I shall be achieving this on April 2011:

Thursday, 10 September 2009

writing an abstract

WRITING AN ABSTRACT

When answering a call for papers a number of factors need to be kept in mind to ensure that
your abstract has a good chance of being accepted.

Ensure that your ideas are well thought out and follow a logical, coherent flow:
state the issue to be discussed
give a brief background to the issue
brief description of what you are doing about it
implications/outcomes: why is what you’ve done important?

Ensure that the abstract relates to the conference theme:
in a ‘real’ and not contrived way: if it doesn’t fit then don’t submit
an interesting and catchy title helps:
• but make sure it’s not too ‘clever’ or obscure
Ensure that practical aspects of the abstract comply with requirements:
it meets or is under the specified word length
is typed in the specified font type, size
spacing and setting out are correct
if no guidelines are given then a standard format is usually:
• 200-250 words
• Times 12pt font
• 1.5 line spacing and centred on the page

Limit amount of references cited in abstract:
use only if essential to support your argument
detailed references can be covered in the resulting presentation/paper

Look at past abstracts/conference papers to pick up the tone and style of that particular
organisation’s conferences

Run your abstract past someone familiar with both the topic you wish to present and the
conference style: such as a university lecturer, work colleague, member of professional
society, someone who has presented before at the conference

Submit on or before the due date and in the required way:
electronically, via e-mail, is usually preferred
ensure computer compatibility of documents (especially in converting Macintosh
to IBM formats)
saving in ‘Rich Text Format’ in Word is better (*.rtf)
not all are able to access documents in html formats easily – stick to established
word processing programs such as Word

Ensure you include your name, title, organisation and contact details, including phone,
fax, street address and e-mail

Finally, remember that your abstract serves two purposes:
to interest and intrigue the committee so they will select it
to introduce/outline your topic for the conference handbook – so it needs to stand
alone as a record of your presentation
Websites of recent conferences with examples of well-written abstracts can be found at:
http://comedu.canberra.edu.au/conference/arece/Conference/2002/TopicList.html
The Association for Australian Research in Early Childhood Education, 2002 Conference
http://www.aare.edu.au/index.htm
Australian Association for Research in Education, 2001 Conference
http://www.archimuse.com/conferences/SPEAKERS_LIST.HTML
Museums and the Web International Conference: Abstracts and papers online from
conferences held since 1997
Lynda Kelly, Head, Australian Museum Audience Research Centre, 1 February, 2002


source: http://docs.google.com/gview?a=v&q=cache%3AE9B-wGuVWUkJ%3Aceca.icom.museum%2F_dbase_upl%2Fwritinganabstract.pdf+writing+abstract+for+conference&hl=en&gl=my&pli=1

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