Tesi vs. dissertazione
The Italian words 'tesi' and 'dissertazione' both refer to academic writings, but they have subtle differences in usage and context.
Tesi
'Tesi' is a more general term used for various types of academic papers, including both undergraduate and graduate level works. It can refer to shorter papers or longer, more comprehensive research projects.
Ho scritto una tesi di laurea sulla letteratura italiana del Novecento.
(I wrote a bachelor's thesis on 20th-century Italian literature.)
La mia tesi di dottorato ha richiesto tre anni di ricerca.
(My doctoral thesis required three years of research.)
Dissertazione
'Dissertazione' typically refers to a more extensive, in-depth academic work, usually associated with doctoral studies. It implies a more formal and comprehensive research project.
La sua dissertazione di dottorato esplora l'impatto dei social media sulla politica moderna.
(His doctoral dissertation explores the impact of social media on modern politics.)
La commissione ha elogiato la sua dissertazione per il contributo originale al campo.
(The committee praised her dissertation for its original contribution to the field.)
Summary
While 'tesi' is a broader term that can apply to various academic papers at different levels, 'dissertazione' is more specific to extensive, doctoral-level research works. 'Tesi' is commonly used for both undergraduate and graduate theses, whereas 'dissertazione' is primarily associated with more comprehensive, advanced academic research projects.