25 The Public Abstract

Congratulations on reaching the final stages of the thesis writing process! By this point, you’ve identified the topic or problem you want to explore, conducted your research, analyzed your data, and written up your results. Your work represents a unique contribution to your field, and it is ready for your committee members to evaluate.

But what if you’d like to share your work beyond your committee members and discipline? That’s where the public abstract comes in. While your thesis is aimed at a specific audience—most immediately your committee members, but also those doing work in your field—the public abstract asks you to shift your perspective to a broader view and present your work in a more far-reaching way.

The public abstract is a concise statement of your research, presented in a way that’s accessible to a broader audience. It allows readers outside your field – be they grant funders, legislators, scholars from other disciplines, or simply those who might be interested in your research – to better understand your work. The public abstract can encourage cross-discipline collaboration, and it can support greater public engagement with your work. In sum, the public abstract serves as a bridge, connecting your scholarship with a broader, more far-reaching audience.

The public abstract should succinctly explain the purpose, outcomes, and significance of your work: aim for 250 words or fewer. Its structure should be straightforward, and it should follow a logical reading order. Use shorter sentences, and try to write in the active voice. If possible, avoid unnecessary jargon and technical language. As you craft your public abstract, think about ways to make your research relevant, whether that be through examples or the way in which you frame your writing. If you are unsure of the reading level of your public abstract, try using a readability checker.

All thesis students, including MFA and DMA students, must submit a public abstract as part of their thesis.