What should the abstract include and how should it be written?

Abstract

An abstract is necessary for completion in the Fellows Thesis. In fact, the abstract serves as the summary that will be 1) recorded in library catalogs, 2) read by peers, faculty, graduate schools and employers, and 3) most ready by readers of your thesis, leaving them with the first impression of your work. So, a great abstract is key to a great thesis.

An abstract should be a complete summary of your thesis. In other words, a reader should be able to read the abstract alone and gain knowledge of the broad strokes of your entire thesis. Be sure to consider the following points:

• Use the thesis manual formatting and length requirements for your abstract
• Focus on providing a specific overview of the entire thesis--a snapshot of your work
• Consider your audience--usually an educated generalist

General Resources

These on-line sources for abstract information should illuminate the writing process:

TAMU Graduate Writing Project (contains excellent guidelines and samples for writing the abstract, literature review, introduction, and more)

Writing Abstracts (from LEO: Literacy Education Online, distinguishes descriptive from informative abstracts)

Writing Abstracts (from Colorado State University, provides examples from various disciplines)

Online Technical Writing: Abstracts (contains an effective checklist)

Honors Fellows Resources

Abstract Checklist

Checklist for Thesis

---

c-raisor@tamu.edu / Texas A&M University