Dissertations - The Abstract

Also known as an Executive Summary, the Abstract is the first real section in your Dissertation (coming straight after the title page and before the Contents), but one of the very last parts that you should write.

An Abstract gives a short (no more than one side of A4) outline which sums up the gist of the Dissertation for those too busy to read the report in full, or want a summary to determine whether your research meets their needs.

It should mention: 

• The background / context of the Report 
• The purpose of the Report 
• What work was done and how 
• The key findings and most important points 
• Any recommendations.

It is easier to write this after you have written the Conclusion because, in a sense, this is ostensibly a reworded, truncated version of that chapter, alongside a few key details from your Introduction and Methodology sections.

Further information and guidance for writing extended projects is available in the "Dissertations" folder here.