Sample Abstract
Final Paper Abstract Requirement: 300 words
 
"The AlliedSignal RDB-4B, a state-of-the-art digital airborne weather radar capable of forward-looking predictive wind shear detection, is presented. The weather phenomena known as microbursts and wind shears are overviewed. In reviewing the “physics” of wind shear, the need for a forward looking sensor is established, and the selection of digital radar as a means to the end is justified. The RDR-4B system capabilities are then summarized, followed by a top-level breakdown of the radar and associated wind shear detection processing. Key discussions include formation of Doppler frequency domain data, adaptive rejection of clutter spectra, and statistical characterization of retained weather/windshear spectra. An explanation of how these statistics come to indicate a wind shear’s existence and severity, in terms of hazard factors, follows. The paper concludes by documenting an actual wind shear’s detection prior-to-encounter and subsequent penetration by an RDR-4B-equipped test aircraft." (VanAlstyne, 2005)
 
- Notice the specific nature of the information in the sample abstract above.
 
- Notice the objective tone of the writing.
 
 
The abstract for the final paper has some specific requirements but is much like any other abstract that one would write. Please review the information on this page to help you prepare an abstract that enables you to earn the maximum number of points.
   
 

Cover Page

Abstract

Introduction

Proposal

Body

Survey Results from Week 4

Graphic

Presentation Summary

3 or More Outside Sources
   

The final paper requires a well written abstract that is at least 300 words. An abstract is NOT an introduction. An abstract is written after the paper has been completed even though it is placed at the front of the document. The reason the abstract is written after the paper is complete is because the information needed for the abstract is taken from the completed paper. An abstract includes facts and details from the paper after it has been fully developed. Unlike an introduction, an abstract provides specific information from the paper and functions to provide an executive summary of all of the important facts. The abstract gives the reader the ability to marshall all of the key findings that were discussed in the paper in a one page summary.

 

In the reading you learned that abstancts are part of all professional papers and that they are generally 80-100 words. (page 207) This assignment, however, requires a longer abstract due to the length of the paper. I have included a list that I generated from the text book on page 505 (citation below *).

 

1. Abstracts are written in an objective, detached tone

2. Abstracts often descirbe the scope, the methodology, and sometimes the conclusions and evaluations contained in the parent document

3. The information in an abstract is usually presented chronologically

4. Abstracts allow the reader to obtain an overview of the paper's content
 
 


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* VanAlstyne, J. S. (2005). Professional and Technical Writing Strategies: Communicating in Technology and Science, Sixth Edition. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall.