Abstract Writing
• An abstract is a short summary of a longer work (such as a thesis, dissertation or
research paper). The abstract concisely reports the aims and outcomes of your
research, so that readers know exactly what your paper is about.
• (“Thesis” and “dissertation” are sometimes used interchangeably, but their definitions
differ per country. In the US, a dissertation generally refers to the collection of research
you conducted to obtain a PhD. In other countries (such as the UK), a dissertation often
refers to the research you conduct to obtain your bachelor’s or master’s degree.)
• Although the structure may vary slightly depending on your discipline, your abstract
should describe the purpose of your work, the methods you’ve used, and the
conclusions you’ve drawn.
• Abstracts are usually around 100–300 words, but there’s often a strict
word limit, so make sure to check the relevant requirements.
• In a dissertation or thesis, include the abstract on a separate page,
after the title page and acknowledgements but before the table of
contents.
When to write an abstract
• You will almost always have to include an abstract 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’s easiest to write your abstract last, right before the proofreading
stage, because it’s a summary of the work you’ve already done. Your
abstract should:
• Be a self-contained text, not an excerpt from your paper
• Be fully understandable on its own
• Reflect the structure of your larger work
Step 1: Introduction
• Start by clearly defining the purpose of your research. What practical or theoretical problem
does the research respond to, or what research question did you aim to answer?
• You can include some brief context on the social or academic relevance of your dissertation
topic, but don’t go into detailed background information. If your abstract uses specialized
terms that would be unfamiliar to the average academic reader or that have various different
meanings, give a concise definition.
• After identifying the problem, state the objective of your research. Use verbs like “investigate,”
“test,” “analyze,” or “evaluate” to describe exactly what you set out to do.
• This part of the abstract can be written in the present or past simple tense but should never
refer to the future, as the research is already complete.
• X This study will investigate the relationship between coffee consumption and productivity.
• This study investigates the relationship between coffee consumption and productivity.
Step 2: Methods
• Next, indicate the research methods that you used to answer your
question. This part should be a straightforward description of what you
did in one or two sentences. It is usually written in the past simple tense,
as it refers to completed actions.
• X Structured interviews will be conducted with 25 participants.
• Structured interviews were conducted with 25 participants.
• Don’t evaluate validity or obstacles here—the goal is not to give an
account of the methodology’s strengths and weaknesses, but to give the
reader a quick insight into the overall approach and procedures you used.
Step 3: Results
• Next, summarize the main research results. This part of the abstract can be in the
present or past simple tense.
• X Our analysis has shown a strong correlation between coffee consumption and
productivity.
• Our analysis shows a strong correlation between coffee consumption and
productivity.
• Our analysis showed a strong correlation between coffee consumption and
productivity.
• Depending on how long and complex your research is, you may not be able to
include all results here. Try to highlight only the most important findings that will
allow the reader to understand your conclusions.
Step 4: Discussion
• Finally, you should discuss the main conclusions of your research: what is your answer to the
problem or question? The reader should finish with a clear understanding of the central point
that your research has proved or argued. Conclusions are usually written in the present simple
tense.
• X We concluded that coffee consumption increases productivity.
• We conclude that coffee consumption increases productivity.
• If there are important limitations to your research (for example, related to your sample size or
methods), you should mention them briefly in the abstract. This allows the reader to
accurately assess the credibility and generalizability of your research.
• If your aim was to solve a practical problem, your discussion might include recommendations
for implementation. If relevant, you can briefly make suggestions for further research.
• Keywords
• If your paper will be published, you might have to add a list of
keywords at the end of the abstract. These keywords should reference
the most important elements of the research to help potential
readers find your paper during their own literature searches.
• Be aware that some publication manuals, such as APA Style, have
specific formatting requirements for these 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. Results and
Discussion
• Keywords: silent movies, immigration, public discourse, entertainment, early cinema,
language barriers.
• To keep your abstract or summary short and clear:
• Avoid passive sentences: Passive constructions are often unnecessarily long. You
can easily make them shorter and clearer by using the active voice.
• Avoid long sentences: Substitute longer expressions for concise expressions or
single words (e.g., “In order to” for “To”).
• Avoid obscure jargon: The abstract should be understandable to readers who are
not familiar with your topic.
• Avoid repetition and filler words: Replace nouns with pronouns when possible
and eliminate unnecessary words.
• Avoid detailed descriptions: An abstract is not expected to provide detailed
definitions, background information, or discussions of other scholars’ work. Instead,
include this information in the body of your thesis or paper.
