| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | discourse |
| Synonyms: | commentary, dissertation, exposition, treatise, writing |
| Main Entry: | dissertation |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | scholarly thesis |
| Synonyms: | argumentation, commentary, critique, discourse, disputation, disquisition, essay, exposition, memoir, monograph, tractate, treatise |
| Notes: | thesis is for a master's degree and a dissertation is for a doctorate |
| Main Entry: | essay |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | written discourse |
| Synonyms: | article, composition, discussion, disquisition, dissertation, explication, exposition, manuscript, paper, piece, study, theme, thesis, tract, treatise |
| Main Entry: | exposition |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | written description |
| Synonyms: | account, analysis, annotation, article, comment, commentary, composition, construal, construction, critique, delineation, details, discourse, discussion, disquisition, dissertation, editorial, elucidation, enucleation, enunciation, essay, exegesis, explanation, explication, exposé, expounding, history, illustration, interpretation, monograph, paper, piece, position paper, presentation, report, review, statement, story, study, tale, text, theme, thesis, tract, tractate, treatise |
| Main Entry: | inquiry |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | asking; looking into |
| Synonyms: | Q and A, analysis, audit, catechizing, check, cross-examination, delving, disquisition, examination, exploration, fishing expedition, grilling, hearing, inquest, inquisition, inspection, interrogation, interrogatory, investigation, legwork, poll, probe, probing, pursuit, query, quest, question, questioning, quizzing, request, research, scrutiny, search, study, survey, third degree, trial balloon |
| Notes: | a query is a single question; an inquiry (or enquiry) may be a single question or extensive investigation (series of questions) |
| Antonyms: | answer, reply |
| Main Entry: | lecture |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | lesson, speech |
| Synonyms: | address, allocution, chalk talk, discourse, disquisition, harangue, instruction, oration, pep talk, pitch*, soapbox, spiel*, talk |
| Main Entry: | literature |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | written matter, both fictional and nonfictional |
| Synonyms: | abstract, article, belles-lettres, biography, books, brochure, classics, comment, composition, critique, discourse, discussion, disquisition, dissertation, drama, essay, exposition, findings, history, humanities, information, leaflet, letters, lit, literary works, lore, novel, observation, pamphlet, paper, poetry, prose, précis, report, research, story, summary, theme, thesis, tract, treatise, treatment, writings, written work |
| Antonyms: | speech |
| Main Entry: | monologue |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | speech by one person |
| Synonyms: | address, descant, discourse, disquisition, harangue, lecture, sermon, soliloquy, speech, stand-up bit, talk |
| Notes: | monologue comes from Greek and soliloquy from Latin, but both mean 'speaking alone' |
| Antonyms: | dialogue |
| Main Entry: | speech |
| Part of Speech: | noun |
| Definition: | formal talk to audience |
| Synonyms: | address, allocution, appeal, bombast, chalk talk, commentary, debate, declamation, diatribe, discourse, disquisition, dissertation, eulogy, exhortation, harangue, homily, invocation, keynote, lecture, opus, oration, oratory, panegyric, paper, parlance, parley, pep talk, pitch, prelection, recitation, rhetoric, salutation, sermon, spiel*, stump, tirade, valedictory |
| Antonyms: | listening |