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Scholars often write abstracts for various applications: conference presentations may require an abstract or other short summary for a program; journal articles almost always require abstracts; invited talks and lectures are often advertised using an abstract. While the application may necessarily change the length of the abstract (a conference program may only allow for 50-75 words, for instance), the purpose and structure remains fairly constant.
Abstracts are generally kept brief (approximately 150-200 words). They differ by field, but in general, they need to summarize the article so that readers can decide if it is relevant to their work. The typical abstract includes these elements:
- A statement of the problem and objectives
- A statement of the significance of the work
- A summary of employed methods or your research approach
- A summary of findings or conclusions of the study
- A description of the implications of the findings
Regardless of field, abstract authors should explain the purpose of the work, methods used, the results and the conclusions that can be drawn. However, each field purports slightly different ways to structure the abstract. A reliable strategy is to write the abstract as a condensed version of your article, with 1-2 sentences summarizing each major section. This means that in many of the sciences and a large portion of the humanities, abstracts follow a version of the IMRAD structure: Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion.
Most scientific journals require authors to submit such abstracts. It is generally advisable to write the abstract in the English language. That is because most papers in other languages, especially Asian nations, tend to publish an English abstract with common search engines, such as, the MLA site.
Example Abstract
This example abstract follows the IMRAD structure closely. The first two sentences are the introduction and background information. Sentences 3-5 describe the methods used in the study. Sentence 6 summarizes the results, while the last two sentences summarize the discussion and conclusion of the study; they also indicate the significance of the results.
Usability and User-Centered Theory for 21 st Century OWLs — by Dana Lynn Driscoll, H. Allen Brizee, Michael Salvo, and Morgan Sousa from The Handbook of Research on Virtual Workplaces and the New Nature of Business Practices . Eds. Kirk St. Amant and Pavel Zemlansky. Hershey, PA: Idea Group Publishing, 2008.
This article describes results of usability research conducted on the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL). The Purdue OWL is an information-rich educational website that provides free writing resources to users worldwide. Researchers conducted two generations of usability tests. In the first test, participants were asked to navigate the OWL and answer questions. Results of the first test and user-centered scholarship indicated that a more user-centered focus would improve usability. The second test asked participants to answer writing-related questions using both the OWL website and a user-centered OWL prototype. Participants took significantly less time to find information using the prototype and reported a more positive response to the user-centered prototype than the original OWL. Researchers conclude that a user-centered website is more effective and can be a model for information-rich online resources. Researchers also conclude that usability research can be a productive source of ideas, underscoring the need for participatory invention.
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You probably already read lots of journal article abstracts while conducting your literature review—try using them as a framework for structure and style. You can also find lots of dissertation abstract examples in thesis and dissertation databases. Reverse outline. Not all abstracts will contain precisely the same elements.
Sample Dissertation Abstracts. Amy K. Anderson, 2014. "Image/Text and Text/Image: Reimagining Multimodal Relationships through Dissociation". Abstract: "W.J.T. Mitchell has famously noted that we are in the midst of a "pictorial turn," and images are playing an increasingly important role in digital and multimodal communication.
An academic abstract is a short and concise summary of research. It should cover the aim or research question of your work, your methodology, results and the wider implications of your conclusions. All this needs to be covered in around 200-300 words. One of the common mistakes people make when writing abstracts is not understanding their purpose.
Take your time in composing your research proposal, carefully considering the requirements outlined below. Your proposal should not be more than 2,000 words. PhD degrees are awarded on the basis of a thesis of up to 100,000 words. The 'Summary of roles and responsibilities' in the University's Code of Practice for Supervisors and Research ...
Conclusion. The abstract you write for your dissertation or thesis should succinctly explain to the reader why the work of your research was needed, what you did, what you found and what it means. Most people that come across your thesis, including any future employers, are likely to read only your abstract.
Recent PhD Dissertations. Terekhov, Jessica (September 2022) -- "On Wit in Relation to Self-Division". Selinger, Liora (September 2022) -- "Romanticism, Childhood, and the Poetics of Explanation". Lockhart, Isabel (September 2022) -- "Storytelling and the Subsurface: Indigenous Fiction, Extraction, and the Energetic Present".
This means that in many of the sciences and a large portion of the humanities, abstracts follow a version of the IMRAD structure: Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion. Most scientific journals require authors to submit such abstracts. It is generally advisable to write the abstract in the English language.
Therefore, the structure of your dissertation or thesis abstract needs to reflect these four essentials, in the same order. Let's take a closer look at each of them, step by step: Step 1: Describe the purpose and value of your research. Here you need to concisely explain the purpose and value of your research.
Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text. Be assured that you'll submit flawless writing. Upload your document to correct all your mistakes. Table of contents. Abstract example. When to write an abstract. Step 1: Introduction. Step 2: Methods. Step 3: Results.
Your PhD abstract acts as the gateway to your work, providing a snapshot of your valuable research. In this blog, we'll explore the art of crafting an abstract for a PhD thesis, following essential advice I've learned through 20 years of guiding students in this process.
Dissertation Abstract. Alexander Bove. Dickens' Dream-Representations: Image and Character beyond Mimesis. Keith Johnson. The Ethics of Form and the Form of Ethics: Experiments in Literature and Philosophy. Joseph Navitsky. "Words With Words Revenged": Religious Conflict and the Rearticulation of Late Elizabethan Satire. Shawn Normandin.
English PhD students pursuing interdisciplinary research may include on their special committees faculty members from related fields such as comparative literature, medieval studies, Romance studies, German studies, history, classics, women's studies, linguistics, theatre and performing arts, government, philosophy, and film and video studies.
A UNESCO World City of Literature, Edinburgh is a remarkable place to study, write, publish, discuss and perform prose, poetry and drama. Take a PhD with us and you will be based in the School of Literatures, Languages and Cultures (LLC) in the historic centre of this world-leading festival city.
May 2023. Michael Abraham: "The Avant-Garde of Feeling: Queer Love and Modernism" directed by Langdon Hammer, Marta Figlerowicz, Ben Glaser". Peter Conroy: "Unreconciled: American Power and the End of History, 1945 to the Present" directed by Joe Cleary, Joseph North, Paul North. Trina Hyun: "Media Theologies, 1615-1668" directed ...
UC Berkeley Dissertations. Published September 1962-December 1970, and from December 1975 on: Search in ProQuest Dissertations and Theses (link above) Browse dissertations by department: UC Berkeley, Department of English. UC Berkeley, Department of Comparative Literature. Duplicate a print dissertation:
All application materials are due by 11:59 pm (CST) on the day of the deadline. Applications for doctoral study are considered for Fall admission only. Prospective students must submit all application materials by the deadline listed above. The English Department admissions process occurs once a year and ends in early February.
Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature, English. Director of the English and Comparative Literature Program, English. Affiliate Faculty, Latin American and Caribbean Studies Center. 2116D Tawes Hall. College Park MD, 20742. (301) 405-3839.
A dissertation is a long-form piece of academic writing based on original research conducted by you. It is usually submitted as the final step in order to finish a PhD program. Your dissertation is probably the longest piece of writing you've ever completed. It requires solid research, writing, and analysis skills, and it can be intimidating ...
An abstract is a short summary at the beginning of the PhD that sums up the research, summarises the separate sections of the thesis and outlines the contribution. It is typically used by those wishing to get a broad understanding of a piece of research prior to reading the entire thesis. When you apply for your first academic job, the hiring ...
Sample Dissertation Abstracts. One of the best ways to determine your fit in a PhD program is familiarizing yourself with the research done by faculty and students in the institute. Students in the Sloan PhD Program study a wide variety of topics and the abstracts below will give you examples of the topics they have chosen to study.
A PhD thesis (or dissertation) is typically 60,000 to 120,000 words ( 100 to 300 pages in length) organised into chapters, divisions and subdivisions (with roughly 10,000 words per chapter) - from introduction (with clear aims and objectives) to conclusion. The structure of a dissertation will vary depending on discipline (humanities, social ...
Abstract. Since I completed my PhD at Portsmouth, I have undertaken a number of meaningful research projects and published many works with presses in the east and west. Had Bronwen and Alex been ...
OATD.org aims to be the best possible resource for finding open access graduate theses and dissertations published around the world. Metadata (information about the theses) comes from over 1100 colleges, universities, and research institutions. OATD currently indexes 7,432,564 theses and dissertations.
Purpose The implementation of sustainability and circular economy (CE) models in agri-food production can promote resource efficiency, reduce environmental burdens, and ensure improved and socially responsible systems. In this context, indicators for the measurement of sustainability play a crucial role. Indicators can measure CE strategies aimed to preserve functions, products, components ...
*twin graduate section of ENGL UN2826 . 3 Ross Posnock T, R 11:40-12:55P CLEN GR6998 * World Fiction Since 1965 *twin graduate section of CLEN UN2742 . 3 Bruce Robbins M, W 11:40-12:55P CLEN GU4199 Literature and Oil 3 Jennifer Wenzel M, W 04:10-05:25P Graduate/Undergraduate Seminars