§ "Dissertation" vs. "Thesis" in French
Many English speakers get confused by dissertation because in English, a 'dissertation' often refers to a document written for a PhD, while a 'thesis' is for a Master's degree. In French, it's a bit different. The word dissertation (CEFR B2) generally means a long essay or paper written for an academic degree, which can be at various levels – from undergraduate essays to Master's level work, or even a PhD. The key is that it's a structured, analytical piece of writing.
- DEFINITION
- A long essay on a particular subject, especially one written for a degree.
For a PhD, while you might use dissertation, the more common and specific term in French is thèse (CEFR B2). So, if you're talking about a PhD, always go with thèse. If it's a Master's or a general academic paper, dissertation works well.
Elle a rédigé une excellente dissertation sur l'histoire de l'art.
Mon frère prépare sa thèse de doctorat.
§ Using "dissertation" for a casual discussion
Another common mistake is to use dissertation when you simply mean a discussion or a talk about a topic. In English, you might say, "We had a long dissertation on politics." In French, dissertation carries a much more formal and academic weight. It's not for a casual chat or an informal debate.
If you want to talk about a general discussion or debate, use words like discussion (CEFR A2), débat (CEFR B1), or even conversation (CEFR A1). Using dissertation in a casual context would sound very odd and overly formal to a native French speaker.
Nous avons eu une longue discussion sur le film.
Not:
Nous avons eu une longue dissertation sur le film.
§ Misunderstanding the structure implied by "dissertation"
When a French person hears dissertation, they immediately think of a specific academic structure: introduction, body paragraphs with arguments and counter-arguments, and a conclusion. This isn't just any essay; it's a very particular type of analytical writing.
If you're writing a simple report or a descriptive essay that doesn't follow this structured argumentation, then dissertation isn't the right word. You might use essai (CEFR B1) for a general essay, or rapport (CEFR B1) for a report. The term dissertation implies a rigorous intellectual exercise.
Son essai sur la poésie était très intéressant.
Here's a quick summary of what to keep in mind:
- Formal Academic Context: Use dissertation for structured, analytical academic papers.
- PhD Level: Use thèse specifically for a doctoral thesis.
- Casual Discussion: Use discussion or débat, never dissertation.
- General Essay/Report: Consider essai or rapport if the structure isn't the formal argumentative style of a dissertation.
By being mindful of these distinctions, you'll use dissertation correctly and sound much more natural in French. Bonne chance with your writing!
How Formal Is It?
"Elle a soutenu sa thèse de doctorat. (She defended her doctoral thesis.)"
"J'ai écrit un mémoire pour mon master. (I wrote a master's thesis/dissertation.)"
"On doit faire un exposé sur ce sujet. (We have to do a presentation/report on this topic.)"
"Les élèves ont un grand devoir à rendre. (The students have a big assignment to turn in.)"
"Ce pavé m'a pris des heures à écrire. (This brick/tome took me hours to write.)"
レベル別の例文
Sa dissertation de doctorat explorait les liens entre la philosophie existentialiste et le cinéma d'après-guerre.
His doctoral dissertation explored the links between existentialist philosophy and post-war cinema.
Here, 'dissertation de doctorat' specifies a doctoral dissertation.
Elle a passé des mois à faire des recherches pour sa dissertation sur l'impact du changement climatique sur les écosystèmes arctiques.
She spent months researching for her dissertation on the impact of climate change on Arctic ecosystems.
The verb 'faire des recherches' means 'to do research'.
La soutenance de sa dissertation était prévue pour le mois prochain, ce qui la rendait assez nerveuse.
The defense of her dissertation was scheduled for next month, which made her quite nervous.
'Soutenance' refers to the defense or viva voce of a thesis/dissertation.
Il a dû réviser sa dissertation plusieurs fois avant qu'elle ne soit acceptée par le comité.
He had to revise his dissertation several times before it was accepted by the committee.
'Réviser' means 'to revise' or 'to review'.
L'écriture d'une dissertation exige une discipline rigoureuse et une pensée critique.
Writing a dissertation requires rigorous discipline and critical thinking.
The noun 'l'écriture' means 'the writing'.
Ses professeurs ont salué la clarté et l'originalité de sa dissertation.
His professors praised the clarity and originality of his dissertation.
'Saluer' can mean 'to greet' but also 'to commend' or 'to praise' in this context.
Après avoir terminé sa dissertation, elle a ressenti un immense soulagement.
After finishing her dissertation, she felt immense relief.
'Après avoir terminé' is a past infinitive construction, meaning 'after having finished'.
La bibliothèque universitaire regorge de dissertations antérieures consultables par les étudiants.
The university library is full of previous dissertations available for students to consult.
'Regorger de' means 'to be full of' or 'to teem with'.
自分をテスト 12 問
This means 'I am very hungry'.
This means 'I speak French'.
This means 'The dog is big'.
This sentence structure is common when discussing the effort involved in writing a dissertation.
This sentence describes the act of presenting a dissertation to a demanding panel.
This sentence links a successful dissertation to obtaining a degree.
/ 12 correct
Perfect score!
例文
Elle a passé des mois à rédiger sa dissertation de master.
関連コンテンツ
この単語を他の言語で
academicの関連語
à cet égard
A2In this respect; regarding this matter.
à condition que
A2On condition that; provided that (followed by subjunctive).
à propos de
A2About, regarding; concerning.
à travers
A2Through, across.
aborder
B1To approach a topic or problem; to deal with.
abstrait
A2Existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence.
abstraitement
B2In an abstract manner; conceptually.
académique
A2Relating to education and scholarship.
académiquement
B2In an academic manner; in relation to academic matters.
accent
A2A distinctive mode of pronunciation of a language.
