We are reaching that point in the academic year when conferences email out their ‘call for papers,’ overwhelming our inboxes with possibility. You start to wonder, “how the heck am I going to fit my research in 250 words?” Mastering the art of abstract writing is a skill that opens many doors - travelling conferences in faraway places, gaining reputability, networking with esteemed colleagues from all over the world, escaping Montreal’s brutal winter, if only for a weekend.
To be considered for a conference talk or poster session, you are typically required to submit a 250 word summary of our research, otherwise known as an abstract. You must include major elements of your research (purpose, methods, and findings) and present them in a persuasive way. This handout created by The Writing Center of The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is my go-to abstract Bible; from definitions, to check lists of essential elements and examples, everything that you need to get into your choice conference is here. If you have to write an entire proposal, Gradhacker’s post Writing the Academic Conference Proposal is a good one to read.
From the widely read blog The Professor Is In, the post How to Write a Paper or Conference Proposal Abstract breaks down the ‘highly formulaic’ paper abstract for you in simple terms:
1) Big picture problem or topic widely debated in your field.
2) Gap in the literature on this topic.
3) Your project filling the gap.
4) The specific material that you examine in the paper.
5) Your original argument.
6) A strong concluding sentence.
If you have to write an entire proposal, Gradhacker’s post Writing the Academic Conference Proposal will help you out.