Assignment #2

Assignment #2 - Write an Abstract

An abstract summarizes the major aspects of a scientific manuscript. Each component of the abstract may match a section in the manuscript

1. Introduction/Background
   1. Problem definition
   2. Previous approaches
   3. Critique (“Gap”): what is new?
   4. Purpose: why you/anyone still needs to work on this?
2. Methods and Materials
3. Results and Discussion
4. Conclusions
   1. What has been done
   2. Future work: what hasn’t been done

For this assignment, you will write an abstract for a paper describing your research. Your assignment should include

1. The title 
2. The area of expertise or department, e.g., Computer Science
3. Your ORIGINAL abstract

1. Create a template to mark each component that make up the abstract. Use the listing above as a guide.
2. Write the text for each component.
3. Your text must not exceed 200 words. 
4. Consider the "balance" among the components to make sure your text describes your work to the best of your ability.
5. Write a title for your abstract.
6. Check your abstract for coherence.
7. Annotate the specific expressions for each component in your template, when writing your own text.

Your assignment must be submitted as a text file. 

• Name the file as follows: "assignment_2_yourfirstname.txt" (or ".rtf", or ".doc"/".docx" if you use Word), where yourfirstname is indeed your first name. 
• Write the title of the assignment in your file, include your name and date. 
• ALL your work:
• The title 
• The area of expertise or department, e.g., Computer Science
• Your ORIGINAL abstract
• Your hand-made annotations

Important

• Do not copy "text as is" from the web or your work will be considered plagiarism. You must use your own words.
• Throughout the course, you must cite your sources properly. Points will be taken off for failure to do so. See an example of a proper citation below:
  Correct:
  Stockman, Farah. "Foreign activists stay covered online." Boston Globe. Boston Globe, 30 01 2011. Web. 30 Jan 2011. <http://www.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2011/01/30/mass_groups_software_helps_avoid_censorship/>;. 
• Incorrect: http://www.boston.com/news/world/africa/articles/2011/01/30/mass_groups_software_helps_avoid_censorship
• For help with proper citations, you can use citationmachine.net