Q: How to write an abstract for my thesis?
The abstract of a thesis or dissertation is a summary of the entire thesis and presents in a highly condensed form, the different sections or elements of your thesis. The abstract is a crucial part of your thesis as anyone who comes across your work will likely read the abstract first to decide whether your work will be worth reading. The examiner will also most likely read your abstract to form an idea about your thesis. Therefore, it is important that you spend time and effort to write a good abstract.
Since an abstract is essentially the summary of your entire thesis, it is best to write the abstract at the end, once you are done with the entire thesis. That way, you will have a clear idea of what each chapter of your thesis is about. The abstract of a thesis or dissertation is usually around 300-350 words long and is written in a separate page after the title page of the thesis.
The abstract of a thesis should include the following elements:
1. Motivation and problem statement: You should begin your abstract by explaining the problem you are studying, the purpose behind your study, and the study objectives.
2. Methodology: You should then explain the approach you have used in your investigation, the methods used to collect data, and the nature of evidence expected.
3. Results: The abstract of a scientific work should include specific data that indicates the results of your research. Non-scientific studies generally discuss the results in a more generic way.
4. Conclusions/implications: Explain the larger implications of your findings, especially with regard to the problem you have stated at the beginning. Also mention how your work adds to the existing body of knowledge on the topic and how it provides direction for future research.
You will also find this course useful: A simple guide on how to write a thesis
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This content belongs to the Conducting Research Stage