Writing a perfect dissertation abstract

What is the dissertation abstract?

The abstract is the most important and valuable part of your dissertation.  It is the first important part of your dissertation that is read by the advisory committee or college professor.  The dissertation abstract is the complete summary of your thesis statement or thesis question.  It presents all the major or main points of the thesis statement or thesis question that will be addressed in your dissertation. Like the thesis statement or thesis question, the abstract stands alone as a text.  The abstract is normally a bibliography index.  The role of the abstract is not the introduction of the dissertation, but must be able to take the place of the thesis just in case you cannot complete your dissertation paper.

How should you write your dissertation abstract?

The dissertation abstract is part of your dissertation research paper so it must be written in a way whereby it supports your dissertation paper.

How to write the perfect dissertation abstract?

Here are a few tips and pointers to consider when writing the perfect dissertation abstract:

• Your abstract should be no more than 150 words for a Masters’ Thesis and no more than 350 words for a Doctoral Dissertation.
• Your abstract should be no more than one page long.
• Your abstract should be double-spaced.
• All portions of your dissertation including the abstract should be structured the same.
• Your abstract should include a sentence for each section of your dissertation.
• Your research questions (thesis) should be in the beginning of your abstract.
• You should have no more than three research questions in your abstract.
• Your abstract is where you give the results of the research conducted in your dissertation.
• The abstract should be written in a way that summarizes and interprets the results from the research conducted on the thesis.

What other tips and pointers are there to write the perfect dissertation abstract?

Here are some more pointers to consider when writing the perfect dissertation abstract:

• Should take writing the abstract seriously because the abstract helps to determine if others will read your dissertation for future studies and future research.
• The abstract should set the tone for the scope and content of the entire dissertation.
• Ensure that the abstract meets the specifications of your professor and the advisory committee who will be reading your dissertation paper.
• The abstract should involve your best writing techniques.