TIPS FOR WRITING A COMPELLING DISSERTATION ABSTRACT
WHERE DO YOU START?
A compelling dissertation abstract accepts the above statement as true. It provides a general overview of your research and should inspire the reader to keep reading the article. Abstracts are often written when writing proposals (like for conference papers or book chapters) and also when they submit essays to journal articles, research grants, or even when writing a Ph.D. thesis or dissertation. Abstracts are typically written at the start of a piece of writing and typically inform the reader of what to expect from the piece. It should be short and adhere to a specific style based on the discipline you are in the field.
"A first impression is something you never have a second chance to make."
TIPS FOR WRITING A COMPELLING DISSERTATION ABSTRACT
There are two kinds of dissertation abstracts: one is descriptive, and the other is informative. A descriptive abstract simply informs the reader about the kind of information in the dissertation by using keywords and phrases. It can also provide information on the goals, the method used, and the nature of the work. The abstract of this type is typically short, with 100 or fewer words. Although descriptive abstracts generally provide just an outline, the informative abstract tends to be more thorough. It outlines the most important arguments and also highlights the major research findings as well as the conclusions. A comprehensive abstract will typically be more extensive than a descriptive abstract, with a length of between 250 and 350 words. If you are writing a descriptive abstract for a dissertation or an informative one generally, it is best to compose the abstract last (even if it's read first) to ensure that you are making clear all the findings and conclusions from your work that you believe are the most significant.
There should only be one paragraph in your abstract. Therefore, it must be organised and well-structured. When you write your abstract, begin by rereading your piece in full to gain an overall view. After that, you should read each section in turn. Note down one or two phrases for each segment, and underline the key elements. Put these sentences together into a single piece. Use cohesion techniques to make sure that each sentence flows into the next one smoothly.
Go through the work you've done and then ask yourself, "Does this paragraph adequately cover the major aspects of my essay?" If not, then you should start reading the various sections of your original paper. If yes, then make sure your word count is within the required limits. If you need to cut words out in your dissertation, it is imperative to read the abstract of your dissertation to ensure that you have retained the most important points that are contained in it. In general, abstracts do not include references or citations to other sources. The reason for this is that abstracts should be able to stand on their own. However, through references, you connect the abstract to the article in a negative fashion.
THE FINAL REFLECTIONS...
There are a few last aspects to be considered when creating your abstract. The first is that every person who reads your abstract will be able to comprehend the concepts the same way you would. So, when creating your abstract, you have to ensure that you use plain English. It is your responsibility to strike an equilibrium between the general readership and the understanding of the people in your field. A second rule is that abstracts must not contain any information that is different or new. If it's not included by you in the work that you did, it shouldn't be included in your abstract. In addition, it is normal to find abstracts written in passive language. The reason for this is that the focus is on the results and the issues, not on the person.
The process of writing an abstract is not an easy task and requires time to get it right. Abstracts are the first impression you make on your readers and provide an overview of your research. Make sure you give your abstract for your dissertation the time and attention it deserves. Write clearly and succinctly, and you'll end up with a dissertation abstract that everyone will be eager to look over.
