Every submission for the Creative Arts & Research Forum requires an abstract, which will be published in the program booklet. Abstracts are important as visitors to this event will review your abstract when deciding which presentations to attend, so you must consider what you write so that your abstract succinctly and effectively describes your research. Here are some additional points to consider when writing your abstract.
What is an abstract?
An abstract is your opportunity to provide a snapshot of your work by summarizing your topic, research, and findings. By writing a 150-word abstract, you are allowing your audience to get a sneak peek of your content before attending your presentation (poster, lightning talk, etc.).
How do you write an abstract?
In your abstract, you should provide pertinent information to give your audience a look at your topic which starts with a specific title. The title of your abstract should be clear and focused to create a window into your presentation. The title should also be relevant and provide an opening into your statement about your topic, research, and findings. Your statement should be concise and include the research or data that you will be covering in your presentation. The statement should also include why this topic is important and potential implications for the work that you did.
Some questions to consider when writing your abstract-
- Why is your topic important?
- What issue are you addressing?
- What knowledge would you like your audience to walk away with?
- How are you accomplishing your research?
What are some MSU resources to help you be successful?
- Click here to find Abstract Samples from past participants. This is a great way to take a look at how MSU students wrote their abstracts for this event. If you are in need of inspiration for writing your abstract, we suggest that you take a look at these samples.
- If you are more of a visual/auditory learner, take a look at the YouTube video “How to Prepare a Research Abstract”, which was created by MSU faculty and students. This is a way in which to learn more about how to create an abstract and all the important steps to take when writing it.
- Finally, don’t forget to utilize The Writing Center @ MSU. The Writing Center has writing consultants who are available to assist with writing-intensive assignments, including abstracts. We recommend that you work with an MSU consultant as they can provide you guidance, encouragement, and support.