Therefore, you must learn how to write a dissertation abstract to draw the reader in and emphasize the key points of your research papers. To help you create an excellent dissertation with the least amount of effort, this document will emphasize the guidelines for writing an abstract for a dissertation. 

What is an abstract in a dissertation?

A research paper’s abstract is a succinct description of the main research questions, research strategies, findings, and implications. Thus, the dissertation aids a reader in assessing the contribution of your article to their research issues and gauges how well it will be received by the target audience. 

Tips for writing a dissertation abstract

1. Write the abstract after writing your paper

Writing your abstract without writing your paper brings about space for error, omission of relevant facts, and the inclusion of irrelevant ideas. It is thus best to save your abstract for last to better capture the relevant ideas in your abstract. 

Doing this will ensure that you don’t leave important information out, thus communicating the key ideas of your paper to the reader. 

2. Clarify the problem and solution

Like you, a lot of people conducting research are looking for publications that address a certain issue or present a solution to their difficulties. To help readers determine whether your article is relevant to their needs, your abstract should make the research challenge and the main results of your paper evident. 

The key ideas in the introduction and conclusion could serve as the foundation for your abstract in this situation. This method makes it simpler to draw attention to the primary research topic and to accurately summarize the significant findings. 

3. Tackle the methods and research

Another crucial thing to tackle in your abstract is the methodology of your research. by highlighting your research methods, you allow the reader to determine the relevance of your paper. 

4. Highlight the key findings

The key reason why people read your abstract is to determine the conclusion you reached regarding a research problem. The findings should take a huge portion of your abstract, with the key findings that relate to the main research question getting the most emphasis.

5. Develop an outline

An outline is an important tool in writing an abstract for a dissertation. The outline helps you gauge the information within your outline and to organize various ideas in a manner that ensures a coherent flow within this section. 

Also, the outline helps you gauge the word count range of your abstract, therefore making the necessary adjustments to ensure that your abstract does not exceed the 200-to-300-word range. 

6. Write your abstract

After developing your outline, write your abstract while paying note to the word use. Ideally, use concise sentences to communicate your ideas, to ensure that each key idea that defines your essay fits within your abstract. 

It is also important to note that references are not allowed within the abstract of a Ph.D. dissertation. 

7. Review

The final step in writing your abstract is to review the abstract and ensure that it captures all the relevant information. You could consult experts and your peers in gauging your abstract to receive insight on the necessary changes needed to improve your abstract. 

We also recommend that you look at multiple abstract example dissertations to improve your mastery of writing an outstanding dissertation abstract. 

Final take

Writing an abstract is often a challenging task for many students, a testament to the challenge is the huge number of students looking to buy dissertation abstracts online. The tips in this article should come in handy to help you overcome any challenges you experience when writing your abstract.

Learning how to cite a thesis in MLA style is something that many students struggle with. Although many students are familiar with the APA style, MLA thesis citation has a few subtle nuances that take some time for the student to understand. 

The common errors in an MLA thesis will be highlighted in this post, making it easier for you to fix your paper.  https://us.dissertationteam.com/thesis-statement-help

How to cite a thesis paper MLA

1. Indents

When writing using the MLA thesis format, each new paragraph should be indented by half an inch. This can be easily done by pressing the tab button at the start of each new paragraph or by adjusting your indent on the paragraph tab. 

2. Spell out numbers that are two words or fewer

When writing in MLA, numbers that are one or two words should be spelled out. Therefore, avoid spelling out large figures in a bid to cheat the word tally. Also worth noting is that numbers should be used alongside units, addresses, dates, or decimal fractions. 

When writing large figures, the style also requires that you add a comma after every third digit except for addresses and years.

3. Contractions

Contractions are a common part of our slang and also a sneaky way for students to shorten papers. when writing a paper in MLA, however, steer clear of slang as this counts as a styling error, compromising your final score. 

4. Running head

As opposed to APA, the running head in MLA only comprises your last name and the page number. This information should be added to your header tab and aligned right with a half-inch space from the top margin of your paper. 

5. Works Cited

References in your MLA paper are added on a new page titled “works cited”. Like all pages in your paper, this section is double-spaced with the only difference being in the indentation where the first line starts to flash left and all other subsequent entries in your references are indented with a half-inch margin.

6. The usage of et.al.

Having too many entries in your in-text citations can make your paper untidy. Therefore, MLA dictates that you use the extension et.al. for any sources with more than two authors. 

i.e., (Dennis and Zechariah 82).

However, this should only be the case in in-text citations and not for the works cited section.

7. Initials within in-text citations

Unlike APA, MLA citations do not include any initials or honorifics. Intext MLA citations of a thesis should only contain the author’s last name and the page number. 

i.e., (Pascal and Eric 82)

8. Punctuation

When editing in MLA, avoid using apostrophes after years. Also, the word after a quote in a sentence can start with a lowercase letter if it completes your sentence. 

If a quote comes at the end of a sentence, put the comma after the closing bracket of the citation as this is also part of the sentence. Also worth noting is that you can use ellipses to omit information in the middle of a sentence, highlighting only the essential information from a borrowed quote. 

This will help you to support arguments in your paper without exceeding the prescribed word count. 

9. Title Page

A title page is not necessary for an MLA paper unless when your tutor has instructed that you include this section. Your information should be added to the top left edge of the first page of your paper followed by the title of your paper. 

10. Headings in MLA

When editing your paper in MLA, refrain from using the heading styles in the MS Word editor. Level one headings in your paper should be emboldened, level two headings styled in the normal font and level three headings italicized. 

Also worth noting is that all headings should be flush left and have a line space above and below the heading for easy readability. 

Final take

We hope that this article has addressed any issues you had regarding how to cite a thesis in MLA. Feel free to engage our experts for assistance with any challenges you could have in your academic writing journey.

This article will examine the chapters in a dissertation, the length of each section, and what each chapter comprises to assist you to sort out any misunderstanding if you’re having trouble figuring out the sections of a dissertation. 

How many chapters are in a dissertation?

A dissertation typically has five chapters. If your institution counts the abstract as a chapter and the conclusion and discussion as separate sections, this number could imply eight dissertation chapters. 

What are the chapters of a dissertation?

Depending on your faculty’s guidelines, the dissertation chapter format may vary slightly. As a result, the initial step in preparing your paper is to review the dissertation chapters and information suggested for each area in your faculty manual. 

Without further ado, let’s examine the different dissertation chapters and what they cover. 

1. The title page

Your title page includes administrative details such as your name, the unit code and title, the professor’s name, and the due date. The title is crucial in this area because it delivers the details the reader needs to assess the paper’s applicability to their needs. 

Therefore, ensure to create an informative title that encapsulates all the relevant information regarding your topic. 

2. Abstract

The abstract, which is the first chapter of your paper, provides a summary of your main points to help the reader understand what your work is about. This chapter highlights the research gap, your important findings, the research methodology, the findings, and the conclusion of your essay. 

To give the reader a quick overview of the research topic, the abstract should be brief and no longer than 5% of the total word count. Some professors may also advise you to include the keywords you used in the paper to raise its search engine positioning. 

3. Introduction

More information about the context of your paper is given in the introduction than in the abstract. This part summarizes the main research issues of your essay as well as the research gaps that were addressed in your work. 

Additionally, the introduction defines your thesis statement and aids in illustrating to the reader the flow of your arguments. If you want to draw readers’ attention to the topic when writing your opening paragraph, think about utilizing a hook.  

4. Literature review

This chapter provides critiques of the sources you utilized to organize your arguments, enabling you to specify the knowledge gaps you want to fill. This chapter comprises up to 25% of the total word count and is marginally longer than the introduction. 

5. Methodology

This chapter should include your research strategy, the data collection, and the analysis process, as well as a brief assessment of the validity of the methodologies you have chosen. This section should also include specifics of your research to allow replication when someone wants to verify your findings. 

6. Results

The results chapter includes justifications and illustrations illustrating the connections between different factors from your study. Regardless of whether the information supports your thesis or not, this chapter should cover all material that is pertinent to the subject. 

However, you shouldn’t detail how your results relate to the hypothesis in the results section since this comes in the discussion. 

7. Discussion

Your dissertation’s discussion is crucial since it includes the assessment and interpretation of your research problem. This chapter summarizes the implications of your findings with pertinent evidence from reliable sources and links the findings to your hypothesis, demonstrating whether they confirm or refute it. 

8. Conclusion

This chapter concludes your essay by illustrating how your conclusions relate to the primary research issue. To emphasize how you have addressed the research and the findings from your inquiry, focus on the research objectives while discussing your conclusion. 

The recommendations for future research and ideas to enhance studies in your subject could also be highlighted in your conclusion. 

Additional sections

The aforementioned chapters are among the essential ones that frequently appear in dissertations from different faculties. The references and appendices sections, however, should appear after these chapters to make it easier for the reader to track down supporting evidence and learn more about your research.

Unfortunately, writing a dissertation proposal and defending your findings to a committee can be difficult tasks. Uncertainty about your chosen topic and lack of experience with the writing process are two common causes of dissertation proposal anxiety. 

This post will highlight numerous tips for writing a proposal for a dissertation, assisting you in ensuring a successful conclusion with your proposed project.

What is a dissertation proposal?

A dissertation proposal is a written statement outlining the research you want to conduct, its context, and the methods you want to use. The purpose of this article is to persuade your faculty committee of the value and manageability of your study and to reassure them that their investment will result in valuable information. 

Consequently, the work to be done during your investigation and the time required to do your research are outlined in this 9-to-20-page paper.

How to write a dissertation proposal

A poor approach to dissertation proposal writing can hinder your progress and lead to numerous difficulties in the later phases of writing. The following are some essential steps to developing a dissertation proposal that we advise you to take: 

1. Topic selection

In contrast to standard academic essays, your professor will frequently let you choose the subject of your dissertation. Although having this freedom allows you to follow your interests, picking just one subject from the wide range of choices available to you may prove to be a difficult endeavor. 

Ideally, before choosing a specific topic, spend some time researching the current issues in your sector. By doing this, you’ll discover an intriguing concept that enables you to offer a fresh perspective on your study issue and introduce you to some resources related to it. 

2. Research relevant resources

After choosing a specific topic, review the prior research on it and evaluate each document to find any gaps that call for additional investigation. These records should help develop the background of your subject and provide evidence for your essay’s arguments. 

While conducting your research, jot down key thoughts on your topic for use in constructing your outline.

3. Describe your methodology

In your research proposal, this chapter is quite important because it informs your committee about how well your method will answer the research questions. When evaluating your methodology, check published papers in your field to discover the strategy that will provide the most valuable insight into a given situation. 

To identify the resources at your disposal and to avoid choosing a research strategy that is not practical given the money you have been given, you should also consult your tutor. 

4. Outline the implications of your research

Of equal importance to your dissertation proposal is the implications chapter. This chapter highlights the intended aims of your research, allowing the committee to gauge the feasibility of your research approaches to realizing your goals. 

5. Prepare an outline

Like the dissertation, an outline is a crucial tool for your dissertation proposal. This tool helps you to organize your ideas to achieve a smooth flow within your arguments. At the end of your paper, list the references used in preparing your paper to show that you have conducted the due research.

Dissertation proposal outline

1. Introduction (1 page)
   • Relevance of your research
   • Thesis statement
   • Research questions
   • Hypothesis
2. Literature review (7-8 pages)
   • Background information
   • Theoretical framework
3. Methodology (1-2 pages)
   • Participants
   • Measures
   • Research design
   • Procedures
   • Methods of analyzing data
4. Results (1 page)
   • Descriptive data
   • Tables and figures of expected findings
5. Discussion (1-2 pages)
   • Summary 
   • Conclusion
   • Limitations
   • Recommendations
6. References

Tips for dissertation proposal defense

The task of appearing before your defense committee can be challenging. You may become anxious and overly concerned about your topic due to the unpredictability of how they would see the research and the questions you may be asked. 

Some pointers for writing a successful dissertation proposal include: 

• Prepare a detailed presentation of the research
• Familiarize yourself with the research by reading widely about all the related ideas
• Anticipate questions that you could be asked and prepare the possible answers
• Watch other dissertation defense sessions and consult your peers for guidance on what to expect

Final take

We hope that these tips have helped you overcome any challenges you might have had regarding your dissertation. Also, consider looking at an example of a dissertation proposal or consulting our experts for guidance, therefore overcoming any challenges you could have with your dissertation outline.