With the deadline for abstract submissions for SMHS Medical Student Research Day quickly approaching (Monday, March 14, 2022), there isn’t much time left to get your abstract ready. Himmelfarb Library can help! Our GW Research Day Resources: Writing Abstracts guide is a great place to get started!
Knowing what needs to be included in your abstract before you get started is key. Your abstract should include four specific aspects:
Abstract Do’s: 4 Things to Include
- Problem Statement/Introduction: Explain why your research is important, and be sure to make this engaging enough to grab the reader’s attention!
- Methods: Explain how you did your research and obtained the results. Research design, setting, population and sample size, study duration, research instrument, and treatment or procedure should all be included here.
- Results: Explain your findings, but don’t analyze the results here - save your analysis for the conclusion!
- Conclusion: Analyze the results and implications of your findings here.
Knowing what not to include in your abstract is just as important as knowing what to include. Avoid including the following four pitfalls:
Abstract Don’ts: 4 Things to Avoid
- Too Much Information: An abstract should be succinct: keep it short and to the point. Don’t overload your abstract with information. A good abstract should be between 250-400 words, so keep it simple.
- Incomplete Sentences: Don’t use bullet points or incomplete sentences. An abstract is a short narrative of your project, so writing in complete sentences is a must.
- Jargon: Avoid using abbreviations, acronyms and jargon in your abstract.
- Images, Tables, Graphs, and References: Images of any kind, or references to them, should be avoided. Save the graphics for your poster.
For a more in-depth explanation of best practices for writing research day abstracts, watch Himmelfarb’s How to Create and Write Your Abstract video.
Looking at examples of well written abstracts can also be helpful. Stay tuned to Himmelfarb’s blog in early April for more information on creating an effective poster!
Good luck and happy writing!
