What is an Abstract?
An abstract is a short version of your Bachelor’s Thesis. The purpose is to give the reader a quick identification of its basic content. It is placed next to the title page and after the Finnish abstract. Writing the English abstract is usually the last task in the Thesis writing process. The abstract is an indication of the quality of your Thesis. The impressions drawn from the abstract greatly impact the reader so that they may decide whether to read your Thesis in its entirety or not. It should “stand on its own” and be a self-contained document. There should be no need to look elsewhere in your Thesis for an understanding of what is said in the abstract. Students do not often recognize the importance of the abstract and thus do not spend the required time in order to produce a well defined text.
Content and Organisation
Do not translate your Finnish title, tiivistelmä or johdanto word for word. Pay a special attention to how you interpret the Finnish title into English. Make it no longer than ten words. Express the objectives and methods clearly, along with the results and / or recommendations. Do not include exact results, figures or other accurate details. For easy reading, write your text in 4 short paragraphs. They should describe the following information:
- What was the aim of your research?
- How did you carry out your research?
- What are the general results?
- What are the main conclusions and recommendations based on your research?
Length
The abstract should be very concise – the maximum length being 50% of one page (outside of the header formatting and keywords line). This means you will need to economize your use of words and tie ideas together. Use the most precise and relevant words to best express the content of the abstract. Abstracts that are too long will have to be re-written. The length is 300 words.
Language Format and Style
Use simple, neutral style: make sentences short - one sentence should be made up of only two or three clauses. Use the same word if you mean the same concept (for example, if you have decided to use the word method of your plan, do not refer to the same by procedure or technique in your abstract).
While first person (“I”, “we”) may be used in the body of the Thesis, you must use third person or passive in the abstract. So, no personal pronouns: I, you, we, also my, your, our. If there is a need to refer to the writer, use the word Author.
Use the simple past tense (imperfekti) to refer to what you did, eg was measured, the tests were found inadequate. There is seldom need for the past perfect tense (have been) constructions.
Use the present tense (preesens) to refer to your written report, e.g. Earlier studies are reported in detail. The drawings show the prefabrication. Also, you may use the present tense when referring to the results. Use present or the future tense when referring to the conclusions. Consider the use of tenses carefully.
Do not include abbreviations or acronyms in your abstract if you can help it, but if you must, don’t use them without explaining them first. For example, the first time you use the abbreviation you must write out the full form and put the abbreviation in brackets. e.g. “Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)” From then on you may use “MRI” for the duration of the abstract.
Do not use headings for your abstract paragraphs. (e.g. Objectives, Methods, Results and Conclusions)
Do not use underlining italics and boldface.
Keep your abstract clear and simple – you are trying to show the key points of your Thesis to attract interest.
Always check your grammar, spelling, and formatting. Use either British English spelling conventions or American English spelling conventions throughout your abstract, but not both. Do not use slang expressions. Do not show your feelings or opinions.
There are differences between degree programmes in the School of Creative Industries. Do check what kind of supervise or proof reading might be available or obligatory in your degree programme.