The dissertation is a document in monograph form, usually between 150 and 200 pages in length. Normally it has the following elements: problem context for the research; purpose and objectives; literature review; research methods or approach; findings; discussion and conclusions; references; and, if appropriate, appendices. Additional format requirements are specified by Graduate Studies.
An important strength of the dissertation is its wholeness: the student's research is presented in a stand-alone document. Additionally, the length of the dissertation allows for a full exploration of a problem and pertinent literature in a book-length document.