ABSTRACT

What is an Abstract
An abstract is a concise summary of a longer work (such as a thesis, dissertation, or research
paper). It briefly presents the aims and outcomes of the research, enabling readers to
understand the focus of the work.
Although its structure may vary slightly depending on the discipline, an abstract should
describe the purpose of the research, the methods employed, and the results conclusions
reached.
When to Write an Abstract
An abstract is typically written when:
 Completing a thesis or dissertation
 Submitting a research paper to an academic journal
 Writing a book or research proposal
 Applying for research grants
It is most effective to write the abstract last, just before the proofreading stage, as it is a
summary of completed work.
Main Features and Structure of an Abstract
An abstract should:
 Be a self-contained text, not an excerpt from the full paper/dissertation/thesis
 Be understandable on its own
 Reflect the structure of the full work
One common structure used for abstracts is IMRaD:
 Introduction
 Methods
 Results
 Discussion
Abstracts are usually 100–300 words for journal articles and longer for theses. In a
dissertation or thesis, the abstract is typically presented on a separate page, following the title
page and acknowledgements but preceding the table of contents. In some cases, the abstract is
submitted separately for review by the research committee. In most academic contexts,
an abstract does not include subheadings. It is typically written as a single,
concise paragraph that summarizes the key elements of the research—
purpose, methods, results, and conclusions—without breaking it into
labeled sections.
 The abstract should begin by clearly stating the research purpose. It should identify the
practical or theoretical problem addressed or the primary research question.
Some brief context regarding the social or academic relevance of the topic may be included,
but detailed background information should be avoided. If specialized terms with multiple
meanings are used, concise definitions should be provided.
Once the problem is identified, the research objective should be stated using verbs such as
“investigate,” “test,” “analyze,” or “evaluate.”
Language used for writing Abstract
This section may be written in the present or past simple tense but should not refer to future
actions, as the research is already completed.
Examples:
 This study investigates the relationship between coffee consumption and productivity.
 This study investigated the relationship between coffee consumption and productivity.

The second thing to write is about methods used. This section should describe the methods
used to answer the research question in one or two concise sentences. It is generally written
in the past simple tense, reflecting completed actions.
Example:
 Structured interviews were conducted with 25 participants.
The abstract should not evaluate the methodology or discuss its strengths and limitations. The
aim is to provide a clear overview of the approach and procedures used.

After methods results are written. This section summarizes the main research findings. The
present or past simple tense may be used.
Examples:
 The analysis shows a strong correlation between coffee consumption and productivity.
 The analysis showed a strong correlation between coffee consumption and
productivity.
Depending on the complexity of the research, not all results need to be included—only the
most significant findings that convey the core message should be highlighted.
The abstract should conclude with the main findings and their implications. It should answer
the original research question or problem. This section is typically written in the present
simple tense.
Examples:
 The study concludes that coffee consumption increases productivity.
  It is concluded that coffee consumption increases productivity.
Important research limitations (e.g., sample size or methodological constraints) should be
briefly mentioned to enable an accurate assessment of the research’s credibility and
generalizability.
If the research addresses a practical problem, this section might include recommendations.
Suggestions for further research may also be offered, if relevant.

Keywords
If the paper is intended for publication, keywords should be listed at the end of the abstract.
These should reflect the central concepts of the research to improve discoverability.
Note: Style guides such as APA may have specific formatting requirements for keywords.

Example: Humanities thesis abstract

This paper examines the role of silent movies as a mode of shared experience in the US
during the early twentieth century. At this time, high immigration rates resulted in a
significant percentage of non-English-speaking citizens. These immigrants faced numerous
economic and social obstacles, including exclusion from public entertainment and modes of
discourse (newspapers, theater, radio).

Incorporating evidence from reviews, personal correspondence, and diaries, this study
demonstrates that silent films were an affordable and inclusive source of entertainment. It
argues for the accessible economic and representational nature of early cinema. These
concerns are particularly evident in the low price of admission and in the democratic nature
of the actors’ exaggerated gestures, which allowed the plots and action to be easily grasped
by a diverse audience despite language barriers.

Keywords: silent movies, immigration, public discourse, entertainment, early cinema,

language barriers.
Not all abstracts contain the same elements. For longer works, reverse outlining may be used
to construct the abstract.
For each section or chapter, a list of keywords and a one- to two-sentence summary of the
central point should be drafted. These summaries can then be revised and connected to
develop the structure of the abstract.

Writing style for an abstract

A good abstract is brief but meaningful. Each sentence should communicate one key idea.
Tips:
 Use active voice instead of passive constructions for clarity and brevity.
 Replace lengthy phrases with concise expressions.
 Avoid technical jargon that may not be understood by general academic audiences.
 Eliminate redundancy and unnecessary filler words.
 Reserve detailed background or theoretical discussion for the body of the paper.