Writing a summary for your thesis

What is the difference between a summary and an abstract?

Although the word “abstract” is simply the English term for “summary,” there are subtle differences between the two. An abstract is generally even more concise than a summary, often ranging between 150 and 300 words. Additionally, some courses require you to include keywords in the abstract to highlight the most significant themes and topics of your work.

Read our tips for writing your abstract.

Strategic summarizing: Think of the reader!

It may seem obvious, but it is crucial to consider your target audience first. Remember that you are not only writing your thesis for the organization where you are graduating but also for the examiners who will read and evaluate your work. Falling into this common pitfall can be detrimental. We often come across theses that have summaries that rush into the content too quickly or are overloaded with excessive use of abbreviations. Keep in mind that the summary is the first impression the reader will have of your work. Even though the summary is typically written last, it is important to take a step back and view the entire picture.

In addition, use active voice to engage the reader and pique their curiosity for more information. Provide sufficient context while avoiding unnecessary details.

What should you include in your summary?

The summary is typically positioned after the title page or foreword. Here are the steps to crafting a successful summary:

• Begin by providing an overview of the subject matter of your thesis and state the main question or hypotheses (avoid discussing sub-questions).
• Explain the incentive, significance, and objectives of your research.
• Specify the type of research you conducted (e.g., literature review) and describe the research methods employed and your approach. Additionally, identify the target audience of your study and the variables examined. It may be beneficial to mention your anticipated outcomes as well.
• When summarizing the results, highlight the key findings that align with your expectations, as well as any unexpected results.
• Conclude with a concise and impactful conclusion, including any comments and recommendations for future research.

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Do you want to write a strong summary for your thesis? These helpful tips will greatly assist you! However, would you like to ensure that your thesis is completely free of language errors? Then choose our linguistic check service, where experienced editors will meticulously review your document and provide valuable feedback. Do you also want a comprehensive content check to ensure the coherence of your story, inclusion of all necessary components, and correct citation of your sources? That is also an option available to you!

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