What is a Dissertation Preface? | Definition & Examples
A preface is your opportunity to inform your audience about your experiences during the writing of your thesis or dissertation.
A preface is much more personal than other types of academic writing. It is written mainly in the first person and is one of the few places where using first-person is considered acceptable. Your preface is typically written upon completion of your thesis or dissertation, as a final step.
What is included in a preface?
The following items can be included in the preface:
- Your (brief) personal background
- Any (brief) personal experiences or circumstances that motivated you to pursue this type of academic work
- The target group for which your thesis or dissertation was written
- Your name, the place name, and the date at the time of writing, at the end of the preface
While it’s common practice to briefly acknowledge any individuals and/or institutions who have helped you during your writing and editing process, these should mostly be saved for your acknowledgements section.
Indeed, it is often common practice to write either a preface or an acknowledgements section, not both.
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Dissertation preface example
Check out this example about how to write a preface. The trick is to write the preface in a style that is personal, yet still professional. Remember that this is one of the few occurrences where first-person is acceptable, and in fact encouraged.
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