what to write in a thesis abstract introduction

McCombes, S. (2022, November 11). How to Write an Abstract | Steps & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved March 2, 2023, from https://www.scribbr.com/dissertation/abstract/

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Writing an Abstract for Your Research Paper

Definition and Purpose of Abstracts

An abstract is a short summary of your (published or unpublished) research paper, usually about a paragraph (c. 6-7 sentences, 150-250 words) long. A well-written abstract serves multiple purposes:

It’s also worth remembering that search engines and bibliographic databases use abstracts, as well as the title, to identify key terms for indexing your published paper. So what you include in your abstract and in your title are crucial for helping other researchers find your paper or article.

If you are writing an abstract for a course paper, your professor may give you specific guidelines for what to include and how to organize your abstract. Similarly, academic journals often have specific requirements for abstracts. So in addition to following the advice on this page, you should be sure to look for and follow any guidelines from the course or journal you’re writing for.

The Contents of an Abstract

Abstracts contain most of the following kinds of information in brief form. The body of your paper will, of course, develop and explain these ideas much more fully. As you will see in the samples below, the proportion of your abstract that you devote to each kind of information—and the sequence of that information—will vary, depending on the nature and genre of the paper that you are summarizing in your abstract. And in some cases, some of this information is implied, rather than stated explicitly. The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association , which is widely used in the social sciences, gives specific guidelines for what to include in the abstract for different kinds of papers—for empirical studies, literature reviews or meta-analyses, theoretical papers, methodological papers, and case studies.

Here are the typical kinds of information found in most abstracts:

Your abstract should be intelligible on its own, without a reader’s having to read your entire paper. And in an abstract, you usually do not cite references—most of your abstract will describe what you have studied in your research and what you have found and what you argue in your paper. In the body of your paper, you will cite the specific literature that informs your research.

When to Write Your Abstract

Although you might be tempted to write your abstract first because it will appear as the very first part of your paper, it’s a good idea to wait to write your abstract until after you’ve drafted your full paper, so that you know what you’re summarizing.

What follows are some sample abstracts in published papers or articles, all written by faculty at UW-Madison who come from a variety of disciplines. We have annotated these samples to help you see the work that these authors are doing within their abstracts.

Choosing Verb Tenses within Your Abstract

The social science sample (Sample 1) below uses the present tense to describe general facts and interpretations that have been and are currently true, including the prevailing explanation for the social phenomenon under study. That abstract also uses the present tense to describe the methods, the findings, the arguments, and the implications of the findings from their new research study. The authors use the past tense to describe previous research.

The humanities sample (Sample 2) below uses the past tense to describe completed events in the past (the texts created in the pulp fiction industry in the 1970s and 80s) and uses the present tense to describe what is happening in those texts, to explain the significance or meaning of those texts, and to describe the arguments presented in the article.

The science samples (Samples 3 and 4) below use the past tense to describe what previous research studies have done and the research the authors have conducted, the methods they have followed, and what they have found. In their rationale or justification for their research (what remains to be done), they use the present tense. They also use the present tense to introduce their study (in Sample 3, “Here we report . . .”) and to explain the significance of their study (In Sample 3, This reprogramming . . . “provides a scalable cell source for. . .”).

Sample Abstract 1

From the social sciences.

Reporting new findings about the reasons for increasing economic homogamy among spouses

Gonalons-Pons, Pilar, and Christine R. Schwartz. “Trends in Economic Homogamy: Changes in Assortative Mating or the Division of Labor in Marriage?” Demography , vol. 54, no. 3, 2017, pp. 985-1005.

“The growing economic resemblance of spouses has contributed to rising inequality by increasing the number of couples in which there are two high- or two low-earning partners. [Annotation for the previous sentence: The first sentence introduces the topic under study (the “economic resemblance of spouses”). This sentence also implies the question underlying this research study: what are the various causes—and the interrelationships among them—for this trend?] The dominant explanation for this trend is increased assortative mating. Previous research has primarily relied on cross-sectional data and thus has been unable to disentangle changes in assortative mating from changes in the division of spouses’ paid labor—a potentially key mechanism given the dramatic rise in wives’ labor supply. [Annotation for the previous two sentences: These next two sentences explain what previous research has demonstrated. By pointing out the limitations in the methods that were used in previous studies, they also provide a rationale for new research.] We use data from the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) to decompose the increase in the correlation between spouses’ earnings and its contribution to inequality between 1970 and 2013 into parts due to (a) changes in assortative mating, and (b) changes in the division of paid labor. [Annotation for the previous sentence: The data, research and analytical methods used in this new study.] Contrary to what has often been assumed, the rise of economic homogamy and its contribution to inequality is largely attributable to changes in the division of paid labor rather than changes in sorting on earnings or earnings potential. Our findings indicate that the rise of economic homogamy cannot be explained by hypotheses centered on meeting and matching opportunities, and they show where in this process inequality is generated and where it is not.” (p. 985) [Annotation for the previous two sentences: The major findings from and implications and significance of this study.]

Sample Abstract 2

From the humanities.

Analyzing underground pulp fiction publications in Tanzania, this article makes an argument about the cultural significance of those publications

Emily Callaci. “Street Textuality: Socialism, Masculinity, and Urban Belonging in Tanzania’s Pulp Fiction Publishing Industry, 1975-1985.” Comparative Studies in Society and History , vol. 59, no. 1, 2017, pp. 183-210.

“From the mid-1970s through the mid-1980s, a network of young urban migrant men created an underground pulp fiction publishing industry in the city of Dar es Salaam. [Annotation for the previous sentence: The first sentence introduces the context for this research and announces the topic under study.] As texts that were produced in the underground economy of a city whose trajectory was increasingly charted outside of formalized planning and investment, these novellas reveal more than their narrative content alone. These texts were active components in the urban social worlds of the young men who produced them. They reveal a mode of urbanism otherwise obscured by narratives of decolonization, in which urban belonging was constituted less by national citizenship than by the construction of social networks, economic connections, and the crafting of reputations. This article argues that pulp fiction novellas of socialist era Dar es Salaam are artifacts of emergent forms of male sociability and mobility. In printing fictional stories about urban life on pilfered paper and ink, and distributing their texts through informal channels, these writers not only described urban communities, reputations, and networks, but also actually created them.” (p. 210) [Annotation for the previous sentences: The remaining sentences in this abstract interweave other essential information for an abstract for this article. The implied research questions: What do these texts mean? What is their historical and cultural significance, produced at this time, in this location, by these authors? The argument and the significance of this analysis in microcosm: these texts “reveal a mode or urbanism otherwise obscured . . .”; and “This article argues that pulp fiction novellas. . . .” This section also implies what previous historical research has obscured. And through the details in its argumentative claims, this section of the abstract implies the kinds of methods the author has used to interpret the novellas and the concepts under study (e.g., male sociability and mobility, urban communities, reputations, network. . . ).]

Sample Abstract/Summary 3

From the sciences.

Reporting a new method for reprogramming adult mouse fibroblasts into induced cardiac progenitor cells

Lalit, Pratik A., Max R. Salick, Daryl O. Nelson, Jayne M. Squirrell, Christina M. Shafer, Neel G. Patel, Imaan Saeed, Eric G. Schmuck, Yogananda S. Markandeya, Rachel Wong, Martin R. Lea, Kevin W. Eliceiri, Timothy A. Hacker, Wendy C. Crone, Michael Kyba, Daniel J. Garry, Ron Stewart, James A. Thomson, Karen M. Downs, Gary E. Lyons, and Timothy J. Kamp. “Lineage Reprogramming of Fibroblasts into Proliferative Induced Cardiac Progenitor Cells by Defined Factors.” Cell Stem Cell , vol. 18, 2016, pp. 354-367.

“Several studies have reported reprogramming of fibroblasts into induced cardiomyocytes; however, reprogramming into proliferative induced cardiac progenitor cells (iCPCs) remains to be accomplished. [Annotation for the previous sentence: The first sentence announces the topic under study, summarizes what’s already known or been accomplished in previous research, and signals the rationale and goals are for the new research and the problem that the new research solves: How can researchers reprogram fibroblasts into iCPCs?] Here we report that a combination of 11 or 5 cardiac factors along with canonical Wnt and JAK/STAT signaling reprogrammed adult mouse cardiac, lung, and tail tip fibroblasts into iCPCs. The iCPCs were cardiac mesoderm-restricted progenitors that could be expanded extensively while maintaining multipo-tency to differentiate into cardiomyocytes, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells in vitro. Moreover, iCPCs injected into the cardiac crescent of mouse embryos differentiated into cardiomyocytes. iCPCs transplanted into the post-myocardial infarction mouse heart improved survival and differentiated into cardiomyocytes, smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells. [Annotation for the previous four sentences: The methods the researchers developed to achieve their goal and a description of the results.] Lineage reprogramming of adult somatic cells into iCPCs provides a scalable cell source for drug discovery, disease modeling, and cardiac regenerative therapy.” (p. 354) [Annotation for the previous sentence: The significance or implications—for drug discovery, disease modeling, and therapy—of this reprogramming of adult somatic cells into iCPCs.]

Sample Abstract 4, a Structured Abstract

Reporting results about the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy in managing acute bacterial sinusitis, from a rigorously controlled study

Note: This journal requires authors to organize their abstract into four specific sections, with strict word limits. Because the headings for this structured abstract are self-explanatory, we have chosen not to add annotations to this sample abstract.

Wald, Ellen R., David Nash, and Jens Eickhoff. “Effectiveness of Amoxicillin/Clavulanate Potassium in the Treatment of Acute Bacterial Sinusitis in Children.” Pediatrics , vol. 124, no. 1, 2009, pp. 9-15.

“OBJECTIVE: The role of antibiotic therapy in managing acute bacterial sinusitis (ABS) in children is controversial. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of high-dose amoxicillin/potassium clavulanate in the treatment of children diagnosed with ABS.

METHODS : This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Children 1 to 10 years of age with a clinical presentation compatible with ABS were eligible for participation. Patients were stratified according to age (<6 or ≥6 years) and clinical severity and randomly assigned to receive either amoxicillin (90 mg/kg) with potassium clavulanate (6.4 mg/kg) or placebo. A symptom survey was performed on days 0, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 10, 20, and 30. Patients were examined on day 14. Children’s conditions were rated as cured, improved, or failed according to scoring rules.

RESULTS: Two thousand one hundred thirty-five children with respiratory complaints were screened for enrollment; 139 (6.5%) had ABS. Fifty-eight patients were enrolled, and 56 were randomly assigned. The mean age was 6630 months. Fifty (89%) patients presented with persistent symptoms, and 6 (11%) presented with nonpersistent symptoms. In 24 (43%) children, the illness was classified as mild, whereas in the remaining 32 (57%) children it was severe. Of the 28 children who received the antibiotic, 14 (50%) were cured, 4 (14%) were improved, 4(14%) experienced treatment failure, and 6 (21%) withdrew. Of the 28children who received placebo, 4 (14%) were cured, 5 (18%) improved, and 19 (68%) experienced treatment failure. Children receiving the antibiotic were more likely to be cured (50% vs 14%) and less likely to have treatment failure (14% vs 68%) than children receiving the placebo.

CONCLUSIONS : ABS is a common complication of viral upper respiratory infections. Amoxicillin/potassium clavulanate results in significantly more cures and fewer failures than placebo, according to parental report of time to resolution.” (9)

Some Excellent Advice about Writing Abstracts for Basic Science Research Papers, by Professor Adriano Aguzzi from the Institute of Neuropathology at the University of Zurich:

what to write in a thesis abstract introduction

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How to write a fantastic thesis introduction (+15 examples)

Elements of a fantastic thesis introduction

Ways to capture the reader’s attention, open with a (personal) story.

An established way to capture the reader’s attention in a thesis introduction is by starting with a story. Regardless of how abstract and ‘scientific’ the actual thesis content is, it can be useful to ease the reader into the topic with a short story.

Start by providing data or statistics

Data and statistics are another established way to immediately draw in your reader. Especially surprising or shocking numbers can highlight the importance of a thesis topic in the first few sentences!

Begin with a problem

Emphasising the thesis’ relevance.

A good thesis is a relevant thesis. No one wants to read about a concept that has already been explored hundreds of times, or that no one cares about.

Define a clear research gap

Describe the scientific relevance of the thesis, describe the societal relevance of the thesis, formulating a compelling argument.

Arguments are sets of reasons supporting an idea, which – in academia – often integrate theoretical and empirical insights. Think of an argument as an umbrella statement, or core claim. It should be no longer than one or two sentences.

Write down the thesis’ core claim in 1-2 sentences

Support your argument with sufficient evidence.

The core claim of your thesis should be accompanied by sufficient evidence. This does not mean that you have to write 10 pages about your results at this point.

Consider possible objections

Think about reasons or opposing positions that people can come up with to disagree with your claim. Then, try to address them head-on.

Providing a captivating preview of findings

Address the empirical research context

Give a taste of the thesis’ empirical analysis, hint at the practical implications of the research, presenting a crystal clear thesis structure, provide a reading guide, briefly summarise all chapters to come, design a figure illustrating the thesis structure.

Especially for longer theses, it tends to be a good idea to design a simple figure that illustrates the structure of your thesis. It helps the reader to better grasp the logic of your thesis.

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How To Write A Thesis

Thesis Introduction

Last updated on: Jan 2, 2023

How to Write an Engaging Thesis Introduction?

By: Nathan D.

Reviewed By: Melisa C.

Published on: Jan 3, 2023

Stuck with your thesis introduction chapter? You are not alone.

Writing a thesis is already hard and writing the thesis introduction is even harder. It is the first part of the thesis and probably also the most important one. It will do more than inform the readers about what you have discussed in your thesis.

It will also engage the readers and keep them glued to your paper. It is an important factor that you give reasons for your readers to continue reading your paper.

Unfortunately, many thesis papers fail because they lack this factor.

Read this blog to learn how to write an engaging and winning thesis introduction.

On this Page

What is a Thesis Introduction?

A thesis introduction is the first chapter of your thesis. It informs the readers about several elements of your paper. These include the research objectives, the scope of the topic, and its usefulness.

It gives the reader an overview of what to expect in your thesis and the direction that your paper follows.

There are three important qualities that you need to add in a good introduction chapter.

These are sharpness, pertinence, and clarity.

Sharpness is the ability to directly communicate what your paper will discuss. It means that you should be specific in your thesis statement about the research aims and what you are going to focus on in your research.

You should also make sure that the topic for discussion is clearly defined.

When you are writing your thesis introduction, make sure that what you write is relevant to the topic of discussion. It should help the readers understand the thesis topic clearly and easily.

Last but not least clarity means that what you are going to discuss should be clear in the thesis introduction. You need to ensure that anyone who reads the beginning of your paper would be able to develop a good idea of your research’s aim.

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Components of a Good Thesis Introduction

Here are the components of a good thesis introduction;

A good thesis introduction chapter informs and engages the readers. It discusses the aims and objectives of the paper and the important aspects of the topic.

Thesis Introduction Outline

'How to develop a thesis introduction chapter outline?'

Here are the steps to develop a thesis introduction chapter outline;

Step 1: Start with the Introduction Hook

Your introduction must have a hook to interest your readers. It can be in the form of previous researches, an unusual phenomenon that you observed, or something that has made you curious about the subject.

Step 2: Give a Brief Background Note

It is necessary to give a background note in order to have a good thesis introduction. It will provide the necessary information about the topic of discussion. It can include previous researches, theories, assumptions, and ideas that are relevant to this paper.

Step 3: Give Your Thesis Statement

This will present what you are going to discuss. It is usually written in one sentence and this should be stated in simple terms so that it will be clear to the readers what your paper is about.

Step 4: Give the Main Points of Discussion

You have to state the main points of discussion or what you are going to present in your research. You must organize your paper in a way that will be easy for the readers to understand and follow. The main points should be briefly discussed and organized so that they would easily fit in one paragraph.

How to Write a Thesis Introduction?

Writing an engaging thesis introduction is among the most important parts of your research paper. As a thesis statement is what you will focus on, it must be clearly presented so that the readers would have an easier time understanding what your paper is all about.

Here are the steps to write a winning thesis introduction;

1. Identify Your Readership

You need to know who your audience is in order to make them fully understand what you are going to discuss. Identifying your readership will help you decide the style of writing that would engage them most.

It is better to write for the specialized as well as the people who do not specialize in your field. This will help you in making your thesis introduction more engaging.

2. Grab Your Readers Attention with a Hook

You need to write your paper in a way that will interest the readers. The best way of doing this is by having an introduction hook. This must be something interesting and appealing so that everyone would want to continue reading your thesis.

You can also use specific examples or statistics to show authority on the topic you are discussing.

3. Add Relevant Background Information

To make sure that the readers will understand what you are going to say in your paper, you need to include relevant background information. This can be done by referring to previous researches or theories which prove your point of view about the topic.

4. Inform the Readers What the Paper is About

Your thesis statement must be presented clearly to make sure that the readers will understand what you are striving to discuss. Include the following information here;

5. Briefly Discuss Some Important Points

The introduction to your thesis should pique the reader's interest while still leaving enough of the main points for the rest of the essay.

While the body of your thesis will clarify the major argument, you may want to mention a few of your primary supporting facts before getting into the thesis statement.

Unlike the abstract, the introduction chapter is added to the table of content of the thesis.

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Example of a Good Thesis Introduction

The following is a thesis introduction example:

"The driving forces behind the globalization of markets and businesses are technology, political shifts, and social movements. In this paper, I intend to discuss how the increasing rate of technological advancements has been changing the way people do business both locally and internationally. I will also discuss how the political landscape has been shifting throughout the years and how this has affected corporations. Finally, in my paper, I intend to show that social movements and changes in values have greatly impacted how people work with each other in order to achieve common goals."

This thesis introduction example is long and complicated. It tries to do too many things in the thesis introduction. It is also vague and does not focus on a single topic.

This would probably lose the interest of your readers from the beginning.

The following is a more effective thesis introduction example:

"The impact of technology on political stability in developing countries has not been studied extensively by researchers (Dahman, 2003). However, with the recent wave of revolutions taking place throughout the Middle East, political scientists are now looking into the role that technology has played in destabilizing regimes. The internet and social media have made it easier for people to organize themselves and gather information about their surroundings. It is therefore not surprising that many of these revolutions were organized through online networks."

This thesis introduction example is better than the first example because it is specific and only discusses one thesis topic . The reader knows exactly what to expect in the thesis and can easily compare it with what happens later on in the paper.

Furthermore, the writer used a great opening sentence that immediately grabs the attention of the reader.

Below is a downloadable PDF of a detailed thesis introduction sample;

Thesis Introduction Chapter Sample

Tips to Write a Thesis Introduction

Here are some helpful tips to write a great thesis introduction;

Starting your thesis with a strong introduction chapter is essential to hook your readers. When writing the introduction, it is important that you add enough details in it to engage the readers.

If you need help, GradSchoolGenius.com is here to help you with it. GIve us a call or order through our online form.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the key to a successful thesis introduction.

A strong opening entices readers in while laying the groundwork for the rest of the paper. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to producing an introduction, but these suggestions can assist you to write a decent beginning:

What should I include in my thesis introduction?

A good beginning should provide enough background information while also informing the reader of the study's objective. Remember to include the following points:

How long should my thesis introduction be?

The introduction's length is determined by the thesis's length. The typical word count for an introduction is around 10% of the whole thesis document.

How do I write an interesting thesis introduction?

The ideal beginning for your introduction is a sentence that is broad and intriguing, which smoothly transitions into your paper. Also, starting with a more general statement will appeal to a larger audience. Consider whom the paper is intended to inform and then come up with something that would pique their interest.

What are the 3 parts of an introduction paragraph?

An introduction paragraph will include the following three elements: a hook, background information, and a thesis statement. Each of these components is essential in letting the reader know what your paper is about and why it is written.

Education, Literature

Nathan is a highly experienced writer and author. With a Ph.D. degree in journalism, he has a wealth of knowledge and expertise to share with the world. Nathan is passionate about writing, and his work has been featured in some of the most respected publications. His clients and colleagues respect him deeply for his knowledge and insight into the writing process.

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COMMENTS

How to Write an Abstract
Tips for writing an abstract. Read other abstracts. The best way to learn the conventions of writing an abstract in your discipline is to read other people’s. You probably already ... Reverse outline. Write clearly and concisely. Check your formatting.
Writing an Abstract for Your Research Paper
An abstract is a short summary of your (published or unpublished) research paper, usually about a paragraph (c. 6-7 sentences, 150-250 words) long. A well-written abstract serves multiple purposes: an abstract lets readers get the gist or essence of your paper or article quickly, in order to decide whether to read the full paper;
How To Write an Abstract in 7 Steps (With an Example)
Abstracts should be written after the full paper is written, and are usually about 150-250 words and one to two paragraphs long. An abstract should include a statement of the problem you are trying to solve and the purpose of your research, the methods used to find the solution, the results and the implications of your findings.
How to write a fantastic thesis introduction (+15 examples)
Elements of a fantastic thesis introduction Ways to capture the reader’s attention Open with a (personal) story Start by providing data or statistics Example Begin with a problem Emphasising the thesis’ relevance Define a clear research gap Describe the scientific relevance of the thesis Describe the societal relevance of the thesis
Writing a Thesis Introduction
Here are the steps to write a winning thesis introduction; 1. Identify Your Readership You need to know who your audience is in order to make them fully understand what you are going to discuss. Identifying your readership will help you decide the style of writing that would engage them most.