transfer devices, and cost efficiency is compared with that of the conventional design.Analysis of the AbstractAnalysis of the AbstractThis descriptive abstract has several desirable qualities: being short and self-contained in nature, it provides key information element; it also serves as a miniature table of contents. A professional scanning by a journal can tell at a glance whether it will be worthwhile to read the full paper.B. Informational AbstractB. Informational Abstract This abstract highlights the findings and results, briefly but quantitatively. It is a condensed version of the research work, without discussion or interpretation. Instead of indicating the whole content in general, this type of abstract should be specific and quantitative, giving only essential data. Look at the following example: Informative abstractInformative abstract资料性摘要适用于专题研究论文和实验报告型论文。它应该尽量完整和准确的体现原文的具体内容，特别强调指出研究的 方法 快递客服问题件处理详细方法山木方法pdf计算方法pdf华与华方法下载八字理论方法下载 和结果、结论等。其篇幅较长，大多在150—250字之间。根据原文长度，也有多达500字的。简要叙述以下四部分内容： (1)   研究的对象和目的(做什么？为什么做？) (2)   过程和方法(怎样做？) (3)   结果或成果(发现什么？) (4)   结论及研究价值、应用等(说明什么？) Example: The Design of a High-efficiency Solar Energy System Example: The Design of a High-efficiency Solar Energy System In the design of a solar energy system using arrays of multiple solar panels, the Hottel-Whillier-Bliss(HWB) model is generally used to evaluate steady state efficiency. The HWB equation did not accurately predict dynamic thermal performance for the present system, which uses a novel collector array. The theoretical limit of energy gain for this new array is BTU, which extends into the nonlinear mode of the HWB equation. A modified form of the equation was, therefore, developed for improved linearity, effective for Continued:Continued:Collector efficiencies up to 54%. The new collector array, using the principle of successive concentrations, was incorporated into the design of a complete system of solar heating of buildings. The transport fluid for transferring energy from the solar array to the storage tank was important to overall efficiency. An optimum ratio of 64/36 was determined for the proportion of propylene glycol to water.Continued:Continued:Dynamic performance tests during the month of July 1980 in Phoenix, Arizona, yielded an average efficiency of 49% for a gross collector area of 721 m2 when the array faced south at an angle of 350 from the horizontal. Losses between collector and storage tank were 3.8（×）108 J per month. The cost efficiency of the system was a 9% improvement over that of the SOLTHERM system operating in Phoenix during the same month. (222 /words)Analysis:Analysis:This is an example that shows how net results can be cited from various portions of a paper to give a clear picture of the significant contents.C. Information-indicative AbstractsC. Information-indicative AbstractsAn information-indicative abstract is a combined form that bears specific information about the principal findings and results and general information about the rest of the document. This type of abstract offers fewer details, instead, giving emphasis to the author’s chief contribution. Look at the example:Example: The Design of a High-efficiency Solar Energy System Example: The Design of a High-efficiency Solar Energy System The successful design of cost-effective solar energy systems for heating buildings depends chiefly on high-efficiency conversion of light energy into heat. A theory is given for the thermal performance of a new solar collector array. The Hollel-Whillier Bliss(HWB) model is modified for accurate prediction of the energy gain of the new solar array. This three-stage collector, using the principle of successive concentration, was incorporated into the design of a complete solar energy system. Continued:Continued:An optimum ratio was determined for the proportion of propylene glycol to water for the fluid transferring energy from array to storage tank. In dynamic tests during July 1980 in Phoenix, Arizona, the average efficiency was 49% for a gross collector area of 721 m2 when the array faced south at 35C0 from the horizontal. Losses between collector and storage tank were 3.8 (×)108 J per month. The cost efficiency can thus be compared favorably with that of the SOLTHERM system operating in the same area that month. (158/words)Analysis:Analysis:In this example, the theoretical model and the configuration of the array are mentioned in general terms. For many readers the main interest is how well the new system will perform, and this informational-descriptive abstract would be better to satisfy the need. Ex： Study the informative abstract and find the four parts:Ex： Study the informative abstract and find the four parts:(1) This study investigated the role of “signaling” in helping good readers comprehend expository text. (2) As the existing literature on signaling, reviewed in the last issue of the journal, pointed to deficiencies in previous studies’ methodologies, one goal of this study was to refine prose research method. (3) Two passages were designed in one of eight signaled versions each. Continued:Continued:(4) The design was constructed to assess the individual and combined effect of headings, previews, and logical connectives. (5) The study also assessed the effect of passage length, familiarity and difficulty. (6) The results showed that signals do improve a reader’s comprehension, particularly comprehension two weeks after the reading of a passage and comprehension of subordinate and super-Continued:Continued:-ordinate inferential information. (7)This study supports the hypothesis that signals can influence retention of text-based information, particularly with long, unfamiliar, or difficult passages. The analysis of the above:The analysis of the above:S 1-2===the purpose of the study S3-5 ===the process / design of the study S 6 === the result of the study S7 === the conclusion / discussion/ significance摘要的结果要素 （必要、可选)摘要的结果要素 （必要、可选)主题阐述（Topic Specification) 背景信息（Background Information) 目的陈述（Purpose Statement) 方法论和语料（Methodology and Data) 研究结果、发现（Results and Findings) 启示、结论（Implications、Conclusions）3) Complete Content3) Complete ContentThe abstract of a paper, which is self-contained, should be unified and coherent in content. It is a concise summary of the results, conclusion and/or other significant items in the paper. Together with the title, the abstract must be adequate as an index to all the topics treated in the paper. It may also be used as a base for indexing. This type of abstract should contain the following three elements:Continued:Continued:(1) A Statement of the Problem--- (or subject) is usually boiled down to a single sentence. This kind of writing clears the air of any haze expression of your real purpose. It, therefore states the subject of the paper, indicates its scope and objectives.(2) A Statement of the Approach to Solving the Problem(2) A Statement of the Approach to Solving the ProblemThis approach may be an analytic method, a design technique, a system concept, a device improvement, or a testing scheme, etc. Describe the treatment of the subject by one or more such terms as brief, comprehensive, preliminary, experimental or theoretical. Indicate the methods used to obtain experimental results. If the methods/designs are novel, state the basic principles involved, the operational ranges covered, and the degree of accuracy attained.(3) The Principal Result(3) The Principal ResultThe writer’s new accomplishment may be a theoretical or an experimental finding, a new design with some improved properties, a recommended course of action, etc. Summarize the theoretical or experimental result, the conclusion, and/or other significant items in the paper. If space permits, include any important quantitative data; if not, at least indicate the nature of such data. 4) Formalized Structure4) Formalized StructureFrom the dimension of linguistic structure, a comparatively complete abstract usually consists of the following three major parts: (1)topic sentence, (2) supporting sentence, (3) and concluding sentence(s).(1) Topic Sentence(1) Topic SentenceThe first sentence in an abstract is usually called the “topic sentence”. By answering the question of “what”, the topic sentence always goes straightforwardly to the subject or the problem and indicates the primary objectives of the paper. For example:Example:Example:The paper presents a simple prescription for estimating the energy at which nuclear forces begin to play a role in heavy-ion Coulomb excitation and Coulormb fission experiments…Frequent Format of Topic:Frequent Format of Topic:The purpose of this paper is… The primary goal of this research is… The intention of this paper is to survey… The overall objective of this study is… In this paper, we aim at… Our goal has been to provide… The chief aim of the present work is to investigate the features of… Frequent Format of TopicFrequent Format of TopicThe authors are now initiating some experimental investigation to establish… The work presented in this paper focuses on several aspects of the following… The problem we have outlined deals largely with the study of… With his many years’ research, the author’s endeavor is to explain why…Frequent Format of TopicFrequent Format of TopicThe primary object of this fundamental research will be to reveal the cause of… The main objective of our investigation has been to obtain some knowledge of… With recent research, the author intends to outline the framework of… Experiments on… were made in order to measure the amount of… The emphasis of this study lies in…(2) Supporting Sentences(2) Supporting SentencesThe topic sentence is followed by more than one supporting sentences which further specify the subject to be presented. Research methods, experiments, procedures, investigations, calculations, analyses, results and other significant information item will be provided in this part.Useful Sentence PatternsUseful Sentence PatternsThe method used in our study is known as… The technique we applied is referred to as… The procedure they followed can be briefly described as… The approach adopted extensively is called.. Detailed information has been acquired by the authors using… This is a working theory which is based on the idea that…Useful Sentence PatternsUseful Sentence PatternsThe fundamental feature of this theory is as follows. The theory is characterized by… The experiment consisted of three steps, which are described in… The text equipment which was used consisted of… Included in the experiment were…Useful Sentence PatternsUseful Sentence PatternsWe have carried out several sets of experiments to test the validity of… Recent experiments in this area suggested that… A number of experiments were performed to check… Special mention is given here to… This formula is verified by…(3) Concluding Sentence(s)(3) Concluding Sentence(s)As the ending part of an abstract, concluding sentences usually analyze the results, explain the application, and point out the significance of the research. For example: … The result of the measurement indicates that the direct method is in good agreement with the impedance method.Some Useful Sentence PatternsSome Useful Sentence PatternsIn conclusion, we state that… In summing up, it may be stated that… In it concluded that… The results of the experiment indicate that… The studies we have performed showed that… The pioneer studies that the authors attempted have indicated in… The research we have done suggests that…Some Useful Sentence PatternsSome Useful Sentence PatternsThe investigation carried out by.. Has revealed that… All our preliminary results throw light on the nature of… As a result of our experiments, we concluded that… This fruitful work gives explanation of… Finally, a summary is given of… Some Useful Sentence PatternsSome Useful Sentence PatternsThe research work has brought about a discovery of… These findings of the research have led the author to the conclusion that… The data obtained appear to be very similar to those reported earlier by… Our work involving studies of… prove to be encouraging.Writing Requirements for AbstractWriting Requirements for AbstractIn order to write an effective abstract, it is helpful to observe the following guidelines in writing: 1) Integrity 2) Concise 3) Consistency 4) Concentration1) Integrity (完整）1) Integrity (完整）Although an abstract should be brief in form, usually confined to a single paragraph of running text, it should still contain elements of information. It should include what the writer has done and what he has achieved within the scope of the topic, such as the research theories, research methods, investigations and results and conclusions. To differentiate his paper work from others, the writer needs to stress his own contribution.2) Concise （精炼）2) Concise （精炼）By concise, we mean, the writer should be especially sensitive to the needs of his audience when he writes. Use only essential information, strip away the periphery, supporting information in his paper, expose the hard core of his contribution, and define the real substance of his manuscript in the simplest terms. Avoid displaying mathematical expressions; never number equations; omit tables.3) Consistency （连贯）3) Consistency （连贯）As a mini-paper, an abstract should be consistent with the other parts of the whole paper. In other words, a good abstract has to exclude all information that is not based on the content of the paper. So never include what has not been mentioned in the paper and no modification in meaning is permitted.4) Concentration（突出重点）4) Concentration（突出重点）To write concentratively, you need to omit certain elements of information. Do not use figures, tables, or literature references in this part. Avoid other elements that conventionally appear in other sections of the manuscript but do not belong in the abstract. For example, a brief historical review with reference to previous work in the field is suitable for the introduction. A discussion ofContinued:Continued:The significance of an internal report is generally relegated to a separate summary for the executive reader. An evaluation of a new technique or a discussion of the validity of the new results should properly appear in the conclusive section.5 Steps for Abstract Writing (论文完成后写)5 Steps for Abstract Writing (论文完成后写) The main steps involved in writing an abstract can be summed up as follows: 1) Underlining Key Words and Sentences 2) Listing Essential Points of the Paper 3) Boiling down Each Section to a Sentence or Two 4) Drafting the Abstract 5) Checking the Final Draft1) Underling Key Words and Sentences1) Underling Key Words and SentencesUnderline key words and sentences which are often signaled by transitional devices; carefully examine the headings, topic, supporting and concluding sentences of pa