It's useful to write (and rewrite) an abstract all the way through your doctoral studies as abstracts require you to articulate your argument and contribution to your chosen field in 250-300 words.

Abstracts can be written:

  • To work out what you have to say before you start writing longer sections 
  • At upgrade and final submission to summarise your research and its contribution 
  • To share with supervisors/ peers for feedback
  • To pitch conference presentations/ journal articles

Kamler and Thomson (2009) give a useful framework for abstract writing that emphasises argument rather than a description of what you did.

LOCATE – this means placing the thesis in the context of the Community of Practice and the field in general. Larger issues and debates are named and potentially problematised. In naming the location, the writer is creating a warrant for their contribution and its significance, as well as informing an (inter)national community of its relevance outside of its specific place of origin. 

FOCUS – this means identifying the particular questions, issues or kinds of problems that the thesis will explore, examine and/ or investigate. 

REPORT – this means outlining the research, sample, method of analysis in order to assure readers that the thesis is credible and trustworthy. It also outlines the major findings that are pertinent to the argument to be made. 

ARGUE – this means opening out the specific argument through offering an analysis . This moves beyond description and may well include a theorization in order to explain findings. It may offer speculations, but will always have a point of view and take a stance. It returns to the opening Locate in order to demonstrate the specific contribution that was promised at the outset. It answers the so what, and the now what questions.

Last modified: Wednesday, 13 September 2017, 10:37 PM