STRUCTURING YOUR ABSTRACT
The linguist Ken Hyland (2000) has identified the following five "moves" to describe the structure of research abstracts. Although all five moves rarely occur in a single abstract, the combination of moves and their ordering depends on the exact field of study and type of research.
MOVE FUNCTION Introduction Establishes context of the paper and motivates the research Purpose Indicates purpose, thesis or hypothesis, outlines the intention behind the paper. Methods Provides information on design, procedures, assumptions, approach, data, etc. Product States main findings or results, the argument, or what was accomplished. Conclusion Interprets or extends results beyond the scope of the paper, draws inferences, points to applications, or wider applications. INTRODUCTION
By including a brief introduction in their abstract, you can provide readers with enough background information and context to enable them to follow your description of your research. This introductory move can be divided into at least three types of content: Arguing for topic prominence, Making topic generalizations, Defining terms, objects, or processes, and Identifying a gap in current knowledge (Feltrim, 2003).
1. Arguing for topic prominenceThis type of introductory information is similar to centrality claims in research article introductions. Writers can choose to introduce their topic by emphasizing the relevance, significance, or importance of their topic area to their audience and the real world.
Coverage is a very important issue in wireless sensor networks. Current literature defines a point to be covered if it is within the sensing radius of at least one sensor. In this paper, we argue that this is a conservative definition of coverage. This definition implicitly assumes that each sensor makes a decision independent of other sensors in the field. However, sensors can cooperate to make an accurate estimation, even if any single sensor is unable to do so. We then propose a new notion of information coverage and investigate its implications for sensor deployment. Numerical and simulation results show that significant savings in terms of sensor density for complete coverage can be achieved by using our definition of information coverage compared to that by using the existing definition. 2. Making topic generalizations
Another possible strategy for beginning an abstract is to outline what is currently known or is common/standard practice within the field of study. This information can also include definitions of terms, objects, or processes. This strategy mirrors that of the same name used in in research article introductions.
IEEE 802.11 MAC based Mobile Ad-hoc Networks (MANETs) are known to experience serious unfairness problems, particularly for TCP connections. The unfairness is caused by a number of factors and to date, no solution has completely addressed all the factors, so that the unfairness is never completely solved. The work presented here identifies the common factors that lead to the unfairness, and from a consideration of these, a novel solution based on carrier sensing is developed, that can completely solve the serious unfairness problem in MANETs. Simulation results are presented which show the effectiveness of our solution. 3. Identifying a gap in current knowledge
Writers often try to justify the relevance of their research by demonstrating that a "gap", problems, or deficiencies exist in current applications, methods or knowledge. This strategy is identical to that used in MOVE 2: Establishing a Niche in research article introductions.
In the following introduction, the blue text describes current models, and red text the deficiencies in these models that have motivated the current study.
The modeling of TCP transfer latency has received significant attention in the last decade. Several models have been proposed for TCP performance under various conditions. All the available models predict TCP performance for a single link. Furthermore, all models relate timeouts to packet drops either due to congestion or due to transmission errors. However, TCP connections may be running over a multilink connection that aggregates the bandwidth of multiple links into a single logical pipe using the multilink point-to-point protocol (MLPPP). In such aggregate links, packet drops occur if any of the individual links experience a call drop. None of the available models account for call drops as a possible source of performance degradation. In this paper, we study the call drop phenomenon under MLPPP and incorporate our results into a method that predicts TCP latency for a long transfer. The performance model is experimentally evaluated by running TCP over MLPPP over multiple Iridium satellite links. 4. Defining terms, objects, or processes
When reporting research that focuses on the development of a new device or software application, writers may often begin their abstracts by first announcing by name and defining their new creation in terms of its function, purpose, and other important features. This strategy, though more common in computer science, can also be found in other fields of science and technology. (See also Product).
A new project management tool, Logistix, has been developed to support project analysts and planners. Logistix is a decision support tool that is used to assess and compare alternative configurations for a collection of projects. The tool provides detailed financial features and multiple delivery strategies for each project in the portfolio, while freeing planners to focus upon other factors during the development of preferred configurations of the entire project. This new software has been tested using the London Highway and Transportation Authority as an example. The Authority is responsible of the construction of highways and mass transit systems in London, including construction of a new rail system. Logistix was applied to model the historic financial data of the Agency, including revenues and expenses. The model was found to improve sensitivity analysis of the capital programming variables in a range of municipal projects. Frequently, the verbs "present" and "introduce" are used to incorporate the definition into a purpose statement. Notice also how this startegy typically precedes and anticipates an evaluation of the value of the new application (shown below in black).
This paper proposes a new algorithm for error-correcting isomorphism detection from a set of model graphs to an unknown input graph. The algorithm, based on a compact representation of the model graphs, uses an off-line preprocessing step to derive an image from the set of model graphs. The main advantage of the proposed image is that common subgraphs of different model graphs need only be represented once, thus reducing the computational effort of matching the common subgraphs for each model graph onto the input graph. Consequently, the new algorithm is only sublinearly dependent on the number of model graphs. Furthermore, the new algorithm can be combined with a future cost estimation method to enhance its run-time performance. PURPOSE
The purpose is the most common function included in abstracts. See "Describing aims" for more information on the language forms used to describe your research purpose. The four example abstracts above include purpose statements:
The work presented here identifies the common factors that lead to the unfairness, and from a consideration of these, a novel solution based on carrier sensing is developed, that can completely solve the serious unfairness problem in MANETs. Simulation results are presented which show the effectiveness of our solution. In this paper, we argue that this is a conservative definition of coverage.
In this paper, we study the call drop phenomenon under MLPPP and incorporate our results into a method that predicts TCP latency for a long transfer. The performance model is experimentally evaluated by running TCP over MLPPP over multiple Iridium satellite links.
This paper proposes a new algorithm for error-correcting isomorphism detection from a set of model graphs to an unknown input graph.
METHODS
Most abstracts also contain at least a brief mention of the main procedures, criteria or conditions, or the materials and equipment used to create the final 'product' or outcome of the research. (See also Expressing "Means").
In this paper, we study the call drop phenomenon under MLPPP and incorporate our results into a method that predicts TCP latency for a long transfer. The performance model is experimentally evaluated by running TCP over MLPPP over multiple Iridium satellite links. We investigate the variation of measured multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) channel capacity for line-of-sight (LOS) Ricean scenarios inside a typical indoor environment for various transmitter-receiver positions at a center frequency of 2.45 GHz. In order to quantify the effect of LOS component on indoor MIMO performance, an absorber-loaded metal panel was utilized to artificially obstruct the LOS path between the transmit and receive antennas. Our results confirm that MIMO capacity decreases with the increase in the values of Ricean factor. We have also observed that the variation in channel capacity closely follows the corresponding deviations in root mean square (rms) delay spread of the channel.
PRODUCT
In engineering, the most important function in the abstract is the results or outcome of the research—its "product". This move often also includes a description of the main features or properties of the solution or product.
A compact 100-GHz corrugated platelet array antenna has been developed based on a corrugated feed design for the background emission anisotropy scanning telescope (BEAST). The antenna results in a gain of 20 dB, and a bandwidth across the full range of W-band 75–110 GHz. The sidelobes are down by about -25 dB, a requirement comparable to feed horns used for observation of the cosmic microwave background. The design and fabrication presented in this paper is straightforward and inexpensive. A feature is that because the plates are not permanently bonded, the horn can be disassembled and modified to change its properties. The development of dual-frequency (14 and 35 GHz), dual-polarization microstrip antenna arrays is presented for the first time on liquid crystal polymer (LCP) multilayer technology. Some of the properties of LCP, such as multilayer (three-dimensional) vertical integration capability, good electrical and mechanical properties, and near-hermetic nature, make this substrate a practical choice for the design of low-cost antenna arrays that can be integrated with remote sensing applications operating in the Ku and millimeter-wave frequency bands. This work illustrates the potential of LCP as a low-cost, “all-package” solution for developing compact, flexible, antenna arrays that can be used in future communication and remote sensing systems.
CONCLUSION
Less common to engineering research abstracts is the need to draw conclusions from their findings. When conclusions do occur, they tend to extend the results beyond the scope of the paper. This concluding move can be divided into at least three types of content: Deducing conclusions from results, Evaluating value of the research, and Presenting recommendations (Feltrim, 2003).
1. Deducing conclusions from resultsWriters can conclude by commenting on and interpreting the results, or deducing claims from the results.
Analyses of the results showed the negative influence of defect standard complexity on both visual search and decision making. The simulation models indicate that the innovations, with the exception of the GFX system, can significantly reduce the time and direct labor costs associated with plumbing or fire protection installation while simultaneously improving worker safety.
Our results confirm that MIMO capacity decreases with the increase in the values of the Ricean factor.
2. Evaluating value of the research
Writers in engineering often conclude the abstract by evaluating the suitability or efficiency of the "product", or wider potential applications of the studied technology. Important to such evaluation is the use of adjectives expressing a positive evaluation of the study's product.
The simulation results show that our hybrid method approximates the throughput performance of an arbitrary-sized TCP connection with wireless losses much better than other proposed models. This significantly increases the flexibility of such FFT-based algorithms for computational electromagnetics.
These results will be useful in designing more robust SSA templates through switch redundancy near the feed.
This work illustrates the potential of LCP as a low-cost solution for developing compact, flexible, antenna arrays that can be used in future communication and remote sensing systems.
In addition to evaluating the outcome/product, the conclusion can also present recommendations derived from the study results.
Several strategies are recommended for particular building types, and for three individual case study buildings. Based on our analysis results, we make some suggestions for TCP performance enhancement for overcoming the serious effect from wireless losses.
The study helps recommend design guidelines for the most appropriate type of multimedia to be used in designing web-based asynchronous learning system for different levels of procedural tasks.
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