Abstract writing is absolutely not a new thing. Scholars used to jot down a summary of their research in the XVII century. Since then, this writing has been of great value to others. It lets readers learn the context and message of the text in a couple of minutes. How to write an abstract for a dissertation? Why do universities demand it from their students? Read the article to master this piece of writing like a pro.
Things to Know First
What is a dissertation or thesis? It is a voluminous paper that covers an essential topic in a specific scientific field. It is always detailed with lots of facts and evidence. A researcher provides a serious literature review to provide a grounded research basis. As a result, a paper can take up 100-200 pages. Can one read it in the blink of an eye? No. That is why the thesis and dissertation require a summary.
So, the purpose of a traditional abstract is to inform the target reader about the key findings of a researcher. Due to that, professors understand what value their students managed to present in their writing. Consequently, this part of a thesis or dissertation must be as informative as possible. A writer must have the required knowledge background and possess good-level writing skills.
Below, one can find information about all the steps to take to write a dissertation abstract.
Details to Keep in Mind when Writing a Dissertation Abstract
When chiefs cook something, they use a recipe. Besides, they add their imagination and personal preferences to improve the taste of the dish. Students should do the same when preparing a dissertation abstract.
Below, one can find a recipe for a tasty thesis abstract.
- Read your thesis or dissertation and retell it briefly. Use 100-200 words maximum.
- Add essentials to your resume.
- Stay objective by using third-person viewpoint writing.
- Delete or replace words that complicate the reading and general comprehension of the text.
- Be specific and avoid generalizing.
- Keep to the assigned format. Your mentor should provide it when assigning the task.
- Include keywords that mirror the essence of your paper.
- Delete things that can be avoided to prevent information overload.
- Think of a publishing source (a newspaper, a magazine, or some online website) where your writing can meet recognition.
- Double-check the given data to avoid misinterpretation and fakes.
- Address only reputable sources to introduce the existing knowledge concerning the dissertation or thesis topic and its gaps.
- Avoid slang and words that non-English speaking readers may not understand. Clarity is your everything.
This list reflects the requirements for a good abstract but it does not tell how to write a dissertation summary. Except for the recipe with the ingredients, one needs a step-by-step guide.
ABC Guide to Dissertation Abstract Writing
This is a guide that can help beginners write a good dissertation abstract. Senior students can use it not to forget essential things and create a stunning PhD thesis summary. So, how to create a descriptive abstract?
Step 1. Analyze your target reader’s expectations
Each research paper has its target reader. It can be a student, an educator, or another researcher. Thanks to this analysis, writers know what topic to research or what language to use. There is no need to analyze and reflect things that the target audience already knows. One should search for an idea that can intrigue them.
Step 2. Introduce your methods
It is impossible to write a quality paper without properly selected research methods. Here, one explains what writers did to collect the required information and facts. Some researchers use advanced tools and equipment. Research methodology can involve qualitative and quantitative methods. One can experiment, and another one can observe and describe.
The chosen research methodology must be to the point. The selected methods must help researchers gather unique data or analyze it on a good level. This part describes the path of the writer from the literature review to the unique discovery.
If a person researched alone, this section should include such expressions like “when I analyzed the article by…” or “when I was interviewing …”. If it was teamwork, the narration should sound like “we managed to find out …”, “our observation”, “we created the diagram to introduce our findings in numbers”, and others.
Such expressions do not sound abstract. They mirror a writer’s involvement, expertise, applied methodology, and contribution.
Step 3. Highlight your outcomes
These sentences are the most important for mentors. First, teachers evaluate the dissertation topic and the problem their students want to research. Then, they track their progress. Yet, the most significant part for them is the final result. The outcomes demonstrate the quality of their students’ efforts. They show if the selected methods were chosen correctly.
Eventually, writers should do their best to write this information in the best way possible. The readers must understand that the conducted research is vital and the paper deserves their attention. Only this part can make them read the whole dissertation or thesis.
Step 4. Write introductory sentences
It might sound and look weird that this is only the fourth step, not the first one. Nevertheless, it is hard to predict the outcome of the research. When a person writes a dissertation or thesis, the investigation can lead a writer to different results. That is why the introduction is better to write in the end. It must be brief, catchy, and convincing. There must be no biased opinions or dual positions.
As a rule, a usual custom dissertation writing service uses various hooks in this part. This can be one of the following approaches.
- A joke. This approach is a rare thing but still, it occurs. Such a joke usually reflects the core idea or objectives of the paper. It cheers up the readers and welcomes them to reading without excessive seriousness.
- A citation. This approach connects readers with someone who has already researched the topic. One should choose a respectful person whose words bear credibility and trust.
- A rhetorical question. When writers ask their readers a question that has no answers they catch their attention. Readers demand the answer and start reading the paper to solve the puzzle.
- A fact. This is the most popular tool for introduction hooks. Thesis papers must be credible and carry useful discoveries or innovations. Yet, numbers are always impressive and convincing.
All in all, the introductory part must strike the target reader with unique information that they can hardly find in other sources.
Step 5. Discuss the results
Finally, one must answer the question, “How does anyone benefit from the information I have found and presented here?” Researchers must tell where their outcomes can be used. The findings can be useful for other research activities and specific needs of people.
There can be theoretical and practical applications of the findings. For example, other students can use this information for their investigation and continue their studies. Speaking about practical application, a thesis must concern such disciplines as Biology, Physics, Chemistry, etc. For example, a dissertation about the healing qualities of some herbs can be applied in medicine, biology, pharmacology, and related life areas.
Such an application is long-term. It has nothing to do with now or never issues. So, a research paper must concern significant research ideas.
Step 6. Check the informational structure
Unlike traditional intro-body-conclusion writing, an abstract structure includes only such contextual parts:
- Overview of the aims and topic
- Methods used in research
- Results and findings
- Discussion of the findings
This paper does not require specific structural formatting. It does not have headings and subheadings. The word limit lets a writer only summarize ideas and evaluate personal contributions. Its main job is to answer the question, “Why is my thesis abstract better than other abstracts”?
