Abstracts and Posters

Session 13 Oct. 2022

AGENDA
• Identifying abstract elements
• Genres in academic writing
• Practice
• Announcements
LET’S REMEMBER
 “Oil and National Security,” by Darwin C. Hall, in Energy Policy (1992) v. 20, no. 11 submitted by Janet Lerner

• Keywords: National Energy Security (NES), Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR), energy security, oil.

In February 1992, President Bush presented the National Energy Strategy (NES), which is based upon the ideals of a free
market. Included in the NES are policies that remove restrictions on oil production and restrictions on the construction of
nuclear power. This paper attempts to quantify the costs associated with spending on oil imports as related to national
security and the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR).

Energy security is measured by the size of U.S. imports because the Middle East holds the majority of reserves and oil
reserves are being depleted. The consequence of this is that oil prices can be manipulated to harm the U.S. and its allies. Oil
price shocks or supply disruptions instigated by OPEC cause recessions by lowering output, raising prices, and lowering real
wages. These effects are determined by applying the Granger causality tests.

Let’s review A benefit of a market-driven price determination system is that prices rise as depletable resources fall, implying increased
scarcity. This rise in price gives an incentive to produce substitutes as well as reduce consumption of oil.

the
There is a large divergence between the social cost of energy and the price because of environmental externalities
associated with conventional energy sources. The philosophy of the administration is to rely on market prices to determine
20% of the economy’s investment. However, misplaced investments based on such a policy have implications for many
years. Hall concludes that the policies reflected in the NES will result in gross economic inefficiency.

assignment I agree with Hall’s conclusion that misplaced investment in such a large part of our economy is dangerous. I believe that
there should be more of an analysis concerning how varying oil prices can affect the costs associated with oil import
spending. This would show how vulnerable oil import spending is relative to price changes . Although Hall mentions the
opportunity cost of interest that could have been earned had the amount spent been invested, he does not attempt to
quantify what that amount is. I would attempt to calculate these costs using various interest rates. I also feel that he
should calculate the inventory holding cost, and I am also curious to know what the cost of oil deterioration is and if there
are transportation costs involved. These additional costs could be very significant in adding to the costs that Hall has
already predicted.

• UNDERLINE:

a) Background position

b) Aim and thesis of article

c) Method of research

d) Results of research
This study tested the hypothesis that nuclear power plants adversely affect community growth
and residential property values in nearby municipalities. Total assessed real property values
from 1960 to 1976 for 64 municipalities and market sales data from 1975 to 1977 on 540 single-
family dwellings formed the data base. The data were for residential property within 20 miles for
four nuclear power plants in the northeastern United States: Pilgrim in Massachusetts, Millstone
in Connecticut, Oyster Creek in New Jersey and R.E. Ginna in New York.

Analysis of the time series data showed that the average annual growth rates of total assessed
values, in real terms, were inversely related to distances from the plants, and that growth in sales
for the years following plant construction were higher than for the years before plant
construction, with the largest growth rate observed in the host municipalities. Multiple regression
analysis of the cross-section data explained about 80% of the variation in housing prices. The
plants exerted no influence on the price of housing, so the original hypothesis is rejected . Most
people in the areas studied apparently have little fear over plant-related health and safety factors,
and the presence of a plant does not in itself influence residential location decisions. Lower tax
rates in host municipalities may even encourage development.

Prepared by: Division of Health, Siting and Waste Management, Office of Nuclear Regulatory Research.

• UNDERLINE:
a) Background position
b) Aim and thesis of article
c) Method of research
d) Results of research
GENRES IN
ACADEMIC
WRITING
Unit 2
Do you
remember
some genres in
AW?
 PRELIMINARIES
↓

I. INTRODUCTION
General Statement
Organisation Statement
↓
II. MAIN BODY
A. Introductory Sentence
Point 1
Point 2
Point 3
ESSAYS
...
Concluding Sentence

↓
B. Introductory Sentence
Point 1
Point 2
Point 3
...
Concluding Sentence

↓
C. Introductory Sentence
Point 1
Point 2
Point 3
...
Concluding Sentence

↓
III. CONCLUSION
Recall issues in introduction;
draw together main points;
final comment.

↓
END MATTER
Different
types of
essays
REPORTS

• Many different types

• Presents and analyses information
• Very structured writing text:
contents page, headings, sub-
headings, etc.
• Usually contains primary research:
experiment, investigation,
questionnaire or survey.
• It also contains graphs, charts,
tables
Types of REPORTS
STRUCTURE OF REPORTS
• https://jamboard.
google.com/d/1sN
JzUQ5JEz9DyyF_4
4qJLCAKP6pH087
OhnN--
hXFz5w/edit?usp=
sharing
Other
GENRES
POSTERS
It is a form of academic expression.

Used in academic communities.

Conferences include poster presentations.

They summarize information concisely and attractively.

It is a mixture of a brief text, tables, graphs, pictures,

etc.

It should generate discussion.

Main elements/sections
of a poster
Title

Abstract

Introduction

Materials and methods

Results

Conclusions

Literature cited

Acknowledgments

Further information

Visuals
 Important
i nformation should
be rea dable from
a bout 10 feet away

Incl udes
a cknowledgments,
Ti tl e i s short and
your na me and
dra ws interest
i ns titutional
a ffi liation

What makes Word count of

Cons istent a nd
a good cl ea n layout
a bout 300 to 800
words

poster?

Effective use of
Text i s cl ear a nd to
gra phics, color a nd
the point
fonts

Us e of bullets,
numbering, a nd
hea dlines make i t
ea sy to rea d
Which one is better? Why?
GENRE
ELEMENTS
 Introduction
Introduce the study by describing the context
Explain why the subject is important
↓
Purpose
Abstracts: Describe the purpose of the study
↓
let’s Methods
Report how the study was undertaken
remember ↓
Results
the Report the results that were found.
↓
structure Evaluation
Briefly evaluate the results
↓
Conclusion
Conclude briefly
Explain what is important and why
 Use Of A Writing Web-Site By Pre-Masters Students On An English for Academic Purposes Course.
A. J. Gillett, University of Hertfordshire
Abstract
1During the last 10 years, use of the World-Wide-Web for educational purposes has increased dramatically. 2However,

very little empirical research has been carried out to determine the effectiveness of this use. 3The aim of this study
was therefore to investigate the effectiveness of using the World-Wide-Web on an EAP writing course. 4Two groups of
students were taught writing by two different methods: one group was taught by a teacher in a traditional classroom,
while a second group included use of an on-line web-site in their course. 5The two groups were assessed in the same
way after a twelve-week period of instruction. 6Results of the assessment showed significant differences between the
two groups, the group that used the on-line web-site performing much better on all aspects of the test. 7This suggests
that the use of computer assisted learning programs for at least some of the teaching time available can be
recommended for EAP writing courses.

• LET’S PRACTICE
Analysis
• Read the following abstract carefully. It is taken from the field
of computer assisted learning. Identify the sentences in the
abstract that correspond to the elements in the preceding box.
 • Use Of A Writing Web-Site By Pre-Masters Students On An English for Academic Purposes Course.
• A. J. Gillett, University of Hertfordshire
• Abstract
• 1During the last 10 years, use of the World-Wide-Web for educational purposes has increased
dramatically. 2However, very little empirical research has been carried out to determine the effectiveness of this
use. 3The aim of this study was therefore to investigate the effectiveness of using the World-Wide-Web on an
EAP writing course. 4Two groups of students were taught writing by two different methods: one group was
taught by a teacher in a traditional classroom, while a second group included use of an on-line web-site in their
course. 5The two groups were assessed in the same way after a twelve-week period of instruction. 6Results of the
assessment showed significant differences between the two groups, the group that used the on-line web-site
performing much better on all aspects of the test. 7This suggests that the use of computer assisted learning
programs for at least some of the teaching time available can be recommended for EAP writing courses.

Sentence 1: background
Sentence 2: background
Sentence 3: purpose
Sentence 4: method
Sentence 5: method
Sentence 6: results
Sentence 7: results
 • Genres in AW:
• ESSAYS: descriptive, argumentative, cause
and effect, problem solution, others.
• REPORTS: laboratory, business,
educational, cultural, etc.
• OTHER GENDERS: dissertations/theses,
SUMMARY book reviews, posters, etc.

• GENRE ELEMENTS:
• Abstracts
• Literature review
 Assessment 1

17 – 21 October

Announcements Asynchronic activity

Aula virtual

Examine abstracts