A dissertation is a substantial piece of academic writing based on original research conducted by the student, typically submitted as a final requirement for completing an undergraduate, master's, or PhD degree. It involves independently investigating a topic chosen by the student, presenting findings in response to a research question or proposition. The purpose of a dissertation is twofold: to demonstrate the student's mastery of their subject and scholarly methods, and to contribute new knowledge or insights to their academic field

. Dissertations are usually much longer and more detailed than essays, requiring extensive research, critical analysis, and synthesis of different viewpoints. They often include structured chapters such as an introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion. The process may culminate in a dissertation defense, where the student presents and defends their work before experts

. The term "dissertation" originates from the Latin word dissertatio , meaning "discussion," reflecting its nature as an extended treatment and debate of a subject

. In some countries, the terms "dissertation" and "thesis" are used interchangeably, while in others, "dissertation" is reserved for doctoral work and "thesis" for master's or bachelor's level projects

. In summary, a dissertation is an original, in-depth research project that showcases a student's ability to conduct independent academic research and contributes to the scholarly community.