研究生学术英语写作教程Unit 8 Writing Abstract.docx

1、研究生学术英语写作教程Unit 8 Writing AbstractUnit 8 Writing AbstractObjectives- Learn the purpose of writing an academic abstract- Get to understand different types of abstracts and the abstract elements- Understand features of academic English in writing an abstract- Learn how to write an academic abstract- L

2、earn how to write key wordsContents- Teachers introduction- Reading and discussion:What is an academic abstract?What are the elements of an abstract?- Language focus: commonly used verbs and tenses; sentence patterns- Rewriting practice: understand different styles of academic abstracts- Rewriting p

3、ractice: understand the elements of an academic abstract- Writing practice: write an abstract and key words based on the given material1. Reading Activity1.1 Pre-reading TaskAbstract is an important part of academic assignments, most often, reports and research papers. The abstract is the last item

4、that you write, but the first thing people read when they want to have a quick overview of the whole paper. We suggest that you leave abstract writing to the end, because you will have a clearer picture of all your findings and conclusions.Before you learn the detailed steps to write an abstract, pl

5、ease discuss the following questions:What is the purpose of writing an abstract?What are the basic elements for an academic abstract?What language problems may you have in abstract writing? (For example: the wording problem, the tense problem and the voice problem, etc.)1.2 Reading PassageSample Abs

6、tract 1This dissertation examines the impacts of social movements through a multi-layered study of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement from its peak in the early 1960s through the early 1980s. By examining this historically important case, the writer clarifies the process by which movements transf

7、orm social structures and the constraints when they try to do so. The time period studied includes the expansion of voting rights and gains in black political power, the desegregation of public schools and the emergence of white-flight academies, and the rise and fall of federal anti-poverty program

8、s. Two major research strategies were used: (1) a quantitative analysis of county-level data and (2) three case studies. Data have been collected from archives, interviews, newspapers, and published reports. This dissertation challenges the argument that movements are inconsequential. Some view fede

9、ral agencies, courts, political parties, or economic elites as the agents driving institutional change, but typically these groups acted in response to the leverage brought to bear by the civil rights movement. The Mississippi movement attempted to forge independent structures for sustaining challen

10、ges to local inequities and injustices. By propelling change in an array of local institutions, movement infrastructures had an enduring legacy in Mississippi.(Kenneth Tait Andrews, “Freedom is a constant struggle: The dynamics and consequences of the Mississippi Civil Rights Movement, 1960-1984 Ph.

11、D. State University of New York at Stony Brook, 1997 DAI-A 59/02, p. 620, Aug 1998)1.3 Reading Comprehension1.3.1 What does the abstract talk about?What the study doesHow the study does itWhat materials are usedConclusion1.3.2 Decide how many elements this sample includes and how they function.Eleme

12、ntsFunctions2 Language Focus2.1 Commonly used verbs and tenses in abstractsRead the following sample abstract and pay attention to the verbs used in it.Sample abstract 2Cybercrime crime on the Internet is of growing concern in the business community. Despite UK Government initiatives (such as BS7799

13、) and growing sales in software solutions (e.g. anti-virus software), cyber attacks are on the increase. This dissertation focuses on ways to assess the effectiveness of current preventative measures to cybercrime and to understand why organizations continue to be vulnerable to cybercrime. This diss

14、ertation met these twin research aims through an extensive study of relevant literature and the implementation of practical research. The latter was carried out through a Case Study with Company XXX using semi-structured interviews with key I.T. security personnel. This research produced a number of

15、 key findings: recent surveys confirm a significant increase in the incidences of cybercrime and their impact on the business community but also the types of cybercrime (viruses, hacking, spam, identity theft, fraud, privacy issues, web vandalism, etc.); organizations lacked the security expertise t

16、o deal with cybercrime and so depended too much on readily available technical ways to combat cybercrime (and failing); organizations were not aware of Government recommendations on how to address Internet-based security issues; and Governments and law enforcement agencies tended to localize cybercr

17、ime, allocating scant resources to contributing to a global solution. The main conclusions drawn from this research were that current approaches to fighting cybercrime are deficient because they fail to embrace a holistic approach, instead opting for a narrow local software-based focus, and that a l

18、ack of communication between major stakeholders at local, national and international level has hindered security development. This research argues for a multi-pronged model to reduce incidences of cybercrime. It takes into account Risk-Assessment models, local management of company policies, impleme

19、ntation issues (including proper resourcing and review policies), the need for global support infrastructures, and a means of fostering communication networks.(http:/www.ukdissertation.co.uk/Dissertation_Abstract.htm)VerbsSentence patterns2.2 More verbs and sentences patternsCategoriesVerbsSentence

20、patternsBackgroundreview，summarize，present，.The theory comes/stems/emerges/originates fromThe theory is obtained/provided/furnished fromAimattempt，purpose，aim,.This paper develops a theoretical framework toThis paper presents an approach toThis report (thesis, presentation, document, account) explai

21、ns (outlines，summaries，evaluates，surveys，develops， investigates，discusses，focuses on，) the results ofResearch focus(es)Study,present,include,.The chief aim (main purpose, primary object, major objective, principal, goal) of the study isResearch processtest，study，investigate，.They put forward (develo

22、ped, proposed) this theory, which is based (advanced, suggested, created, constructed, formulated, elaborated) on./ rests on, (proceeds from).methodmeasure，estimate，calculate,.The curative effect (sensitivity, function) of certain drug (kit, organ) was observed (detected, studied).2.2 Verb tenses in

23、 abstractsType of informationVerb form(tense or commonly occurring verbs)Examplesgiving background detailspresent tenseThe industry is already well known for its efforts to improve the eco-efficiency of its processesdescribing the research activitysimple past tense, present perfect tenseThe study fo

24、cused on 2 main areasThe framework for life cycle analysis has been developeddescribing the methodssimple past tense (active or passive)We carried out a series of field testsA large number of samples were tested for fracturingreporting resultssimple past tenseResults indicated that the problem is ev

25、en more serious than previously predictedThe third model proved to be more durable than the other fourstating conclusionspresent tenseverbs indicating tentativeness : is possible is likely appears seems mightmodal auxiliary verbscan, may, could,mightThis indicates that there are, in fact, several fa

26、ctors contributing to the decreaseIt appears that the incidence of human error cannot be eliminated at any stageThere might be a need for revising the list of criteria within the next 5-10 yearsRead the abstract above again and check the tenses in the abstract.ElementsVerb tensesExamplesElement 1Ele

27、ment 2Element 3Element 4Element 53 Writing Practice3.1 Abstract writing practice3.1.1 Why do we care about the problem and the results? If the problem is not obviously interesting, it might be better to put motivation first; but if your work is incremental progress on a problem that is widely recogn

28、ized as important, then it is probably better to put the problem statement first to indicate which piece of the larger problem you are breaking off to work on. This section should include the importance of your work, the difficulty of the area, and the impact it might have if successful. Read the fo

29、llowing paragraph and write down the Motivation in the blank.A review of groundwater remediation in use today shows that new techniques are required to solve the problems of pump and treat, containment and in-situ treatment. One such technique is the method that involves the use of permeable treatme

30、nt walls. These methods use a reactive medium such as iron to remediate contaminated groundwater.3.1.2 What problem are you trying to solve? What is the scope of your work (a generalized approach, or for a specific situation)? Be careful not to use too much jargon. In some cases it is appropriate to

31、 put the problem statement before the motivation, but usually this only works if most readers already understand why the problem is important. Read the following paragraph and write the problem (aim) in the blank.Several methods of implementing this remediation strategy have been described. These methods include injection and trenching. The use of a funnel and gate system via a trench has been examined in detail using a groundwater modeling option of the FLAC program.3.1.3 How did you go about solving or making progress on the problem? Did you use simulation, analytic mode