2017 Mississippi Science And Engineering Fairs Upper Fair Abstract Form (Page 2 of 2) in pdf

2017 Mississippi Science And Engineering Fairs Upper Fair Abstract Form Page 2

TIPS ON WRITING A PROJECT ABSTRACT

A project abstract is a brief paragraph or two (limited to 250 words or 1,800 characters) highlighting and/or

summarizing the major points or most important ideas about your project. An abstract allows judges to quickly

determine the nature and scope of a project.

• Emphasize these aspects: purpose (hypothesis), methods (procedures used), data summary or

analysis, and conclusions.

• Focus only on the current year’s research.

• Omit details and discussions.

• Use the past tense when describing what was done. However, where appropriate use active verbs

rather than passive verbs.

• Use short sentences, but vary sentence structure.

• Use complete sentences. Don’t abbreviate by omitting articles or other small words in order to save

space.

• Avoid jargon and use appropriate scientific language.

• Use concise syntax, correct spelling, grammar, and punctuation.

AVOID A REWRITE

• Focus on what you did, not on the work of your mentor or of the laboratory in which you did your work.

• Do NOT include acknowledgements, self promotion or external endorsements. Don’t name the

research institution and/or mentor with which you were working and avoid mentioning awards or

honors (including achieving a patent) in the body of the abstract.

• Be sure to emphasize the current year’s research. A continuation project should only make a

brief mention of previous years’ research (no more than a sentence or two).

For more help check out:

2017 Mississippi Science And Engineering Fairs Upper Fair Abstract Form Page 2