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Writing Abstracts

Thesis abstracts are very specific in what they need to achieve. They represent the very first encounter that your examiner has with your research and are subsequently important for indexing and cataloguing your work, so it is very important that they are concise, precise and informative.

 

Key features

  • Summarises the WHOLE thesis, including research context, questions, theoretical framework and/or methodology, findings, conclusions, argument, and contribution.
  • Primarily describes the thesis – does not argue or evaluate.
  • Should stand as a complete and independent text.
  • Should contain the most important key words of the thesis, particularly for method and content.
  • Can be one paragraph or several – the approach will depend on discipline.
  • For La Trobe PhDs, must be under 300 words. For Honours and Masters theses, check with your department for word length.
  • Should be written in plain English, understandable to a wider audience, as well as to your disciplinary audience.

 

An Abstract does NOT:

  • Critique literature.
  • Include a reference list.
  • Refer to anything not in the thesis.
  • Assume your reader knows your study.

 

Getting started

  • It’s a good idea to begin drafting your abstract once you have collected your data or done some substantial analysis of your topic (about mid-way through your project). This will help you refine your ideas and give direction to the latter stages of your writing.
  • Don’t leave it until last – abstracts are harder than they look and managing the word count can be tricky. Treat your draft as an iterative document.
  • Look at other abstracts in your field – how are they structured?
  • Start with a statement that orients your reader to the context and provide a brief, but precise, statement of the problem.
  • Finish with a statement about the contribution your research makes to knowledge in your discipline.
  • Include strategic key words that will help guide the cataloguing and indexing of your work.

 

Finally

Allow plenty of time for refining and editing. This is the first thing your examiner reads, so you want to make a good impression.

 

Workshop Resources

Sign up for the Writing Thesis Abstracts workshop in the RED seminar series