Speaking - Writing an Abstract

14 Jan 2019 by Keith Elder

Of the four artifacts required to submit a presentation to a conference, none of them is more scrutinized and discussed than the abstract. The acceptance of your presentation and the attendance of the session ride on the shoulders of your abstract. Event committees have a hard job, sifting through countless abstracts to pick the right mix for their conference, and the abstract provides them the only details they have to make a decision. It either makes or breaks your chance of getting selected.

Purpose of the Abstract

The abstract has two purposes. First, the selection committee reads it to get a full understanding of what you'll be presenting. The committees of larger conferences may have to review hundreds and hundreds of abstracts. While a catchy title may get you noticed, the abstract is what sells your presentation. Second, it's used by attendees deciding whether they'll attend or dismiss your presentation. For these reasons, you should spend a lot of time on your abstract.

How to Write an Abstract

The abstract is a sales pitch. It should inform the reader what you'll be talking about on stage and sell them on why they need to hear it. Kent Beck, a well-known programmer, says abstracts should contain the following sentences:

The problem
Why the problem is a problem
One startling sentence
The implication of the one startling sentence

Kent's framework is great for getting started, but there's much more to consider than his bullet points. For starters, using clear and descriptive words will draw people in. Avoid the trap of using unclear terminology or jargon, which forces the reader to look up more information just to understand what you're trying to say. Use descriptive words that paint a picture. If you're writing an abstract for a presentation about food. Words like "delicious," "yummy" or "fantastic" are OK, but words like "chocolatey," "tender" and "chunky" are much better. Focus on your senses when choosing descriptions. Using words that describe sight, sound, taste, touch or smell help to paint a vivid picture.

Remember, your abstract is a sales pitch. Did you convince the reader you have knowledge of the subject? Did you tell them your history and insights with the subject matter? Did you explain why your topic is relevant? If there are two abstracts the committee is reviewing, covering these points will tip the scales in your favor. Don't rely on memes or keywords to trigger a positive reaction from the committee or the attendee. Be sure to explain the topic you'll discuss and why you have a useful perspective.

Be an Attendee

One technique to help write your abstract is to put yourself in the shoes of an attendee. Pretend you're sitting with other attendees at the lunch table during the conference. You're discussing which session you want to attend after lunch. As you circle through the different talks, one sparks some excitement in the group. What made you excited? Capture that excitement and put it into your abstract.

Things to remember:

Use clear descriptive words
Want to trigger a positive reaction
Put yourself in the audience's shoes
Pose a question to be answered in the session
Look at examples on conference websites
It's a sales pitch!!