The preface of your thesis
The preface offers you the opportunity to explain the personal reason for choosing the topic of your thesis, to describe your experiences during the writing process, and to thank those who have supported you.
Writing the preface
The preface is the part of your thesis where you can explain the personal background to your choice of topic and share your experiences during the work. It is optional and should not be confused with the introduction or the abstract. In the preface, you also have the opportunity to thank people who supported you during your work.
- Personal background to the choice of topic
- Experiences and challenges during writing
- Acknowledgements to people or institutions that supported you
- Place, date and signature
Tips for a successful preface
To ensure that your preface is authentic yet professional, you should consider a few basic points:
- Write the preface after you have completed your thesis.
- Keep the preface personal, but professional. Make sure that you focus on the purpose of the preface without being too informal.
- Avoid quotations in the preface. The preface is a personal and reflective text.
- Make sure the preface doesn't get too long - keep it concise.
To consider
- Avoid quotes and technical terms that are not relevant to the preface.
- Make sure to use the first-person form professionally, and avoid excessive subjectivity.
- Don't confuse the preface with the introduction or the abstract - each has its own function.