Workshop on abstract writing in linguistics
IMPORTANT: We would like the participants to do two
things: one is to carefully read the following; the other is
to compose an abstract in one of the formats suggested
below, either in 500 word format or in 2 page format, and
bring 4 copies of the abstract to the workshop.
Some basic information on abstract
writing in linguistics.
- There are
usually two types of abstracts: one is 500 worded and the other is two paged,
with the second page devoted only to data and references, and usually 12-fonted.
- The Linguistic
Society of America (LSA) annual meeting always adopts the 500 worded abstract
format. Most other major conferences in linguistics
such as NELS, WCCFL, CLS, WECOL, adopt the 2 paged format.
- Good
guidelines for writing a 500 worded abstract are found on the LSA website:
http://www.lsadc.org/info/meet-ann07-abguide.cfm
This page also contains model abstracts too.
- As
for writing a 2 paged abstract, there isn’t any good set of guidelines
that are out there. But it cannot be so different from writing a 500 worded
abstract. It'd be more or less accuate to say that all you need to do is
to expand the abstract a bit.
- The best way
to learn how to write a good abstract is by examining some model abstracts
and also by writing one on your own and critically analyzing it.
- So below
are some abstracts that have been written by graduate students in
linguistics, both in 500 worded and 2 paged formats. Some of these have
been accepted to conferences and some have been rejected.
- We want you
to guess which ones must have been accepted or rejected, and provide reasons
for your decision/verdict.
- 500 worded
model abstracts: