Dissertation: meaning, definitions and examples

A dissertation is a long piece of writing on a particular subject, especially one that is done to earn a degree at a university. It is typically written at the graduate or doctoral level.

• She spent the last two years working on her dissertation
• His dissertation examines the impact of climate change on coastal cities

A thesis is similar to a dissertation but is often shorter and done for a master's degree. It involves research on a particular topic.

• She defended her master's thesis last week
• The thesis explores new methods of teaching mathematics

A paper is a general term for any scholarly article or essay that is usually shorter and can be written by students or researchers. It can be used at any educational level.

• I have to write a ten-page paper for my history class
• His paper on renewable energy was published in a scientific journal

A treatise is a detailed and formal written work on a subject, often longer and more comprehensive than a dissertation or thesis. It is commonly used in scholarly work in the humanities and is not necessarily associated with a degree.

• He wrote a treatise on political philosophy
• The book is an exhaustive treatise on medieval architecture