In this post, I will discuss how to write a thesis abstract. In general, an abstract summarizes the key points and findings of a scientific publication. It is typically located at the beginning of the document and aims to provide readers with a concise and accurate overview of the study so that they can quickly determine whether it is relevant to their interests. Most of the tips that are discussed in this post can also be applied to other scientific publications, such as research articles.
Why write a thesis abstract?
An abstract is usually a compulsory element of a thesis or research article. Even though you have to write one, it helps if you understand why a good abstract is so important. A well-written thesis abstract can grab the attention of potential readers, encourage them to read your paper, and help them determine whether your research is relevant to their interests. Hence, your abstract should be a non-technical summary of your thesis, designed to inform and attract readers.
The format of a thesis abstract
There are usually specific regulations for writing your thesis abstract. Make sure to check whether there is a word limit or a specific format you have to use for the abstract. It usually consists of a single paragraph, without headings. It is common to have a word limit between 300 and 500 words, and abbreviations may not be allowed. The abstract should be somewhat non-technical, which means that the reader should be able to understand the abstract without having to read the full thesis.
When do you write the abstract?
The best moment to write an abstract is when the paper or thesis is finished. This is because the abstract should match the content of the thesis. If you write the abstract at an earlier stage, you might have to revise the abstract many times, which can be very time-consuming.
Three steps towards a good thesis abstract
Writing a good thesis abstract does not have to be difficult. Here are three steps you can take to make the process easy.
1. Copy-paste the most important sentences from your thesis
A good abstract is well-aligned with the content of the manuscript. To start writing your abstract, you can copy and paste a few key sentences from the main text. Below is a list of components that a good abstract should contain, and where you can find the key sentences. You should copy and paste relevant sentences and can edit them later.
- Short introduction
Pick 1-3 sentences from the introduction that explains the relevance and importance of your research. - Knowledge gap and objective
Identify what is not known yet, and what the aim of your study is. These sentences are usually found at the end of your introduction. Read more about the knowledge gap and objective here. - Methods
You may give a simplified explanation of your methods at the start of the Materials & Methods section, or perhaps at the start of your discussion. - Most important result(s)
Copy 1-3 sentences from the start of the Discussion section that summarize your most important results. - Conclusion
You can find a brief conclusion at the end of the Discussion, or in a separate section. Focus on the implications of your research, and leave out the details.
2. Revise the abstract
Now it’s time to revise the abstract. The goal is to create one single paragraph that has a clear structure and good flow. The sentences should be connected, so use plenty of transition words and old-new construction (more on this in a later post). The abstract should be clear by itself, without information from the main body of the text. You may have to rewrite, combine, add, or remove (parts of) some sentences. Edit the paragraph until you feel happy about it, or until you start making very small changes.
3. Wait, revise, and match with the requirements
After the first revision, put the document away and start working on something else (or take the rest of the day off ;)). Do not look at the abstract for a couple of days. This can be difficult, but it’s a very effective way to improve your writing. After a few days, read the abstract as if you did not write it yourself. Take the perspective of the reader. You will probably be able to make a couple of changes that improve the readability of the abstract. This is also a good moment to check the requirements and make sure that you do not exceed the word limit. Finally, let someone else read your abstract and ask for feedback. Ideally, this should be someone that has knowledge of the field but does not know about your thesis project.
You can repeat step 3 a couple of times until you are happy with your abstract. In the editing process, confirm that the abstract still matches the content of your thesis and that all important components are there (see step 1).
Conclusion
In conclusion, writing an abstract is an essential part of scientific writing. By following the tips in this post, you can write an effective thesis abstract in a limited amount of time. Your abstract will grab the attention of potential readers, encourage them to read your manuscript, and help them to determine whether your research is relevant to their interests. Remember to check the requirements of the abstract, use clear and simple language, and ask for feedback from others before finalizing. Good luck!
