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Subject:Abstracts... From:Marilynne Smith <m -dot- smith182 -at- GENIE -dot- GEIS -dot- COM> Date:Thu, 30 Jun 1994 03:16:00 UTC
You shouldn't be puzzled about why you don't have the papers that are the
basis for your abstracts, you should request them, if possible. Lots of
people can't write a good abstract. If they don't give you enough
information, what can you do with it? Change the font?
If these papers will be published later, ask for a draft. At least you can
pick up content from that.
IMHO an abstract should tell you the type of information that the paper
contains and anything special about it. A good abstract is about 250 words.
Some journals just scissor it at 250 words, so be sure all the great stuff
is up front.
