Abstract Checklist

Basic Functions

  • The abstract file name is “lastname_keyword.rtf.”
  • File saved in Rich Text Format (.rtf) and not as a Word document.
  • The filename is NOT “MTL Report 2024.docx” (or any other year or file extension).
  • Image files are saved as separate files.
  • The first image file is named “lastname_keyword_01.jpg|eps|tiff” and subsequent figure files use this naming pattern.
  • Images are at least 1600 pixels in any dimension.

Procedural Checklist

  • Make a note of all sponsors or note that there are no sponsors.
  • Author names are listed with primary author first and principal investigator last.
  • Author names are given as initials with one space between two or more initials (i.e., “J. A. del Alamo” and not “J.A. del Alamo").
  • The article is written with the reader in mind.
  • Define all acronyms, abbreviations, and specialized terms.
  • All figures have captions.
  • Mention all figures within the article text (don’t use “fig” – spell out “Figure”).
  • Do not include citations, only a maximum three (3) “Further Reading” publications.
  • Use the correct reference format for the three “Further Reading” publications as shown below.
  • Information, conclusions, and recommendations are easy to access.
  • The article is concise and to the point.
  • The article is factual, descriptive, and objective.
  • Cover all the critical points.
  • Avoid inappropriate conjecture.

Proofread the Document for the Following:

  • Technical accuracy
  • Grammar
  • Consistency
  • Spelling
  • Punctuation
  • Word choice

Avoid Common Problems to Improve your Article

Avoid Passive Voice

ORIGINAL: The modified instrument designs were developed by the Glucose Monitor Group.

EDITED: The Glucose Monitor Group (GMG) developed the modified instrument designs.

Eliminate Deadwood and Roundabout Words and Expressions.

ORIGINAL: It is the purpose of this section of the report to discuss the increasing heat output of numeric co-processors.

EDITED: This section discusses the increasing heat output of numeric co-processors.

Avoid Doublings

ORIGINAL: We will discuss and explain any special factors and considerations in a separate report.

EDITED: We will discuss any special considerations in a separate report.

Simplify Complex Sentence Patterns

ORIGINAL: We have developed a testing method which consists of a set of uncomplicated, dependable, and economical bioassays that cover most significant toxic reactions that might be expected by which we can identify the toxicity of a sample without knowing its chemical contents.

EDITED: We developed a testing method to identify the toxicity of a sample, even if the chemical contents are unknown. The test’s bioassays are uncomplicated, dependable, and economical.

Keep Parallel Thought Parallel

ORIGINAL The T Cell statisticians were given training in organizing technical data and in how to present their conclusions.

EDITED The T Cell statisticians learned how to organize data and present conclusions.

Avoid Roundabout Expressions

Wordy | Improved

at the present time | now
by means of | with, by
due to the fact that | because, since
for the purpose of | for
in a number of cases | some
in relation to | toward, to
in the event of | if
in view of | because, since

Acronyms

  • Don’t use an acronym if it only appears once
  • Define the acronym the first time you use it

Reference Guidelines

Books

  • S. M. Hemmingsen, Soft Science. Saskatoon: University of Saskatchewan Press, 1997.
  • A. Rezi and M. Allam, "Techniques in Array Processing by Means of Transformations," Control and Dynamic Systems, vol. 69, Multidimensional Systems, C. T. Leondes,  Ed. San Diego: Academic Press, pp. 133-180, 1995.
  • D. Sarunyagate, Ed., Lasers. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1996.

Periodicals

  • G. Liu, K. Y. Lee, and H. F. Jordan, "TDM and TWDM de Bruijn Networks and Shufflenets for Optical Communications," IEEE Transactions on Computers, vol. 46, pp. 695-701, Jun. 1997.
  • J. R. Beveridge and E. M. Riseman, "How Easy is Matching 2D Line Models using Local Search?" IEEE Transactions on Pattern Analysis and Machine Intelligence, vol. 19, pp. 564-579, Jun. 1997.
  • J. L. Dawson and T. H. Lee, “Automatic Phase Alignment for a Fully Integrated Cartesian Feedback Power Amplifier System,” IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, vol. 38, no. 12, pp. 2269-2279, Dec. 2003.
  • S. J. Steinmuller, C. M. Gurtler, G. Wastlbauer, and J. A. Bland, “Separation of Electron Spin Filtering and Magnetic Circular Dichroism Effects in Photoexcitation Studies of Hybrid Ferromagnet/GaAs Schottky Barrier Structures,” Physical Review B, vol. 72, pp. 045301:1-5, Jul. 2005.
  • M. Coates, A. Hero, R. Nowak, and B. Yu, “Internet Tomography,” IEEE Signal Processing Magazine, to be published, May 2018.

Published in Conference Proceedings

  • N. Osifchin and G. Vau, "Power Considerations for the Modernization of Telecommunications in Central and Eastern European and Former Soviet Union (CEE/FSU) Countries," Second International Telecommunications Energy Special Conference, pp. 9-16, 1997.
  • S. Al Kuran, "The Prospects for GaAs MESFET Technology in DC-AC Voltage Conversion," Proc. Fourth Annual Portable Design Conference, pp. 137-142, 1997.

Presented at a Conference but not Published

  • H. A. Nimr, "Defuzzification of the Outputs of Fuzzy Controllers," presented at 5th International Conference on Fuzzy Systems, Cairo, Egypt, 1996.

To be Presented at Conference

  • T. Sepke, J. K. Fiorenza, C. G. Sodini, P. Holloway, and H.-S. Lee, “Comparator-based Switched-capacitor Circuits for Scaled CMOS Technologies,” to be presented at IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference, San Francisco, CA, Feb. 2006.

Published in Symposium Digest

  • D. D. Wentzloff and A. P. Chandrakasan, “A 3.1-10.6 GHz Ultra-wideband Pulse-shaping Mixer,” IEEE RFIC Symposium Digest of Papers, pp. 83-86, Jun. 2005.

Thesis

  • J. C. Lee, “Magnetic Flux Measurement of Superconducting Qubits with Josephson Inductors,” Master’s thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, 2002.

Online Resource

Author name. Site/document title. [Online]. Available: full web address (date of publication if available).

  • D. Arseneau. The url.sty package. [Online]. Available: http://www.ctan.org/tex-archive/macros/latex/contrib/other/misc/(Mar. 1999).
  • Computational, Optical, and Discharge Physics Group, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, "Hybrid Plasma Equipment Model: Inductively Coupled Plasma Reactive Ion Etching Reactors," http://uigelz.ece.uiuc.edu/Projects/HPEM-ICP/index.html (Dec. 1995).
  • D. Poelman (dirk_poelman [at] rug.ac.be), "Re: Question on Transformerless Power Supply," Usenet post to sci.electronics.design, Jul. 4, 1997.

Reports (Technical, Internal, Annual Report, Memoranda)

Provide number and month if available.

  • K. E. Elliott and C. M. Greene, "A Local Adaptive Protocol," Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, France, Tech. Rep. 916-1010-BB, 1997.
  • P. Mao, “Fabrication and Characterization of Nanofluidic Channels for Studying Molecular Dynamics in Confined Environments,” Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, Mechanical Engineering Annual Report, 2005.

Unpublished Lecture, Public Address, or Speech

Begin with the speaker, followed by the title (if any), the meeting (and sponsoring organization), the location, and the date. If it is untitled, use a descriptive label, such as Speech, with no quotation marks.

  • D. Graves, “When Bad Things Happen to Good Ideas,” National Council of Teachers of English Convention, St. Louis, Nov. 21, 1989.

Manual

  • Bell Telephone Laboratories Technical Staff, Transmission System for Communications, Bell Telephone Laboratories, 1995.

Class Notes

  • "Signal Integrity and Interconnects for High-speed Applications," class notes for ECE 497-JS, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Winter 1997.

Patents

  • K. Kimura and A. Lipeles, "Fuzzy Controller Component," U. S. Patent 14,860,040, Dec. 14, 1996.