박사논문
A long paper written by a student to earn the highest university degree.
Explanation at your level:
A doctoral thesis is a big book for school. You write it to become a doctor of a subject. It is very hard work.
When someone studies at a university for a long time, they write a doctoral thesis. It shows they know a lot about one special topic.
A doctoral thesis is an academic paper. It is the final project for a PhD student. You have to do original research to finish it.
Often called a dissertation, a doctoral thesis is a lengthy document. It proves that the student has mastered their field of study through rigorous investigation.
A doctoral thesis serves as the definitive proof of a researcher's expertise. It requires the synthesis of existing literature and the application of new methodologies to solve a specific problem.
The doctoral thesis is the cornerstone of academic achievement. It is a scholarly treatise that demands original contribution to the body of knowledge, requiring years of meticulous inquiry and peer review.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Academic paper
- PhD requirement
- Original research
- Formal document
A doctoral thesis is the ultimate academic challenge. Think of it as the final boss in a video game, but instead of fighting, you are researching and writing!
It represents years of hard work, deep study, and original thought. When you write one, you are contributing something new to the world's knowledge. It is not just a summary of what others have said; it is your own discovery.
The word thesis comes from the Greek word thesis, meaning 'a proposition' or 'something set down.' It evolved through Latin into the academic world.
In medieval times, scholars would publicly defend their propositions. Over centuries, this evolved into the modern written document we see today in universities around the globe.
You will mostly hear this in academic settings. People say they are 'writing their thesis' or 'defending their thesis' during their final years of graduate school.
It is a highly formal term. In casual conversation, students might just call it 'my PhD' or 'my dissertation' to keep things simple.
While there aren't many idioms for this specific term, we use phrases like 'defend a thesis', which means to argue for your research in front of professors. Another is 'thesis statement', which is the core argument of any paper.
People also say 'writing up', which is the long process of finishing the document.
The plural is doctoral theses (pronounced thee-seez). It is a countable noun, so you can have one thesis or many theses.
In the US, it sounds like dawk-ter-ul thee-sis. In the UK, it is often dok-ter-ul thee-sis. The stress is on the first syllable of 'doctoral' and the first syllable of 'thesis'.
Fun Fact
Originally, a thesis was just a statement you had to prove in a debate.
Pronunciation Guide
Sounds like 'dock-tuh-rul thee-sis'.
Sounds like 'dahk-tuh-rul thee-sis'.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing 'th' as 's'
- Stress on the wrong syllable
- Mispronouncing plural 'theses'
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Academic
Complex
Formal
Standard
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Pluralization of -is
Thesis -> Theses
Adjective placement
Doctoral thesis
Subject-verb agreement
The thesis is
Examples by Level
She wrote a thesis.
She / wrote / a / thesis.
Past tense.
He is a doctor.
He / is / a / doctor.
Simple present.
The book is long.
The / book / is / long.
Adjective usage.
I study hard.
I / study / hard.
Verb usage.
It is finished.
It / is / finished.
Passive voice.
They like school.
They / like / school.
Subject-verb agreement.
She works hard.
She / works / hard.
Third person singular.
The end is near.
The / end / is / near.
Prepositional phrase.
She finished her doctoral thesis last year.
He is writing his thesis now.
The thesis is very long.
She needs to defend her thesis.
It takes years to write a thesis.
He is a PhD student.
The professor read the thesis.
She passed her exam.
She spent three years on her doctoral thesis.
His thesis focuses on climate change.
The committee approved the doctoral thesis.
Writing a thesis requires great discipline.
She is nervous about her thesis defense.
The library has many doctoral theses.
He finally submitted his doctoral thesis.
The research in her thesis is groundbreaking.
The doctoral thesis was lauded for its innovative methodology.
He successfully defended his doctoral thesis last week.
Her doctoral thesis explores the history of art.
Many students struggle with the final chapter of their thesis.
The doctoral thesis serves as a gateway to academia.
He cited several sources in his doctoral thesis.
She is currently revising her doctoral thesis.
The doctoral thesis is a mandatory requirement for graduation.
His doctoral thesis provides a comprehensive analysis of quantum mechanics.
The doctoral thesis was published as a monograph by a major press.
She spent months refining the argument of her doctoral thesis.
The doctoral thesis contributed significantly to the field of biology.
He was awarded his degree after submitting his doctoral thesis.
The doctoral thesis underwent rigorous peer review.
Her doctoral thesis challenges existing paradigms in sociology.
The doctoral thesis is held in the university archives.
The doctoral thesis represents the culmination of a decade of intellectual inquiry.
Her doctoral thesis is considered a seminal work in the discipline.
The doctoral thesis was praised for its profound theoretical implications.
He defended his doctoral thesis with remarkable poise and academic rigor.
The doctoral thesis explores the intersection of ethics and technology.
She synthesized vast amounts of data for her doctoral thesis.
The doctoral thesis is a testament to her scholarly dedication.
The doctoral thesis was archived for future academic reference.
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"defend one's thesis"
To argue for your work.
I have to defend my thesis next week.
formal"thesis statement"
The main argument.
Your thesis statement is unclear.
neutral"writing up"
The final stage of writing.
I'm in the writing up phase.
casual"the viva"
The oral exam for a thesis.
She passed her viva.
formal"doctoral candidate"
Someone working on their thesis.
He is a doctoral candidate.
formal"in the trenches"
Working hard on the research.
I've been in the trenches for months.
casualEasily Confused
Both are papers.
Thesis is longer.
Essay is short; thesis is long.
Both are documents.
Thesis is original research.
Report is factual; thesis is argumentative.
Both are written.
Article is shorter.
Article is for journals.
Both are long.
Thesis is academic.
Book is for reading.
Sentence Patterns
Subject + wrote + a + thesis
He wrote a thesis.
Subject + is + defending + a + thesis
She is defending a thesis.
Subject + submitted + a + doctoral + thesis
They submitted a doctoral thesis.
Subject + researched + for + their + thesis
I researched for my thesis.
The + thesis + focuses + on + noun
The thesis focuses on history.
Word Family
Nouns
Verbs
Adjectives
Related
How to Use It
7
Formality Scale
Tips
Memory Palace
Context
Regional
Plural
IPA
Mistake
History
Chunking
Drafting
Defense
Memorize It
Mnemonic
The-sis: The (The) + Sis (Sister). The sister is writing her thesis.
Visual Association
A huge stack of papers on a desk.
Word Web
Challenge
Try to explain your favorite topic in one sentence.
Word Origin
Greek
Original meaning: A proposition or statement.
Cultural Context
None.
In the US, 'dissertation' is more common for PhDs. In the UK, 'thesis' is standard.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
University
- I am writing my thesis.
- The thesis is due.
- Ask your advisor.
Graduation
- She finished her thesis.
- The thesis defense was hard.
- He got his degree.
Research
- The thesis research is done.
- Data for the thesis.
- Thesis methodology.
Academic Writing
- Write a thesis statement.
- Edit the thesis.
- Cite the thesis.
Conversation Starters
"Have you ever written a long paper?"
"What is a PhD?"
"Do you know what a thesis is?"
"Why do students write theses?"
"Is university hard?"
Journal Prompts
Write about a big goal you have.
Describe a time you worked hard.
What would you write a thesis about?
Why is research important?
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsTest Yourself
She is writing her ___.
Thesis is the academic term.
What is a doctoral thesis?
It is a research paper.
A thesis is only one page long.
It is usually very long.
Word
Meaning
Matching terms.
Subject-verb-object order.
Score: /5
Summary
A doctoral thesis is the final, original research paper required to earn a PhD.
- Academic paper
- PhD requirement
- Original research
- Formal document
Memory Palace
Context
Regional
Plural
Related Content
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입체적
B2Having a three-dimensional effect or examining something from multiple perspectives rather than a single flat view. It implies a comprehensive and detailed analysis.
~에 관해
B1About, concerning.
~에 대하여
A2Concerning or regarding a particular subject; about.
~대해
A2About; concerning; regarding.
~에 관하여
A2Regarding, concerning, about (a topic).
~에 대해(서)
A1Indicates the topic or subject of discussion, meaning 'about' or 'regarding'.
무엇보다
A2More than anything else; above all.
결석생
A2A student who is absent from class.
추상화하다
B2To consider something theoretically or separately from its physical reality. It involves extracting general principles from specific examples.
추상
A2Abstraction; the quality of dealing with ideas rather than events.
