Writing an Abstract

(Research Conference)

Dr. Paula C. Bernaschina

[email protected]
Academic Writing and Language
Learning Enhancement Team (LET)
Plan
• Introductions (10 minutes)*

• The requirements (5 minutes)

• Abstract structure (10 minutes)

• Guided freewriting (15 minutes)

• Pair/group work (peer feedback) (10 minutes)

• Questions/comments (10 minutes)

*Approximate timings
© Middlesex University
Abstract requirements

• Should be between 200-350 words

• It should contain the following sections:

– Title

– Author(s)

– Type of contribution: (a) presentation; (b) poster; (c) performance; (d) video screening with commentary

– Names of supervisory team

– Degree start date

– Stage of research where applicable (e.g. registration, transferred, writing up)

– Department

– Indicate that the abstract has been reviewed and approved by your supervisory team
© Middlesex University
Writing an Abstract
Theme: ‘Research in a Changing World’

• Consider this theme

• How does the ‘changing world’ interact with your research area.

Submission is now open and will close at 5pm on Tuesday 6th April 2021.

© Middlesex University
 Abstract
Your language needs to be concise and precise

Think about:
• What are you doing?
• Why are you doing it?
• What is happening?
• What have you found?

© Middlesex University
 General
TinCan: User-Defined P2P Virtual Network Overlays for Ad-hoc Collaboration
Pierre St Juste, Kyuho Jeong, Heungsik Eom, Corey Baker, Renato Figueiredo stateme
nt
Virtual private networking (VPN) has become an increasingly important component of a collaboration

environment because it ensures private, authenticated communication among participants, using existing
The
collaboration tools, where users are distributed across multiple institutions and can be mobile. The majority problem
of current VPN solutions are based on a centralized VPN model, where all IP traffic is tunneled through

a VPN gateway. Nonetheless, there are several use case scenarios that require a model where end-to-end
Trying to
VPN links are tunneled upon existing Internet infrastructure in a peer-to-peer (P2P) fashion, removing the
solve the
bottleneck of a centralized VPN gateway. We propose a novel virtual network — TinCan — based on peer- problem

to-peer private network tunnels. It reuses existing standards and implementations of services for discovery

notification (XMPP), reflection (STUN) and relaying (TURN), facilitating configuration. In this approach, trust
Solution
relationships maintained by centralized (or federated) services are automatically mapped to TinCan links. In

one use scenario, TinCan allows unstructured P2P overlays connecting trusted end-user devices — while only

requiring VPN software on user devices and leveraging online social network (OSN) infrastructure already
Content
widely deployed. This paper describes the architecture and design of TinCan and presents an experimental s of
paper
evaluation of a prototype supporting Windows, Linux, and Android mobile devices. Results quantify the

overhead introduced by the network virtualization layer, and the resource requirements imposed on services

needed to bootstrap TinCan links

© Middlesex University
Abstract The basic approach The conclusion
and methodology, (briefly) and the
usually in one broad implications
sentence of it

WHY, HOW, WHAT, SO WHAT

The reason behind

the research being
done The main findings
(results) in very few
sentences

© Middlesex University
Things to consider

• Don’t use abbreviations and acronyms

• Be clear and concise

• Formal academic tone (consider your research area)

• Vocabulary

• One sentence conclusion

© Middlesex University
Freewriting

• Helps to gather ideas

• Warms up the brain

• Breaks down writer’s block

© Middlesex University
Freewriting

Write in complete sentences.

Write down the ideas that are in your head, even if they’re not
related to your topic.

Don’t worry about grammar and spelling.

© Middlesex University
Creating a title
• Clarity
2 minutes
• Brevity

• What are you researching?

— What key words are necessary?

• How are you researching it?

— Will putting the method in the title enhance it?

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY

© Middlesex University
Aim of your research
2 minutes

Explain the primary aim or purpose of the study

What is it that you’re going to do?

For example:
investigat
e compare develop determine examine replicate evaluate

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed

under CC BY
© Middlesex University
Research method(s)

• What is your method? 2 minutes

• Briefly explain the method

— What is it that we need to know about the method?

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed

under CC BY
© Middlesex University
Current findings/Expected contribution

• What have you found out so far? 2 minutes

• What contributions do you expect to make to your research area?

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed

under CC BY
© Middlesex University
Research in a Changing World

2 minutes
How does the ‘changing world’ interact with your research?

• How might this occur?

• In what ways might your research respond to this changing world?
• How do you know this?
• Will there be an impact?
• Are you able to measure the impact?

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed

under CC BY
© Middlesex University
Peer feedback

Discuss what you have written

Ask each other questions about your research areas

• Are you able to follow the ideas?

• Do more details need to be included?

© Middlesex University
Questions/Comments

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

© Middlesex University