How To Participate

Role of Faculty Sponsor - URS Faculty Sponsor PPT

Before submitting your project's abstract for consideration, you'll first need to have a faculty advisor. You'll need to provide us with your faculty advisor's name, division, and email address when you submit your abstract. If you completed your project for a class, you should start by asking the professor for that class to serve as your advisor. Alternatively, you could ask another professor you've worked with to serve as your advisor. Or, you could contact us at UndergraduateResearch@tcc.fl.edu to have a faculty advisor assigned to you.

Choose one of six format options to submit your presentation:

ABSTRACT WRITING GUIDELINES

Your abstract is a short description (150 words) of what you did and learned from your research project. Think of it like a movie trailer. It should leave the reader eager to learn more but knowledgeable enough to grasp the scope of your work.  It should be interesting, informative, and written for a broad audience.  Don’t assume the reader knows why your work is significant.

Students must submit in the form below, a one-page typed abstract (150-word limit)

Abstract Title (LIMITED TO 15 WORDS)
The title of your abstract should describe what your project is about. Titles are about 10 to 15 words long. It is important to use language that a lay person can understand.  Avoid using jargon.  The title should not be too vague or too broad. It should indicate what was studied, not the results or conclusions.

Example: “Gender Differences in the Expression of Depression by Early Adolescent Children of Alcoholics.”

Abstract Content (LIMITED TO 150 WORDS)

• Introduction: (1-3 sentences)
• Explicitly state what the study investigated (Purpose of Study)
• Explicitly state why it is important (Rationale for Study)—practical value or application and meaning to the real world, justifies the need (answers the “so what?” question)
• Example: The purpose of this study was to explore whether there are significant differences in White racial identity attitudes between white students who have lived with Black roommates and those who lack such interaction. While understanding the differences in racial identity attitudes are important factors in anti-racism interventions, little information is currently known.
• Body: (1-3 sentences)
• Summarize how you did your project (Methods)
• Describe the subjects and how many participated
• Describe the most important physical steps (methods) used to investigate the problem (how data was collected)
• Example: The survey consisted of 5 multiple-choice questions and 10 questions that the respondents had to answer with a 7-point Likert scale. The aim was to conduct the survey with 350 students enrolled at TCC. Participants were given 5 minutes to fill in the survey anonymously, and 408 customers responded. Because not all surveys were fully completed, 371 survey results were included in the analysis.
• Example: Analyzed three novels, completed a series of five oil paintings, interviewed 17 students, etc.
• Describe the anticipated results (or actual results if you have them)
• Results and Conclusion: (1-3 sentences)

NOTE: Any errors that appear in the submitted abstract will also appear in Undergraduate Research Symposium program and abstract booklet.

When the URC Committee receives the abstract and confirms faculty advisor approval, it will forward the abstracts to a panel of faculty reviewers for evaluation based on the criteria and standards specific to the academic category.

View a Sample Abstract.