Dissertation

(n.) A formal or elaborate argumentative discourse, oral or written; a thesis; as Dissertations on the Prophecies.

Thesaurus Entries

argumentation, article, causerie, descant, discourse, discussion, disputation, disquisition, essay, etude, examination, excursus, exposition, feature, first approach, homily, introductory study, lucubration, memoir, monograph, morceau, note, outline, pandect, paper, paragraph, piece, preliminary study, prolegomenon, research paper, screed, sketch, special article, study, survey, term paper, theme, thesis, tract, tractate, treatise, treatment