Thesis and Dissertation Tips

Thesis and dissertation have similar meanings and can be used interchangeably, independently and/or in combination with each other. Taken in a more technical perspective, thesis dissertation, used as such, could mean an in-depth exploration of one or the other.

Thesis, taken in the context of/or hypothetically used as a verb, may mean an investigation or a research founded on critical evaluation of another academic paper, e.g. a psychology dissertation, as a springboard, putting a new light on arguments in defense of or contrary to theories and principles put forth in the original paper.

Writing such paper in the context of the preceding paragraph, has to be more challenging than writing an original essay. Although more focused in terms of subject, it is quite limiting and touchy in the sense that its purpose is to prove, or more so, to disprove the ideas or arguments of an existing or earlier published thesis. It becomes an “antithesis” of the original work and may therefore “rock the boat” in the research community by questioning an accepted and established concept or principle, in an approach that may be abrasive to those who are in the belief, judgment and opinion aligned with that of the original researcher/writer. Even with a direction or premise not directly opposed but with a concept or notion that departs even very slightly from the original path of argument, judgment or opinion put forth in the original paper, the antithesis writer still takes on the character of the villain in the research playhouse.

The writer has to be strong-willed and armed with voluminous material, having thoroughly gone through every bit of data and information available including, if possible, research materials used by the writer of the original thesis. In the same manner writers have to have advisors, the writer of an antithesis has to have allies, both in and outside the research community. His write-up has to be backed with enough written and published material, other structures and phenomenal tangible evidences of his claims and arguments.

Such is the ideal environment for a writer to plunge into an undertaking as demanding as writing a dissertation in the fashion as described in the preceding paragraphs. Absence of one or more of the elements mentioned above may yield catastrophic results and may make even a fallback career shift impossible. In all probability, writing an antithesis leads to a career disaster.

Based on the above premises, one can conclude that writing an antithesis requires more than the preparedness and logistics of writing an original thesis. It will be wise, for the average student or researcher, to restrain himself from formally introducing an antithesis such as described above, if the environment is not favorable for such an undertaking, both in terms of the writer’s internal attributes, and in the external factors that normally affect and/or relate to writing a paper as challenging and demanding as an antithesis. Brave is the one who dares.