Abstracts

Writing Guidelines for Abstracts

Your abstract should be one paragraph of 200–300 words. It should include:

• • • • • • • • • a title

                • aim of paper

                • context of this paper within your overall research

                • why your topic is important (politically and/or academically)

                • how your work fits in and differs from other work in the field

                • methodological context of your argument (what you have done/what you are doing to develop your ideas)

                • the main argument* or ideas you will address in this paper

                • and finally, (for those in an advanced stage of their research) conclusions, challenges, contradictions

*The argument should form the main part of the abstract (there should be less emphasis on the background problem and more emphasis on your research practice – aims or findings, depending on the stage you are at).

Identify specific challenges you are facing with your research now, and consider how this is part of the process of doctoral research, and what you could usefully discuss with others.

For instance:

• Second years may want to focus on practical issues around fieldwork; OR perhaps the complications of analysis, OR theorising.

• Third years may want to focus on particular intellectual questions raised by their research.

If you would like to discuss an idea further or have any questions, contact one of the organising team members on cws.sisterhood@gmail.com.