Abstract Writing for My Thesis Students

What is an abstract?

• An abstract is not a summary of the thesis, though it can be mistaken as one.
• Rather an abstract is the gist of a thesis.
• In one glance a reader can know the heart of the thesis.

How to do:

1. The entire abstract is only 1 paragraph with around 350 words.
2. All sentences must be as direct as possible.  Never neglect transition though.
3. First sentence represents the background in 1 sentence.  Why are you writing? It should be catchy.
4. Since this is only the preliminary chapters (1-3) the next few sentences should cover a) your research question.  And b) the method that you plan to use.
5. A finished thesis will contain the THESES of the manuscript.  When I say theses, they are the findings of your research should appear in the conclusion.  These are direct statements that answer your main question and sub-questions.
6. AGAIN since this is only chapters 1-3, you can instead state your expected findings.

Link to my thesis through Academia.edu

For those who haven't read or downloaded.  You can use my thesis as guide in technical format.

http://www.academia.edu/13228860/Federalism_and_its_Potential_Application_to_the_Republic_of_the_Philippines