What is the first part of your thesis that most people will read? The abstract. And if you want to make sure that it's not the last thing they read, your abstract needs to be well-written.
On this page, you'll find some hints and suggestions about how to improve your abstract, including some ideas about what to include, and some tips on how to make your writing more concise. You can also look at some sample abstracts from past theses.
It is a stand-alone text, approximately 200-300 words, that provides a snapshot of your whole thesis. After having read your abstract, your reader should be able to answer the following questions.
If you are having difficulty in developing your abstract, the following suggestions might be useful.
As there are quite tight word limits for abstracts, it is important to make sure that every word counts, and that there is no unnecessary information. The following suggestions can be used to make your abstract more concise, while still being readable.
Remember: practices can vary. Check with your supervisor and read examples of abstracts in your field to get a clear idea of the conventions.