What Is an Abstract in Writing and Composition

An abstract is a brief overview of the key points of an article, report, thesis, or proposal. Positioned at the head of a paper, the abstract is usually the first thing that individuals read and, as such, decide whether to continue reading the article or report, wrote Dan W. Butin in his book The Education Dissertation. It is also what is most accessed by search engines and researchers conducting their own literature reviews (2010). The abstract is also called a synopsis or an executive summary (especially in business writing). What a Good Abstract Contains An abstract serves the purpose of summarizing your research or making your case for a project (or grant funding) to be awarded to you. It should encapsulate the most important information that the paper or proposal will present. In the case of obtaining grants or bids, that could include why your firm or organization is the best for the job or award. Present your company as the solution to the problem. If youre summarizing research, youll want to mention your methodology behind how you tackled the question or problem and your basic conclusion. Its not like writing a news lead—you dont want to tease your readers with unanswered questions to get them to read the article. You want to hit the high points so that readers will know that your in-depth research is just what they are seeking out, without reading the whole piece at that moment. Tips on Writing an Abstract The abstract may not be what you write first, as it might be easiest to summarize your whole paper after its been completed. You could draft it from your outline, but youll want to double-check later that you have included the most important points from your article and that theres nothing in the abstract that you decided not to include in your report. The abstract is a summary and shouldnt have anything in it thats not in the paper itself. Neither is it the same as the introduction to your report, which sets out your thesis and your aims. The abstract also contains information about your conclusion. There are two types of abstracts, descriptive or informative. The Handbook of Technical Writing explains it this way: Abstract Length An abstract is not overly long. Mikael Berndtsson and colleagues advise, A typical [informative] abstract is about 250-500 words. This is not more than 10-20 sentences, so you will obviously have to choose your words very carefully to cover so much information in such a condensed format. (Mikael Berndtsson, et al.,  Thesis Projects: A Guide for Students in Computer Science and Information Systems, 2nd ed. Springer-Verlag, 2008.) If you can hit all the high points in fewer words—if youre just writing a descriptive abstract—dont add extra just to reach 250 words, of course. Unnecessary detail doesnt do you or your reviewers any favors. Also, the proposal requirements or the journal that you wish to be published in may have length requirements. Always follow guidelines youve received, as even minor errors can cause your paper or grant request to be rejected. Sources Jennifer Evans,  Your Psychology Project: The Essential Guide. Sage, 2007.David  Gilborn, quoted by Pat Thomson and Barbara Kamler in  Writing for Peer-Reviewed Journals: Strategies for Getting Published. Routledge, 2013.Sharon J. Gerson and Steven M. Gerson,  Technical Writing: Process and Product. Pearson, 2003Gerald J. Alred, Charles T. Brusaw, and Walter E. Oliu,  Handbook of Technical Writing. Bedford/St. Martins, 2006Robert Day and Barbara Gastel,  How to Write and Publish a Scientific Paper, 7th ed. Cambridge University Press, 2012.

The Ethics Of The Sarbanes Oxley Act - 1497 Words

Currently, the credibility crisis in the accounting industry has become a serious worldwide problem. Especially in recent years, credibility scandals stacked, such as the Enron Scandal the company kept huge debts off the balance sheets, it makes shareholders lost $74 billion, after this there are also the WorldCom Scandal in 2002, the company underreported costs and inflated revenues with fake accounting entries, total inflated assets by $11 billion, and $3.8 billion of revenue fraud (Moberg Romar). In the United States, the recent series of scandals caused by large companies makes the society become negative toward the markets, in order to restore public confidence in the markets. Within weeks of the scandal, Congress passed the†¦show more content†¦There are three kind of financial statements for companies which the content reflected different information. Among them, the first is the balance sheet, this statement reflects the financial situation of enterprises. For examp le, some of the listed companies wants to reflect good financial position in the statement, they will want to increase total assets, decrease accrued total liabilities, and then of course increase owners equity, making investors mistakenly believe the company has great investment value, thereby misleading public opinion and investors. Beside the balance sheet the other two financial statements are the income statement and cash flow statement. These two statements reflect the business situation of enterprises. The income statement is an important indicator to measure the performance of listed companies, it is closely related to the allotment and the profit. Therefore, in order to increase the profits of listed companies, they will have to Increase revenue, earnings, decrease expenses, costs and losses (Temte, 73). It helped increase tax evasion, embezzlement and other economic criminal activities. A large number of cases being investigated, all related to the accountants making the fake accounting entries. Therefore, the accounting credibility loss has restricted the development of the market economy. In a business, accountant often times handle the tax problem, so if

Sociology and Family Members Free Essays

Family SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology Instructor: Sheila Farr November, 12th 2012 The sociological institutions I have chosen for this paper is family. â€Å"The family is the first group of people with whom the child has contact, and they are the most important, especially in the early years. They provide food, shelter, care, education, and support. We will write a custom essay sample on Sociology and Family Members or any similar topic only for you Order Now They describe and define the world to the developing child. They teach values, morals, and beliefs. † (Vissing, 2011) A person is defined by the family and they are taught how to live a certain way, but as they grow up society start to influence their decisions. In this paper I will evaluate the impact Sociological theories: Functionalism, Conflict, and Interactionism, will have on a family. How does each theory apply to the selected sociological institution? â€Å"The family is regarded as the most basic institution for all individuals because it is directly responsible for the care and protection of its members. The family consists of people who are biologically related but may also contain people with whom we live and people with whom we have close emotional bonds. (Vissing, 2011) The way Functionalism applies to a family is functionalist sociologists developed an analysis which showed that the family had evolved into a superior form. Studies by Murdock, Goode, and others were able to show that the family, in changing its form, had been left free to concentrate on the most important functions. Parsons (1956) saw the two most important functions to be the socialization of the young and the stabilization of the adult personality. â€Å"Th e functionalist view of the family is the notion of ‘fit’. The isolated nuclear family was seen to be a good ‘fit’ for post-war American society. The family had been left free to make a good job of rearing the children, with more ‘professional’ parents working alongside teachers and childcare experts. The family was also able to concentrate on the demanding relationship between husband and wife. The family provided both the child and the adult with the physical and emotional support needed for their roles in society. It also provided the motivation to be successful in an industrial world which laid stress on achievement by individual effort. The functionalist account of the positive role of the family in society coincided with a period of strong public support for the American family. Berger and Berger (1983) argue that this was a period when the American family was seen as a success, particularly in the way it placed the needs of the individual at the heart of family life. † (Wilson, A, (1985) pg. 21) The way Conflict applies to a family is the conflict role can be intense and uncomfortable, as people feel forced to make choices between work and family. Relatives may be upset when major conflicts occurs such as â€Å"financial pressures and money management; trying to balance home, work, community, and personal responsibilities; infidelity; decision making and conflict resolution; dealing with health problems; addressing personal, educational, and occupational needs of family members; maintaining a home and household; dealing with substance abuse, crime, or domestic violence problems; co-parenting; divorce and stepfamilies; and dealing with aging parents. A family shoulders a tremendous responsibility and usually requires assistance from others as a result. For some people work may come first and may be seen as a violation of the role of being a dedicated family member. Individuals may feel a sense of being â€Å"damned if I do, damned if I don’t,† no matter what they end up doing. Often work comes first because responsible adults feel that they cannot care for their family if they lose their job. When people feel important at work and home, they have a greater sense of generatively; when they do not feel valued or do work that isn’t inherently meaningful, the feelings of stagnation and alienation occur. When people feel competent and happy, the systems perspective holds that they may transfer those feelings to other areas of life, whereas when people feel stagnant and hopeless, those feelings likewise impact other aspects of their personal world. The way Interactionism applies to a family, Symbolic interaction theory analyzes society by addressing the subjective meanings that people impose on behaviors. A close emotional bond exists with them, what they think of us really matters, especially in the early years when children are being socialized to understand both themselves and their place in the world. † (Vissing, 2011) What are the similarities? What are the differences? The similarities between the theories are how they affect a family as a whole. Functionalism impact the functionality of family when everyone doing their part and there are no problems and, Conflict affects the family relationship as a whole, and Interactionism affects how the family interact with one another and other people. The differences between the theories are, functionalism is about the morals and values that are taught to a family to help them thrive in society, Conflict is based on outside influence that impact the family, and interactionism focuses on the behaviors family members pick up from socializing with different groups of people. How does each theory affect the views of the individual who is part of a family? Functionalism affects the views of the as a whole family, each individual person plays a role in how the family functions in society. Conflict affects the views of the individual because that person will struggle for to be heard, they will disagree and their actions will cause stress in the family. Interactionism affects the views of individual because they are learning new things as they socialize with others. They may start to act and dress differently and do things they never done before. How does each theory affect the approach to social change within the selected institution? Functionalism, see social changes as undesirable because of the various parts of society will compensate naturally for any problems that may arise. The way they approach social change is by not taking an active role in changes in their social environment, if things are going good they like for it to stay that way. Even if the family can benefit from the changes, they don’t won’t to run the risk of causing problems for themselves or their family. The family prefers to let the changes happen naturally without interfering. Conflict, approach to social change is by putting the changes into perspective. The social conflict can have a positive impact, when properly understood, in promoting groups to find common ground, form alliances, define core values, and identify the differences. Interactionism, approach to social change in family is people can chose to embrace the morals and values they were taught or reject them. Every individual has their own set of beliefs in a family and these beliefs are exercised depending on the individual. Family unit does not operate as a collective, even though it is believed to do so. Each individual in the family has different values that are attributed to age, associations, values, etc. A child could have complete different view on a particular subject than their parents. Within the Sociological institution selected, how does each theory affect the views of society? Functionalism, view society as functioning best when there is agreement about the social values and norms. â€Å"Conflict can have a positive impact on society views, when properly understood, in promoting groups to find common ground, form alliances, define core values, and identify the differences. † (Harper, N) Interactionism, society imposes a different set of values that can influence family member to do things different from the norm. To conclude, each theory has a different impact on a family. They each give insight into how society impacts a family and individual members. As person venture in the world they start to see things in different way. Functionalism is believed to focus on the family being close and being in agreement on thing. They appear to have no problem cause of the agreement to not interact with any changes and just to let them happen and go with the flow. â€Å"From a functionalist point of view, the family may change form and be quite diverse in its composition, but families have always existed and will continue to exist because what they do is so important. Children are born to people who will love and care for them, and are socialized about how to care for themselves and be a productive member of society. Families are the link to most of the other institutions. † Conflict, causes a family to weight the pros and cons of different situations because the child is now older and they are influenced by what they see from other social institutions. â€Å"From a conflict approach, families may not receive the support or assistance they need to adequately do all the things that are required of them. Some families function well, many need help, and other families are fragile or dysfunctional. The ability of the family to function depends on how the rest of the institutions interface with them. Conflict theorists acknowledge that the family cannot adequately do its job without contributions from the other social institutions. † Interactionism, is about the habits family members pick up from socializing and being apart and around different groups of people. â€Å"Symbolic interactionists focus on the messages that family members receive and impart to each other. Since the family is in the position of having the most intense interactions when children’s identities and bodies are being formed, what they say and do will have a significant impact on them (Cherlin, 2009; Benokratis, 2010; Lamanna Riedmann, 2011). † (Vissing, 2011) Reference: Harper, N. Journeys into Justice Retrieved from: http://www. journeysintojustice. com/author. htm Vissing, Y. (2011) Introduction to Sociology. Salem State University. Bridgepoint Education, Inc. Wilson, Adrian. Family. Routledge, 1985. p 21. Retrieved from: http://site. ebrary. com/lib/ashford/Doc? id=5003764ppg=31 How to cite Sociology and Family Members, Essay examples

Murray Siskind Wise Man Or Raving Mad Essay Example For Students

Murray Siskind: Wise Man Or Raving Mad? Essay Is Murray Siskind a raving lunatic or a wise, but somewhat eccentric man? Does he ever have a point, or is he just mindlessly rambling? Hes neither of those things. The first impression he gives is of someone whos in between, but that proves not to be the case. Hes actually a very cunning man, one who has become the devil voice of Jack Gladneys conscience. Eventually hed like to become Jack. He covets not only his position and standing in the university, but also his wife, Babette, and he makes no secret of it. Why else would he do something to lewd as to sniff her hair and grope her the way he does? He tells Jack that the only way to seduce a woman is with clear and open desire. Well, it dont get no clearer than that. All those things become apparent later on. First, we find out who Murray Jay Siskind is. Hes an ex-sportswriter from New York. Hes Jewish. He was briefly married once during his sportswriter days. We know he is now a visiting lecturer on living icons at College-on-the- Hill. Physically, he is a stoop shouldered man with little round glasses and an Amish beard (DeLillo 10). Hes hairy, but does not have a moustache, only a beard. He dresses almost entirely in corduroy. He likes his men simple and his women complicated. He is trying to develop a vulnerability that women will find attractive (DeLillo 21), but so far has only managed to create sneaky and lecherous expression. For him, sex seems very matter-of-fact, like a business transaction. Just flat out lust. He even reads a magazine called American Transvestite. Murray is, by his own admission, a solitary crank who marrons himself with a TV set and dozens of stacks of dust-jacketed comic books (DeLillo 52). He shares a house across the street from an insane asylum with boarders who seem like they ought to be confined there too. Not that he minds, though. Hes totally captivated and intrigued totally enamored of the small town setting (DeLillo 10). At first, Murray seems like a deep person with interesting quirks (he takes pleasure in sniffing food labels in the supermarket). Hes deeper than the other pop culture professors who read nothing but cereal boxes and have food fights while discussing the culture of public toilets and reminiscing where they were when James Dean died. Murray has theories. Lots of theories. In an odd way, some of them make sense. For example, when he visits The Most Photographed Barn in America with Jack, he assesses that visitors no longer SEE the barn, because theyve been blinded by signs announcing the barn. They se e an image of what they think the barn should be but they cant see the plain old barn. The barn could be compared with a human celebrity they are never seen for their real selves, rather theyre seen for what the public wants to see. It makes sense. Murray thinks very highly of kids. Small kids, to be exact. He tells his college students theyre less targetable by advertisers and mass producers of culture. Kids are a true universal (DeLillo 50). Thats certainly true today just turn on the radio for proof. The Backstreet Boys and N Sync definitely arent aiming themselves at the 18 to 49 demographic, are they? This is the society of kids (DeLillo 49), he tells us. Kids have innocence! According to Murray, the reason Jack feels so comfortable with stepson Wilder is because Wilder is free from limits. He has no concept of life and death. He isnt terrified of dying, as he proved when he peddled out across a busy expressway. He doesnt know hes going to die. He doesnt know death at all. Yo u cherish this simpleton blessing of his, this exemption from harm. You want to get close to him, touch him, look at him, breathe him in. How lucky he is. A cloud of unknowing, an omnipotent little person. The child is everything, the adult nothing A persons entire life is the unraveling of this conflict (DeLillo 289-290). Jack Gladneys fear of death really intensifies after hes told by the SIMUVAC man that he has a deadly virus inside him in essence, he has DEATH inside of him. He could die but the death will still thrive in the ground. And its from this point that Murrays true self begins to surface. Knowing Jack is vulnerable and despondent, Murray begins to brainwash him. Jack uses his Hitler studies to shield himself from his fear of death. Murray digs it out and forces Jack to admit that his attempt is dumb. He then tells Jack that fear is unnatural and is supposed to be repressed. Except Jack apparently doesnt know how to repress things! Interestingly, this is exactly opposi te of what Jack was told by Winnie Richards: I think its a mistake to lose ones sense of death, even ones fear of death. Isnt death the boundary we need? (DeLillo 228). Prior to his finding out about his poisoning, Jack decides that plotting is a means toward death, not a way to escape it. All plots move deathward. This is the nature of plots we edge nearer death every time we plot (DeLillo 26), he tells his students. Murray naturally disagrees To plot is to live (DeLillo 291). In fact, Murrays plan of avoiding death is to plot someone elses death! I believe there are two kinds of people in the world. Killers and diers. Most of us are diers. We dont have the disposition, the rage or whatever it takes to be a killer. We let death happen. We lie down and die. But think what its like to be a killer. Think how exciting it is, in theory, to kill a person in direct confrontation. If he dies, then you cannot. To kill him is to gain life-credit. The more people you kill, the more credit yo u store up (DeLillo 290). .u516674ad7d65884ace775206b376c615 , .u516674ad7d65884ace775206b376c615 .postImageUrl , .u516674ad7d65884ace775206b376c615 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u516674ad7d65884ace775206b376c615 , .u516674ad7d65884ace775206b376c615:hover , .u516674ad7d65884ace775206b376c615:visited , .u516674ad7d65884ace775206b376c615:active { border:0!important; } .u516674ad7d65884ace775206b376c615 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u516674ad7d65884ace775206b376c615 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u516674ad7d65884ace775206b376c615:active , .u516674ad7d65884ace775206b376c615:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u516674ad7d65884ace775206b376c615 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u516674ad7d65884ace775206b376c615 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u516674ad7d65884ace775206b376c615 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u516674ad7d65884ace775206b376c615 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u516674ad7d65884ace775206b376c615:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u516674ad7d65884ace775206b376c615 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u516674ad7d65884ace775206b376c615 .u516674ad7d65884ace775206b376c615-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u516674ad7d65884ace775206b376c615:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: School Ties - The Code Of Honor EssayJack is like a bucket. Murray dumps out the fragments of Jacks mind and fills it with his own devious thoughts. Jack is not a killer, and under normal circumstances Jack would never have been a killer. Murray is a killer, if just psychologically. He proves it once and for all when he forces Jack to elicit the truths he already possess (DeLillo 293), that a dier can become a killer. He disguises himself Im only a visiting lecturer. I theorize, I take walks, I admire trees and houses (DeLillo 293), and prefaces nearly every sentence with in theory or theoretically but he knows what the outcome will be. When Jack shoots Willie Mink, Murra y is as guilty as if he pulled the trigger himself. Murray probably hoped Jack would be sent to prison for shooting Willie, freeing up Babette for himself. I stated in the beginning that Murray was cunning. People who are cunning possess a strong ability to mesmerize and manipulate. They can, on some levels, seem very logical. Hitler is often described as a cunning man. Murray is not wise. Murray is bad. He manipulated minds, he played with peoples lives. In hindsight none of it worked out in his favor, but that doesnt change that facts. It was an evil thing to do. Words/ Pages : 1,222 / 24