《英语科学写作》课程教学资源：Lecture 6 Writing the Abstract

Lecture 6: WRITING THE ABSTRACT Scientific and technical journals label the abridgement at the beginning of the paper either Abstract or Summary. Although the two terms are often used as synonyms, there is a distinction An abstract is a nonlinear reduction of the paper; a summary is a linear reduction In an abstract, some parts of the paper may be omitted and the parts that are included are not proportionately reduced; in a summary all parts of the paper would be included and abridged more or less proportionately The abstract is the most important part of the paper because it is the means of disseminating the research widely. every effort should be made, therefore, to write it as effectively as possible What is the chief function of the abstract? Its chief function is to report the most essential new scientific information in a very abbreviated form. Its brevity makes it the effective vehicle for the widest dissemination of research The abstract may be the only part of the paper that is available to some readers. most likely it is the only section that many scientists and peers will ever read!

1 Lecture 6: WRITING THE ABSTRACT 1. Scientific and technical journals label the abridgement at the beginning of the paper either Abstract or Summary. Although the two terms are often used as synonyms, there is a distinction. An abstract is a nonlinear reduction of the paper; a summary is a linear reduction. In an abstract, some parts of the paper may be omitted and the parts that are included are not proportionately reduced; in a summary all parts of the paper would be included and abridged more or less proportionately. The abstract is the most important part of the paper because it is the means of disseminating the research widely. Every effort should be made, therefore, to write it as effectively as possible. What is the chief function of the abstract? Its chief function is to report the most essential new scientific information in a very abbreviated form. Its brevity makes it the effective vehicle for the widest dissemination of research. The abstract may be the only part of the paper that is available to some readers. Most likely, it is the only section that many scientists and peers will ever read!

2. What should be included in an abstract Only those parts that are related to the nature of scientific inquiry and the needs of research scientists: 1.e 1)Research objective(s) (2) Methods (3 Results (4) Conclusions It is helpful to state the purpose or objective(s) of th research in the first sentence. The abstract can then begin directly with the methods involved followed by the results obtained Since the results are what the scientists are most interested in, the major part of the abstract may be given to results The abstract may then end with the conclusions(note: Discussion is not included in the abstract An abstract normally is 200-250 words in length(vary from Journal to Journal), while a summary may contain up to 500 words 3. Graphical Abstracts For some international journals e.g. Organic and Inorganic Chemistry(e.g. Inorg anic Chemistry, The Journal oforganic Chemistry, Tetrahedron letters etc) and local Chinese

2 2. What should be included in an Abstract Only those parts that are related to the nature of scientific inquiry and the needs of research scientists: i.e. (1) Research objective(s) (2) Methods (3) Results (4) Conclusions It is helpful to state the purpose or objective(s) of the research in the first sentence. The abstract can then begin directly with the methods involved followed by the results obtained. Since the results are what the scientists are most interested in, the major part of the abstract may be given to results. The abstract may then end with the conclusions (note: Discussion is not included in the abstract !) An abstract normally is 200-250 words in length (vary from Journal to Journal), while a summary may contain up to 500 words. 3. Graphical Abstracts For some international journals e.g. Organic and Inorganic Chemistry (e.g. Inorganic Chemistry, The Journal of Organic Chemistry, Tetrahedron Letters etc) and local Chinese

journals published in English(e.g. Chinese Journal oj Chemistry), the requirement is for authors to submit Graphical Abstracts as well as the normal abstract Graphical abstracts give in graphic form the structure of a new compound key or main chemical reaction, key synthesis route etc. They normally include pictograms plus an abstract These serve to give readers a pictorial summary and overview of the contents of the paper and are placed at the front pages of the journals WRITING THE TITLE OF THE PAPER The title states the subject of the paper. Its function is to identify and describe the contents of the paper accurately and specifically. This is of great importance because the title may be decisive in helping the reader's decision to read it. Therefore it is essential that titles be as accurate. informative. and as comprehensive as possible, yet as short as possible While brevity is essential. titles must be comprehensive enough for ready retrieval of the paper. They should also include as many of the most important elements of the paper as possible. We reproduce below a variety of titles for your reference

3 journals published in English (e.g. Chinese Journal of Chemistry), the requirement is for authors to submit Graphical Abstracts as well as the normal abstract. Graphical abstracts give in graphic form the structure of a new compound, key or main chemical reaction, key synthesis route etc. They normally include pictograms plus an abstract. These serve to give readers a pictorial summary and overview of the contents of the paper and are placed at the front pages of the journals WRITING THE TITLE OF THE PAPER The title states the subject of the paper. Its function is to identify and describe the contents of the paper accurately and specifically. This is of great importance because the title may be decisive in helping the reader’s decision to read it. Therefore it is essential that titles be as accurate, informative, and as comprehensive as possible, yet as short as possible. While brevity is essential, titles must be comprehensive enough for ready retrieval of the paper. They should also include as many of the most important elements of the paper as possible. We reproduce below a variety of titles for your reference