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• Dissertation
• Plan de dissertation

Plan de dissertation : méthodologie et exemples

Publié le 27 novembre 2018 par Justine Debret . Mis à jour le 14 février 2022.

Le plan d’une dissertation est la structure ou le “squelette” de votre dissertation.

Table des matières

Combien de parties pour un plan de dissertation , plan de dissertation : apparent ou pas , les types de plan pour une dissertation, exemple de plan pour une dissertation (de philosophie), le plan d’une dissertation juridique, le plan d’une dissertation de philosophie.

Nous conseillons de faire un plan en trois parties (et deux sous-parties) pour les dissertations en général.

Toutefois, ce n’est pas obligatoire et vous pouvez le faire en deux parties (et trois sous-parties).

C’est différent pour les dissertations de droit ! Pour les dissertations juridiques, le plan doit contenir deux parties (et pas trois).

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Le plan d’une dissertation peut être apparent ou non, tout dépend du type de dissertation rédigé.

Les dissertations de philosophie n’ont en général pas de plan apparent. Les titres apparaissent dans une phrase introductive.

Attention ! Pour les dissertations juridiques, les titres doivent être apparents et ils ne doivent pas comporter des verbes conjugués.

Il en existe plusieurs et chaque type de plan de dissertation a ses spécificités.

1. Le plan d’une dissertation dialectique

Le plan dialectique (ou critique) est un plan « thèse, antithèse et synthèse ». Il est utilisé lorsque l’opinion exprimée dans le sujet de dissertation est discutable et qu’il est possible d’envisager l’opinion inverse.

Le plan d’une dissertation dialectique suit le modèle suivant :

I. Exposé argumenté d’une thèse. II. Exposé argumenté de la thèse adverse. II. Synthèse (dépassement de la contradiction)

2. Le plan de dissertation analytique

Le plan analytique permet d’analyser un problème qui mérite une réflexion approfondie. Vous devez décrire la situation, analyser les causes et envisager les conséquences. Il est possible de faire un plan « explication / illustration / commentaire ».

Le plan d’une dissertation analytique suit généralement le modèle suivant :

I. Description/explication d’une situation II. Analyse des causes/illustration III. Analyse des conséquences/commentaire

3. Le plan de dissertation thématique

Le plan thématique est utilisé dans le cadre de questions générales, celles qui exigent une réflexion progressive.

I. Thème 1 II. Thème 2 III.Thème 3

4. Le plan de dissertation chronologique

Le plan chronologique est utilisé dans le cas d’une question sur un thème dont la compréhension évolue à travers l’histoire.

I. Temporalité 1 II. Temporalité 2 III. Temporalité 3

Voici un exemple de plan analytique pour une dissertation sur le thème «  l’Homme est-il un animal social ? « .

1. La nature en nous 1.1. L’être humain, un animal parmi les autres ? 1.2. Les pulsions humaines comme rappel de notre archaïsme ? 2. La personne humaine : un être de nature ou de culture ? 2.1. La société comme impératif de survie : l’Homme est un loup pour l’Homme 2.2. La perfectibilité de l’Homme l’extrait de la nature 3. Plus qu’un animal social, un animal politique 3.1. L’Homme, un être rationnel au profit du bien commun 3.2. La coexistence humaine et participation politique du citoyen

Les dissertations juridiques sont construites en deux parties et ont un plan apparent.

Le plan a une forme binaire  : deux parties (I et II), deux sous-parties (A et B) et parfois deux sous-sous-parties (1 et 2). Votre plan de dissertation doit reposer sur quatre idées principales.

Plus d’informations sur le plan d’une dissertation juridique

Les dissertations de philosophie sont construites en trois parties (en général) et n’ont pas de plan apparent.

Chaque partie est introduite avec une phrase d’introduction.

Plus d’informations sur le plan d’une dissertation de philosophie

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Debret, J. (2022, 14 février). Plan de dissertation : méthodologie et exemples. Scribbr. Consulté le 2 avril 2024, de https://www.scribbr.fr/dissertation-fr/plan-de-dissertation/

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How to Structure a Dissertation – A Step by Step Guide

Published by Owen Ingram at August 11th, 2021 , Revised On September 20, 2023

A dissertation – sometimes called a thesis –  is a long piece of information backed up by extensive research. This one, huge piece of research is what matters the most when students – undergraduates and postgraduates – are in their final year of study.

On the other hand, some institutions, especially in the case of undergraduate students, may or may not require students to write a dissertation. Courses are offered instead. This generally depends on the requirements of that particular institution.

If you are unsure about how to structure your dissertation or thesis, this article will offer you some guidelines to work out what the most important segments of a dissertation paper are and how you should organise them. Why is structure so important in research, anyway?

One way to answer that, as Abbie Hoffman aptly put it, is because: “Structure is more important than content in the transmission of information.”

Also Read:   How to write a dissertation – step by step guide .

How to Structure a Dissertation or Thesis

It should be noted that the exact structure of your dissertation will depend on several factors, such as:

• Your research approach (qualitative/quantitative)
• The nature of your research design (exploratory/descriptive etc.)
• The requirements set for forth by your academic institution.
• The discipline or field your study belongs to. For instance, if you are a humanities student, you will need to develop your dissertation on the same pattern as any long essay .

This will include developing an overall argument to support the thesis statement and organizing chapters around theories or questions. The dissertation will be structured such that it starts with an introduction , develops on the main idea in its main body paragraphs and is then summarised in conclusion .

However, if you are basing your dissertation on primary or empirical research, you will be required to include each of the below components. In most cases of dissertation writing, each of these elements will have to be written as a separate chapter.

But depending on the word count you are provided with and academic subject, you may choose to combine some of these elements.

For example, sciences and engineering students often present results and discussions together in one chapter rather than two different chapters.

If you have any doubts about structuring your dissertation or thesis, it would be a good idea to consult with your academic supervisor and check your department’s requirements.

Parts of  a Dissertation or Thesis

Your dissertation will  start with a t itle page that will contain details of the author/researcher, research topic, degree program (the paper is to be submitted for), and research supervisor. In other words, a title page is the opening page containing all the names and title related to your research.

The name of your university, logo, student ID and submission date can also be presented on the title page. Many academic programs have stringent rules for formatting the dissertation title page.

Acknowledgements

The acknowledgments section allows you to thank those who helped you with your dissertation project. You might want to mention the names of your academic supervisor, family members, friends, God, and participants of your study whose contribution and support enabled you to complete your work.

However, the acknowledgments section is usually optional.

Tip: Many students wrongly assume that they need to thank everyone…even those who had little to no contributions towards the dissertation. This is not the case. You only need to thank those who were directly involved in the research process, such as your participants/volunteers, supervisor(s) etc.

Perhaps the smallest yet important part of a thesis, an abstract contains 5 parts:

• A brief introduction of your research topic.
• The significance of your research.
•  A line or two about the methodology that was used.
• The results and what they mean (briefly); their interpretation(s).
• And lastly, a conclusive comment regarding the results’ interpretation(s) as conclusion .

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Tip: Make sure to highlight key points to help readers figure out the scope and findings of your research study without having to read the entire dissertation. The abstract is your first chance to impress your readers. So, make sure to get it right. Here are detailed guidelines on how to write abstract for dissertation .

Table of Contents

Table of contents is the section of a dissertation that guides each section of the dissertation paper’s contents. Depending on the level of detail in a table of contents, the most useful headings are listed to provide the reader the page number on which said information may be found at.

Table of contents can be inserted automatically as well as manually using the Microsoft Word Table of Contents feature.

List of Figures and Tables

If your dissertation paper uses several illustrations, tables and figures, you might want to present them in a numbered list in a separate section . Again, this list of tables and figures can be auto-created and auto inserted using the Microsoft Word built-in feature.

List of Abbreviations

Dissertations that include several abbreviations can also have an independent and separate alphabetised  list of abbreviations so readers can easily figure out their meanings.

If you think you have used terms and phrases in your dissertation that readers might not be familiar with, you can create a  glossary  that lists important phrases and terms with their meanings explained.

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Introduction

Introduction chapter  briefly introduces the purpose and relevance of your research topic.

Here, you will be expected to list the aim and key objectives of your research so your readers can easily understand what the following chapters of the dissertation will cover. A good dissertation introduction section incorporates the following information:

• It provides background information to give context to your research.
• It clearly specifies the research problem you wish to address with your research. When creating research questions , it is important to make sure your research’s focus and scope are neither too broad nor too narrow.
• it demonstrates how your research is relevant and how it would contribute to the existing knowledge.
• It provides an overview of the structure of your dissertation. The last section of an introduction contains an outline of the following chapters. It could start off with something like: “In the following chapter, past literature has been reviewed and critiqued. The proceeding section lays down major research findings…”
• Theoretical framework – under a separate sub-heading – is also provided within the introductory chapter. Theoretical framework deals with the basic, underlying theory or theories that the research revolves around.

All the information presented under this section should be relevant, clear, and engaging. The readers should be able to figure out the what, why, when, and how of your study once they have read the introduction. Here are comprehensive guidelines on how to structure the introduction to the dissertation .

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Literature Review 

The  literature review chapter  presents previous research performed on the topic and improves your understanding of the existing literature on your chosen topic. This is usually organised to complement your  primary research  work completed at a later stage.

Make sure that your chosen academic sources are authentic and up-to-date. The literature review chapter must be comprehensive and address the aims and objectives as defined in the introduction chapter. Here is what your literature research chapter should aim to achieve:

• Data collection from authentic and relevant academic sources such as books, journal articles and research papers.
• Analytical assessment of the information collected from those sources; this would involve a critiquing the reviewed researches that is, what their strengths/weaknesses are, why the research method they employed is better than others, importance of their findings, etc.
• Identifying key research gaps, conflicts, patterns, and theories to get your point across to the reader effectively.

While your literature review should summarise previous literature, it is equally important to make sure that you develop a comprehensible argument or structure to justify your research topic. It would help if you considered keeping the following questions in mind when writing the literature review:

• How does your research work fill a certain gap in exiting literature?
• Did you adopt/adapt a new research approach to investigate the topic?
• Does your research solve an unresolved problem?
• Is your research dealing with some groundbreaking topic or theory that others might have overlooked?
• Is your research taking forward an existing theoretical discussion?
• Does your research strengthen and build on current knowledge within your area of study? This is otherwise known as ‘adding to the existing body of knowledge’ in academic circles.

Tip: You might want to establish relationships between variables/concepts to provide descriptive answers to some or all of your research questions. For instance, in case of quantitative research, you might hypothesise that variable A is positively co-related to variable B that is, one increases and so does the other one.

Research Methodology

The methods and techniques ( secondary and/or primar y) employed to collect research data are discussed in detail in the  Methodology chapter. The most commonly used primary data collection methods are:

• questionnaires
• focus groups
• observations

Essentially, the methodology chapter allows the researcher to explain how he/she achieved the findings, why they are reliable and how they helped him/her test the research hypotheses or address the research problem.

You might want to consider the following when writing methodology for the dissertation:

• Type of research and approach your work is based on. Some of the most widely used types of research include experimental, quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
• Data collection techniques that were employed such as questionnaires, surveys, focus groups, observations etc.
• Details of how, when, where, and what of the research that was conducted.
• Data analysis strategies employed (for instance, regression analysis).
• Software and tools used for data analysis (Excel, STATA, SPSS, lab equipment, etc.).
• Research limitations to highlight any hurdles you had to overcome when carrying our research. Limitations might or might not be mentioned within research methodology. Some institutions’ guidelines dictate they be mentioned under a separate section alongside recommendations.
• Justification of your selection of research approach and research methodology.

Here is a comprehensive article on  how to structure a dissertation methodology .

Research Findings

In this section, you present your research findings. The dissertation findings chapter  is built around the research questions, as outlined in the introduction chapter. Report findings that are directly relevant to your research questions.

Any information that is not directly relevant to research questions or hypotheses but could be useful for the readers can be placed under the  Appendices .

As indicated above, you can either develop a  standalone chapter  to present your findings or combine them with the discussion chapter. This choice depends on  the type of research involved and the academic subject, as well as what your institution’s academic guidelines dictate.

For example, it is common to have both findings and discussion grouped under the same section, particularly if the dissertation is based on qualitative research data.

On the other hand, dissertations that use quantitative or experimental data should present findings and analysis/discussion in two separate chapters. Here are some sample dissertations to help you figure out the best structure for your own project.

Sample Dissertation

Tip: Try to present as many charts, graphs, illustrations and tables in the findings chapter to improve your data presentation. Provide their qualitative interpretations alongside, too. Refrain from explaining the information that is already evident from figures and tables.

The findings are followed by the  Discussion chapter , which is considered the heart of any dissertation paper. The discussion section is an opportunity for you to tie the knots together to address the research questions and present arguments, models and key themes.

This chapter can make or break your research.

The discussion chapter does not require any new data or information because it is more about the interpretation(s) of the data you have already collected and presented. Here are some questions for you to think over when writing the discussion chapter:

• Did your work answer all the research questions or tested the hypothesis?
• Did you come up with some unexpected results for which you have to provide an additional explanation or justification?
• Are there any limitations that could have influenced your research findings?

Here is an article on how to  structure a dissertation discussion .

Conclusions corresponding to each research objective are provided in the  Conclusion section . This is usually done by revisiting the research questions to finally close the dissertation. Some institutions may specifically ask for recommendations to evaluate your critical thinking.

By the end, the readers should have a clear apprehension of your fundamental case with a focus on  what methods of research were employed  and what you achieved from this research.

Quick Question: Does the conclusion chapter reflect on the contributions your research work will make to existing knowledge?

Answer: Yes, the conclusion chapter of the research paper typically includes a reflection on the research’s contributions to existing knowledge.  In the “conclusion chapter”, you have to summarise the key findings and discuss how they add value to the existing literature on the current topic.

Reference list

All academic sources that you collected information from should be cited in-text and also presented in a  reference list (or a bibliography in case you include references that you read for the research but didn’t end up citing in the text), so the readers can easily locate the source of information when/if needed.

At most UK universities, Harvard referencing is the recommended style of referencing. It has strict and specific requirements on how to format a reference resource. Other common styles of referencing include MLA, APA, Footnotes, etc.

Each chapter of the dissertation should have relevant information. Any information that is not directly relevant to your research topic but your readers might be interested in (interview transcripts etc.) should be moved under the Appendices section .

Things like questionnaires, survey items or readings that were used in the study’s experiment are mostly included under appendices.

An Outline of Dissertation/Thesis Structure

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FAQs About Structure a Dissertation

What does the title page of a dissertation contain.

The title page will contain details of the author/researcher, research topic , degree program (the paper is to be submitted for) and research supervisor’s name(s). The name of your university, logo, student number and submission date can also be presented on the title page.

What is the purpose of adding acknowledgement?

The acknowledgements section allows you to thank those who helped you with your dissertation project. You might want to mention the names of your academic supervisor, family members, friends, God and participants of your study whose contribution and support enabled you to complete your work.

Can I omit the glossary from the dissertation?

Yes, but only if you think that your paper does not contain any terms or phrases that the reader might not understand. If you think you have used them in the paper,  you must create a glossary that lists important phrases and terms with their meanings explained.

What is the purpose of appendices in a dissertation?

Any information that is not directly relevant to research questions or hypotheses but could be useful for the readers can be placed under the Appendices, such as questionnaire that was used in the study.

Which referencing style should I use in my dissertation?

You can use any of the referencing styles such as APA, MLA, and Harvard, according to the recommendation of your university; however, almost all UK institutions prefer Harvard referencing style .

What is the difference between references and bibliography?

References contain all the works that you read up and used and therefore, cited within the text of your thesis. However, in case you read on some works and resources that you didn’t end up citing in-text, they will be referenced in what is called a bibliography.

Additional readings might also be present alongside each bibliography entry for readers.

You May Also Like

Anyone who supports you in your research should be acknowledged in dissertation acknowledgments. Learn more on how to write dissertation acknowledgements.

Make sure that your selected topic is intriguing, manageable, and relevant. Here are some guidelines to help understand how to find a good dissertation topic.

Wish that you had more time to write your dissertation paper? Here are some practical tips for you to learn “How to get dissertation deadline extension”.

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• Dissertation

How to Write a Dissertation Proposal | A Step-by-Step Guide

Published on 14 February 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on 11 November 2022.

A dissertation proposal describes the research you want to do: what it’s about, how you’ll conduct it, and why it’s worthwhile. You will probably have to write a proposal before starting your dissertation as an undergraduate or postgraduate student.

A dissertation proposal should generally include:

• An introduction to your topic and aims
• A literature review  of the current state of knowledge
• An outline of your proposed methodology
• A discussion of the possible implications of the research
• A bibliography  of relevant sources

Dissertation proposals vary a lot in terms of length and structure, so make sure to follow any guidelines given to you by your institution, and check with your supervisor when you’re unsure.

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Table of contents

Step 1: coming up with an idea, step 2: presenting your idea in the introduction, step 3: exploring related research in the literature review, step 4: describing your methodology, step 5: outlining the potential implications of your research, step 6: creating a reference list or bibliography.

Before writing your proposal, it’s important to come up with a strong idea for your dissertation.

Find an area of your field that interests you and do some preliminary reading in that area. What are the key concerns of other researchers? What do they suggest as areas for further research, and what strikes you personally as an interesting gap in the field?

Once you have an idea, consider how to narrow it down and the best way to frame it. Don’t be too ambitious or too vague – a dissertation topic needs to be specific enough to be feasible. Move from a broad field of interest to a specific niche:

• Russian literature 19th century Russian literature The novels of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky
• Social media Mental health effects of social media Influence of social media on young adults suffering from anxiety

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Like most academic texts, a dissertation proposal begins with an introduction . This is where you introduce the topic of your research, provide some background, and most importantly, present your aim , objectives and research question(s) .

Try to dive straight into your chosen topic: What’s at stake in your research? Why is it interesting? Don’t spend too long on generalisations or grand statements:

• Social media is the most important technological trend of the 21st century. It has changed the world and influences our lives every day.
• Psychologists generally agree that the ubiquity of social media in the lives of young adults today has a profound impact on their mental health. However, the exact nature of this impact needs further investigation.

Once your area of research is clear, you can present more background and context. What does the reader need to know to understand your proposed questions? What’s the current state of research on this topic, and what will your dissertation contribute to the field?

If you’re including a literature review, you don’t need to go into too much detail at this point, but give the reader a general sense of the debates that you’re intervening in.

This leads you into the most important part of the introduction: your aim, objectives and research question(s) . These should be clearly identifiable and stand out from the text – for example, you could present them using bullet points or bold font.

Make sure that your research questions are specific and workable – something you can reasonably answer within the scope of your dissertation. Avoid being too broad or having too many different questions. Remember that your goal in a dissertation proposal is to convince the reader that your research is valuable and feasible:

• Does social media harm mental health?
• What is the impact of daily social media use on 18– to 25–year–olds suffering from general anxiety disorder?

Now that your topic is clear, it’s time to explore existing research covering similar ideas. This is important because it shows you what is missing from other research in the field and ensures that you’re not asking a question someone else has already answered.

You’ve probably already done some preliminary reading, but now that your topic is more clearly defined, you need to thoroughly analyse and evaluate the most relevant sources in your literature review .

Here you should summarise the findings of other researchers and comment on gaps and problems in their studies. There may be a lot of research to cover, so make effective use of paraphrasing to write concisely:

• Smith and Prakash state that ‘our results indicate a 25% decrease in the incidence of mechanical failure after the new formula was applied’.
• Smith and Prakash’s formula reduced mechanical failures by 25%.

The point is to identify findings and theories that will influence your own research, but also to highlight gaps and limitations in previous research which your dissertation can address:

• Subsequent research has failed to replicate this result, however, suggesting a flaw in Smith and Prakash’s methods. It is likely that the failure resulted from…

Next, you’ll describe your proposed methodology : the specific things you hope to do, the structure of your research and the methods that you will use to gather and analyse data.

You should get quite specific in this section – you need to convince your supervisor that you’ve thought through your approach to the research and can realistically carry it out. This section will look quite different, and vary in length, depending on your field of study.

You may be engaged in more empirical research, focusing on data collection and discovering new information, or more theoretical research, attempting to develop a new conceptual model or add nuance to an existing one.

Dissertation research often involves both, but the content of your methodology section will vary according to how important each approach is to your dissertation.

Empirical research

Empirical research involves collecting new data and analysing it in order to answer your research questions. It can be quantitative (focused on numbers), qualitative (focused on words and meanings), or a combination of both.

With empirical research, it’s important to describe in detail how you plan to collect your data:

• Will you use surveys ? A lab experiment ? Interviews?
• What variables will you measure?
• How will you select a representative sample ?
• If other people will participate in your research, what measures will you take to ensure they are treated ethically?
• What tools (conceptual and physical) will you use, and why?

It’s appropriate to cite other research here. When you need to justify your choice of a particular research method or tool, for example, you can cite a text describing the advantages and appropriate usage of that method.

Don’t overdo this, though; you don’t need to reiterate the whole theoretical literature, just what’s relevant to the choices you have made.

Moreover, your research will necessarily involve analysing the data after you have collected it. Though you don’t know yet what the data will look like, it’s important to know what you’re looking for and indicate what methods (e.g. statistical tests , thematic analysis ) you will use.

Theoretical research

You can also do theoretical research that doesn’t involve original data collection. In this case, your methodology section will focus more on the theory you plan to work with in your dissertation: relevant conceptual models and the approach you intend to take.

For example, a literary analysis dissertation rarely involves collecting new data, but it’s still necessary to explain the theoretical approach that will be taken to the text(s) under discussion, as well as which parts of the text(s) you will focus on:

• This dissertation will utilise Foucault’s theory of panopticism to explore the theme of surveillance in Orwell’s 1984 and Kafka’s The Trial…

Here, you may refer to the same theorists you have already discussed in the literature review. In this case, the emphasis is placed on how you plan to use their contributions in your own research.

You’ll usually conclude your dissertation proposal with a section discussing what you expect your research to achieve.

You obviously can’t be too sure: you don’t know yet what your results and conclusions will be. Instead, you should describe the projected implications and contribution to knowledge of your dissertation.

First, consider the potential implications of your research. Will you:

• Develop or test a theory?
• Provide new information to governments or businesses?
• Challenge a commonly held belief?
• Suggest an improvement to a specific process?

Describe the intended result of your research and the theoretical or practical impact it will have:

Finally, it’s sensible to conclude by briefly restating the contribution to knowledge you hope to make: the specific question(s) you hope to answer and the gap the answer(s) will fill in existing knowledge:

Like any academic text, it’s important that your dissertation proposal effectively references all the sources you have used. You need to include a properly formatted reference list or bibliography at the end of your proposal.

Different institutions recommend different styles of referencing – commonly used styles include Harvard , Vancouver , APA , or MHRA . If your department does not have specific requirements, choose a style and apply it consistently.

A reference list includes only the sources that you cited in your proposal. A bibliography is slightly different: it can include every source you consulted in preparing the proposal, even if you didn’t mention it in the text. In the case of a dissertation proposal, a bibliography may also list relevant sources that you haven’t yet read, but that you intend to use during the research itself.

Check with your supervisor what type of bibliography or reference list you should include.

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Caulfield, J. (2022, November 11). How to Write a Dissertation Proposal | A Step-by-Step Guide. Scribbr. Retrieved 2 April 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/thesis-dissertation/proposal/

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What’s Included: The Dissertation Template

If you’re preparing to write your dissertation, thesis or research project, our free dissertation template is the perfect starting point. In the template, we cover every section step by step, with clear, straightforward explanations and examples .

The template’s structure is based on the tried and trusted best-practice format for formal academic research projects such as dissertations and theses. The template structure reflects the overall research process, ensuring your dissertation or thesis will have a smooth, logical flow from chapter to chapter.

The dissertation template covers the following core sections:

• The title page/cover page
• Abstract (sometimes also called the executive summary)
• Table of contents
• List of figures /list of tables
• Chapter 1: Introduction  (also available: in-depth introduction template )
• Chapter 2: Literature review  (also available: in-depth LR template )
• Chapter 3: Methodology (also available: in-depth methodology template )
• Chapter 4: Research findings /results (also available: results template )
• Chapter 5: Discussion /analysis of findings (also available: discussion template )
• Chapter 6: Conclusion (also available: in-depth conclusion template )
• Reference list

Each section is explained in plain, straightforward language , followed by an overview of the key elements that you need to cover within each section. We’ve also included practical examples to help you understand exactly what’s required in each section.

The cleanly-formatted Google Doc can be downloaded as a fully editable MS Word Document (DOCX format), so you can use it as-is or convert it to LaTeX.

FAQs: Dissertation Template

What format is the template (doc, pdf, ppt, etc.).

The dissertation template is provided as a Google Doc. You can download it in MS Word format or make a copy to your Google Drive. You’re also welcome to convert it to whatever format works best for you, such as LaTeX or PDF.

What types of dissertations/theses can this template be used for?

The template follows the standard best-practice structure for formal academic research projects such as dissertations or theses, so it is suitable for the vast majority of degrees, particularly those within the sciences.

Some universities may have some additional requirements, but these are typically minor, with the core structure remaining the same. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to double-check your university’s requirements before you finalise your structure.

Will this work for a research paper?

A research paper follows a similar format, but there are a few differences. You can find our research paper template here .

Is this template for an undergrad, Masters or PhD-level thesis?

This template can be used for a dissertation, thesis or research project at any level of study. It may be slight overkill for an undergraduate-level study, but it certainly won’t be missing anything.

How long should my dissertation/thesis be?

This depends entirely on your university’s specific requirements, so it’s best to check with them. As a general ballpark, Masters-level projects are usually 15,000 – 20,000 words in length, while Doctoral-level projects are often in excess of 60,000 words.

What about the research proposal?

If you’re still working on your research proposal, we’ve got a template for that here .

We’ve also got loads of proposal-related guides and videos over on the Grad Coach blog .

How do I write a literature review?

We have a wealth of free resources on the Grad Coach Blog that unpack how to write a literature review from scratch. You can check out the literature review section of the blog here.

How do I create a research methodology?

We have a wealth of free resources on the Grad Coach Blog that unpack research methodology, both qualitative and quantitative. You can check out the methodology section of the blog here.

Can I share this dissertation template with my friends/colleagues?

Yes, you’re welcome to share this template. If you want to post about it on your blog or social media, all we ask is that you reference this page as your source.

Can Grad Coach help me with my dissertation/thesis?

Within the template, you’ll find plain-language explanations of each section, which should give you a fair amount of guidance. However, you’re also welcome to consider our dissertation and thesis coaching services .

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Home » Dissertation – Format, Example and Template

Dissertation – Format, Example and Template

Table of Contents

Dissertation

Definition:

Dissertation is a lengthy and detailed academic document that presents the results of original research on a specific topic or question. It is usually required as a final project for a doctoral degree or a master’s degree.

Dissertation Meaning in Research

In Research , a dissertation refers to a substantial research project that students undertake in order to obtain an advanced degree such as a Ph.D. or a Master’s degree.

Dissertation typically involves the exploration of a particular research question or topic in-depth, and it requires students to conduct original research, analyze data, and present their findings in a scholarly manner. It is often the culmination of years of study and represents a significant contribution to the academic field.

Types of Dissertation

Types of Dissertation are as follows:

Empirical Dissertation

An empirical dissertation is a research study that uses primary data collected through surveys, experiments, or observations. It typically follows a quantitative research approach and uses statistical methods to analyze the data.

Non-Empirical Dissertation

A non-empirical dissertation is based on secondary sources, such as books, articles, and online resources. It typically follows a qualitative research approach and uses methods such as content analysis or discourse analysis.

Narrative Dissertation

A narrative dissertation is a personal account of the researcher’s experience or journey. It typically follows a qualitative research approach and uses methods such as interviews, focus groups, or ethnography.

Systematic Literature Review

A systematic literature review is a comprehensive analysis of existing research on a specific topic. It typically follows a qualitative research approach and uses methods such as meta-analysis or thematic analysis.

Case Study Dissertation

A case study dissertation is an in-depth analysis of a specific individual, group, or organization. It typically follows a qualitative research approach and uses methods such as interviews, observations, or document analysis.

Mixed-Methods Dissertation

A mixed-methods dissertation combines both quantitative and qualitative research approaches to gather and analyze data. It typically uses methods such as surveys, interviews, and focus groups, as well as statistical analysis.

How to Write a Dissertation

Here are some general steps to help guide you through the process of writing a dissertation:

• Choose a topic : Select a topic that you are passionate about and that is relevant to your field of study. It should be specific enough to allow for in-depth research but broad enough to be interesting and engaging.
• Conduct research : Conduct thorough research on your chosen topic, utilizing a variety of sources, including books, academic journals, and online databases. Take detailed notes and organize your information in a way that makes sense to you.
• Create an outline : Develop an outline that will serve as a roadmap for your dissertation. The outline should include the introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion.
• Write the introduction: The introduction should provide a brief overview of your topic, the research questions, and the significance of the study. It should also include a clear thesis statement that states your main argument.
• Write the literature review: The literature review should provide a comprehensive analysis of existing research on your topic. It should identify gaps in the research and explain how your study will fill those gaps.
• Write the methodology: The methodology section should explain the research methods you used to collect and analyze data. It should also include a discussion of any limitations or weaknesses in your approach.
• Write the results: The results section should present the findings of your research in a clear and organized manner. Use charts, graphs, and tables to help illustrate your data.
• Write the discussion: The discussion section should interpret your results and explain their significance. It should also address any limitations of the study and suggest areas for future research.
• Write the conclusion: The conclusion should summarize your main findings and restate your thesis statement. It should also provide recommendations for future research.
• Edit and revise: Once you have completed a draft of your dissertation, review it carefully to ensure that it is well-organized, clear, and free of errors. Make any necessary revisions and edits before submitting it to your advisor for review.

Dissertation Format

The format of a dissertation may vary depending on the institution and field of study, but generally, it follows a similar structure:

• Title Page: This includes the title of the dissertation, the author’s name, and the date of submission.
• Abstract : A brief summary of the dissertation’s purpose, methods, and findings.
• Table of Contents: A list of the main sections and subsections of the dissertation, along with their page numbers.
• Introduction : A statement of the problem or research question, a brief overview of the literature, and an explanation of the significance of the study.
• Literature Review : A comprehensive review of the literature relevant to the research question or problem.
• Methodology : A description of the methods used to conduct the research, including data collection and analysis procedures.
• Results : A presentation of the findings of the research, including tables, charts, and graphs.
• Discussion : A discussion of the implications of the findings, their significance in the context of the literature, and limitations of the study.
• Conclusion : A summary of the main points of the study and their implications for future research.
• References : A list of all sources cited in the dissertation.
• Appendices : Additional materials that support the research, such as data tables, charts, or transcripts.

Dissertation Outline

Dissertation Outline is as follows:

Title Page:

• Title of dissertation
• Author name
• Institutional affiliation
• Date of submission
• Brief summary of the dissertation’s research problem, objectives, methods, findings, and implications
• Usually around 250-300 words

Table of Contents:

• List of chapters and sections in the dissertation, with page numbers for each

I. Introduction

• Background and context of the research
• Research problem and objectives
• Significance of the research

II. Literature Review

• Overview of existing literature on the research topic
• Identification of gaps in the literature
• Theoretical framework and concepts

III. Methodology

• Research design and methods used
• Data collection and analysis techniques
• Ethical considerations

IV. Results

• Presentation and analysis of data collected
• Findings and outcomes of the research
• Interpretation of the results

V. Discussion

• Discussion of the results in relation to the research problem and objectives
• Evaluation of the research outcomes and implications
• Suggestions for future research

VI. Conclusion

• Summary of the research findings and outcomes
• Implications for the research topic and field
• Limitations and recommendations for future research

VII. References

• List of sources cited in the dissertation

VIII. Appendices

• Additional materials that support the research, such as tables, figures, or questionnaires.

Example of Dissertation

Here is an example Dissertation for students:

Title : Exploring the Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Academic Achievement and Well-being among College Students

This dissertation aims to investigate the impact of mindfulness meditation on the academic achievement and well-being of college students. Mindfulness meditation has gained popularity as a technique for reducing stress and enhancing mental health, but its effects on academic performance have not been extensively studied. Using a randomized controlled trial design, the study will compare the academic performance and well-being of college students who practice mindfulness meditation with those who do not. The study will also examine the moderating role of personality traits and demographic factors on the effects of mindfulness meditation.

Chapter Outline:

Chapter 1: Introduction

• Background and rationale for the study
• Research questions and objectives
• Significance of the study
• Overview of the dissertation structure

Chapter 2: Literature Review

• Definition and conceptualization of mindfulness meditation
• Theoretical framework of mindfulness meditation
• Empirical research on mindfulness meditation and academic achievement
• Empirical research on mindfulness meditation and well-being
• The role of personality and demographic factors in the effects of mindfulness meditation

Chapter 3: Methodology

• Research design and hypothesis
• Participants and sampling method
• Intervention and procedure
• Measures and instruments
• Data analysis method

Chapter 4: Results

• Descriptive statistics and data screening
• Analysis of main effects
• Analysis of moderating effects
• Post-hoc analyses and sensitivity tests

Chapter 5: Discussion

• Summary of findings
• Implications for theory and practice
• Limitations and directions for future research
• Conclusion and contribution to the literature

Chapter 6: Conclusion

• Recap of the research questions and objectives
• Summary of the key findings
• Contribution to the literature and practice
• Implications for policy and practice
• Final thoughts and recommendations.

References :

List of all the sources cited in the dissertation

Appendices :

Additional materials such as the survey questionnaire, interview guide, and consent forms.

Note : This is just an example and the structure of a dissertation may vary depending on the specific requirements and guidelines provided by the institution or the supervisor.

How Long is a Dissertation

The length of a dissertation can vary depending on the field of study, the level of degree being pursued, and the specific requirements of the institution. Generally, a dissertation for a doctoral degree can range from 80,000 to 100,000 words, while a dissertation for a master’s degree may be shorter, typically ranging from 20,000 to 50,000 words. However, it is important to note that these are general guidelines and the actual length of a dissertation can vary widely depending on the specific requirements of the program and the research topic being studied. It is always best to consult with your academic advisor or the guidelines provided by your institution for more specific information on dissertation length.

Applications of Dissertation

Here are some applications of a dissertation:

• Advancing the Field: Dissertations often include new research or a new perspective on existing research, which can help to advance the field. The results of a dissertation can be used by other researchers to build upon or challenge existing knowledge, leading to further advancements in the field.
• Career Advancement: Completing a dissertation demonstrates a high level of expertise in a particular field, which can lead to career advancement opportunities. For example, having a PhD can open doors to higher-paying jobs in academia, research institutions, or the private sector.
• Publishing Opportunities: Dissertations can be published as books or journal articles, which can help to increase the visibility and credibility of the author’s research.
• Personal Growth: The process of writing a dissertation involves a significant amount of research, analysis, and critical thinking. This can help students to develop important skills, such as time management, problem-solving, and communication, which can be valuable in both their personal and professional lives.
• Policy Implications: The findings of a dissertation can have policy implications, particularly in fields such as public health, education, and social sciences. Policymakers can use the research to inform decision-making and improve outcomes for the population.

When to Write a Dissertation

Here are some situations where writing a dissertation may be necessary:

• Pursuing a Doctoral Degree: Writing a dissertation is usually a requirement for earning a doctoral degree, so if you are interested in pursuing a doctorate, you will likely need to write a dissertation.
• Conducting Original Research : Dissertations require students to conduct original research on a specific topic. If you are interested in conducting original research on a topic, writing a dissertation may be the best way to do so.
• Advancing Your Career: Some professions, such as academia and research, may require individuals to have a doctoral degree. Writing a dissertation can help you advance your career by demonstrating your expertise in a particular area.
• Contributing to Knowledge: Dissertations are often based on original research that can contribute to the knowledge base of a field. If you are passionate about advancing knowledge in a particular area, writing a dissertation can help you achieve that goal.
• Meeting Academic Requirements : If you are a graduate student, writing a dissertation may be a requirement for completing your program. Be sure to check with your academic advisor to determine if this is the case for you.

Purpose of Dissertation

some common purposes of a dissertation include:

• To contribute to the knowledge in a particular field : A dissertation is often the culmination of years of research and study, and it should make a significant contribution to the existing body of knowledge in a particular field.
• To demonstrate mastery of a subject: A dissertation requires extensive research, analysis, and writing, and completing one demonstrates a student’s mastery of their subject area.
• To develop critical thinking and research skills : A dissertation requires students to think critically about their research question, analyze data, and draw conclusions based on evidence. These skills are valuable not only in academia but also in many professional fields.
• To demonstrate academic integrity: A dissertation must be conducted and written in accordance with rigorous academic standards, including ethical considerations such as obtaining informed consent, protecting the privacy of participants, and avoiding plagiarism.
• To prepare for an academic career: Completing a dissertation is often a requirement for obtaining a PhD and pursuing a career in academia. It can demonstrate to potential employers that the student has the necessary skills and experience to conduct original research and make meaningful contributions to their field.
• To develop writing and communication skills: A dissertation requires a significant amount of writing and communication skills to convey complex ideas and research findings in a clear and concise manner. This skill set can be valuable in various professional fields.
• To demonstrate independence and initiative: A dissertation requires students to work independently and take initiative in developing their research question, designing their study, collecting and analyzing data, and drawing conclusions. This demonstrates to potential employers or academic institutions that the student is capable of independent research and taking initiative in their work.
• To contribute to policy or practice: Some dissertations may have a practical application, such as informing policy decisions or improving practices in a particular field. These dissertations can have a significant impact on society, and their findings may be used to improve the lives of individuals or communities.
• To pursue personal interests: Some students may choose to pursue a dissertation topic that aligns with their personal interests or passions, providing them with the opportunity to delve deeper into a topic that they find personally meaningful.

Advantage of Dissertation

Some advantages of writing a dissertation include:

• Developing research and analytical skills: The process of writing a dissertation involves conducting extensive research, analyzing data, and presenting findings in a clear and coherent manner. This process can help students develop important research and analytical skills that can be useful in their future careers.
• Demonstrating expertise in a subject: Writing a dissertation allows students to demonstrate their expertise in a particular subject area. It can help establish their credibility as a knowledgeable and competent professional in their field.
• Contributing to the academic community: A well-written dissertation can contribute new knowledge to the academic community and potentially inform future research in the field.
• Improving writing and communication skills : Writing a dissertation requires students to write and present their research in a clear and concise manner. This can help improve their writing and communication skills, which are essential for success in many professions.
• Increasing job opportunities: Completing a dissertation can increase job opportunities in certain fields, particularly in academia and research-based positions.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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Exemple de dissertation pour le bac de français !

Tu passes le bac de français ? CLIQUE ICI et deviens membre de commentairecompose.fr ! Tu accèderas gratuitement à tout le contenu du site et à mes meilleures astuces en vidéo.

Tu trouveras sur cette page :

• Des exemples de sujets de dissertation sur chaque œuvre au programme.
• Un exemple de dissertation entièrement rédigée selon les exigences du bac de français.

Pour bien traiter ces sujets, aide-toi de ma méthode de la dissertation qui te montre comment organiser tes idées et construire ta copie.

Exemples de dissertation sur chaque œuvre au programme

• Selon vous, est-ce l’immoralité du personnage de Manon Lescaut qui fait le plaisir de la lecture du roman ? (Voir la dissertation rédigée sur Manon Lescaut )
• Selon vous, le roman de La Peau de chagrin nous invite-t-il à économiser notre énergie vitale ? (Voir la dissertation rédigée sur La Peau de chagrin )
• Selon vous, Dans Sido et Les Vrilles de la vigne , Colette ne célèbre-t-elle que les êtres qu’elle a chéris ? (Voir la dissertation rédigée sur Sido et Les Vrilles de la vigne )
• La liberté créatrice d’Arthur Rimbaud dans les Cahiers de Douai se réduit-elle simplement à une rébellion adolescente ?
• Dans Méthodes , Francis Ponge écrit : « la fonction de l’artiste est ainsi fort claire : il doit ouvrir un atelier et y prendre en réparation le monde, par fragments, comme il lui vient ». En quoi cette citation éclaire-t-elle votre lecture du recueil La Rage de l’expression de Francis Ponge ?
• Hélène Dorion déclare dans « Fragments de paysages » que « le paysage n’est pas qu’un dehors, il émerge tout aussi bien de l’intérieur. ». En quoi cette citation éclaire-t-elle votre lecture du recueil Mes Forêts ?
• Rabelais, dans le « Prologue » de Gargantua , évoque les silènes, boîtes décorées « à plaisir pour exciter le monde à rire » mais contenant diverses « choses précieuses ». En quoi cette image éclaire-t-elle votre lecture de Gargantua ? (Voir la dissertation rédigée sur Gargantua )
• En quoi, dans les livres V à X des Caractères , l’art de la mise en scène sert-il le projet du moraliste ?
• Lors de sa défense devant le tribunal révolutionnaire en 1793, Olympe de Gouges déclare qu’elle s’est « frayé une route nouvelle ». Comment cette affirmation éclaire-t-elle votre lecture de la Déclaration des droits de la femme et de la citoyenne ?
• L’étymologie grecque du mot crise, Krisis , vient du verbe krinein qui signifie discerner, juger, décider. En quoi cette étymologie éclaire-t-elle votre lecture de Juste la fin du monde ? (Voir la dissertation sur Juste la fin du monde . Tu peux peux lire ci-dessous la dissertation intégralement rédigée comme tu dois le faire le jour J)
• L’écrivain Robert Sabatier définit ainsi la comédie : « On appelle comédie la tragédie envisagée d’un point de vue humoristique. » Cette définition vous paraît-elle s’appliquer au Malade imaginaire ? (Voir la dissertation sur Le Malade imaginaire )
• Selon vous, quel rapport le mensonge entretient-il avec la vérité dans Les Fausses confidences de Marivaux ? (Voir la dissertation sur Les Fausses confidences )

Exemple de dissertation rédigée pour le bac de français

Voici un exemple de dissertation entièrement rédigée , comme tu devras le faire le jour du bac.

L’étymologie grecque du mot crise, Krisis , vient du verbe krinein qui signifie discerner, juger, décider. En quoi cette étymologie éclaire-t-elle votre lecture de Juste la fin du monde ?

(introduction)

La crise est un moment de transition chaotique, souvent douloureux, qui sépare deux périodes d’équilibre. Elle implique tension, discorde, rupture. La « crise » est d’ailleurs profondément liée au genre théâtral puisque toute pièce met en scène le passage d’un nœud dramatique à un dénouement. Juste la fin du monde n’échappe pas à cette règle puisque Jean-Luc Lagarce nous invite au spectacle d’une crise personnelle et familiale à son apogée. Mais le mot « crise » vient aussi du grec Krisis qui signifie décision, jugement et désigne un moment crucial d’arbitrage. En quoi cette étymologie permet-elle d’éclairer la lecture de Juste la fin du monde ? Qui juge et arbitre dans cette pièce ? Quelle instance décisionnelle préside aux choix des personnages ? Nous verrons comment le moment de chaos que constitue la crise dévoile les véritables responsables des décisions qui sont prises dans l’oeuvre de Jean-Luc Lagarce : la famille et l’individu, mais surtout le destin et ses lois inexorables.

(1re partie)                     Juste la fin du monde met en scène une crise personnelle et familiale. Le spectateur est invité tout d’abord à la tragédie personnelle de Louis, le personnage principal. Dès le prologue, il annonce sa mort prochaine : « Plus tard, l’année d’après / J’allais mourir à mon tour ». Le nœud de l’action ne réside pas dans la maladie de Louis – le personnage se sait condamné et le dénouement est connu d’avance par le spectateur – mais dans son aveu : parviendra-t-il à dévoiler ce douloureux secret ? Son mal-être est perceptible  dès le début de la pièce car sa révélation est difficile : « C’est pénible, ce n’est pas bien / Je suis mal à l’aise. / (…) mais tu m’as mis mal à l’aise et là, / maintenant, / je suis mal à l’aise. » (Partie I, scène 2). Les épanorthoses (Louis revient sans cesse sur ses termes pour les nuancer) et la structure en chiasme (ABBA) de ses phrases révèlent son enferment dans une crise intérieure dont il ne parvient pas à se libérer. En cela, Jean-Luc Lagarce crée un parallèle avec Phèdre de Jean Racine dans laquelle l’aveu de l’héroïne éponyme est au centre de la tragédie. Dans les tragédies classiques, le héros est en proie à des passions violentes contre lesquelles il ne peut pas lutter : c’est la révélation de ses passions qui crée le chaos. C’est ce qui arrive à Louis : sa maladie est déjà là au début de la pièce. Impuissant, il ne lui reste plus qu’à la révéler à son entourage. Louis vit donc deux tragédies simultanées : son combat contre la mort et sa difficulté à avouer ce combat. À l’image de Phèdre, son déchirement intérieur en fait un modèle de héros tragique en pleine situation critique.

Au-delà de la crise personnelle de Louis, c’est tout l’édifice familial qui est placé dans une situation de crise. Le retour de Louis bouleverse en effet l’équilibre familial et réveille les souffrances de chaque membre de la famille. Pour la mère, le retour de Louis correspond au retour du fils prodigue, écrivain, dont on n’a jamais vraiment compris le départ. Pour Antoine, c’est le retour du frère aîné rival, celui qui réactive ses complexes, ses passions et sa jalousie. Pour Catherine et Suzanne, Louis est un miroir qui les confronte à la médiocrité et à la banalité de leur vie. La crise familiale s’exprime violemment, au travers de disputes constantes. Ainsi, tous les personnages se querellent : Antoine et Catherine, Antoine et Suzanne, Suzanne et Catherine, la mère et ses enfants. La violence la plus spectaculaire est celle d’Antoine qui fait éclater la rivalité fraternelle au grand jour dans la scène 2 de la deuxième partie : « ANTOINE : Tu me touches : je te tues ». L’asyndète (absence de liaison entre les deux propositions) accentue la violence du propos et le caractère dramatique de cette scène où la famille, au paroxysme de la crise, se déchire sous nos yeux.

Juste la fin du monde met donc en scène deux crises distinctes : la crise personnelle de Louis et la crise familiale provoquée par son retour. Comme son étymologie grecque krisis l’indique, la crise désigne aussi un moment décisif d’arbitrage. Et l’on voit justement dans cette pièce des mécanismes se mettre en place pour arbitrer la sortie de crise.

(2e partie)

Afin de rétablir l’équilibre, la famille de Louis et Louis lui-même opèrent des choix. Le retour de Louis, après douze ans d’absence, provoque une véritable crise dans le foyer. Immédiatement, un tribunal familial se met en place pour juger le frère aîné. Ainsi, le champ lexical du droit abonde dans le texte. Catherine dit elle-même : « je ne voudrais pas avoir l’air de vous faire un mauvais procès ». Louis accepte d’endosser la culpabilité : « et ces crimes que je ne me connais pas, je les regrette, j’en éprouve du remords «  (2ème partie, scène 1). Ce tribunal familial ne s’en prend pas qu’à Louis et juge tour à tour les personnages. Ainsi, Antoine est également accusé d’être « brutal » dans la scène 2 de la deuxième partie et c’est Louis qui le défend comme le ferait un avocat : « Non il n’a pas été brutal ». La scène devient donc une juridiction dans laquelle chaque personnage se retrouve sur le banc des accusés. De ce point de vue, Juste la fin du monde fait songer à la pièce Huis-clos de Sartre où les personnages, enfermés dans une même pièce après leur mort, se jugent les uns les autres. Mais le verdict final de ce tribunal domestique conduit à rejeter Louis hors du cercle familial. Ainsi, dans la scène 3 de la deuxième partie, les personnages féminins sont gagnés par l’immobilité et s’effacent devant la confrontation des deux frères : « LA MÈRE : Nous ne bougeons presque plus, nous sommes toutes les trois, comme absentes, on les regarde, on se tait. » Le silence qui règne jusqu’à la fin de la scène suggère leur adhésion au discours d’Antoine et une rupture complète entre Louis et sa famille.

La pièce peut aussi se lire comme la représentation d’une cure psychanalytique qui mène Louis à sa décision finale, annoncée dans l’épilogue : « Je pars / je ne reviens plus jamais ». Selon Freud, trois instances sont présentes chez l’homme : le moi qui assure la stabilité et le contact avec la réalité extérieure, le ça, lieu de pulsions qui ne supporte pas la contradiction, et le surmoi, instance morale qui rappelle les interdits. Les personnages de la pièce semblent symboliser ces trois éléments : la Mère serait une sorte de surmoi (l’instance morale), Antoine le ça (les pulsions) et Louis l’inconscient qui ne parvient pas à émerger et dire la mort. Le jeu sur les temps (« je suis touché, j’ai été touché » 1re partie, scène 2) suggère une introspection dans le passé, comme cela se pratique lors d’une psychanalyse. La multiplication des épanorthoses fait penser à une parole analytique qui se cherche pour découvrir une vérité intérieure. On pourrait ainsi rapprocher Juste la fin du monde du théâtre de Nathalie Sarraute qui joue sur les codes de la psychanalyse pour en faire une aventure esthétique et littéraire. Comme Nathalie Sarraute, Jean-Luc Lagarce s’attache à saisir les non-dits et les sentiments cachés derrière l’apparente banalité des conventions sociales. Ainsi, dans la scène de retrouvailles (partie I, scène 1), des sentiments de gêne, de rejet tacite et d’hésitation se devinent derrière les phrases stéréotypées et le masque pesant des politesses : « SUZANNE : C’est Catherine. / Elle est Catherine. / Catherine, c’est Louis. / Voilà Louis. / Catherine. »

Les personnages prennent des décisions pour juguler la crise. Mais sont-ils réellement maîtres de leur destin ? Le dénouement de la crise n’est-il pa connu d’avance ?

(3e partie)    

                                Juste la fin du monde montre avant tout que seul le destin décide véritablement, les personnages étabt soumis à une autorité supérieure qui leur échappe. Le destin est la véritable instance décisionnelle de la pièce. Louis est d’abord soumis à un destin biologique : celui de la maladie. Celle-ci est presque invisible – Louis ne parvient pas à en parler – mais elle est la véritable maîtresse du jeu qui agit sur les personnages. Elle est d’ailleurs évoquée au début de l’œuvre, dans le Prologue (« J’allais mourir à mon tour ») et à la fin, dans l’Epilogue (« Je meurs quelques mois plus tard »), dans une circularité parfaite. La maladie incarne la fatalité tragique inéluctable qui scelle le destin du personnage. Elle remporte le combat inégal et perdu d’avance par Louis. Le destin auquel est soumis le personnage est également héréditaire. On découvre que trois hommes de trois générations successives portent le prénom de Louis. Jean-Luc Lagarce joue sur la récurrence de ce prénom pour inscrire son personnage principal dans une lignée tragique qui fait songer à la malédiction des Atrides dans la mythologie grecque. La crise familiale semble donc être inscrite dans un continuum qui sous-entend que le destin des personnages est écrit d’avance, comme dans les tragédies. C’est en outre ce que suggère Louis dans la scène 1 de la deuxième partie : « C’est exactement ainsi, / lorsque j’y réfléchis, / que j’avais imaginé les choses ».

Soumis à un destin qui leur échappe, les personnages sont également emportés dans une crise collective d’un monde qui ne parvient plus à fonctionner. Le titre Juste la fin du monde invite d’ailleurs les spectateurs à être les témoins d’un monde en crise. L’expression « la fin du monde » fait allusion à une apocalypse collective tandis que l’adverbe « juste » dévoile l’ironie d’un auteur qui observe ce chaos avec distance et humour. Tout comme Louis qui assiste, impuissant, à la crise familiale, le spectateur est invité à regarder l’état de crise permanent dans lequel sont plongés les membres de cette famille. Car si la crise intérieure de Louis, due à sa maladie, suscite la compassion, qu’en est-il de l’obsession psychologique des autres personnages qui se disputent sur chaque mot ? Pris dans un culte de la complication, une recherche de la crise pour la crise, les personnages passent à côté de l’essentiel. Jean-Luc Lagarce montre ainsi un monde où tout se délite : les valeurs, la famille, le langage. Les dialogues des personnages ressemblent d’ailleurs parfois à ceux du théâtre de l’absurde, tel l’échange banal entre Louis et Antoine qui rappelle les échanges mécaniques entre Vladimir et Estragon dans En attendant Godot de Beckett : « Je vais bien / Je n’ai pas de voiture, non / Toi comment est-ce que tu vas ? ANTOINE Je vais bien. Toi comment est-ce que tu vas ? » (1re partie, scène 1).

  (conclusion)

Juste la fin du monde est bien un drame de la crise : la crise personnelle et familiale est dénouée par une décision familiale tacite et une introspection personnelle qui poussent Louis à quitter sa famille, sans révéler son secret. Mais la pièce dévoile surtout la crise d’un monde désagrégé qui conduit à la désunion de tout, des êtres, des choses, des valeurs et de langage. La crise des personnages est une fenêtre par laquelle apparaît l’effondrement d’un monde comme on peut le voir chez un dramaturge comme Bernard-Marie Koltès dont le théâtre exprime la tragédie de l’être solitaire et de la mort.

Tu t’entraînes à la dissertation ? Regarde aussi :

♦ Comment analyser un sujet de dissertation ♦ L’introduction de la dissertation (méthode) ♦ La conclusion de la dissertation (méthode) ♦ Le plan de ta dissertation

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Les 3 vidéos préférées des élèves :

• La technique INCONTOURNABLE pour faire décoller tes notes en commentaire [vidéo]
• Quel sujet choisir au bac de français ? [vidéo]
• Comment trouver un plan de dissertation ? [vidéo]

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Qui suis-je ?

Amélie Vioux

Je suis professeur particulier spécialisée dans la préparation du bac de français (2nde et 1re).

Sur mon site, tu trouveras des analyses, cours et conseils simples, directs, et facilement applicables pour augmenter tes notes en 2-3 semaines.

Je crée des formations en ligne sur commentairecompose.fr depuis 12 ans.

Tu peux également retrouver mes conseils dans mon livre Réussis ton bac de français 2024 aux éditions Hachette.

J'ai également publié une version de ce livre pour les séries technologiques ici.

62 commentaires

Bonjour Amélie, J’ai arrêté l’école il y a plusieurs années… Je n’ai pas le niveau lycée et j’aimerais savoir si vos cours suffiront pour passer le bac es de français en tant que candidat libre ?

Bonjour Abid, Mes cours et formations sont adaptées pour les lycéens qui passent le bac de français. Si tu es en reprise d’étude pour passer le baccalauréat, mes cours te seront donc bien utiles !

Bonsoir Mme Vioux, merci pour cette page, elle me sera très utile, cependant, avez-vous le corrigé de la dissertation sur LaFontaine s’il-vous-plaît ?

c’est un seul paragraphe dans l’intro, un paragraphe dans la conclusion.

Bonjour, c’est la première fois que je dois faire une dissertation et je ne sais pas comment m’y prendre .Pourriez vous m’aider ? La plus grande gloire n’est pas de ne jamais tomber mais de savoir se relever. Merci pour votre aide

Bonjour, Est-il possible d’avoir la réponse concernant les sujets : – Des Fables de La Fontaine – Des Fleurs du Mal de Baudelaire ( Au moins le plan s’il vous plaît ) Merci

Bonjour Amélie, Désolé de te déranger, mais j’aurais aimé savoir si mon plan pour la dissertation sur Les Fleurs du Mal était cohérent. Je me permets donc de l’écrire ci-dessous: I- La laideur peut être une source d’inspiration poétique II- Cependant, la beauté peut suffire comme source d’inspiration III- La poésie ne peut-elle pas s’inspirer d’autre chose que le jugement subjectif? Merci pour tout ce que tu fais! Adam

Bonsoir, j’ai un bac blanc mardi (de français évidemment ^^) et je n’ai étudié pour le moment que la comédie du valet. Dans votre sujet de dissertation que vous proposez, qui est « Pourquoi l’archétype du valet de comédie est-il d’une grande richesse dramaturgique ? », et dans les idées de thèmes pour les parties, vous ne prenez pas en compte un des termes principaux : l’archétype. Donc, je me demandais si en ayant ce thème, nous pouvions traiter tous les valets, mêmes ceux qui sortent de ce carcan, comme Figaro ? Merci par avance pour votre réponse, Ambre.

bonjour à la lecture de la dissertation j’ai fait ce plan qu’en pensez vous ? 1) le personnage de roman: un héro A) des valeurs (Ulysse dans l’odyssée) b) un personnage qui réalise de grande chose (bel ami de Maupassant) c) un personnage fantastique (Harry potter) 2) le personnage de roman un être nuancé A)un personnage réaliste (etienne lantier, germinal de zola) b) un personnage emprunt au doute (Winston smith, 1984) c) l’anti héro (lolita Nabokov) 3)le role du personnage de roman a) Raconter une histoire (la chambre des officiers) b) un représentant d’un monde (colin l’écume des jours) c) faire passer une morale (des souris et des hommes de steinbeck) ouverture le but du romancier

J’ai été choisie cette année par mes professeurs pour participer au concours général des lycéens, j’ai pris l’épreuve de français et je vais devoir passer 6H sur une dissertation, et je n’ai jamais fais de dissertation de ma vie. Mon professeur nous a proposé une dissertation en français sur l’argumentation mais je bloque et je stagne, serait-ce possible d’avoir aide s’il vous plait ?

Est-il possible que la dissertation soit plus facile pour le bac de français que le commentaire?

Les deux exercices font appel à des qualités différentes. C’est à toi de voir lequel de ces deux exercices te semble le plus simple à réaliser.

Bon article mais j’aurais voulu connaître la stucure dans le détail d’une dissertation.

combien de paragraphes peuvent comprendre l’introduction et la conclusion

salut l’introduction on l’a fait en un paragraphe ou en plusieurs paragraphe

bonjour j’ai une dissertation à écrire sur le sujet « dans qu’elle mesure un roman vous permet d’en apprendre davantage sur vous même et sur les autres ? » pourriez vous m’aidez svp

Il ne m’est pas possible de faire de l’aide aux devoirs dans les commentaires. Il faut t’orienter vers un forum ou un tuteur.

Bonjour cela m’aide beaucoup mais comme toujours j’ai des problèmes pour commencer une introduction surtout sur la thématique de mon sujet « L’amour évoqué dans les oeuvres théâtrale lues n’est-il que badinage?  » je tiens à dire que je suis en seconde et que mon cerveau est actuellement le désert de Gobi.

Bonjour Amelie, j’ai une question au sujet de la dissertation. Au moment de formuler ma problématique sois je n’en trouve pas, sois je vais trop loin et frôle le hors sujet. Je n’arrive pas à reformuler le sujet. Pouvez-vous m’aider ?

Bonjour Nayanka, La problématique n’ est pas une simple reformulation du sujet. Tu dois mettre en valeur les différentes questions suscitées par le sujet afin de montrer son intérêt. Je te conseille de t’inscrire à ma formation gratuite en 10 leçons pour voir mes vidéos sur la dissertation. Bon courage.

Merci pour cet article. Il aurait été intéressant de parler des personnages avec les influences des 3 déterminismes (sociaux, historiques et biologiques) qui justement apportent un côté scientifique, fatal quant à la vie des personnages et montrent que le personnage n’a pas réellement de côté extraordinaire –> Toute l’oeuvre de Zola.

Une dissertation n’a pas vocation à être un cours exhaustif sur un sujet donné et il y a bien sûr d’autres développements possibles et d’autres exemples de personnages qui pourraient être mis en avant.

Bonsoir Amélie, je me suis permise de vous envoyer un message privé par mail pour que lire ma dissertation, je ne voulais pas qu’elle fasse objet de plagiat,

Bonjour Claire, Je n’ai malheureusement pas le temps de corriger vos devoirs par email. J’ai déjà beaucoup d’élèves à corriger, je ne peux réaliser ce travail pour davantage de personnes !

Bonjour Amélie, je trouve votre site très intéressant et très bien expliqué. J ai une dissertation sur la phrase suivante « cette histoire est vraie puisque je l ai inventée  » de Boris Vian. Si on analyse la phrase de loin, on peut reconnaître un paradoxe mais on s aperçoit que la vérité ce n est pas la réalité. En effet la vérité relevé de l universalité, elle relève du discours tandis que la réalité et ce qui nous entoure. Mais même après cette analyse, je ne sais pas comment m’y prendre pour faire un plan. Si vous pouviez me aider pour ce sujet, s il vous plaît.

bonjour, Je suis en 1ère S et je n’ai jamais fait de dissertation de ma vie. Mon professeur m’en a donné une à faire, et je n’y arrive pas du tout. Je ne sais même pas quoi mettre dans l’introduction… La question c’est : dans quelle mesure la forme littéraire peut-elle rendre une argumentation plus efficace ? C’est seulement grâce à vous que j’ai compris qu’il fallait faire un plan thématique, merci ! Je voulais un peu m’aider d’internet, parce qu’à part ça, je ne sais rien, et j’ai remarqué que c’était exactement le même sujet que celui de 2007, avec les mêmes textes. Il y a deux ou trois corrigés mais je ne veux pas recopier parce que je ne comprend même pas le raisonnement… S’il vous plait, pouvez-vous m’aider en me disant à peu près quoi mettre dans l’introduction, et comment faire mon plan ? Merci beaucoup d’avance.

Bonjour Shana, Tout d’abord, tu as raison de ne pas recopier quelque chose trouvé sur internet : c’est du plagiat – les professeurs ne sont pas dupes – et puis surtout, cela ne te ferait pas progresser. Tu peux lire quelques ressources mais il est important ensuite de mener un raisonnement par toi-même. Je ne peux pas faire de l’aide aux devoirs dans les commentaires des articles. Juste quelques indications : cherche les raisons qui font que la forme littéraire d’un texte peut rendre le message du texte plus percutant. Appuie-toi sur des exemples concrets pour trouver des arguments (pense par exemple aux contes philosophiques de Voltaire, aux fables de La Fontaine…). Idéalement, tu pourrais trouver deux raisons qui te donneront deux axes. Dans un troisième temps, tu pourrais te demander si c’est réellement la forme du texte qui rend une argumentation plus efficace (d’autres aspects du texte ne sont-ils pas plus importants ? Qu’est-ce qui rend une argumentation efficace ?) Bon courage !

Bonjour, je tenais à vous dire que votre blog est exceptionnel je comprends plus de choses ! Cependant je n’arrive pas à rédiger une introduction de dissertation. Pourriez-vous m’éclairer? Merci d’avance!

Bonjour , j’ai un problème avec une dissertation que je doit au plus vite le sujet : D’après le marquis de Sade,  » on appelle roman l’ouvrage fabuleux composé d’après les plus singulières aventures de la vie des hommes. » cette définition vous paraît-elle fondée ? Pour cela il faut s’appuyer sur les textes du corpus ( extraits de L princesse de Clèves de Madame de Lafayette et Bel-Amide Maupassant) .

Bonjour , j’ai un problème avec une dissertation que j’ai à rendre au plus vite, le sujet est « il faut se méfier de ceux qui cherchent à nous convaincre par d’autres voies que celles de la raison  » j’ai donc fais deux axes -> persuasion conviction mais j’ai du mal à trouver des sous parties Pourriez vous m’aidez ? Merci d’avance

Bonjour Amélie, Tout d’abord merci pour ton site très complet et très rassurant. Mon professeur de français nous recommande de ne pas préciser dans ma dissertation si le texte que j’utilise comme exemple provient du corpus. Cependant je vois de nombreuses corrections de dissertation où il est écrit « Texte B du corpus »… Est-il obligatoire de préciser qu’il est extrait du corps? Merci d’avance

bonjour j’ai une dissertation a rendre pour la rentrée j’ai la problématique « est-il plus efficace de défendre une cause ou de dénoncer une injustice a travers une fiction ou une argumentation » mais je ne comprend pas comment je pourrais la rédiger, j’ai également regarder vos explications. Je ne c’est pas mettre en oeuvre pouvez vous me donner des indices merci.

BONSOIR. Merci beaucoup, vos cours sont vraiment bénéfiques et très utiles. je vous souhaite bonne continuité.

Bonjour ! Tout d’abord, merci beaucoup pour vos cours qui me sont vraiment très utiles ! Je voulais vous demander jusqu’où nos exemples peuvent aller dans une dissertation. Je m’explique : dans une dissertation sur la poésie, peut-on citer des artistes contemporains comme le groupe Fauve Corp ou Saez ? Et dans le roman, des oeuvres récentes comme Yasmina Khadra, etc… Merci d’avance pour votre réponse !

Bonjour, j’ai une dissertation à faire sur le héros en littérature. Je suis un peu perdu, j’hésite quant au plan. 2 ou 3 parties? I le héros II l’anti héros

Bonjour j’ai une dissertation à faire. Elle est la suivante: Qu’attendez-vous d’un personnage de roman? Qu’il vous fasse rêver ou qu’il vous renvoie aux dures réalités de l’existence? Je pense construire un plan dialectique dans une première partie le personnage de rêve, dans une seconde le personnage réaliste et dans une troisième et dernière partie une confrontation de mes deux premières idées en parlant d’un personnage de roman qui fait rêver tout en étant réaliste. Pensez-vous que ma dernière partie est pertinente? si oui pouvez-vous me donner des œuvres qui pourraient constituer des exemples concrets pour ma partie. Merci d’avance.

Bonjours j’aimerais avoir quelques argument sur la question de la dissertation suivante : un poeme fait t’il toujours entendre plusieurs voix ? ( je trouve ca assez compliquer…) ( je suis en 1S). 🙂 merci d’avance

Amelie je ne comprends pas pourquoi vous considérez que les personnages du texte A « Colette » sont extraordinaires? Au contraire, ils sont tout à fait réalistes, je pense … non?

mdm Amélie s’il vous plais j’ai un examin sur le dictionnaire philosophique de voltaire et j rien compris comment je travail un dissertation pouvez vous m’aidé et me donner quelques exemples

s il vous plait ameli demain j ai un devoir mais c prevu d avoir une dissertation concernat la peste d albert camus pouvez vous m aider et me donner quelque exemple de dissertation analysée à propos la peste /merci bcp

Je ne peux pas te faire plusieurs dissertations sur La Peste en une soirée 😉 Pour réviser, revois les enjeux de cette oeuvre, son thème, le symbolisme de le peste dans le roman et visionne également ma vidéo sur l’absurde chez Camus .

Merci beaucoup pour cet exemple de dissertation ! J’aimerais savoir si il était possible d’avoir une méthode et/ou un exemple de rédaction d’introductions de dissertations.

Merci pour tous vos articles encore une fois !

Bonjour, je suis en 1ere ES et je commence a découvrir la dissertation sauf que je n’arrive pas a trouver un plan convenable… Malgré de longue recherche, il y a beaucoup de possibilité. Le sujet donné est le suivant: « Dans cette oeuvre les indiens du nouveau monde, des hommes comme les autres ?  » l’oeuvre en question est la pièce de théâtre « La controverse de Valladolid » de Jean-Claude Carrière. je sais déjà que c’est un plan dialectique que je dois utiliser. il faut je pense parler des colonisations des années 1500. Mais impossible de trouver un plan … pourriez-vous m’aider s’il-vous-plais ?

Je ne peux pas faire d’aide sur mesure pour vos devoirs. Un plan dialectique est tout à fait envisageable pour ce sujet, mais c’est en réfléchissant sur l’oeuvre de J.C. Carrière et sur les différentes façons dont les indiens y sont caractérisés que tu parviendras à répondre à cette question.

Merci beaucoup 🙂

j’ai une dissertation à faire c’est urgent et j’ai besoin d’aide voici le sujet : Dissertation sur l’argumentation Vous direz quels types de textes argumentatifs (apologues ou argumentation directe) vous préférez, en expliquant pour quelles raisons. Vous développerez trois arguments et trois exemples dans chaque partie. vous prendrez vos exemples dans les textes et oeuvres lus et étudiés en cours

Bonjour Amélie !

J’ai découvert votre blog il y a quelques mois de cela et il est vraiment TOP ! Demain, je pars dans l’optique de choisir la dissertation car durant l’année, j’ai eu les meilleurs notes dans ce sujet mais c’est aussi parce que j’apprécie la dissertation. Par contre, notre prof nous a dit que nous étions obligés de reformuler une problématique à partir du sujet. J’ai donc un doute maintenant. Selon le correcteur, y a-t-il une chance de perdre des points parce que nous avons repris la question posée par le sujet ?

Merci d’avance !! 🙂

Bonjour amelie, j ai un sujet de dissertation que je ne comprend pas pourriez vous me l expliquer ? Le sujet est : quelle place, la representation theatrale laisse elle a l imaginaire du spectateur ? Merci d avance

Merci ! Je cherchais un exemple de dissertation afin de m’améliorer !

bonjours, je me pose une question, comment peut t’on présenté clairement nos différente partie alors que ces dernière doivent être rédigé ? en somme, comment faire une syntaxe de notre plan ?

Est ce que dans A du grand II, personnage psychologique, nous pouvons donner comme exemple La princesse de Clèves de Madame de Lafayette et aussi Jeanne dans Une vie de Maupassant ?

Ps: la Dissertation permet-elle réellement d’avoir une bonne voir très bonne note par rapport au commentaire ? Dans quel mesure prendre le commentaire ? Merci encore

Bonjour, Amélie voila je suis en 1 ère et le bac arrive a grand pas et j’hésite a choisir le commentaire ou la dissertation. Car j’ai eu 8.5/16 en dissertation au 2ème bac blanc alors que j’avais eu 15/20 au 1er. Mais pour le commentaire j’ai beaucoup de difficulté j’ai fait 4 commentaire dans l’année et pour tout les 3 j’ai eu en dessous de la moyenne et 1 seule ou j’ai eu 12/20 sachant que c’était un dm. Mais le problème c’est que j’ai peur de ne pas avoir assez de connaissance sur le sujet proposé. J’aimerais aussi savoir, si vous aviez une idée concernant les genres / thèmes susceptibles de tombées et les question qui permettrait d’orienter mes révisions car je ne sait pas trop comment et quoi réviser( ex: théâtre: Les Metteurs en scène sont il des artistes a part entière ? ) Merci

Est ce qu’il aurait été possibles en ce qui concerne les personnages réalistes de parler des romans naturalistes et réalistes ?

bonsoir j’ai trouvé un bon sujet de dissertation mais pas la réponse si vous pourriez m’aider alors c’est est ce qu il faut comprendre la poésie ?

bonsoir, je vous écris pour vous remercier car je ne sais pas si il y a un lien mais depuis que je suis la formation gratuite mes 8 en contrôle et 8.5,9 en bac blanc se sont transformés en 13 en dissertation en classe et 13 au dernier bac blanc et ces vidéos m’ont donc été bénéfiques.

Bonjour Amelie j’ai bientôt un bac blanc . Et ma prof de français nous conseille de choisir la dissertation . Mais la question de dissertation me paraît souvent difficile . Dans quel cas puis je la prendre ou pas ? Merci d’avance .

Bonsoir Hayete, La dissertation est un bon choix quand on sait dérouler un raisonnement pour répondre à une question (il faut être très logique et maîtriser l’art de la nuance) et lorsqu’on a de solides connaissances littéraires. En effet, une dissertation où vous ne citez que le textes du corpus (faute d’en connaître d’autre) est pauvre et peu convaincante. Aussi, choisis la dissertation si tu es à l’aise avec cet exercice et si tu es capable de justifier tes idées avec des exemples variés et précis. Autrement, il est plus intéressant de se tourner vers le commentaire littéraire.

Bonjour, Il y a 3 jours, nous avons eu un bac blanc où j’ai pris la dissertation et je me rappel du mois de novembre avec le première où j’avais pris la dissertation également, sauf que je me souviens que d’après le correcteur je détournais le sujet: la question était « faut t-il qu’un personnage prenne la parole pour exister? » et l’objet d’étude le théâtre, et j’ai dis comme problématique reformulée que « nous allons nous demander si les acteurs doivent obligatoirement utiliser le texte pour faire passer un message » car pour moi, le fait d’exister signifiait, jouer son rôle qui est à travers une histoire et un contexte de faire passer un message. Merci d’avance

Bonsoir Marc-Antoine, Effectivement, ta problématique dénaturait le sujet. Dans une dissertation, la problématique est une reformulation du sujet qui met en valeur le paradoxe ou les enjeux de ce dernier; mais elle ne doit pas transformer le sujet . Si tu as trop de doutes sur ta problématique, le mieux est de garder le sujet tel quel (à votre niveau, c’est acceptable).

Laisse un commentaire ! X

Merci de laisser un commentaire ! Pour des raisons pédagogiques et pour m'aider à mieux comprendre ton message, il est important de soigner la rédaction de ton commentaire. Vérifie notamment l'orthographe, la syntaxe, les accents, la ponctuation, les majuscules ! Les commentaires qui ne sont pas soignés ne sont pas publiés.

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Réservez dès maintenant

• C'est quoi une dissertation ?
• Comment faire une dissertation ?
• Comment faire un plan de dissertation ?
• Comment faire une introduction de dissertation ?
• Comment faire une conclusion de dissertation ? 
• Quelles sont les dissertations les plus demandées par les profs ?

Au lycée, la dissertation est toujours un exercice qui fait peur. Les consignes et les attentes des profs paraissent souvent abstraites. C’est pourquoi, lors de l’ épreuve du bac , les élèves choisissent majoritairement le commentaire de texte. Pourtant, la dissertation permet plus facilement de décrocher une mention. D’abord parce qu’on se démarque des autres et ensuite parce que les correcteurs sont souvent plus indulgents. Mais alors comment s’y prendre ?  Est-ce qu’il faut donner son avis ou simplement réciter son cours ? Comment construire un plan et rédiger l’intro ? GoStudent te guide dans toutes les étapes de ta dissertation !

1 - C'est quoi une dissertation ?

Dissertation définition .

La dissertation est un exercice d’argumentation qui consiste à répondre à la question posée en suivant un plan (généralement organisé en trois parties) et après avoir dégagé une problématique.

Petite histoire de la dissertation

La dissertation existait déjà au Moyen Âge ! Appelé « disputatio », l’exercice consistait en un débat durant lequel les étudiants devaient répondre à une question en trois grandes parties. C’est de là que vient le fameux plan « thèse / antithèse / synthèse ». 💡

Reprise par Descartes, la dissertation devient le symbole de la raison, valeur centrale de la pensée humaniste à la Renaissance.

Aujourd’hui, cet exercice n’est proposé qu’à partir du lycée. D’abord en français et en histoire-géographie, puis en philosophie. Le but n’est pas de réciter son cours. Il faut organiser sa pensée, suivre un fil conducteur, choisir des arguments pertinents et apporter des exemples. 

La dissertation au bac 

La dissertation de français est l’un des sujets proposés aux élèves de la série générale et technologique. L’autre étant le commentaire de texte . Concrètement, au bac de français, tu as quatre heures pour traiter un sujet, noté sur 20 et de coefficient 10.

Pour réussir, il est indispensable de bien maîtriser son cours et toutes les notions au programme. Par exemple, en Français, tu dois bien maîtriser les différents procédés littéraires et les figures de style. En philosophie, il faut connaître les concepts fondamentaux relatifs à des thèmes tels que l’État, la justice, le langage, la liberté, la vérité, etc.

À lire aussi : Comment rédiger un essai parfait ?

2 - Comment faire une dissertation ?

Pour un contrôle d’histoire-géo ou pour l’ épreuve du bac de Français , la méthode de la dissertation est assez comparable. 

Dans un premier temps, tu dois analyser le sujet. Est-ce une question à laquelle on peut répondre par oui ou par non, ou est-ce une question ouverte ?   Cela va influencer la façon de construire le plan. 🛠

Ensuite, tu peux commencer à traiter le sujet et à dégager un plan. Pour cela, il est conseillé de noter des arguments et des exemples au brouillon pour bien structurer tes idées et te permettre de rédiger une introduction.

1 - L’introduction

Si l’on suit la méthodologie de la dissertation , l’introduction a deux grands objectifs : attirer l’attention du lecteur, formuler et dégager une problématique.

2 - Le développement 

Les différentes parties du développement (deux ou trois) sont subdivisées en plusieurs paragraphes qui visent à répondre à la problématique grâce à des arguments.

3 - La conclusion 

La conclusion fait le bilan des grandes idées soutenues dans ton développement. 

Avant de rendre ta copie, l’étape de la relecture est nécessaire pour corriger toutes tes fautes de grammaire ! 🧐

Exemples de dissertation

Pour bien comprendre ce qu’on attend de toi et pour t’entraîner sur des sujets de dissertation , plusieurs sites validés par notre rédaction te propose des exemples de dissertation et leurs corrigés : 

• La référence dans le domaine est Annabac. En version Web ou papier, tu as accès à des fiches de révision sur tous les thèmes du programme ainsi qu’aux annales des dernières années.
• Studyrama te propose des exemples de dissertations corrigés en histoire-géo.
• la-philosophie.com publie également des sujets de dissertation et te guide étape par étape.

3 - Comment faire un plan de dissertation ?

Trois grands types de plan de dissertation s’offrent à toi pour organiser tes idées :

1 # Le plan dialectique est le plus connu : thèse / antithèse / synthèse. C’est celui qu’il faut choisir si le sujet est une question fermée. C’est un plan qui invite à la confrontation des idées. 🥊

Par exemple, pour le sujet « l’intérêt du roman est-il de décrire le réel ?», on pourrait suivre ce plan  :

I - Le roman permet de décrire le réel (on commence par soutenir cette thèse).

II - Mais un roman n’est pas réductible à description du réel (on nuance la thèse).

III - L’intérêt du roman n’est-il pas justement de donner une dimension réelle à l’imagination de l’auteur ? (On dépasse la contradiction).

2 #  Le plan thématique est utilisé en réponse à une question ouverte. Chaque partie présente une réponse possible à la question. Le but est donc de soutenir un point de vue en donnant des arguments. Il ne s’agit pas d’entrer dans une confrontation. En règle générale, il est conseillé d’organiser ses idées de la plus générale à la plus précise.

3 #  Le plan analytique n’est pas utilisé en Français, mais il peut l’être en SES ou en histoire-géo, par exemple. La structure typique se présente sous la forme « problème - causes - conséquences ». 

4 - Comment faire une introduction de dissertation ?

L’introduction de la dissertation est une partie décisive dans laquelle tu présentes le sujet, tu exposes la problématique et tu présentes les différentes parties de ton raisonnement. Il faut à la fois retenir l’attention du lecteur et montrer la pertinence du sujet. 📝

Structure de l'introduction

L’introduction elle-même se divise en plusieurs sous-parties :

• Une phrase d’accroche qui permet d’entrer dans le sujet. C’est souvent un chiffre, un fait divers ou une citation.
•  La reformulation du sujet . Il s’agit de reformuler la question avec tes propres mots pour présenter le sujet et montrer que tu as compris de quoi on parle.
• La problématisation consiste en une phrase qui pose le problème soulevé par la question.
• L’ annonce du plan . En une ou deux phrases, tu présentes les grandes parties de ton développement, en utilisant des connecteurs logiques : « dans un premier temps », « puis dans une seconde partie », etc.

Les erreurs à ne pas faire 

Parmi les pièges à éviter, il ne faut pas :

• Répondre à la problématique dès l’introduction.
• Oublier de suivre le plan annoncé.
• Faire une phrase d’accroche trop longue.
• Rédiger une problématique hors sujet.

5 - Comment faire une conclusion de dissertation ? 

Quelle que soit la discipline (français, philo, SES, etc.), rédiger une conclusion parfaite obéit toujours aux mêmes règles :

• En quelques phrases, tu fais la synthèse des idées que tu as développées dans  ta rédaction.
• Dans un second temps, il faut répondre à la problématique que tu as soulevé.
• Enfin, tu dois rédiger une phrase d’ouverture. Celle-ci consiste en un « élargissement » du sujet. Concrètement, il s’agit d’une nouvelle question que tu te poses à la fin de ton travail. Pour cela, tu peux à la fois te baser sur la dissertation que tu viens de faire et sur ta culture générale . 📚

N’oublie pas que la mise en forme de la conclusion d’une dissertation est aussi importante que pour le reste de la copie. Par exemple, il faut sauter deux lignes entre la fin de ta dernière partie et le début de ta conclusion,  faire des transitions et ne pas négliger l’orthographe.

6 - Quelles sont les dissertations les plus demandées par les profs ?

Parmi les nombreux sujets de dissertations, on retrouve quelques grands classiques que les professeurs donnent pendant l’année scolaire ou le jour du bac. 

Dissertation la princesse de Cleve

Au programme du bac de Français 2022, La Princesse de Clève est un roman écrit par Madame de La Fayette et publié anonymement en 1678. Pourquoi anonymement ? Parce qu’au 17ème siècle, il n’était pas admis qu’une femme puisse signer une oeuvre de son nom. 🚫

Pour t’entraîner sur un exemple de sujet, tu peux te rendre sur le site de sujetscorrigésbac.fr . 

Dissertation les fleurs du mal

Charles Baudelaire et Les fleurs du mal , recueil de poèmes publié en 1857, font partie de l’objet d’étude « Le roman et le récit du Moyen Âge au XXIe siècle », au programme de français dans le parcours « Alchimie poétique : la boue et l'or ». 

Et comme l’indique le nom du parcours, tu peux t’attendre à un sujet qui parle de boue et d’or ! 

Exemples de sujet : 

• « Tu m’as donné ta boue et j’en ai fait de l’or»
• « Le poète doit-il nécessairement tremper sa plume dans la boue ? » 
• « S’agit-il de tremper sa plume au plus profond de l’âme humaine pour en faire une œuvre d’art ?  »

Dissertation le malade imaginaire

Au programme de l’objet d’étude « Le théâtre du XVIIe siècle au XXIe siècle », parcours « Spectacle et comédie », Le malade imaginaire de Molière interroge les élèves sur le rapport au spectacle. 

Exemples de sujets de dissertation :

• « Toute comédie est-elle un divertissement ? »
• « Le Malade Imaginaire : une comédie fantaisiste ? »

Dissertation les fausses confidences

Toujours dans l’objet d’étude « Le théâtre du XVIIe siècle au XXIe siècle », Les fausses confidences est une comédie de Marivaux jouée pour la première fois en 1737. Tu pourras être interrogé sur un  sujet tels que : « Le stratagème est-il un ressort du comique ? »

Un dernier conseil

On te dit toujours de ne pas attendre la dernière minute pour réviser . Mais, on ne va pas se mentir, c’est difficile de se motiver. Surtout quand on voit le soleil qui brille dehors ! ☀️

Alors, pour te faire gagner du temps et pour mettre toutes les chances de ton côté, n’hésite pas à prendre quelques heures de soutien scolaire avec nos professeurs particuliers . Disponibles même au dernier moment, ils sauront répondre à toutes tes questions pour rédiger une super dissertation !

Vous souhaitez essayer les cours particuliers pour votre enfant ? Réservez une leçon d'essai gratuite avec nos meilleurs professeurs.

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The Top 3 Types of Dissertation Research Explained

Preparing for your doctoral dissertation takes serious perseverance. You’ve endured years of studies and professional development to get to this point. After sleepless nights and labor-intensive research, you’re ready to present the culmination of all of your hard work. Even with a strong base knowledge, it can be difficult — even daunting — to decide how you will begin writing.

By taking a wide-lens view of the dissertation research process , you can best assess the work you have ahead of you and any gaps in your current research strategy. Subsequently, you’ll begin to develop a timeline so you can work efficiently and cross that finish line with your degree in hand.

What Is a Dissertation?

A dissertation is a published piece of research on a novel topic in your chosen field. Students complete a dissertation as part of a doctoral or PhD program. For most students, a dissertation is the first substantive piece of academic research they will write. 

Because a dissertation becomes a published piece of academic literature that other academics may cite, students must defend it in front of a board of experts consisting of peers in their field, including professors, their advisor, and other industry experts. 

For many students, a dissertation is the first piece of research in a long career full of research. As such, it’s important to choose a topic that’s interesting and engaging.

Types of Dissertation Research

Dissertations can take on many forms, based on research and methods of presentation in front of a committee board of academics and experts in the field. Here, we’ll focus on the three main types of dissertation research to get you one step closer to earning your doctoral degree.

1. Qualitative

The first type of dissertation is known as a qualitative dissertation . A qualitative dissertation mirrors the qualitative research that a doctoral candidate would conduct throughout their studies. This type of research relies on non-numbers-based data collected through things like interviews, focus groups and participant observation. 

The decision to model your dissertation research according to the qualitative method will depend largely on the data itself that you are collecting. For example, dissertation research in the field of education or psychology may lend itself to a qualitative approach, depending on the essence of research. Within a qualitative dissertation research model, a candidate may pursue one or more of the following:

• Case study research
• Autoethnographies
• Narrative research 
• Grounded theory 

Although individual approaches may vary, qualitative dissertations usually include certain foundational characteristics. For example, the type of research conducted to develop a qualitative dissertation often follows an emergent design, meaning that the content and research strategy changes over time. Candidates also rely on research paradigms to further strategize how best to collect and relay their findings. These include critical theory, constructivism and interpretivism, to name a few. 

Because qualitative researchers integrate non-numerical data, their methods of collection often include unstructured interview, focus groups and participant observations. Of course, researchers still need rubrics from which to assess the quality of their findings, even though they won’t be numbers-based. To do so, they subject the data collected to the following criteria: dependability, transferability and validity. 

When it comes time to present their findings, doctoral candidates who produce qualitative dissertation research have several options. Some choose to include case studies, personal findings, narratives, observations and abstracts. Their presentation focuses on theoretical insights based on relevant data points. 

2. Quantitative

Quantitative dissertation research, on the other hand, focuses on the numbers. Candidates employ quantitative research methods to aggregate data that can be easily categorized and analyzed. In addition to traditional statistical analysis, quantitative research also hones specific research strategy based on the type of research questions. Quantitative candidates may also employ theory-driven research, replication-based studies and data-driven dissertations. 

When conducting research, some candidates who rely on quantitative measures focus their work on testing existing theories, while others create an original approach. To refine their approach, quantitative researchers focus on positivist or post-positivist research paradigms. Quantitative research designs focus on descriptive, experimental or relationship-based designs, to name a few. 

To collect the data itself, researchers focus on questionnaires and surveys, structured interviews and observations, data sets and laboratory-based methods. Then, once it’s time to assess the quality of the data, quantitative researchers measure their results against a set of criteria, including: reliability, internal/external validity and construct validity. Quantitative researchers have options when presenting their findings. Candidates convey their results using graphs, data, tables and analytical statements.

3. Mixed-Method

Many PhD candidates also use a hybrid model in which they employ both qualitative and quantitative methods of research. Mixed dissertation research models are fairly new and gaining traction. For a variety of reasons, a mixed-method approach offers candidates both versatility and credibility. It’s a more comprehensive strategy that allows for a wider capture of data with a wide range of presentation optimization. 

In the most common cases, candidates will first use quantitative methods to collect and categorize their data. Then, they’ll rely on qualitative methods to analyze that data and draw meaningful conclusions to relay to their committee panel. 

With a mixed-method approach, although you’re able to collect and analyze a more broad range of data, you run the risk of widening the scope of your dissertation research so much that you’re not able to reach succinct, sustainable conclusions. This is where it becomes critical to outline your research goals and strategy early on in the dissertation process so that the techniques you use to capture data have been thoroughly examined. 

How to Choose a Type of Dissertation Research That’s Right for You

After this overview of application and function, you may still be wondering how to go about choosing a dissertation type that’s right for you and your research proposition. In doing so, you’ll have a couple of things to consider: 

• What are your personal motivations? 
• What are your academic goals? 

It’s important to discern exactly what you hope to get out of your doctoral program . Of course, the presentation of your dissertation is, formally speaking, the pinnacle of your research. However, doctoral candidates must also consider:

• Which contributions they will make to the field
• Who they hope to collaborate with throughout their studies
• What they hope to take away from the experience personally, professionally and academically

Personal Considerations

To discern which type of dissertation research to choose, you have to take a closer look at your learning style, work ethic and even your personality. 

Quantitative research tends to be sequential and patterned-oriented. Steps move in a logical order, so it becomes clear what the next step should be at all times. For most candidates, this makes it easier to devise a timeline and stay on track. It also keeps you from getting overwhelmed by the magnitude of research involved. You’ll be able to assess your progress and make simple adjustments to stay on target. 

On the other hand, maybe you know that your research will involve many interviews and focus groups. You anticipate that you’ll have to coordinate participants’ schedules, and this will require some flexibility. Instead of creating a rigid schedule from the get-go, allowing your research to flow in a non-linear fashion may actually help you accomplish tasks more efficiently, albeit out of order. This also allows you the personal versatility of rerouting research strategy as you collect new data that leads you down other paths. 

After examining the research you need to conduct, consider more broadly: What type of student and researcher are you? In other words, What motivates you to do your best work? 

You’ll need to make sure that your methodology is conducive to the data you’re collecting, and you also need to make sure that it aligns with your work ethic so you set yourself up for success. If jumping from one task to another will cause you extra stress, but planning ahead puts you at ease, a quantitative research method may be best, assuming the type of research allows for this. 

Professional Considerations

The skills you master while working on your dissertation will serve you well beyond the day you earn your degree. Take into account the skills you’d like to develop for your academic and professional future. In addition to the hard skills you will develop in your area of expertise, you’ll also develop soft skills that are transferable to nearly any professional or academic setting. Perhaps you want to hone your ability to strategize a timeline, gather data efficiently or draw clear conclusions about the significance of your data collection. 

If you have considerable experience with quantitative analysis, but lack an extensive qualitative research portfolio, now may be your opportunity to explore — as long as you’re willing to put in the legwork to refine your skills or work closely with your mentor to develop a strategy together. 

Academic Considerations

For many doctoral candidates who hope to pursue a professional career in the world of academia, writing your dissertation is a practice in developing general research strategies that can be applied to any academic project. 

Candidates who are unsure which dissertation type best suits their research should consider whether they will take a philosophical or theoretical approach or come up with a thesis that addresses a specific problem or idea. Narrowing down this approach can sometimes happen even before the research begins. Other times, candidates begin to refine their methods once the data begins to tell a more concrete story.

Next Step: Structuring Your Dissertation Research Schedule

Once you’ve chosen which type of dissertation research you’ll pursue, you’ve already crossed the first hurdle. The next hurdle becomes when and where to fit dedicated research time and visits with your mentor into your schedule. The busyness of day-to-day life shouldn’t prevent you from making your academic dream a reality. In fact, search for programs that assist, not impede, your path to higher levels of academic success. 

Find out more about SNU’s online and on-campus education opportunities so that no matter where you are in life, you can choose the path that’s right for you.

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• Cookies & Privacy
• GETTING STARTED
• Introduction
• FUNDAMENTALS

Getting to the main article

Choosing your route

Setting research questions/ hypotheses

Assessment point

Building the theoretical case

Setting your research strategy

Data collection

Data analysis

Set the theoretical model for your dissertation

By this point in STAGE FIVE , you should understand the broader literature within which your main journal article and chosen route fit (i.e., STEP ONE ), have critically evaluated the main journal article and its components parts (i.e., STEP TWO ), and have justified the route you have chosen, and the approach within that route (i.e., STEP THREE ). It is now time to use this knowledge to set the theoretical model for your dissertation (i.e., STEP FOUR ). However, if you are not answering a relationship-based hypothesis/research question in your dissertation, you can jump to STEP FIVE , since the theoretical models that we show you in this step are not suitable for descriptive research questions or comparative hypotheses/research questions [see STAGE THREE: Setting research questions and/or hypotheses if you can't remember if the difference between these types of research questions/hypotheses].

Supervisors and/or dissertation guidelines often suggest (or state) that you need to include a conceptual framework or theoretical model in your dissertation. These are similar in the sense that both conceptual frameworks and theoretical models help readers to quickly understand the main theory (or theories) that are you are interested in, the principal concepts/constructs you examining/measuring, how you think that these different theories and concepts/constructs might interact, amongst other goals that we discuss later in this article. The terms conceptual framework and theoretical model are often used interchangeably, but we prefer to view conceptual frameworks as a tool more often used in qualitative research , with theoretical models being something that we try to build in quantitative research .

Theoretical models are useful in order to: (a) set the boundaries/scope of the research project in terms of the theories and constructs that will be studied and measured; (b) illustrate the research hypotheses to be tested, and the predictions that are being made (if any) about the relationship between the constructs under study; and (c) provide a roadmap at the end of your Literature Review chapter (usually Chapter Two: Literature Review ), which brings together your research hypotheses, theories, and constructs that have been critically discussed in a way that can be clearly tested. Ultimately, theoretical models are useful frameworks for you and the people reading your dissertation, helping to describe what you are studying in a clear, succinct, and visual way. They provide an overall picture of what you research is trying to achieve.

Unfortunately, theoretical models are often poorly constructed because they fail to illustrate the links between theory, the constructs you should have identified, and the hypotheses (and their predictions, if any) that you will have constructed. However, by the end of STEP FOUR , you should be able to adopt or modify the theoretical model put forward in the main journal article, or create a new theoretical model from scratch.

If you are following Route A: Duplication or Route B: Generalisation , you should be able to adopt , or at most modify the theoretical model put forward in the main journal article. However, if (a) a theoretical model is not included in the main journal article, (b) the theoretical model proposed is unclear, or (c) you are following Route C: Extension , you may need to create your own theoretical model. If you plan to simply adopt the theoretical model put forward in the main journal article, you can skip STEP FOUR and move onto STAGE SIX: Setting your research strategy . However, to learn more about modifying such a theoretical model, and moreover, creating a theoretical model, follow the four steps below:

• STEP ONE: Identify the constructs you intend to study (and the theories that underpin them)
• STEP TWO: Understand what your hypotheses tell you about how these constructs are related
• STEP THREE: Decide how you want to organise your constructs
• STEP FOUR: Putting your diagram (i.e., your theoretical model) together

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Thesis and Dissertation: Getting Started

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The resources in this section are designed to provide guidance for the first steps of the thesis or dissertation writing process. They offer tools to support the planning and managing of your project, including writing out your weekly schedule, outlining your goals, and organzing the various working elements of your project.

Weekly Goals Sheet (a.k.a. Life Map) [Word Doc]

This editable handout provides a place for you to fill in available time blocks on a weekly chart that will help you visualize the amount of time you have available to write. By using this chart, you will be able to work your writing goals into your schedule and put these goals into perspective with your day-to-day plans and responsibilities each week. This handout also contains a formula to help you determine the minimum number of pages you would need to write per day in order to complete your writing on time.

Setting a Production Schedule (Word Doc)

This editable handout can help you make sense of the various steps involved in the production of your thesis or dissertation and determine how long each step might take. A large part of this process involves (1) seeking out the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding specific document formatting requirements, (2) understanding research protocol limitations, (3) making note of deadlines, and (4) understanding your personal writing habits.

Creating a Roadmap (PDF)

Part of organizing your writing involves having a clear sense of how the different working parts relate to one another. Creating a roadmap for your dissertation early on can help you determine what the final document will include and how all the pieces are connected. This resource offers guidance on several approaches to creating a roadmap, including creating lists, maps, nut-shells, visuals, and different methods for outlining. It is important to remember that you can create more than one roadmap (or more than one type of roadmap) depending on how the different approaches discussed here meet your needs.

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• Knowledge Base
• Dissertation
• What Is a Thesis? | Ultimate Guide & Examples

What Is a Thesis? | Ultimate Guide & Examples

Published on September 14, 2022 by Tegan George . Revised on November 21, 2023.

A thesis is a type of research paper based on your original research. It is usually submitted as the final step of a master’s program or a capstone to a bachelor’s degree.

Writing a thesis can be a daunting experience. Other than a dissertation , it is one of the longest pieces of writing students typically complete. It relies on your ability to conduct research from start to finish: choosing a relevant topic , crafting a proposal , designing your research , collecting data , developing a robust analysis, drawing strong conclusions , and writing concisely .

Thesis template

You can also download our full thesis template in the format of your choice below. Our template includes a ready-made table of contents , as well as guidance for what each chapter should include. It’s easy to make it your own, and can help you get started.

Download Word template Download Google Docs template

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Table of contents

Thesis vs. thesis statement, how to structure a thesis, acknowledgements or preface, list of figures and tables, list of abbreviations, introduction, literature review, methodology, reference list, proofreading and editing, defending your thesis, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about theses.

You may have heard the word thesis as a standalone term or as a component of academic writing called a thesis statement . Keep in mind that these are two very different things.

• A thesis statement is a very common component of an essay, particularly in the humanities. It usually comprises 1 or 2 sentences in the introduction of your essay , and should clearly and concisely summarize the central points of your academic essay .
• A thesis is a long-form piece of academic writing, often taking more than a full semester to complete. It is generally a degree requirement for Master’s programs, and is also sometimes required to complete a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts colleges.
• In the US, a dissertation is generally written as a final step toward obtaining a PhD.
• In other countries (particularly the UK), a dissertation is generally written at the bachelor’s or master’s level.

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The final structure of your thesis depends on a variety of components, such as:

• Your discipline
• Your theoretical approach

Humanities theses are often structured more like a longer-form essay . Just like in an essay, you build an argument to support a central thesis.

In both hard and social sciences, theses typically include an introduction , literature review , methodology section ,  results section , discussion section , and conclusion section . These are each presented in their own dedicated section or chapter. In some cases, you might want to add an appendix .

Thesis examples

We’ve compiled a short list of thesis examples to help you get started.

• Example thesis #1:   “Abolition, Africans, and Abstraction: the Influence of the ‘Noble Savage’ on British and French Antislavery Thought, 1787-1807” by Suchait Kahlon.
• Example thesis #2: “’A Starving Man Helping Another Starving Man’: UNRRA, India, and the Genesis of Global Relief, 1943-1947″ by Julian Saint Reiman.

The very first page of your thesis contains all necessary identifying information, including:

• Your full title
• Your full name
• Your department
• Your institution and degree program
• Your submission date.

Sometimes the title page also includes your student ID, the name of your supervisor, or the university’s logo. Check out your university’s guidelines if you’re not sure.

Read more about title pages

The acknowledgements section is usually optional. Its main point is to allow you to thank everyone who helped you in your thesis journey, such as supervisors, friends, or family. You can also choose to write a preface , but it’s typically one or the other, not both.

Read more about acknowledgements Read more about prefaces

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

• Academic style
• Vague sentences
• Style consistency

See an example

An abstract is a short summary of your thesis. Usually a maximum of 300 words long, it’s should include brief descriptions of your research objectives , methods, results, and conclusions. Though it may seem short, it introduces your work to your audience, serving as a first impression of your thesis.

Read more about abstracts

A table of contents lists all of your sections, plus their corresponding page numbers and subheadings if you have them. This helps your reader seamlessly navigate your document.

Your table of contents should include all the major parts of your thesis. In particular, don’t forget the the appendices. If you used heading styles, it’s easy to generate an automatic table Microsoft Word.

Read more about tables of contents

While not mandatory, if you used a lot of tables and/or figures, it’s nice to include a list of them to help guide your reader. It’s also easy to generate one of these in Word: just use the “Insert Caption” feature.

Read more about lists of figures and tables

If you have used a lot of industry- or field-specific abbreviations in your thesis, you should include them in an alphabetized list of abbreviations . This way, your readers can easily look up any meanings they aren’t familiar with.

Read more about lists of abbreviations

Relatedly, if you find yourself using a lot of very specialized or field-specific terms that may not be familiar to your reader, consider including a glossary . Alphabetize the terms you want to include with a brief definition.

Read more about glossaries

An introduction sets up the topic, purpose, and relevance of your thesis, as well as expectations for your reader. This should:

• Ground your research topic , sharing any background information your reader may need
• Define the scope of your work
• Introduce any existing research on your topic, situating your work within a broader problem or debate
• State your research question(s)
• Outline (briefly) how the remainder of your work will proceed

In other words, your introduction should clearly and concisely show your reader the “what, why, and how” of your research.

Read more about introductions

A literature review helps you gain a robust understanding of any extant academic work on your topic, encompassing:

• Selecting relevant sources
• Determining the credibility of your sources
• Critically evaluating each of your sources
• Drawing connections between sources, including any themes, patterns, conflicts, or gaps

A literature review is not merely a summary of existing work. Rather, your literature review should ultimately lead to a clear justification for your own research, perhaps via:

• Addressing a gap in the literature
• Building on existing knowledge to draw new conclusions
• Exploring a new theoretical or methodological approach
• Introducing a new solution to an unresolved problem
• Definitively advocating for one side of a theoretical debate

Read more about literature reviews

Theoretical framework

Your literature review can often form the basis for your theoretical framework, but these are not the same thing. A theoretical framework defines and analyzes the concepts and theories that your research hinges on.

Read more about theoretical frameworks

Your methodology chapter shows your reader how you conducted your research. It should be written clearly and methodically, easily allowing your reader to critically assess the credibility of your argument. Furthermore, your methods section should convince your reader that your method was the best way to answer your research question.

A methodology section should generally include:

• Your overall approach ( quantitative vs. qualitative )
• Your research methods (e.g., a longitudinal study )
• Your data collection methods (e.g., interviews or a controlled experiment
• Any tools or materials you used (e.g., computer software)
• The data analysis methods you chose (e.g., statistical analysis , discourse analysis )
• A strong, but not defensive justification of your methods

Read more about methodology sections

Your results section should highlight what your methodology discovered. These two sections work in tandem, but shouldn’t repeat each other. While your results section can include hypotheses or themes, don’t include any speculation or new arguments here.

Your results section should:

• State each (relevant) result with any (relevant) descriptive statistics (e.g., mean , standard deviation ) and inferential statistics (e.g., test statistics , p values )
• Explain how each result relates to the research question
• Determine whether the hypothesis was supported

Additional data (like raw numbers or interview transcripts ) can be included as an appendix . You can include tables and figures, but only if they help the reader better understand your results.

Read more about results sections

Your discussion section is where you can interpret your results in detail. Did they meet your expectations? How well do they fit within the framework that you built? You can refer back to any relevant source material to situate your results within your field, but leave most of that analysis in your literature review.

For any unexpected results, offer explanations or alternative interpretations of your data.

Read more about discussion sections

Your thesis conclusion should concisely answer your main research question. It should leave your reader with an ultra-clear understanding of your central argument, and emphasize what your research specifically has contributed to your field.

Why does your research matter? What recommendations for future research do you have? Lastly, wrap up your work with any concluding remarks.

Read more about conclusions

In order to avoid plagiarism , don’t forget to include a full reference list at the end of your thesis, citing the sources that you used. Choose one citation style and follow it consistently throughout your thesis, taking note of the formatting requirements of each style.

Which style you choose is often set by your department or your field, but common styles include MLA , Chicago , and APA.

Create APA citations Create MLA citations

In order to stay clear and concise, your thesis should include the most essential information needed to answer your research question. However, chances are you have many contributing documents, like interview transcripts or survey questions . These can be added as appendices , to save space in the main body.

Read more about appendices

Once you’re done writing, the next part of your editing process begins. Leave plenty of time for proofreading and editing prior to submission. Nothing looks worse than grammar mistakes or sloppy spelling errors!

Consider using a professional thesis editing service or grammar checker to make sure your final project is perfect.

Once you’ve submitted your final product, it’s common practice to have a thesis defense, an oral component of your finished work. This is scheduled by your advisor or committee, and usually entails a presentation and Q&A session.

After your defense , your committee will meet to determine if you deserve any departmental honors or accolades. However, keep in mind that defenses are usually just a formality. If there are any serious issues with your work, these should be resolved with your advisor way before a defense.

If you want to know more about AI for academic writing, AI tools, or research bias, make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

Research bias

• Survivorship bias
• Self-serving bias
• Availability heuristic
• Halo effect
• Hindsight bias
• Deep learning
• Generative AI
• Machine learning
• Reinforcement learning
• Supervised vs. unsupervised learning

 (AI) Tools

• Grammar Checker
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Text Summarizer
• AI Detector
• Plagiarism Checker
• Citation Generator

The conclusion of your thesis or dissertation shouldn’t take up more than 5–7% of your overall word count.

If you only used a few abbreviations in your thesis or dissertation , you don’t necessarily need to include a list of abbreviations .

If your abbreviations are numerous, or if you think they won’t be known to your audience, it’s never a bad idea to add one. They can also improve readability, minimizing confusion about abbreviations unfamiliar to your reader.

When you mention different chapters within your text, it’s considered best to use Roman numerals for most citation styles. However, the most important thing here is to remain consistent whenever using numbers in your dissertation .

A thesis or dissertation outline is one of the most critical first steps in your writing process. It helps you to lay out and organize your ideas and can provide you with a roadmap for deciding what kind of research you’d like to undertake.

Generally, an outline contains information on the different sections included in your thesis or dissertation , such as:

• Your anticipated title
• Your abstract
• Your chapters (sometimes subdivided into further topics like literature review , research methods , avenues for future research, etc.)

A thesis is typically written by students finishing up a bachelor’s or Master’s degree. Some educational institutions, particularly in the liberal arts, have mandatory theses, but they are often not mandatory to graduate from bachelor’s degrees. It is more common for a thesis to be a graduation requirement from a Master’s degree.

Even if not mandatory, you may want to consider writing a thesis if you:

• Plan to attend graduate school soon
• Have a particular topic you’d like to study more in-depth
• Are considering a career in research
• Would like a capstone experience to tie up your academic experience

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AI21 Labs’ new AI model can handle more context than most

Increasingly, the AI industry is moving toward generative AI models with longer contexts. But models with large context windows tend to be compute-intensive. Or Dagan, product lead at AI startup AI21 Labs , asserts that this doesn’t have to be the case — and his company is releasing a generative model to prove it.

Contexts, or context windows, refer to input data (e.g. text) that a model considers before generating output (more text). Models with small context windows tend to forget the content of even very recent conversations, while models with larger contexts avoid this pitfall — and, as an added benefit, better grasp the flow of data they take in.

AI21 Labs’ Jamba, a new text-generating and -analyzing model, can perform many of the same tasks that models like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini can. Trained on a mix of public and proprietary data, Jamba can write text in English, French, Spanish and Portuguese.

Jamba can handle up to 140,000 tokens while running on a single GPU with at least 80GB of memory (like a high-end Nvidia A100). That translates to around 105,000 words, or 210 pages — a decent-sized novel.

Meta’s Llama 2 , by comparison, has a 32,000-token context window — on the smaller side by today’s standards — but only requires a GPU with ~12GB of memory in order to run. (Context windows are typically measured in tokens, which are bits of raw text and other data.)

On its face, Jamba is unremarkable. Loads of freely available, downloadable generative AI models exist, from Databricks’ recently released DBRX to the aforementioned Llama 2.

But what makes Jamba unique is what’s under the hood. It uses a combination of two model architectures: transformers and state space models (SSMs).

Transformers are the architecture of choice for complex reasoning tasks, powering models like GPT-4 and Google’s Gemini, for example. They have several unique characteristics, but by far transformers’ defining feature is their “attention mechanism.” For every piece of input data (e.g. a sentence), transformers weigh the relevance of every other input (other sentences) and draw from them to generate the output (a new sentence).

SSMs, on the other hand, combine several qualities of older types of AI models, such as recurrent neural networks and convolutional neural networks, to create a more computationally efficient architecture capable of handling long sequences of data.

Now, SSMs have their limitations. But some of the early incarnations, including an open source model called Mamba from Princeton and Carnegie Mellon researchers, can handle larger inputs than their transformer-based equivalents while outperforming them on language generation tasks.

Jamba in fact uses Mamba as part of the core model — and Dagan claims it delivers three times the throughput on long contexts compared to transformer-based models of comparable sizes.

“While there are a few initial academic examples of SSM models, this is the first commercial-grade, production-scale model,” Dagan said in an interview with TechCrunch. “This architecture, in addition to being innovative and interesting for further research by the community, opens up great efficiency and throughput possibilities.”

Now, while Jamba has been released under the Apache 2.0 license, an open source license with relatively few usage restrictions, Dagan stresses that it’s a research release not intended to be used commercially. The model doesn’t have safeguards to prevent it from generating toxic text or mitigations to address potential bias; a fine-tuned, ostensibly “safer” version will be made available in the coming weeks.

But Dagan asserts that Jamba demonstrates the promise of the SSM architecture even at this early stage.

“The added value of this model, both because of its size and its innovative architecture, is that it can be easily fitted onto a single GPU,” he said. “We believe performance will further improve as Mamba gets additional tweaks.”