project versus essay

Home » Education » What is the Difference Between Research and Project

What is the Difference Between Research and Project

The main difference between research and project is that research is the systematic investigation and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions, while a project is a specific and finite activity that gives a measurable and observable result under preset requirements.

Both research and projects use a systematic approach. We also sometimes use the term research project to refer to research studies.

Key Areas Covered

1.  What is Research       – Definition, Features 2. What is a Project      – Definition, Features 3.  Difference Between Research and Project      – Comparison of Key Differences

Research, Project

What is Research

Research is a careful study a researcher conducts using a systematic approach and scientific methods. A research study typically involves several components: abstract, introduction ,  literature review ,  research design, and method , results and analysis, conclusion, bibliography. Researchers usually begin a formal research study with a hypothesis; then, they test this hypothesis rigorously. They also explore and analyze the literature already available on their research subject. This allows them to study the research subject from multiple perspectives, acknowledging different problems that need to be solved.

There are different types of research, the main two categories being quantitative research and qualitative research. Depending on their research method and design, we can also categorize research as descriptive research, exploratory research, longitudinal research, cross-sectional research, etc.

Furthermore, research should always be objective or unbiased. Moreover, if the research involves participants, for example, in surveys or interviews, the researcher should always make sure to obtain their written consent first.

What is a Project

A project is a collaborative or individual enterprise that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim. We can also describe it as a specific and finite activity that gives a measurable and observable result under preset requirements. This result can be tangible or intangible; for example, product, service, competitive advantage, etc. A project generally involves a series of connected tasks planned for execution over a fixed period of time and within certain limitations like quality and cost. The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) defines a project as a “temporary endeavor with a beginning and an end, and it must be used to create a unique product, service or result.”

Difference Between Research and Project

Research is a careful study conducted using a systematic approach and scientific methods, whereas a project is a collaborative or individual enterprise that is carefully planned to achieve a particular aim.

Research studies are mainly carried out in academia, while projects can be seen in a variety of contexts, including businesses.

The main aim of the research is to seek or revise facts, theories, or principles, while the main aim of a project is to achieve a tangible or intangible result; for example, product, service, competitive advantage, etc.

The main difference between research and project is that research is the systematic investigation and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions, while the project is a specific and finite activity that gives a measurable and observable result under preset requirements.

1. “ What Is a Project? – Definition, Lifecycle and Key Characteristics .” Your Guide to Project Management Best Practices .

Image Courtesy:

1. “ Research ” by Nick Youngson (CC BY-SA 3.0) via The Blue Diamond Gallery 2. “ Project-group-team-feedback ” (CC0) via Pixabay

About the Author: Hasa

Hasanthi is a seasoned content writer and editor with over 8 years of experience. Armed with a BA degree in English and a knack for digital marketing, she explores her passions for literature, history, culture, and food through her engaging and informative writing.

​You May Also Like These

Leave a reply cancel reply.

Essay vs Research Paper: What Sets Them Apart?

Table of contents

• 1.1 What Is an Essay?
• 1.2 What Is a Research Paper?
• 2.1 Purpose and Objective
• 2.2 Structure and Organization
• 2.3 Length and Depth
• 2.4 Sources and Evidence
• 2.5 Voice and Style
• 2.6 Audience and Presentation
• 3 Essay vs Research Paper: 10 Points of Difference
• 4 What Is the Difference Between Research Paper and Different Types of Papers
• 5 Let’s Sum Up

Every student needs to write some academic papers for the university. However, even young people with experience can’t determine the difference between an essay and a research paper. Although these two areas of academic writing have many similarities, the requirements are still significantly different.

• We will outline the key differences between these two types of academic writing.
• In this article, you will get a clear definition of an essay and research paper.
• You will learn more about the organization, structure, essay, and research paper requirements.

Before we dive into the detailed definitions, let’s first explore the key differences between an essay and a research paper.

Definitions and Overview

What is an essay.

An essay is a short piece of writing that presents a personal opinion on a specific topic. Essays can be formal or informal, but in an academic setting, they are usually formal. The main purpose of an essay is to inform the reader or argue a particular perspective.

Essays do not always aim to be scientific but require a clear structure. This structure typically includes an introduction, a body, and a conclusion. Following this format lets you organize your thoughts and communicate them effectively.

With their versatility, essays can cover various topics, from complex ideas to everyday subjects. What makes your essay unique is the creativity and originality of your ideas. Before you begin, it is important to  drafting an essay  carefully. This process involves brainstorming fresh ideas and planning how to present them. Although your classmates might use the same basic structure, your writing skills and unique perspective will help your essay stand out. Focus on making your ideas compelling, rather than just sticking to the format.

What Is a Research Paper?

A research paper explores a specific scientific topic in detail. It provides analysis, interpretation, and argument based on careful study. Unlike essays, research papers focus less on personal opinions and more on thorough examination of the subject. They require you to use different sources and add new insights to the academic discussion.

In a research paper, it is not enough to just present facts or share personal views. You need to study the topic in depth, understand what others have said about it, and clearly outline your approach. This type of assignment involves more than just collecting information. You must also evaluate the information to build a strong argument.

Teachers expect you to show your ability to analyze information, choose reliable sources, and have a deep understanding of the topic. Research papers require you to go beyond basic knowledge and present your findings in a clear and organized way.

A typical research paper consists of several key elements that are crucial for presenting your argument and findings clearly:

• Introduction: The paper begins with an introduction that sets the stage and includes a thesis statement.
• Body: The body follows, providing detailed analysis and evidence to support the thesis, using information from reliable sources.
• Research Paper Outline: Creating an outline helps organize these sections, ensuring a logical flow of ideas throughout the paper.
• Conclusion: This part ends with a summary of the main points and a restatement of the thesis.

Whether writing a research paper or a term paper, maintaining this clear structure is essential for demonstrating a thorough understanding of your topic.

Key Differences Between Essay and Research Paper

The central difference is the goal of these academic assignments. The essay aims to express an individual point of view and find a creative, fresh approach to an existing topic. A good research paper seeks to introduce scientific novelty by examining existing data and conducting new experiments to analyze the information obtained.

Purpose and Objective

The first and main difference between an essay and a research paper is the purpose of writing . An essay as an academic task has the goal of developing students’ creative thinking. It also teaches us a structured presentation of thoughts regarding a certain topic. The student is required to have a non-standard approach, fresh thoughts, and reasoned conclusions on the given topic.

The purpose of the research work is to study a scientific topic in detail. This academic assignment is aimed at assessing the student’s analytical abilities and competence to determine cause-and-effect relationships, filter sources, and formulate logical conclusions. Such work requires theoretical knowledge, preliminary study of existing scientific works, and the ability to formulate goals and research methods.

Moreover, a student is supposed to show the capacity to draw comprehensive conclusions based on available data and information obtained during independent research. This task may seem complicated to students, so they opt for resorting to the help of PapersOwl writing service to save time.

Structure and Organization

To start with, the basic structure of any college essay involves a text consisting of five paragraphs, divided into three main factions: introduction, body part, and conclusion. When students lack time to compose a nicely structured academic essay, they can always pay to write a research paper and have their tasks done by a professional. The introduction presents the topic, sets the main direction for further text, and also works as a bait to motivate the reader to study further work. The introduction is followed by three body paragraphs. Each of the three body paragraphs presents a separate idea.

The last paragraph of any essay is a conclusion. In this paragraph, the college or university student must resume the arguments and ideas presented in the text, summarizing them into the main message of the essay. Often, the idea that you present in your conclusions will be most memorable to the reader.

Consequently, let’s overview the structure of a research paper. Compared to the structure of an essay, the organization of a research paper is much more ornate. This type of work requires a title page and abstract that go before the main body of text. On the title page, the student describes his topic of work, as well as gives contact details. An abstract is a short description of the main ideas and research methods of your work. The research work itself consists of an introduction, background, main part, and conclusions. Also, at the very end, they often add acknowledgments and a list of references, which must be formatted following the required international format.

Length and Depth

The length and depth of analysis between these two academic assignments also differ significantly. As for the essay, it is often a short prose piece whose length does not exceed 1000 words. You are faced with the task of fitting a large array of ideas into a small amount of text. The essay format itself rarely requires rigorous and thorough research of the topic, but you should work on creativity and the presence of a message in your essay. Most academic papers fall in the 300 to 600-word range.

On the other hand, a research paper is a scientific project that includes many theoretical aspects that require analysis and clarification. Thus, the volume is significantly bigger. Basic research paper lengths range from 4,000 to 6,000 words. In this case, you will no doubt have to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the selected sources, formulate a research vector, and spend time conducting your experiments, or ask PapersOwl to do a research paper for you . A research paper is a scientific project that includes many theoretical aspects that require analysis and clarification.

Sources and Evidence

The presence of theoretical sources and references is not a mandatory requirement for an essay. You can state your own thoughts on a given topic without resorting to the help of existing sources. Present your ideas on the topic, giving arguments that seem logical to you. If you do decide to base your paper on existing works, you must be sure to indicate where the information was taken from. And yet, the teacher needs to see your own thoughts rather than a dry listing of existing ideas.

Unlike an essay, a quality research paper must include primary and secondary sources, as well as a specific citation format. Surely, you are not the first person to study this scientific topic. In order not to repeat existing thoughts, you need to conduct a search to form a reliable basis for your study. If you skip this step, you risk basing your paper on misleading scientific findings.

Voice and Style

The very specificity of the essay as an academic paper is the subjective presentation of information. A large percentage of your essay should consist of your perspective and vision of the chosen topic. For this reason, essays often use a less formal and more subjective tone. However, you can still use a large amount of colloquial vocabulary, completely disregarding the norms of formal style. Students often have trouble figuring out the right style for their university assignments. In such cases, a reasonable solution is to seek help from a specialist. When you buy custom-written essays from PapersOwl, you’ll always get a perfectly balanced academic paper.

On the other hand, a research paper is a serious scientific work. The student must maintain a formal tone while complying with all structural requirements. Also, in investigative work, there is little room for subjectivity and a personal approach since an objective style is required. At the same time, do not oversaturate your research work with formalism and standard clichés.

Audience and Presentation

The essay format can be used both in the educational process and in an independent literary style. Therefore, the audience for such a written assignment can be wide and varied. When you’re writing an essay, make sure it’s understandable in academia and for a wide audience.

Research work, on the contrary, is aimed at a range of professionals in the chosen field. Written in scientific language, the goal of this work is to attract the attention of scientists and students of certain majors. Your scientific work should be rich in theory and related terms.

Essay vs Research Paper: 10 Points of Difference

As you may have noticed, research papers and essays have many differences, both global and specific. These two types of academic assignments differ in the purpose of writing, have different structures and formats, and are aimed at testing different skills. And yet, every day, students face difficulties in understanding the basic requirements, which leads to incorrect execution of the task. To summarize the main differences, let’s look at the table below.

What Is the Difference Between Research Paper and Different Types of Papers

There are many types of papers, each focusing on different topics, serving different purposes, and requiring a specific structure. Those are different types of essays that share a common ground but differ in the way they present information and arguments.

Analytical paper. The purpose of such an essay is an in-depth analysis of the chosen topic, studying different approaches and points of view, and formulating one’s own conclusions based on the information studied and scientific evidence.

Argumentative paper. This type of essay takes as a basis an ambiguous topic; the author must take a certain position and provide a number of arguments.

Informative paper. It has an informative purpose — a presentation of information to the reader, preceded by careful analysis and selection of data.

Persuasive paper . The purpose of this paper is to present convincing arguments, using chosen writing techniques, confirming the author’s position regarding the selected scientific topic.

To get a high grade, you need to understand the requirements of academic requirements. No matter how informatively rich your work is, if it does not meet the requirements, it cannot be highly appreciated. Each type of academic assignment has its own clearly defined, unique format. It’s necessary to know the difference between a research paper vs argumentative essay so as not to get confused while completing a college assignment. So before you start writing an assignment, make sure you understand the type of academic writing required of you.

Let’s Sum Up

Research papers and essays are aimed at testing various skills of the student, following different structures, and having several requirements. An essay is a more creative writing task, which involves showing originality and expressing a personal opinion on a certain topic. At the same time, a research paper is a type of scientific writing that adheres to a strict structure and uses a formal tone. Understanding the main differences will make your writing process easier, saving you time researching the requirements. Remember that knowing the essence of the assignment is a key factor in writing a decent paper.

Readers also enjoyed

WHY WAIT? PLACE AN ORDER RIGHT NOW!

Just fill out the form, press the button, and have no worries!

We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy.

Samantha Putterman, PolitiFact Samantha Putterman, PolitiFact

Leave your feedback

• Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/fact-checking-warnings-from-democrats-about-project-2025-and-donald-trump

Fact-checking warnings from Democrats about Project 2025 and Donald Trump

This fact check originally appeared on PolitiFact .

Project 2025 has a starring role in this week’s Democratic National Convention.

And it was front and center on Night 1.

WATCH: Hauling large copy of Project 2025, Michigan state Sen. McMorrow speaks at 2024 DNC

“This is Project 2025,” Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, said as she laid a hardbound copy of the 900-page document on the lectern. “Over the next four nights, you are going to hear a lot about what is in this 900-page document. Why? Because this is the Republican blueprint for a second Trump term.”

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, has warned Americans about “Trump’s Project 2025” agenda — even though former President Donald Trump doesn’t claim the conservative presidential transition document.

“Donald Trump wants to take our country backward,” Harris said July 23 in Milwaukee. “He and his extreme Project 2025 agenda will weaken the middle class. Like, we know we got to take this seriously, and can you believe they put that thing in writing?”

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate, has joined in on the talking point.

“Don’t believe (Trump) when he’s playing dumb about this Project 2025. He knows exactly what it’ll do,” Walz said Aug. 9 in Glendale, Arizona.

Trump’s campaign has worked to build distance from the project, which the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, led with contributions from dozens of conservative groups.

Much of the plan calls for extensive executive-branch overhauls and draws on both long-standing conservative principles, such as tax cuts, and more recent culture war issues. It lays out recommendations for disbanding the Commerce and Education departments, eliminating certain climate protections and consolidating more power to the president.

Project 2025 offers a sweeping vision for a Republican-led executive branch, and some of its policies mirror Trump’s 2024 agenda, But Harris and her presidential campaign have at times gone too far in describing what the project calls for and how closely the plans overlap with Trump’s campaign.

PolitiFact researched Harris’ warnings about how the plan would affect reproductive rights, federal entitlement programs and education, just as we did for President Joe Biden’s Project 2025 rhetoric. Here’s what the project does and doesn’t call for, and how it squares with Trump’s positions.

Are Trump and Project 2025 connected?

To distance himself from Project 2025 amid the Democratic attacks, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he “knows nothing” about it and has “no idea” who is in charge of it. (CNN identified at least 140 former advisers from the Trump administration who have been involved.)

The Heritage Foundation sought contributions from more than 100 conservative organizations for its policy vision for the next Republican presidency, which was published in 2023.

Project 2025 is now winding down some of its policy operations, and director Paul Dans, a former Trump administration official, is stepping down, The Washington Post reported July 30. Trump campaign managers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita denounced the document.

WATCH: A look at the Project 2025 plan to reshape government and Trump’s links to its authors

However, Project 2025 contributors include a number of high-ranking officials from Trump’s first administration, including former White House adviser Peter Navarro and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson.

A recently released recording of Russell Vought, a Project 2025 author and the former director of Trump’s Office of Management and Budget, showed Vought saying Trump’s “very supportive of what we do.” He said Trump was only distancing himself because Democrats were making a bogeyman out of the document.

Project 2025 wouldn’t ban abortion outright, but would curtail access

The Harris campaign shared a graphic on X that claimed “Trump’s Project 2025 plan for workers” would “go after birth control and ban abortion nationwide.”

The plan doesn’t call to ban abortion nationwide, though its recommendations could curtail some contraceptives and limit abortion access.

What’s known about Trump’s abortion agenda neither lines up with Harris’ description nor Project 2025’s wish list.

Project 2025 says the Department of Health and Human Services Department should “return to being known as the Department of Life by explicitly rejecting the notion that abortion is health care.”

It recommends that the Food and Drug Administration reverse its 2000 approval of mifepristone, the first pill taken in a two-drug regimen for a medication abortion. Medication is the most common form of abortion in the U.S. — accounting for around 63 percent in 2023.

If mifepristone were to remain approved, Project 2025 recommends new rules, such as cutting its use from 10 weeks into pregnancy to seven. It would have to be provided to patients in person — part of the group’s efforts to limit access to the drug by mail. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a legal challenge to mifepristone’s FDA approval over procedural grounds.

WATCH: Trump’s plans for health care and reproductive rights if he returns to White House The manual also calls for the Justice Department to enforce the 1873 Comstock Act on mifepristone, which bans the mailing of “obscene” materials. Abortion access supporters fear that a strict interpretation of the law could go further to ban mailing the materials used in procedural abortions, such as surgical instruments and equipment.

The plan proposes withholding federal money from states that don’t report to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention how many abortions take place within their borders. The plan also would prohibit abortion providers, such as Planned Parenthood, from receiving Medicaid funds. It also calls for the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that the training of medical professionals, including doctors and nurses, omits abortion training.

The document says some forms of emergency contraception — particularly Ella, a pill that can be taken within five days of unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy — should be excluded from no-cost coverage. The Affordable Care Act requires most private health insurers to cover recommended preventive services, which involves a range of birth control methods, including emergency contraception.

Trump has recently said states should decide abortion regulations and that he wouldn’t block access to contraceptives. Trump said during his June 27 debate with Biden that he wouldn’t ban mifepristone after the Supreme Court “approved” it. But the court rejected the lawsuit based on standing, not the case’s merits. He has not weighed in on the Comstock Act or said whether he supports it being used to block abortion medication, or other kinds of abortions.

Project 2025 doesn’t call for cutting Social Security, but proposes some changes to Medicare

“When you read (Project 2025),” Harris told a crowd July 23 in Wisconsin, “you will see, Donald Trump intends to cut Social Security and Medicare.”

The Project 2025 document does not call for Social Security cuts. None of its 10 references to Social Security addresses plans for cutting the program.

Harris also misleads about Trump’s Social Security views.

In his earlier campaigns and before he was a politician, Trump said about a half-dozen times that he’s open to major overhauls of Social Security, including cuts and privatization. More recently, in a March 2024 CNBC interview, Trump said of entitlement programs such as Social Security, “There’s a lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting.” However, he quickly walked that statement back, and his CNBC comment stands at odds with essentially everything else Trump has said during the 2024 presidential campaign.

Trump’s campaign website says that not “a single penny” should be cut from Social Security. We rated Harris’ claim that Trump intends to cut Social Security Mostly False.

Project 2025 does propose changes to Medicare, including making Medicare Advantage, the private insurance offering in Medicare, the “default” enrollment option. Unlike Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans have provider networks and can also require prior authorization, meaning that the plan can approve or deny certain services. Original Medicare plans don’t have prior authorization requirements.

The manual also calls for repealing health policies enacted under Biden, such as the Inflation Reduction Act. The law enabled Medicare to negotiate with drugmakers for the first time in history, and recently resulted in an agreement with drug companies to lower the prices of 10 expensive prescriptions for Medicare enrollees.

Trump, however, has said repeatedly during the 2024 presidential campaign that he will not cut Medicare.

Project 2025 would eliminate the Education Department, which Trump supports

The Harris campaign said Project 2025 would “eliminate the U.S. Department of Education” — and that’s accurate. Project 2025 says federal education policy “should be limited and, ultimately, the federal Department of Education should be eliminated.” The plan scales back the federal government’s role in education policy and devolves the functions that remain to other agencies.

Aside from eliminating the department, the project also proposes scrapping the Biden administration’s Title IX revision, which prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It also would let states opt out of federal education programs and calls for passing a federal parents’ bill of rights similar to ones passed in some Republican-led state legislatures.

Republicans, including Trump, have pledged to close the department, which gained its status in 1979 within Democratic President Jimmy Carter’s presidential Cabinet.

In one of his Agenda 47 policy videos, Trump promised to close the department and “to send all education work and needs back to the states.” Eliminating the department would have to go through Congress.

What Project 2025, Trump would do on overtime pay

In the graphic, the Harris campaign says Project 2025 allows “employers to stop paying workers for overtime work.”

The plan doesn’t call for banning overtime wages. It recommends changes to some Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, regulations and to overtime rules. Some changes, if enacted, could result in some people losing overtime protections, experts told us.

The document proposes that the Labor Department maintain an overtime threshold “that does not punish businesses in lower-cost regions (e.g., the southeast United States).” This threshold is the amount of money executive, administrative or professional employees need to make for an employer to exempt them from overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

In 2019, the Trump’s administration finalized a rule that expanded overtime pay eligibility to most salaried workers earning less than about $35,568, which it said made about 1.3 million more workers eligible for overtime pay. The Trump-era threshold is high enough to cover most line workers in lower-cost regions, Project 2025 said.

The Biden administration raised that threshold to $43,888 beginning July 1, and that will rise to $58,656 on Jan. 1, 2025. That would grant overtime eligibility to about 4 million workers, the Labor Department said.

It’s unclear how many workers Project 2025’s proposal to return to the Trump-era overtime threshold in some parts of the country would affect, but experts said some would presumably lose the right to overtime wages.

Other overtime proposals in Project 2025’s plan include allowing some workers to choose to accumulate paid time off instead of overtime pay, or to work more hours in one week and fewer in the next, rather than receive overtime.

Trump’s past with overtime pay is complicated. In 2016, the Obama administration said it would raise the overtime to salaried workers earning less than $47,476 a year, about double the exemption level set in 2004 of $23,660 a year.

But when a judge blocked the Obama rule, the Trump administration didn’t challenge the court ruling. Instead it set its own overtime threshold, which raised the amount, but by less than Obama.

Support Provided By: Learn more

Educate your inbox

Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else.

Thank you. Please check your inbox to confirm.

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• The four main types of essay | Quick guide with examples

The Four Main Types of Essay | Quick Guide with Examples

Published on September 4, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An essay is a focused piece of writing designed to inform or persuade. There are many different types of essay, but they are often defined in four categories: argumentative, expository, narrative, and descriptive essays.

Argumentative and expository essays are focused on conveying information and making clear points, while narrative and descriptive essays are about exercising creativity and writing in an interesting way. At university level, argumentative essays are the most common type. 

In high school and college, you will also often have to write textual analysis essays, which test your skills in close reading and interpretation.

Instantly correct all language mistakes in your text

Upload your document to correct all your mistakes in minutes

Table of contents

Argumentative essays, expository essays, narrative essays, descriptive essays, textual analysis essays, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about types of essays.

An argumentative essay presents an extended, evidence-based argument. It requires a strong thesis statement —a clearly defined stance on your topic. Your aim is to convince the reader of your thesis using evidence (such as quotations ) and analysis.

Argumentative essays test your ability to research and present your own position on a topic. This is the most common type of essay at college level—most papers you write will involve some kind of argumentation.

The essay is divided into an introduction, body, and conclusion:

• The introduction provides your topic and thesis statement
• The body presents your evidence and arguments
• The conclusion summarizes your argument and emphasizes its importance

The example below is a paragraph from the body of an argumentative essay about the effects of the internet on education. Mouse over it to learn more.

A common frustration for teachers is students’ use of Wikipedia as a source in their writing. Its prevalence among students is not exaggerated; a survey found that the vast majority of the students surveyed used Wikipedia (Head & Eisenberg, 2010). An article in The Guardian stresses a common objection to its use: “a reliance on Wikipedia can discourage students from engaging with genuine academic writing” (Coomer, 2013). Teachers are clearly not mistaken in viewing Wikipedia usage as ubiquitous among their students; but the claim that it discourages engagement with academic sources requires further investigation. This point is treated as self-evident by many teachers, but Wikipedia itself explicitly encourages students to look into other sources. Its articles often provide references to academic publications and include warning notes where citations are missing; the site’s own guidelines for research make clear that it should be used as a starting point, emphasizing that users should always “read the references and check whether they really do support what the article says” (“Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia,” 2020). Indeed, for many students, Wikipedia is their first encounter with the concepts of citation and referencing. The use of Wikipedia therefore has a positive side that merits deeper consideration than it often receives.

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

An expository essay provides a clear, focused explanation of a topic. It doesn’t require an original argument, just a balanced and well-organized view of the topic.

Expository essays test your familiarity with a topic and your ability to organize and convey information. They are commonly assigned at high school or in exam questions at college level.

The introduction of an expository essay states your topic and provides some general background, the body presents the details, and the conclusion summarizes the information presented.

A typical body paragraph from an expository essay about the invention of the printing press is shown below. Mouse over it to learn more.

The invention of the printing press in 1440 changed this situation dramatically. Johannes Gutenberg, who had worked as a goldsmith, used his knowledge of metals in the design of the press. He made his type from an alloy of lead, tin, and antimony, whose durability allowed for the reliable production of high-quality books. This new technology allowed texts to be reproduced and disseminated on a much larger scale than was previously possible. The Gutenberg Bible appeared in the 1450s, and a large number of printing presses sprang up across the continent in the following decades. Gutenberg’s invention rapidly transformed cultural production in Europe; among other things, it would lead to the Protestant Reformation.

A narrative essay is one that tells a story. This is usually a story about a personal experience you had, but it may also be an imaginative exploration of something you have not experienced.

Narrative essays test your ability to build up a narrative in an engaging, well-structured way. They are much more personal and creative than other kinds of academic writing . Writing a personal statement for an application requires the same skills as a narrative essay.

A narrative essay isn’t strictly divided into introduction, body, and conclusion, but it should still begin by setting up the narrative and finish by expressing the point of the story—what you learned from your experience, or why it made an impression on you.

Mouse over the example below, a short narrative essay responding to the prompt “Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself,” to explore its structure.

Since elementary school, I have always favored subjects like science and math over the humanities. My instinct was always to think of these subjects as more solid and serious than classes like English. If there was no right answer, I thought, why bother? But recently I had an experience that taught me my academic interests are more flexible than I had thought: I took my first philosophy class.

Before I entered the classroom, I was skeptical. I waited outside with the other students and wondered what exactly philosophy would involve—I really had no idea. I imagined something pretty abstract: long, stilted conversations pondering the meaning of life. But what I got was something quite different.

A young man in jeans, Mr. Jones—“but you can call me Rob”—was far from the white-haired, buttoned-up old man I had half-expected. And rather than pulling us into pedantic arguments about obscure philosophical points, Rob engaged us on our level. To talk free will, we looked at our own choices. To talk ethics, we looked at dilemmas we had faced ourselves. By the end of class, I’d discovered that questions with no right answer can turn out to be the most interesting ones.

The experience has taught me to look at things a little more “philosophically”—and not just because it was a philosophy class! I learned that if I let go of my preconceptions, I can actually get a lot out of subjects I was previously dismissive of. The class taught me—in more ways than one—to look at things with an open mind.

A descriptive essay provides a detailed sensory description of something. Like narrative essays, they allow you to be more creative than most academic writing, but they are more tightly focused than narrative essays. You might describe a specific place or object, rather than telling a whole story.

Descriptive essays test your ability to use language creatively, making striking word choices to convey a memorable picture of what you’re describing.

A descriptive essay can be quite loosely structured, though it should usually begin by introducing the object of your description and end by drawing an overall picture of it. The important thing is to use careful word choices and figurative language to create an original description of your object.

Mouse over the example below, a response to the prompt “Describe a place you love to spend time in,” to learn more about descriptive essays.

On Sunday afternoons I like to spend my time in the garden behind my house. The garden is narrow but long, a corridor of green extending from the back of the house, and I sit on a lawn chair at the far end to read and relax. I am in my small peaceful paradise: the shade of the tree, the feel of the grass on my feet, the gentle activity of the fish in the pond beside me.

My cat crosses the garden nimbly and leaps onto the fence to survey it from above. From his perch he can watch over his little kingdom and keep an eye on the neighbours. He does this until the barking of next door’s dog scares him from his post and he bolts for the cat flap to govern from the safety of the kitchen.

With that, I am left alone with the fish, whose whole world is the pond by my feet. The fish explore the pond every day as if for the first time, prodding and inspecting every stone. I sometimes feel the same about sitting here in the garden; I know the place better than anyone, but whenever I return I still feel compelled to pay attention to all its details and novelties—a new bird perched in the tree, the growth of the grass, and the movement of the insects it shelters…

Sitting out in the garden, I feel serene. I feel at home. And yet I always feel there is more to discover. The bounds of my garden may be small, but there is a whole world contained within it, and it is one I will never get tired of inhabiting.

Though every essay type tests your writing skills, some essays also test your ability to read carefully and critically. In a textual analysis essay, you don’t just present information on a topic, but closely analyze a text to explain how it achieves certain effects.

Rhetorical analysis

A rhetorical analysis looks at a persuasive text (e.g. a speech, an essay, a political cartoon) in terms of the rhetorical devices it uses, and evaluates their effectiveness.

The goal is not to state whether you agree with the author’s argument but to look at how they have constructed it.

The introduction of a rhetorical analysis presents the text, some background information, and your thesis statement; the body comprises the analysis itself; and the conclusion wraps up your analysis of the text, emphasizing its relevance to broader concerns.

The example below is from a rhetorical analysis of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech . Mouse over it to learn more.

King’s speech is infused with prophetic language throughout. Even before the famous “dream” part of the speech, King’s language consistently strikes a prophetic tone. He refers to the Lincoln Memorial as a “hallowed spot” and speaks of rising “from the dark and desolate valley of segregation” to “make justice a reality for all of God’s children.” The assumption of this prophetic voice constitutes the text’s strongest ethical appeal; after linking himself with political figures like Lincoln and the Founding Fathers, King’s ethos adopts a distinctly religious tone, recalling Biblical prophets and preachers of change from across history. This adds significant force to his words; standing before an audience of hundreds of thousands, he states not just what the future should be, but what it will be: “The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.” This warning is almost apocalyptic in tone, though it concludes with the positive image of the “bright day of justice.” The power of King’s rhetoric thus stems not only from the pathos of his vision of a brighter future, but from the ethos of the prophetic voice he adopts in expressing this vision.

Literary analysis

A literary analysis essay presents a close reading of a work of literature—e.g. a poem or novel—to explore the choices made by the author and how they help to convey the text’s theme. It is not simply a book report or a review, but an in-depth interpretation of the text.

Literary analysis looks at things like setting, characters, themes, and figurative language. The goal is to closely analyze what the author conveys and how.

The introduction of a literary analysis essay presents the text and background, and provides your thesis statement; the body consists of close readings of the text with quotations and analysis in support of your argument; and the conclusion emphasizes what your approach tells us about the text.

Mouse over the example below, the introduction to a literary analysis essay on Frankenstein , to learn more.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. In this reading, protagonist Victor Frankenstein is a stable representation of the callous ambition of modern science throughout the novel. This essay, however, argues that far from providing a stable image of the character, Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to portray Frankenstein in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as. This essay begins by exploring the positive portrayal of Frankenstein in the first volume, then moves on to the creature’s perception of him, and finally discusses the third volume’s narrative shift toward viewing Frankenstein as the creature views him.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

• Ad hominem fallacy
• Post hoc fallacy
• Appeal to authority fallacy
• False cause fallacy
• Sunk cost fallacy

College essays

• Choosing Essay Topic
• Write a College Essay
• Write a Diversity Essay
• College Essay Format & Structure
• Comparing and Contrasting in an Essay

 (AI) Tools

• Grammar Checker
• Paraphrasing Tool
• Text Summarizer
• AI Detector
• Plagiarism Checker
• Citation Generator

At high school and in composition classes at university, you’ll often be told to write a specific type of essay , but you might also just be given prompts.

Look for keywords in these prompts that suggest a certain approach: The word “explain” suggests you should write an expository essay , while the word “describe” implies a descriptive essay . An argumentative essay might be prompted with the word “assess” or “argue.”

The vast majority of essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Almost all academic writing involves building up an argument, though other types of essay might be assigned in composition classes.

Essays can present arguments about all kinds of different topics. For example:

• In a literary analysis essay, you might make an argument for a specific interpretation of a text
• In a history essay, you might present an argument for the importance of a particular event
• In a politics essay, you might argue for the validity of a certain political theory

An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

The key difference is that a narrative essay is designed to tell a complete story, while a descriptive essay is meant to convey an intense description of a particular place, object, or concept.

Narrative and descriptive essays both allow you to write more personally and creatively than other kinds of essays , and similar writing skills can apply to both.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2023, July 23). The Four Main Types of Essay | Quick Guide with Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved August 26, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/academic-essay/essay-types/

Is this article helpful?

Jack Caulfield

Other students also liked, how to write an argumentative essay | examples & tips, how to write an expository essay, how to write an essay outline | guidelines & examples, what is your plagiarism score.

Search suggestions update instantly to match the search query.

Reports and essays: key differences

Know what to expect

Explore the main differences between reports and essays and how to write for your assignments

You'll complete assignments with different requirements throughout your degree, so it's important to understand what you need to do for each of them. Here we explore the key differences between reports and essays. 

This page describes general features of academic reports and essays. Depending on your subject you may use all of these features, a selection of them, or you may have additional requirements. 

There is no single right way to write a report or essay, but they are different assignments. At a glance: 

• Reports depend heavily on your subject and the type of report.
• Essays usually have specific content and a planned structure with a focus on sense and flow. You subject might need different types of information in your introduction –  some disciplines include a short background and context here, while others begin their discussion, discuss their resources or briefly signpost the topic.

Differences between reports and essays

This table compares reports and essays and provides an outline of the standard structure for each. Your assignment will also depend on your discipline, the purpose of your work, and your audience – so you should check what you need to do in your course and module handbooks, instructions from your lecturer, and your subject conventions.

Table adapted from Cottrell, 2003, p. 209.

The structure of reports

Most reports use an IMRaD structure: Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion.

Below are some common sections that also appear in reports. Some sections include alternative headings.

1. Table of contents

Your contents shows the number of each report section, its title, page number and any sub-sections. Sub-section numbers and details start under the section title, not the margin or the number.

2. Abstract or Executive summary

This brief summary of the report is usually the last thing you write.

3. Introduction

Your introduction describes the purpose of the report, explains why it necessary or useful, and sets out its precise aims and objectives.

4. Literature review

This describes current research and thinking about the problem or research question, and is often incorporated into the introduction.

5. Methods or Methodology

This describes and justifies the methods or processes used to collect your data.

6. Results or Findings

This section presents the results (or processed data) from the research and may consist of mainly tables, charts and or diagrams.

7. Discussion, or Analysis, or Interpretation

This section analyses the results and evaluates the research carried out.

8. Conclusion

The conclusion summarises the report and usually revisits the aims and objectives.

9. Recommendations

In this section the writer uses the results and conclusions from the report to make practical suggestions about a problem or issue. This may not be required.

10. Appendices

You can include raw data or materials that your report refers to in the appendix, if you need to. The data is often presented as charts, diagrams and tables. Each item should be numbered : for example, write Table 1 and its title; Table 2 and its title, and so on as needed.

Structure of essays

Introduction.

Your essay introduction contextualises and gives background information about the topic or questions being discussed, and sets out what the essay is going to cover.

Your essay body is divided into paragraphs. These paragraphs help make a continuous, flowing text.

The conclusion summarises the main points made in the essay. Avoid introducing new information in your conclusion.

Bibliography or Reference list

This is a list of the resources you've used in your essay. This is usually presented alphabetically by authors’ surname.

Reference for the Table of Distinctions above: 

Cottrell, S. (2003).  The Study Skills Handbook  (2nd ed.). Basingstoke: Palgrave.

Download our report and essay differences revision sheet

Download this page as a PDF for your report and essay revision notes.

Key features of academic reports

Basic essay structure

Writing clear sentences

Programme vs. Project

What's the difference.

Programmes and projects are both temporary endeavors aimed at achieving specific goals and objectives. However, programmes are typically larger in scope and involve multiple related projects that work together to achieve a common goal. Projects, on the other hand, are more focused and have a defined start and end date. Programmes are often ongoing and can span several years, while projects are usually completed within a shorter timeframe. Additionally, programmes are more strategic in nature, focusing on long-term outcomes, while projects are more tactical, focusing on specific deliverables. Ultimately, programmes and projects both play important roles in achieving organizational objectives and driving change.

Further Detail

Programmes and projects are both essential components of organizational management, but they serve different purposes and have distinct attributes. A project is a temporary endeavor undertaken to create a unique product, service, or result. It has a defined start and end date, specific objectives, and a set budget. On the other hand, a programme is a collection of related projects and activities that are managed together to achieve strategic objectives. Programmes are typically ongoing and may involve multiple projects that are interconnected.

The scope of a project is usually well-defined and focused on delivering a specific outcome within a set timeframe. Projects are often smaller in scale and have a limited scope compared to programmes. In contrast, programmes have a broader scope and encompass multiple projects that are interdependent and contribute to achieving overarching organizational goals. Programmes are more strategic in nature and involve managing complex relationships between various projects and stakeholders.

Projects are temporary in nature and have a defined start and end date. Once the project objectives are met, the project is considered complete, and the team is disbanded. Projects are typically shorter in duration compared to programmes, which are ongoing and may span several years. Programmes involve continuous monitoring and adjustment to ensure that the desired outcomes are achieved over an extended period.

The objectives of a project are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). Projects are focused on delivering a tangible output or outcome within a set timeframe and budget. In contrast, programmes have broader strategic objectives that align with the organization's overall goals and vision. Programmes are designed to deliver long-term benefits and value by coordinating multiple projects to achieve a common purpose.

Project management involves planning, executing, and controlling the project activities to achieve the desired outcomes within the constraints of time, cost, and quality. Project managers are responsible for overseeing the project team, managing resources, and ensuring that the project is delivered on time and within budget. Programme management, on the other hand, focuses on coordinating and aligning multiple projects within a programme to achieve strategic objectives. Programme managers are responsible for overseeing the overall programme, managing interdependencies between projects, and ensuring that the programme delivers the intended benefits.

Risk Management

Risk management is an essential aspect of both project and programme management. Projects are subject to risks related to scope, schedule, budget, and quality, which must be identified, assessed, and mitigated to ensure project success. Programme management involves managing risks at a higher level, considering the interdependencies between projects and the impact on the overall programme objectives. Programme managers must identify and address risks that could affect the successful delivery of the programme and its intended benefits.

Stakeholder Engagement

Stakeholder engagement is crucial for the success of both projects and programmes. Projects involve identifying and engaging with stakeholders who have an interest in or are affected by the project outcomes. Project managers must communicate with stakeholders, manage their expectations, and address their concerns throughout the project lifecycle. Programme management involves engaging with a broader range of stakeholders, including those involved in multiple projects within the programme. Programme managers must ensure that stakeholders are aligned with the programme objectives and actively involved in decision-making processes.

Resource Management

Resource management is a key aspect of both project and programme management. Projects require resources such as people, materials, and equipment to deliver the desired outcomes within the constraints of time and budget. Project managers are responsible for allocating resources, monitoring resource usage, and ensuring that the project stays on track. Programme management involves managing resources at a higher level, considering the allocation of resources across multiple projects within the programme. Programme managers must prioritize resource allocation to ensure that the programme objectives are met efficiently and effectively.

In conclusion, programmes and projects have distinct attributes that differentiate them in terms of scope, duration, objectives, management, risk management, stakeholder engagement, and resource management. While projects are temporary endeavors focused on delivering specific outcomes within a set timeframe, programmes are ongoing initiatives that involve managing multiple interconnected projects to achieve strategic objectives. Both programmes and projects are essential for organizational success, and understanding their differences is crucial for effective management and delivery of desired outcomes.

Comparisons may contain inaccurate information about people, places, or facts. Please report any issues.

• +44 (0) 207 391 9032

Recent Posts

• What Is an Internship? Everything You Should Know

How Long Should a Thesis Statement Be?

• How to Write a Character Analysis Essay
• Best Colours for Your PowerPoint Presentation: How to Choose
• How to Write a Nursing Essay
• Top 5 Essential Skills You Should Build As An International Student
• How Professional Editing Services Can Take Your Writing to the Next Level
• How to Write an Effective Essay Outline
• How to Write a Law Essay: A Comprehensive Guide with Examples
• What Are the Limitations of ChatGPT?
• Academic News
• Custom Essays
• Dissertation Writing
• Essay Marking
• Essay Writing
• Essay Writing Companies
• Model Essays
• Model Exam Answers
• Oxbridge Essays Updates
• PhD Writing
• Significant Academics
• Student News
• Study Skills
• University Applications
• University Essays
• University Life
• Writing Tips

Essay vs Report: What Are the Key Differences?

(Last updated: 5 April 2024)

Since 2006, Oxbridge Essays has been the UK’s leading paid essay-writing and dissertation service

We have helped 10,000s of undergraduate, Masters and PhD students to maximise their grades in essays, dissertations, model-exam answers, applications and other materials. If you would like a free chat about your project with one of our UK staff, then please just reach out on one of the methods below.

Reports and essays serve as fundamental forms of scholarly communication, each with its distinct purpose, structure, and style. While both convey information and analysis, they vary in their objectives, audience, and presentation. In this comprehensive guide, we'll explore the different nuances between reports and essays, unpacking their key characteristics and offering insights into when and how to utilise each form effectively.

Reports: Capturing Data and Analysis

Reports are structured documents designed to convey factual information, findings, and analysis on a specific topic or issue. They are commonly used in academic, professional, and scientific contexts to present research outcomes, project evaluations, or business insights. Key features of reports include:

• Objective Presentation : Reports aim to provide an objective overview of data, observations, and analysis without personal interpretation or opinion.
• Structured Format : Reports typically follow a structured format, including sections such as introduction, methods, results, discussion, and conclusions.
• Visual Aids : Reports often incorporate tables, charts, graphs, and other visual aids to enhance the presentation of data and facilitate understanding.
• Audience Focus : Reports are usually intended for a specific audience, such as academic peers, business stakeholders, or policymakers, who require concise and actionable information.

Essays: Exploring Ideas and Arguments

Essays, on the other hand, are scholarly compositions that explore and analyse ideas, arguments, and theories within a particular subject area. They provide opportunities for critical thinking, reflection, and interpretation of course material or research findings. Key features of essays include:

• Thesis-driven Structure : Essays typically present a central thesis or argument, supported by evidence, analysis, and interpretation.
• Logical Progression : Essays follow a logical progression of ideas, with clear transitions between paragraphs and sections to guide the reader through the argument.
• Engagement with Sources : Essays engage with a range of scholarly sources, including academic articles, books, and primary documents, to support the argument and provide context.
• Critical Analysis : Essays encourage critical analysis and evaluation of ideas, theories, and evidence, often requiring students to synthesise information and draw their conclusions.

Key Differences: Report vs Essay

While both reports and essays involve research, analysis, and communication of ideas, there are key differences in their purpose, structure, and approach:

Purpose : Reports aim to present factual information and analysis to inform decision-making, while essays explore ideas, theories, and arguments to provoke thought and discussion.

Structure : Reports follow a structured format with clear sections, while essays offer more flexibility in organisation and presentation.

Language and Style : Reports use formal, concise language and avoid personal opinions, while essays may incorporate personal voice, reflections, and interpretations.

Audience : Reports are often written for a specific audience, such as stakeholders or decision-makers, while essays are typically written for academic audiences or peers.

Choosing the Right Format

The choice between a report and an essay depends on the nature of the assignment, the requirements of the task, and the expectations of the audience. Consider the following factors when determining which format to use:

Purpose : Clarify the purpose of the document—is it to present factual information (report) or to explore and analyse ideas (essay)?

Audience : Consider the intended audience and their expectations regarding format, style, and depth of analysis.

Scope and Depth : Assess the scope and depth of the topic—are you presenting data and findings (report) or engaging in critical analysis and interpretation (essay)?

Instructions : Review the assignment instructions carefully to determine whether a specific format is required and to understand the evaluation criteria.

Leveraging the Power of Structure and Style

Reports and essays are valuable tools for scholarly communication, each offering unique opportunities for knowledge dissemination and intellectual exploration. By understanding the differences between reports and essays and knowing when to employ each format, students and researchers can effectively convey information, analyse ideas, and engage with academic discourse. Whether crafting a data-driven report or crafting a compelling essay, mastering the nuances of structure and style is essential for academic success.

Essay exams: how to answer ‘To what extent…’

How to write a master’s essay

Writing Services

• Essay Plans
• Critical Reviews
• Literature Reviews
• Presentations
• Dissertation Title Creation
• Dissertation Proposals
• Dissertation Chapters
• PhD Proposals
• Journal Publication
• CV Writing Service
• Business Proofreading Services

Editing Services

• Proofreading Service
• Editing Service
• Academic Editing Service

Additional Services

• Marking Services
• Consultation Calls
• Personal Statements
• Tutoring Services

Our Company

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Become a Writer

Terms & Policies

• Fair Use Policy
• Policy for Students in England
• Privacy Policy
• Terms & Conditions
• [email protected]
• Contact Form

Payment Methods

Cryptocurrency payments.

Stack Exchange Network

Stack Exchange network consists of 183 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow , the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers.

Q&A for work

Connect and share knowledge within a single location that is structured and easy to search.

What is the difference between project and thesis?

How project and thesis differs in terms of creativity ?

which one is original ? project or thesis ? any formal definition for project and thesis ?

• You have probably two accounts (maybe three? ): you can merge them in a single one. See the I accidentally created two accounts; how do I merge them? . –  Massimo Ortolano Commented Nov 27, 2016 at 22:08

It differs by school. Technically, a thesis is a claim that can be proven or disproven, but, in practice, the term "thesis" is often used for a project (for undergraduate or Master's degrees). On the other hand, a PhD thesis is not just a project; it should advance the state of knowledge in a field in a way that can only be done by someone knowledgeable in the field.

My department is considering renaming our Master's thesis requirement to Master's project, to acknowledge that it need not be a research contribution.

Of course, even a project can entail publishable work or advance the state of the art, but it need not.

• thanks, is there any difference in terms of novelty ? i know that a phd thesis or masters thesis needs to be original but does the project needs to be original ? –  Rashida Hasan Rupa Commented Nov 27, 2016 at 21:20
• @RashidaHasanRupa Technically, all projects are original, since nobody has solved exactly the same problem. –  Ellen Spertus Commented Jul 13, 2017 at 17:30

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for browse other questions tagged thesis projects ..

• Featured on Meta
• Bringing clarity to status tag usage on meta sites
• We've made changes to our Terms of Service & Privacy Policy - July 2024
• Announcing a change to the data-dump process

Hot Network Questions

• Regression techniques for a “triangular” scatterplot
• Canonical ensemble, ergodicity and Liouville’s equation
• Parody of Fables About Authenticity
• What explanations can be offered for the extreme see-sawing in Montana's senate race polling?
• Is Intuitionism Indispensable in Mathematics?
• The answer is not wrong
• Does Vexing Bauble counter taxed 0 mana spells?
• Manifest Mind vs Shatter
• Using Thin Lens Equation to find how far 1972 Blue Marble photo was taken
• Is there a phrase for someone who's really bad at cooking?
• Is it advisable to contact faculty members at U.S. universities prior to submitting a PhD application?
• How does the summoned monster know who is my enemy?
• Who was the "Dutch author", "Bumstone Bumstone"?
• Using "no" at the end of a statement instead of "isn't it"?
• How to run tests for all flows in an org?
• What happens if all nine Supreme Justices recuse themselves?
• How can I get an Edge's Bevel Weight attribute value via Python?
• How much payload could the Falcon 9 send to geostationary orbit?
• Amalgamated Product Isomorphism
• What are the French verbs that have invariable past participles?
• Walk or Drive to school?
• Could someone tell me what this part of an A320 is called in English?
• What is an intuitive way to rename a column in a Dataset?
• My Hydraulic brakes are seizing up and I have tried everything. Help

• Contact sales

Start free trial

Project vs. Program Management: Key Differences and Similarities

Project management and program management are two very important disciplines that help organizations execute projects and achieve their goals. If you’re involved with either projects or programs, it’s important to understand the difference between them.

What Is a Project?

A project is a set of tasks that are executed by a team to achieve a specific goal. Project managers are in charge of overseeing the project life cycle, which is made up of five stages. Project initiation, project planning, project scheduling, project monitoring and project closing. To be executed, projects require resources such as human resources, raw materials and machinery, which are used to execute activities, produce deliverables and achieve milestones.

What Is a Program?

A program is a set of related projects that are executed coordinately so that resources such as raw materials and people are shared among projects. This allows teams to achieve larger goals, increase productivity and improve operational efficiency. Program managers are in charge of managing programs.

Projects and programs may differ, but project management software can help you manage both. ProjectManager is a flexible software that delivers real-time data to help you make more insightful decisions. Use multiple project management tools such as Gantt charts, kanban boards, timesheets and dashboards to track projects, programs and portfolios. Get started with ProjectManager today for free.

Project vs. Program: How They’re Different

Projects and programs differ in many ways. Here are some of the most fundamental differences between a project and a program.

• Structure : A project is well-defined, with a project charter that spells out the scope and objectives for the project. A program tends to have greater levels of uncertainty. The team is also bigger. The program team supervises and coordinates the work on many projects while the core team may not have that many people. The wider team includes project managers and project team members.
• Effort : This is the most significant difference between projects and programs. A project represents a single effort. It’s a team working towards a common goal. A program is different; it’s a collection of projects. Together, the projects form a cohesive package of work. The different projects are complementary and help the program achieve its overall objectives. There are likely to be overlaps and dependencies between the projects, so a program manager assesses these and works with the project managers to check that the program progresses smoothly.
• Duration : Some projects last for several years but most projects are shorter than that. On the other hand, programs are longer as they set out to deliver more. Programs tend to be split into phases. Some projects are also split like this, but not all projects last long enough to be delivered in multiple phases.
• Benefits : A project team works towards achieving certain outputs, that is, what you get at the end. For example, this could be a set of deliverables that form a software package or a new retail branch. The benefits of a project tend to be tangible: you get a ‘thing’ at the end of it. A program team works towards delivering outcomes. Outcomes can be tangible but are often not. The benefits of a program are the sum of the benefits of the different projects and this could amount to a policy or cultural change, or a shift in the way an organization works.

Project Management vs. Program Management

Now that we’ve outlined the main differences between a project and a program, let’s now discuss how they’re managed. As stated above, there are both similarities and differences between them, which is also true for project management and program management.

Get your free

Multiple Project Tracking Template

Use this free Multiple Project Tracking Template for Excel to manage your projects better.

What Is the Difference Between Project Management and Program Management?

Programs have projects, but projects don’t have programs. So, it’s a matter of volume, working across many projects, against managing only one. Therefore, it seems right to assume that the goals of these disciplines would be similar.

To some extent they are, but it’d be misleading to say that the only difference between project management and program management is the number of projects under their care. While this is true, their main difference lies in their scope.

Program management goals are drafted from a high-level view, while projects are planned as a way to accomplish them. So, project management manages the efforts of one team that works to achieve specific goals while programs are used whenever there are long-term goals that require a company-wide effort.

Key Similarities Between Project Management and Program Management

The above might make programs seem drastically different from projects. However, while projects and programs have differences, there are characteristics that are similar to both. Here are four traits that projects and programs have in common.

• They use the same tools and techniques: Both project and program managers need the same project management tools to plan, schedule and track their team’s progress. Some examples are Gantt charts, project roadmaps and project dashboards. They can be managed from a PMO: Large organizations usually have a project management office (PMO) from which they manage both projects and programs.
• They’re temporary : Projects and programs aren’t long-term endeavors. They exist until the work is done, and then the project or program structure and the team are disbanded. This is part of what makes project and program work so interesting – you can always see the end and you have the opportunity to work on many different initiatives over your career!
• They have business cases : This is similar to all the work that a company does, even the business-as-usual stuff. Projects and programs should only start when they have a valid business case . In other words, project and program managers only work on activities that’ll add value and that are proven to make good business sense. There’s no point in wasting time working on something that won’t benefit the company.
• They’re aligned with strategic objectives : It should be easy to see how the projects and programs you line up with the company’s strategic objectives . If this isn’t specified in the business case, ask your project sponsor. It should be easy to see that the work your team is doing on the project or program directly contributes to the company’s goals. Otherwise, what’s the point?
• They deliver change : This is the big one—projects and programs both deliver change. After completing a project or a program, it should result in change. This could be something big or small. Programs tend to have larger goals for changing the status quo and often include an element of cultural change but the concept is the same.

Program Manager vs. Project Manager

Here’s a quick overview of these two important project management roles.

The Program Manager

A program manager , as noted, is responsible for overseeing many projects. That means they manage multiple project teams, but also in many cases the project managers for those projects within his program. The overall success of the programs rests on the shoulders of the program manager.

The Project Manager

A project manager is responsible for one project and its plan, scope, schedule, managing resources, budget, etc. They’ll hire a team and manage their tasks, while monitoring and tracking performance to make sure the project is on track. Their goal is to deliver a successful project outcome, which is the delivery of a quality product or service within budget and on time.

This multiple project tracking template for Excel can help you monitor the progress of multiple projects simultaneously. Not only that, but it allows you to zoom into the costs, percentage of completion, due dates and priority level of all the tasks that make up each project in your program or portfolio.

We offer a variety of free PMO templates you can use to manage all aspects of your projects, programs and portfolios.

ProjectManager Can Manage Projects and Programs

Though a project and a program are distinct, the project management tools used to manage them are very similar. ProjectManager is award-winning project management software that’s robust enough to manage projects, programs or portfolios.

Multiple Project Planning Tools

ProjectManager’s online Gantt chart lets you create a visual plan for your project, program or portfolio, identify critical tasks and establish phases, milestones and dependencies. Besides that, you can use other project planning tools such as kanban boards, project calendars and task lists to assign tasks to team members and watch the progress bars update on your dashboards as team members complete tasks. As previously mentioned, there’s also a roadmap feature that creates timelines for all of your projects, enabling you to track the various projects within your program.

Track Progress, Costs and Resources Across Projects and Programs

Use our portfolio dashboard to get a high-level view of all your projects in one place. The live data pulls from each project and is displayed in easy-to-read graphs and charts that illustrate the health of the project, time spent on tasks, costs, workload and more. There’s no time-consuming configuration as you’ll find with lightweight software. Our real-time dashboard is ready when you are.

Create Project Portfolio Management Reports

There are also portfolio reports , so you have a variety of ways to make sure that your projects are on track. Plus, since ProjectManager is online, all of your project and program data updates in real time, giving you the most accurate data possible.

Related Content

• Project Management Office (PMO): The Ultimate Guide
• What Is Project Management?
• What Is Program Management?
• How to Manage Multiple Projects

Whether you’re managing projects or programs, the right tools are required to support your team  and help you manage the effort. You need a way to see across all your projects.  ProjectManager enables you to see your resource allocation across your projects with real-time dashboards and reporting functions and helps you keep your projects on track. Get started with ProjectManager for free by taking this free 30-day trial.

Deliver your projects on time and on budget

Start planning your projects.

• How it works

Dissertation vs Essay – A Complete Guide to Understanding The Difference

Published by Ellie Cross at January 26th, 2023 , Revised On October 9, 2023

A dissertation and essay are required in order to graduate from college. Essays are typically used to demonstrate that a student has learned the material covered in their class, while dissertations are used to prove that the student has done more than skim through the material.

Dissertation committees usually require at least one dissertation paper from every student who completes their degree. Essays and dissertations can also be used as an entrance exam into graduate school.

What is a Dissertation?

A dissertation is a research document that lays out your analysis of a particular topic. It often includes an introduction, a literature review, data analysis, and conclusions. Because the goal of a dissertation is to provide original scholarly work, it must be well-researched and well-organized.

What is an Essay?

Essays are a unique form of writing that requires much thought and analysis. They can be used to explore an issue or to argue a point. Essays can be on any topic, but they are generally longer than other types of writing and are more likely to use examples.

Dissertation vs Essay: What’s the Difference?

There are many differences between dissertations and essays. Essays are typically shorter and focus on a specific topic. Dissertations, on the other hand, can be much longer, covering a wide range of topics.

Additionally, dissertations often require more research than essays. Dissertations may be submitted to colleges as either original work or a reprint of an earlier article or book.

A dissertation is an exhaustive examination of a specific topic, while an essay is more like exploring a topic. Dissertations typically require more research than essays and may also be longer. The focus of a dissertation may be narrower than that of an essay, and the writing may be more rigorous. Finally, dissertations are typically submitted to a peer-review process, whereas essays are not usually subject to such evaluation.

How Can ResearchProspect Help?

ResearchProspect writers can send several custom topic ideas to your email address. Once you have chosen a topic that suits your needs and interests, you can order for our dissertation outline service which will include a brief introduction to the topic, research questions , literature review , methodology , expected results , and conclusion . The dissertation outline will enable you to review the quality of our work before placing the order for our full dissertation writing service!

Thesis Statement  

An essay must have a clear and concise thesis statement. A dissertation may include a thesis statement, but it is not required.

The purposes of an essay can differ from those of a dissertation. Essays are typically used for academic writing, while dissertations are used for research papers. An essay may be written for personal enjoyment or academic purposes, such as earning a degree. A dissertation, on the other hand, is typically used to obtain a degree or to win a scholarship.

The essay is to communicate information and ideas, while the purpose of a dissertation is to explore a specific topic in depth. 

Writing Style

There are some important differences between these two types of writing. For example, essays typically require less research than dissertations. Additionally, essays often use more informal language, while dissertations are usually written in scholarly prose. 

The language of an essay is often conversational and less formal than the language of a dissertation. While both types of writing require strong research skills, the tone and style of an essay will be more personal, while that of a dissertation may be more objective.

There are many factors to consider when determining the length of a project. Essays are generally shorter than dissertations. The average essay length is 2,000-2,500 words, while the average dissertation is 10,000-15,000. There are a few exceptions to this rule, however. 

Some research papers are shorter than 2,000 words, and some dissertations exceed 15,000. Therefore, it is important to determine your project’s specific word count requirement to maintain appropriate writing standards .

The main difference between these lengths is that an essay is typically shorter and aims to communicate information quickly. At the same time, a dissertation is longer and seeks to explore a complex topic in depth.  

While there is no set rule on how long an essay should be, it is generally helpful to keep your paragraphs short so that readers can easily follow your argument. Additionally, use concise language and avoid flowery descriptions to keep your essay on target.

Structure  

Essays are typically divided into paragraphs that flow together, while dissertations may be more detailed and have more subsections.

Both types of papers require proper citation formatting.

In order to write effectively, it is important to research your topic thoroughly.

Essays are written in various personal, formal, and scholarly voices.

Need Help in Writing an Essay or Dissertation? 

If you have trouble writing an essay or dissertation, don’t hesitate to seek essay help . There are a number of professional writers who can help you get your work done more effectively and efficiently. 

ResearchProspect is one of the best essay and writing companies in the UK. They provide high-quality essay and dissertation writing services that meet your needs and expectations. Their experienced writers have the knowledge and skills to produce quality essays and dissertations. 

They understand that your time is valuable, which is why they offer a wide range of affordable options at reasonable prices. So, contact them today to learn more about their unique dissertation or essay writing services – we believe you won’t be disappointed!

Frequently Asked Questions

How to differentiate between an essay and dissertation.

An essay is shorter, typically around 1500-5000 words, while a dissertation is a long-form academic work, often 10,000 words or more, with original research and in-depth analysis.

You May Also Like

Report writing is a popular academic writing assignment. This article aims to discuss the fundamentals things you should know about report writing.

Is the deadline for your dissertation coming and you haven’t started it yet? Follow our guide on how to write a dissertation in ten days.

A Gantt chart is important for your dissertation. Here’s everything you need to know about the Gantt chart for a dissertation to do your dissertation.

USEFUL LINKS

LEARNING RESOURCES

COMPANY DETAILS

• How It Works

Please log in to save materials. Log in

What'S The Difference Between A Project And A Research Project?

Be sure to read previous customer reviews and compare prices before making your decision. You can check the services offered, pricing policy, terms, reviews and guarantees. In addition, you can use the provided lists of the best services to get detailed information on guarantees, pricing policy, quality of documents, as well as see real reviews and reviews.    It is always important to work with legal services that can guarantee maximum confidentiality and no plagiarism in documents. To get a perfectly written online document, you need to hire the best online writing assistance company. There are many great online services to help you write your essay quickly and efficiently. Start by reading reviews and find several article writing websites to check them out.

best essay writing service reviews 2022

However, the main difference is that while an academic research proposal is for a specific line of research, a project proposal is for approval of a relatively smaller enterprise or scientific scheme; most often, project proposals are written with the intent of obtaining support in the form of budget penalties and permission to devote time and effort to the chosen project. Here it must be remembered that the forms, procedures and principles of academic research proposals are much more rigorous than for project proposals; it goes without saying that even the standard is much more demanding than in the project proposals. 

While format, length, and content may vary, the overall goal of academic research proposals and project proposals remains the same: approval by supervisors, academic committees, or reviews . This article will discuss the complexities of academic research proposals and project proposals, thereby helping readers understand the differences between the two. The following steps describe a simple and effective research paper writing strategy.  You will most likely start your research with a working, preliminary, or preliminary thesis, which you will refine until you are sure where the evidence leads. The thesis says what you believe and what you are going to prove. Good thesis statement distinguishes a thoughtful research project from a mere review of the facts. A good experimental thesis will help you focus your search for information. 

Before embarking on serious research, do some preliminary research to determine if there is enough information for your needs and to set the context for your research. Now that the direction of your research is clear to you, you can start searching for material on your topic. Choose a topic on which you can find an acceptable amount of information.  People wishing to publish the results of a quality assurance project should read this guide. Worksheets for assessing whether a quality assurance activity is also exploratory The following are two worksheets to help researchers determine whether to consult with the IRB before starting a quality assurance project. 

The main similarity between a thesis and a research project is that both can be inserted as academic papers. To understand the difference between a thesis and a research project, it is necessary to understand the similarities between the two terms. A dissertation is much more thorough than a research project; is a collection of various studies carried out in the field of study, which includes a critical analysis of their results. It aims to present and justify the necessity and importance of conducting research, as well as to present practical ways of conducting research. In addition, he should discuss the main issues and questions that the researcher will raise during the course of the study. Take on a topic that can be adequately covered in the given project format. A strong thesis is provocative; takes a stand and justifies the discussion you present. 

It contains the introduction, problematic hypothesis, objectives, hypothesis, methodology, rationale, and implications of the research project. The information collected during the study culminates in an application document such as policy recommendations, curriculum development, or program evaluation. The purpose of a design study is to collect information that will help solve an identifiable problem in a specific context. The purpose of design research is not to add to our understanding of research on a topic. The key difference between design research and a dissertation is that design research does not start from a research problem. The main difference between a terminating project and a thesis is that a terminating project addresses a specific problem, problem, or problem in your field of study, while a dissertation attempts to create new knowledge. The final project focuses on a narrow and specific topic, while the dissertation addresses a broader and more general issue. 

The main difference between projects and programs is usually that projects are designed to produce results while programs are designed to achieve business results. Obviously, there are some similarities between projects and programs, namely that they are both interested in change, i.e., in creating something new, and both require the use of a team to achieve a goal. To make the difference between project and programme more concrete, let's look at a practical example of the difference between project and programme. But to understand the difference, you need to start by understanding the definitions of projects and programmes. In a project portfolio, each project is responsible for managing multiple projects. The figure also highlights the differences between the project management level and the program and portfolio. 

Program Managers Project Managers Program Managers create the overall plans that are used to manage projects. Project management has a defined timeline with a defined deliverable that determines the end date. The program manager defines the vision, which is especially important when he oversees several projects at the same time. Program managers need to think strategically, especially as they often have to negotiate between different organizations and sometimes between multiple projects interacting over a program. Indeed, some of these projects can be so large and complex that they are programs in their own right. Thus, our software projects will only be one of the projects controlled by the program. Project Report Research Report Mainly focuses on achieving the desired outcome of the project. The focus is on providing information derived from data and problem analysis. A project report, as the name suggests, is simply a report that provides useful and important information to make better business decisions and also helps in project management. 

Conversely, a research report defines what is being sought, sources of data collection, how data is collected (for example, a research report focuses on the results of a completed research work. The research proposal has been submitted, evaluated, taking into account a number of factors, such as the associated costs , potential impact, soundness of the project implementation plan This is usually a request for research funding on the subject of study.  Instead, the research report is prepared after the project is completed. The research proposal is written in the future, the time used in the research report is past because it is written in the third person. Research proposals are approximately 4-10 pages in length. On the other hand, research consists of proving the main thesis backed up by evidence and data. Originality and personal research are important components of a dissertation. This dissertation engages the student in stimulating or provocative research and shows a level of thinking that opens up new horizons. Researching and writing an article will be more enjoyable if you are writing about something interesting. 

Source:  https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/top-5-best-essay-writing-service-reviews-comparative-study-167031

https://www.we-heart.com/2022/08/30/5-best-personal-statement-writing-services/

Harris campaign ads aim to tie Trump to Project 2025, despite denials

• Medium Text

Sign up here.

Reporting by Steve Holland; Editing by Stephen Coates and Jonathan Oatis

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab

After criticism, Harris sits for first major interview

Kamala Harris sat down for her first interview with a mainstream news organization since becoming the Democratic Party's presidential nominee, in a high-stakes conversation on Thursday aimed at addressing critics' concerns that she is less polished in unscripted settings.

  [email protected]

• English English Spanish German French Turkish

Thesis vs. Research Paper: Know the Differences

It is not uncommon for individuals, academic and nonacademic to use “thesis” and “research paper” interchangeably. However, while the thesis vs. research paper puzzle might seem amusing to some, for graduate, postgraduate and doctoral students, knowing the differences between the two is crucial. Not only does a clear demarcation of the two terms help you acquire a precise approach toward writing each of them, but it also helps you keep in mind the subtle nuances that go into creating the two documents. This brief guide discusses the main difference between a thesis and a research paper.

This article discusses the main difference between a thesis and a research paper. To give you an opportunity to practice proofreading, we have left a few spelling, punctuation, or grammatical errors in the text. See if you can spot them! If you spot the errors correctly, you will be entitled to a 10% discount.

It is not uncommon for individuals, academic and nonacademic to use “thesis” and “research paper” interchangeably. After all, both terms share the same domain, academic writing . Moreover, characteristics like the writing style, tone, and structure of a thesis and research paper are also homogenous to a certain degree. Hence, it is not surprising that many people mistake one for the other.

However, while the thesis vs. research paper puzzle might seem amusing to some, for graduate, postgraduate and doctoral students, knowing the differences between the two is crucial. Not only does a clear demarcation of the two terms help you acquire a precise approach toward writing each of them, but it also helps you keep in mind the subtle nuances that go into creating the two documents.

Defining the two terms: thesis vs. research paper

The first step to discerning between a thesis and research paper is to know what they signify.

  Thesis: A thesis or a dissertation is an academic document that a candidate writes to acquire a university degree or similar qualification. Students typically submit a thesis at the end of their final academic term. It generally consists of putting forward an argument and backing it up with individual research and existing data.

How to Write a Perfect Ph.D. Thesis

How to Choose a Thesis or Dissertation Topic: 6 Tips

5 Common Mistakes When Writing a Thesis or Dissertation

How to Structure a Dissertation: A Brief Guide

A Step-by-Step Guide on Writing and Structuring Your Dissertation

Research Paper: A research paper is also an academic document, albeit shorter compared to a thesis. It consists of conducting independent and extensive research on a topic and compiling the data in a structured and comprehensible form. A research paper demonstrates a student's academic prowess in their field of study along with strong analytical skills.

7 Tips to Write an Effective Research Paper

7 Steps to Publishing in a Scientific Journal

Publishing Articles in Peer-Reviewed Journals: A Comprehensive Guide

10 Free Online Journal and Research Databases for Researchers

How to Formulate Research Questions

Now that we have a fundamental understanding of a thesis and a research paper, it is time to dig deeper. To the untrained eye, a research paper and a thesis might seem similar. However, there are some differences, concrete and subtle, that set the two apart.

1. Writing objectives

The objective behind writing a thesis is to obtain a master's degree or doctorate and the ilk. Hence, it needs to exemplify the scope of your knowledge in your study field. That is why choosing an intriguing thesis topic and putting forward your arguments convincingly in favor of it is crucial.

A research paper is written as a part of a course's curriculum or written for publication in a peer-review journal. Its purpose is to contribute something new to the knowledge base of its topic.

2. Structure

Although both documents share quite a few similarities in their structures, the framework of a thesis is more rigid. Also, almost every university has its proprietary guidelines set out for thesis writing.

Comparatively, a research paper only needs to keep the IMRAD format consistent throughout its length. When planning to publish your research paper in a peer-review journal, you also must follow your target journal guidelines.

3. Time Taken

A thesis is an extensive document encompassing the entire duration of a master's or doctoral course and as such, it takes months and even years to write.

A research paper, being less lengthy, typically takes a few weeks or a few months to complete.

4. Supervision

Writing a thesis entails working with a faculty supervisor to ensure that you are on the right track. However, a research paper is more of a solo project and rarely needs a dedicated supervisor to oversee.

5. Finalization

The final stage of thesis completion is a viva voce examination and a thesis defense. It includes proffering your thesis to the examination board or a thesis committee for a questionnaire and related discussions. Whether or not you will receive a degree depends on the result of this examination and the defense.

A research paper is said to be complete when you finalize a draft, check it for plagiarism, and proofread for any language and contextual errors . Now all that's left is to submit it to the assigned authority.

What is Plagiarism | How to Avoid It

How to Choose the Right Plagiarism Checker for Your Academic Works

5 Practical Ways to Avoid Plagiarism

10 Common Grammar Mistakes in Academic Writing

Guide to Avoid Common Mistakes in Sentence Structuring

In the context of academic writing, a thesis and a research paper might appear the same. But, there are some fundamental differences that set apart the two writing formats. However, since both the documents come under the scope of academic writing, they also share some similarities. Both require formal language, formal tone, factually correct information & proper citations. Also, editing and proofreading are a must for both. Editing and Proofreading ensure that your document is properly formatted and devoid of all grammatical & contextual errors. So, the next time when you come across a thesis vs. research paper argument, keep these differences in mind.

Editing or Proofreading? Which Service Should I Choose?

Thesis Proofreading and Editing Services

8 Benefits of Using Professional Proofreading and Editing Services

Achieve What You Want with Academic Editing and Proofreading

How Much Do Proofreading and Editing Cost?

If you need us to make your thesis or dissertation, contact us unhesitatingly!

Best Edit & Proof expert editors and proofreaders focus on offering papers with proper tone, content, and style of  academic writing,  and also provide an upscale  editing and proofreading service  for you. If you consider our pieces of advice, you will witness a notable increase in the chance for your research manuscript to be accepted by the publishers. We work together as an academic writing style guide by bestowing subject-area editing and proofreading around several categorized writing styles. With the group of our expert editors, you will always find us all set to help you identify the tone and style that your manuscript needs to get a nod from the publishers.

English formatting service

You can also avail of our assistance if you are looking for editors who can format your manuscript, or just check on the  particular styles  for the formatting task as per the guidelines provided to you, e.g.,  APA,  MLA, or Chicago/Turabian styles. Best Edit & Proof editors and proofreaders provide all sorts of academic writing help, including editing and proofreading services, using our user-friendly website, and a streamlined ordering process.

Get a free quote for editing and proofreading now!

Visit our  order page  if you want our subject-area editors or language experts to work on your manuscript to improve its tone and style and give it a perfect academic tone and style through proper editing and proofreading. The process of submitting a paper is very easy and quick. Click here to find out how it  works.

Our pricing is based on the type of service you avail of here, be it editing or proofreading. We charge on the basis of the word count of your manuscript that you submit for editing and proofreading and the turnaround time it takes to get it done. If you want to get an instant price quote for your project, copy and paste your document or enter your word count into our  pricing calculator.

24/7 customer support | Live support

Contact us to get support with academic editing and proofreading. We have a 24/7 active live chat mode to offer you direct support along with qualified editors to refine and furbish your manuscript.

Stay tuned for updated information about editing and proofreading services!

Follow us on  Twitter,  LinkedIn,    Facebook,  Instagram,  and  Medium .

For more posts, click  here.  

• Editing & Proofreading
• Citation Styles
• Grammar Rules
• Academic Writing
• Proofreading
• Microsoft Tools
• Academic Publishing
• Dissertation & Thesis
• Researching
• Job & Research Application

Similar Posts

How to Determine Variability in a Dataset

How to Determine Central Tendency

How to Specify Study Variables in Research Papers?

Population vs Sample | Sampling Methods for a Dissertation

7 Issues to Avoid That may Dent the Quality of Thesis Writing

How to Ensure the Quality of Academic Writing in a Thesis and Dissertation?

How to Define Population and Sample in a Dissertation?

Recent Posts

ANOVA vs MANOVA: Which Method to Use in Dissertations?

They Also Read

Although the rules of English capitalization seem simple at first glance, it might still be complicated in academic writing. You probably know you should capitalize proper nouns and the first word of every sentence. However, in some cases, capitalization is required for the first word in a quotation and the first word after a colon. In this article, you will find 15 basic capitalization rules for English grammer.

Being proficient in grammar takes years of practice and needs deep knowledge. Yet, you will still end up making grammatical mistakes, and that is understandable. However, when we are talking about academic writing, you need to be exceptionally careful that you do not end up making such mistakes. This article gives you 10 common grammatical mistakes in academic writing. If you are someone who tends to make such mistakes frequently, this article will be able to help you pinpoint those mistakes and fix them.

Maintaining parallel structure prevents writers from making grammatically incorrect sentences and helps them to improve their writing styles. Although lack of parallelism is not always strictly incorrect, sentences with the parallel structure are easier to read and add a sense of balance to your academic writing. In this article, we will focus on what is parallel structure and how to use parallel structure in academic writing.

A thesis statement is the main academic argument of the thesis that distills the central idea of the study informing the readers about your stance on your thesis topic and is therefore an integral part of writing the thesis. When writing a thesis statement, there are several contentions regarding the right approach. And understandably so, for there are no definite writing rules. But there certainly are writing best practices. In this article, we will look at some of these best practices and how you can leverage them to write a formidable thesis statement. But prior to that, let’s understand what a thesis statement is.

There are several naive job seekers who waste their valuable time and energy designing their resumes instead of writing an eye-catching cover letter. It is too often people looking for a job neglect the importance of a cover letter. This article shows you 10 tips to write a persuasive cover letter for a resume and presents a short guide that will help you draft an impeccable cover letter for a resume.

• Home »
• Advice »

What is the Difference Between a Dissertation and a Thesis?

Find your perfect postgrad program search our database of 30,000 courses.

And to make it even more confusing, some institutions or departments will even use the terms differently!

But what are we all really talking about when we refer to a dissertation or a thesis? And does the term you use actually impact on what you actually end up writing?

This article covers the main differences between a dissertation and thesis, and how the terms may differ depending on the course, university and location.

What is a dissertation?

A dissertation is a piece of academic writing centred around original research. In their dissertations, students review existing research but also build on this with unique hypotheses and approaches.

A dissertation can be used to disprove a previous theory or take existing theories and research in a new direction. It is a large research project that is usually completed at the end of the academic year.

Usually, a dissertation starts with a dissertation proposal , which is approved by a study supervisor. The student then completes the research and writes up the methodology , findings, evaluations and conclusions from the research.

Dissertations can be undertaken by both undergraduate and postgraduate students. At undergraduate level the word count is around 5,000 to 8,000 and at postgraduate level it is usually 10,000 to 15,000.

What is a thesis?

A thesis is an academic paper covering an in-depth review of existing research in a particular discipline. It will involve an academic argument, although it doesn’t usually require original research from the student. The existing research is used to support and evaluate the proposed argument.

A thesis is not usually required at undergraduate level and is more common at postgraduate level.

This large piece of written-up research is usually completed at the end of a masters degree. Some masters courses require a thesis to graduate.

Differences between a dissertation vs thesis

The main purpose of a writing a dissertation is to add new findings to the existing literature in that field with original research. Whereas theses tend to evaluate existing findings, as their purpose is to demonstrate knowledge and skills within the course’s subject matter.

In terms of how long it takes to complete a thesis or dissertation project, a thesis is typically shorter than a dissertation since there are fewer original research aspects involved. This means that it will probably take less time. However, this can differ depending on the university and the course.

Dissertations sometimes require an oral presentation, known as a viva , where findings are showcased to academics who ask questions about the research. Theses usually do not require this.

The root of the words 

The word ‘dissertation’ originates from the Latin word ‘dissertare’, meaning to continue to discuss and the Latin word ‘disserere’ which means to examine and discuss .

The word ‘thesis’ originally comes from the Greek word ‘tithenai’, which means to place or position. This later evolved into the Latin ‘thesis’, which had two meanings: an abstract question and to put something forward .

Similarities between a dissertation vs thesis

Although there are some key differences between a dissertation and a thesis, there are also similarities.

• Both are generally long pieces of academic writing, much longer than a typical essay.
• Both explore a topic in depth, whether you are conducting totally unique research or structuring an argument based on existing research.
• Both are considered a final project and usually required to graduate from a degree, masters or PhD. Students can graduate without a thesis or dissertation if they choose to complete a postgraduate diploma or postgraduate certificate instead.
• Excellent academic writing skills are highly important for both types of research project.

Is a dissertation harder than a thesis?

Though, the difficulty of a thesis or dissertation depends on your personal skill set. For instance, students that learn better by developing their own research ideas may find a dissertation easier than a thesis.

Difficulty can also depend on the level of the course. For instance, a thesis completed at doctorate level is likely to require more advanced knowledge than a thesis at undergraduate level.

The difficulty of either type of research project can also vary depending on the subject matter and the resources available to you.

Both dissertations and theses can be challenging, but don’t be put off by the thought of having to produce a larger body of work. Your supervisor will be there to support you.

Definitions depend on where you are

The terms ‘dissertation’ and ‘thesis’ are sometimes used interchangeably, and the meanings can differ depending on the country and university.

There are plenty of differences between the variant forms of English, such as British English and American English. Around the world, different English-speaking countries use the words ‘dissertation’ and ‘thesis’ differently. 

Generally, nations with British-based academic systems of university education use dissertation to refer to the body of work at the end of an undergraduate or masters level degree . British-based institutions generally use thesis to refer to the body of work produced at the end of a PhD . 

In countries and institutions that are based on the American system of education, the words tend to be used in reverse. However, institutions and even different departments in the same university can use the words differently. 

If you're in doubt, then stick with the way the university and department you're currently attending use the terms. 

Definitions can depend on the subject

In the UK, the terms ‘dissertation’ and ‘thesis’ are generally applied equally across institutions and subjects. 

However, in the US the meanings can differ between different subject areas. The term ‘thesis’ can be used to describe a piece of original research in US academia, whereas original research is usually referred to as a dissertation in the UK. 

If you’re studying in the US , you may complete a thesis at masters level in another subject area that involves wide-ranging reading and understanding rather than original research and still call it a thesis.

With so much interchangeability between the two terms, it’s understandable that there is often confusion in the debate between a dissertation vs thesis, as there is no clear answer. 

Always read specific course details to understand exactly what’s involved in the research project that you are required to produce.

Examples from US and UK universities

Georgetown University in the US refers to a dissertation and a thesis as both adding to your 'field of knowledge' . The University of Edinburgh recommends that you refer to your individual course handbook for guides to dissertations, so each department will have their own guidelines to using the word dissertation and thesis. At University College London they refer to a thesis as the piece of work at the end of an EngD, MPhil, MD(Res) or PhD, which are all research degrees. 

In conclusion

Ultimately, it doesn't really matter which word you use as both refer to a serious and lengthy piece of work where you can show what you have researched and understood as part of your postgraduate studies.

As long as you are referring to the piece of work that you are compiling in the same way as those in your department then you will avoid confusion.

It is important to check whether the research piece involves original research or expects you to build upon existing research.

Writing a dissertation or a thesis requires a substantial amount of planning and work and you don't want to let yourself down at the last hurdle with poor presentation of your work, so always keep an eye on your course or department guidelines.

Related articles

Top Tips On Writing Your Postgraduate Dissertation Or Thesis

How To Write A Thesis

Writing A Dissertation Proposal

Top Thesis Writing Tools

Postgrad Solutions Study Bursaries

Exclusive bursaries Open day alerts Funding advice Application tips Latest PG news

Complete Our Destination Survey

Take 2 minutes to complete our Destination Survey for the chance to win a Postgrad Study Bursary worth £2,000.

All we need to know is:

• Your university
• Your PG course

Table of Contents

Portfolios, programs, and projects, some fundamental differences between projects and programs, become equipped with the right knowledge for project and program management, know the difference between projects and programs.

Projects continue to generate value—solving user problems, promoting technological advancement, meeting compliance requirements, and gaining a competitive edge. Projects have a specific goal, a one-time undertaking, and are performed and managed for a fixed period with a particular start and end date. A project may be the delivery of a service or product on time and budget with required performance benchmarks . For example, the implementation of a new customer relationship system may generate more new leads and, therefore, more revenue.

Programs, on the other hand, are groups of related projects that are run as a group toward producing a common benefit. A project is content-specific, while a program focuses on the benefits. Developing a web application for ticket registration (air, travel, or rail) to generate revenue is an example of a project. Developing a group of functionalities or applications related to analytics and generating leads through marketing for the desired outcome of customer conversion might be a program (with the individual components of its projects). 

Due to the value and benefits both bring, skilled project managers and program managers are always in demand throughout the world. In this article we will discuss the following point of differences between projects and programs:

Benefits Realization

Change management.

• Role in organization

A portfolio organizes programs, projects , sub-portfolios, sub-programs, and operations to facilitate business benefits (i.e., maximize profitability). In the diagram below (Diagram 1.0), the organization groups its initiatives, investments, projects, and programs through portfolios or lines of business aligning to the organization's benefits. The program can have a group of projects or programs under them aligned to the respective portfolio or sub-portfolio. 

Resources are efficiently utilized (moved, managed, or optimized) between programs and projects to maximize the benefits of the organization. Projects can also exist independently and need not be grouped under programs. Programs will be used in their standard manner within the portfolio, with each program managing its projects’ dependencies, program-level risks, and flow of information between projects.

Projects are focused on delivering defined outputs; programs are focused on realizing benefits. As a program manager, one of the most important responsibilities is initiating projects to create the outputs required to achieve the program's objectives.

Generally, a project represents a single, focused effort. Programs are collections of projects together that constitute a complete package of work. The program's overall objectives are achieved through the complementarity of the various projects.

The characteristics of projects and programs make them valuable for different reasons. Understanding these differences assist one in determining the application of projects or programs. Although this isn’t a comprehensive list, it provides a broad understanding and provides anyone wishing to take advantage of these tools a strong complete list. 

• Projects vary in duration, while a program is generally of longer duration, since the start of the program will be the start of its first project, and the end of the program will be the end of its last project.
• Projects focus on desired results or outputs, where programs focus on desired outcomes or benefits.
• The efficiency and effectiveness of the project can be measured based on metrics like budget , schedule, quality, etc. However, the efficiency and effectiveness of the program will be measured in terms of the benefits realization of the program. Such differentiation allows one to measure the success of both the project and program management, even though the projects will exist within the program.
• A project fulfills project objectives (“Why” the deliverable/s is/are required), and the program generally focuses on generating organizational benefits. 
• Projects have defined objectives, and scope is iteratively developed; programs have a scope that encompasses the scope of the collection of projects.
• Project managers expect change and implement processes to keep change managed, where program managers accept and adapt to change to optimize the delivery of benefits.
• Success has majored within projects through product and project quality, timeliness, budget compliance, and customer satisfaction; success in a program measured by the program’s ability to deliver its intended benefits to the organization.

Become a Project Management Professional

• 33% Project job growth from 2021 - 2031
• 88 Million Jobs Estimated for Project Management Professionals by 2027
• $88K Average Annual Salary

Professional Certificate Program in Project Management

• Receive a course completion certificate and UMass Alumni Association membership
• Learn from industry professionals and certified instructors who bring years of practical experience and expertise to the classroom

PMP® Certification Training

• Access to Digital Materials from PMI
• 12 Full-Length Simulation Test Papers (180 Questions Each)

Here's what learners are saying regarding our programs:

PHC Business Manager , Midlands and Lancashire Commissioning Support Unit

I wanted to transition into the Project Management field and wanted the right opportunity to do so. Thus, I took that leap forward and enrolled in this course. My learning experience was fantastic. It suited my learning style.

Katrina Tanchoco

Shell - manila ,.

The interactive sessions make a huge difference as I'm able to ask for further clarifications. The training sessions are more engaging than the self-paced modules, it's easier now that i first decided to take up the online classroom training, and then followed it up with the self-paced learning (online and readings).

These are only a few differences between programs and projects. The following topics are more specific to the tactical implementation of these two tools.

Commercial organizations pursue commercial benefits. Non-commercial organizations seek benefits such as improved health, safety, or security. Since projects focus on deliverables that meet objectives, organizations can use projects to ensure controlled change where the projects are concentrated. Businesses can also use programs to realize benefits between projects. To compare the difference in focus on benefits realization between the two, there are two documents that assist a project manager in performing benefits realization:

• The Business Case, which justifies the value or benefits to secure project approval 
• The Business Management Plan, which documents how benefits will be planned, determined, measured, and validated throughout the project 

In comparison, a program (if formal) will document, monitor, and administer benefits identification, benefits analysis and planning, benefits delivery, benefits transition, and benefits sustainment. This demonstrates the level of analysis and control of expected benefits when comparing programs to projects.

The management of change should be considered formal. Whether the change is at the project or program level, change is approved, applied, and verified when it is necessary. Program management ensures a consistent level of performance from the components of the program. Change, therefore, is integrated between projects and between projects and the administrative work that supports the program. In comparison, projects use change to control variance from planned cost and schedule while protecting various aspects and characteristics of the planned outputs. 

Risk is uncertainty—we don’t know if it will indeed occur, and if it does, it might generate an impact. Projects always work towards minimizing or avoiding risk as it can impact the project severely. Projects exist in an environment where the output, benefits, or outcome of the work may be uncertain and unpredictable. Since projects have more or less fixed constraints at the outset, there is a lower chance of certainty. 

In comparison, programs at their start are a little less defined and may have more significant uncertainty than projects, even projects that define the programs. The same occurs throughout the life of the projects— as the projects progress, they become more defined. Programs can change around projects to ensure the stability of the projects and therefore contribute to the projects’ success. This, in turn, ensures less risk for projects and greater risk for the programs

Projects and programs may respond to complexity in different ways and due to different types of complexity, but generally respond to complexity in similar ways: it takes more time and increases uncertainty to both. Program complexity may arise from governance, stakeholders , definition (agreement of the future state among stakeholders), benefits delivery, and interdependency (connections between components). Project complexity arises from organizational complexity (depth of the organization structure as well as the number of organizational units) and dynamic complexity (the project’s behavior and how it changes over time).

Governance is the monitoring, management, and support applied to meet goals. For projects, the goals support the deliverable and its enablement of objectives. For programs, governance establishes program support and maintains oversight. Another difference between projects and programs regarding governance is the way it is implemented. In projects, governance is implemented and integrated through a collection of organizational, project, and stakeholder requirements and constraints.

Role of a Project Manager

The job of the project manager is to lead and manage—direct the team, engage the stakeholders, and influence and motivate. They take over-arching responsibility for the project and use that comprehensive vision to motivate and influence. They may not know how to perform all the skills required to build the deliverable, but through knowledge of management and leadership, they can bring diverse skills together and support an environment that leads to a successful outcome.

Simplilearn offers a great project management package called Digital Project Manager that can empower you to stay relevant and ahead of the curve.

Role of a Program Manager

In comparison, a program manager is authorized to lead the team or teams responsible for achieving program objectives. They maintain responsibility for leadership, performance, and conduct of a program, and build teams capable of achieving those objectives. Therefore, the program manager will monitor outputs and outcomes of component activities and ensure the program adapts appropriately to those activities.

Although programs may be larger than the sum of their projects, they will be so because they serve the strategic needs of an organization, instead of the tactical demands of the individual projects. These two roles have different focuses, different skills, and responsibilities, and are valued within organizations for various reasons. To understand the components and capabilities of each is to know why organizations value both project and program management. Simplilearn’s  PMP Certification Training Course can provide excellent insights into project management and equip you with the right skills and tools to become a great project manager.

1. What is Product Management?

Product management is all about looking after a business product end-to-end. Right from creating it, to fixing problems and upgrading it based on feedback, product management deals with all these things. 

2. What is Program Management?

A program has multiple projects involved in it. Program Management is the process of overlooking large scale deliveries. 

3. What is the difference between a program and a project?

A project focuses on a single, focused endeavor. Whereas, a program has several projects involved in it. 

Our Project Management Courses Duration And Fees

Project Management Courses typically range from a few weeks to several months, with fees varying based on program and institution.

Learn from Industry Experts with free Masterclasses

Project management.

Kickstart Your 2023 Project Management Career With Our PG Program in Project Management

Unlocking the Potential of AI in Project Management: Tips and Techniques

Unlock Project Management Career Success Secrets for 2024

Recommended Reads

The Ultimate Guide to Top Front End and Back End Programming Languages for 2021

Difference between Project Management Plan and Project Documents

The Complete Guide to Learn the Difference Between Coding Vs Programming

An Introduction to Project Management: A Beginner’s Guide

Project and Program Risk Management

The Difference Between C++ and C

Get Affiliated Certifications with Live Class programs

• PMP, PMI, PMBOK, CAPM, PgMP, PfMP, ACP, PBA, RMP, SP, and OPM3 are registered marks of the Project Management Institute, Inc.

Keep in touch!

By subscribing you are agreeing to APMG holding the data supplied to send occasional e-newsletters & promotional emails for the selected categories. APMG takes your privacy seriously. We will keep your personal information private and secure and will not supply your details to third parties; see our privacy policy for details.

• The Difference Between a Project and a Program

Project vs Program, plus the difference between Project and Program Managers.

What is a project?

A project refers to a specific, singular endeavour to deliver a tangible output.

A project manager is therefore responsible for ensuring a project delivers on its intended output in line with a defined time frame and budget.

What is a program/programme?

A program refers to multiple projects which are managed and delivered as a single package.

A program manager is therefore tasked with overseeing all the projects comprising the program – to ensure it achieves its outcomes.

How projects and programs differ

• The components of a project are specific and exact.
• The scope and goals of a project are well-defined – while programs are typically less clear-cut.
• Because a program covers multiple projects – a program team tends to be larger as it also incorporates the project managers and their project team members.
• Projects and programs may have a waterfall or agile approach.  
• A project represents a single, focused endeavour.
• A program is a collection of projects – together all the projects form a connected package of work. The different projects complement each other to assist the program in achieving its overall objectives. It’s likely the different projects within a program will overlap – the program manager will therefore assess these overlaps and work with the relevant project managers to ensure the program’s smooth progression.  
• While some projects take several years – the typical project will not take very long to complete.
• Programs often take a very long time to complete as they intend to deliver more. It’s therefore common for programs to be organised into phases or tranches.
• A particularly long project may also be organised into multiple phases – but this is less common.  
• Projects focus on achieving tangible outputs, i.e. what you gain upon completing the project.
• Programs focus on outcomes – which are often not tangible. The benefits provided by a program depend on the collective benefits of its projects. Examples of a program outcome include a cultural or political change within an organization – or a change in the way in which an organization operates.

How are Project and Program Managers different?

• Project Managers need to focus on the deliverables of their project which must be achieved within certain cost and time constraints.  
• Program Managers must be comfortable in being less hands-on and they need to have a vision of the benefits the program will achieve.

The best thing for the organisation running program and projects is that everyone understands the different pressures faced by their colleagues.

So if you are a project manager it’s well worth finding out more about program management and similarly program managers benefit from understanding the challenges that project managers face.

How do I become a Project or Program Manager?

Get trained and certified. APMG has the world's best selection of project and programme certifications which are widely recognised by leading organisations and government. Our Agile Project Management Certification is based on the world's leading agile framework and over 185,000 exams have been sat worldwide. Alternatively the Praxis Framework Certification is an effective, respected way to verify both your project and program management knowledge in one fell swoop. Before Praxis arrived an aspiring project or program manager would have to look at several courses to learn the core skills of a competent, well-rounded manager. Praxis trims the fat - compiling the necessary knowledge into a single course.  Praxis quickly gained prestige amongst the project and program community - its Bridging Course has been endorsed by Australia's leading project management association, AIPM  and is also a route to becoming a Chartered Project Professional  with the Association for Project Management.

With all APMG's certifications you'll gain a nifty digital badge if you pass the exam - so you can showcase your certified status online.

RELATED PRODUCTS

Project Management (PM²) Foundation Certification

Certify your ability to use PM² - the official Project Management Methodology of the European Commission

Essentials for PMO Administrators

Kick start your career as a PMO Administrator

Praxis Framework™ - Project and Programme Management Certifications

Improving Project Management; Enabling Success

RECOMMENDED READING

PMO Service Catalogue

AgilePM Handbook v2.0 (Edition Francaise)

AgilePM® Handbook

Practical People Engagement

facilitation_book_cover.png

Expand your knowledge.

New Partnership: APMG International and Leading Learning Partners Association (LLPA)

APMG International and Leading Learning Partners Association (LLPA) Forge Strategic Partnership to Enhance Learning and Certification Offerings

The USM Revolution: Service Management Architecture & System

Empower Your Services with USM

What is Enterprise Change Management?

Enterprise Change Management enables change to proceed smoothly and minimises disruptions

Certifications & Solutions

Aerospace Auditor Authentication Body (AAB) Scheme

Active Qualified Human Resource Organization (AQRO®) Stress-Free Efficiency

Analytics Translation

APMP Micro-Certification

APMP® - Bid & Proposal Management Certification

Business Relationship Management (BRM) certification

Business Resilience Fundamentals

businessagility.works® Foundations

Certified Customs Clearance Agent Training

Certified Professional Technical Communicator (CPTC™)

Chain of Responsibility (CoR) Lead Auditor Certification

Critical Communication Capability Certification

Data Science with Python

DTMethod® (Design Thinking Methodology)

Enterprise Big Data Certification (EBDC)

Experience Design XD Practitioner

Facilitation Training and Certification

Finance for Non-Financial Managers (FNFM)

ISO 37000 Governance of Organizations

Lean Green Belt

Lean Six Sigma

Organizational Behavior Management (OBM)

Private Brand Fundamentals

PuMP® Certification

Sourcing Governance

Strategy Implementation Professional (SIP)

The Process Communication Model® (PCM)

The Professional Services (PS) Professional®

TSIM Foundation Course

Change, Risk & Benefits

Agile Change Agent Certification

Certified Local Change Agent (CLCA)

CHAMPS2® - Business Change

Change Management Certification

Managing Benefits™ Certification

Neuroscience for Change Certification

Cyber Security

Artificial Intelligence Practitioner Certification (AIP)

CDCAT® - Cyber Defence Capability Assessment Tool

CDCAT® Classic Assessment

Certified Cyber Professional (CCP) assured service

CIISEC - Information and Cyber Security Foundation (ICSF)

Cloud Computing

Cyber Essentials

ISO/IEC 27001

IT-Security Foundation

NCSC Assured Training

NCSC Assured Training - Differentiate your course

NIST Cybersecurity Professional

IT Governance & Service

Artificial Intelligence – AI Certification

ASL®2 Certification - Application Services Library

BiSL® (Business Information Services Library)

COBIT® 5 - IT Governance Framework Certification

Computerworld University (CWU) Business IT Certification

Digital Information Design (DID)

Experience Collab Certification and Training

IAITAM - IT Asset Management Certifications

ISACA Certifications

ISACA COBIT 2019 – IT Governance Certification

ISACA Cybersecurity Certificate Programs

ISO/IEC 20000

Lean IT Certification

SFIA Assessments and Digital Badges

Site Reliability Engineering (SRE)

Technology Business Management (TBM) Certification Training

The Service Automation Framework (SAF)

Unified Service Management (USM)

Project, Programme & Portfolio

Agile Digital Services (AgileDS™)

Agile Programme Management (AgilePgM®)

Agile Project Management (AgilePM®) Certification

AgileBA (Agile Business Analysis) Certification

AgilePM for Scrum

Better Business Cases™

Climate-Resilient Infrastructure Officer (CRIO) Certification

CP3P The APMG Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) Certification Program

Digital Assurance® Business Owner

Earned Value

Essentials for PMO Analysts

Essentials for PMO Directors

Essentials for PMO Managers

Forest Garden Certification (FGC)

Global Agile Assurance®

Global Gateway Assurance®

Half Double Certification

House of PMO Essentials

Infrastructure Business Cases

IPMA Project Management Certification

Managing Portfolios Certification

Model Based System Engineering (MBSE) with SysML Certification Training

Project Analytics Certification

Project Canvas Practitioner

Project Management for Sustainable Development (PM4SD™)

Project Planning and Control™ (PPC) Certification

Scrum Certification

Stakeholder Engagement

WISP® (Working in Small Projects)

STAR® Manager

Accredited training providers

Select any filter and click on Apply to see results

I moved with my kids to a hotel room. It's cheaper than renting an apartment and has many amenities.

• I was on a month-to-month lease at our previous place when the owner gave me 30 days' notice.
• I looked for other places to rent, but the rent was beyond what I could pay.
• I found a hotel room for $2,200 a month, which is cheaper than other places and has amenities.

"I am not sure what I am asking for exactly, but I need some sense of ease." I prayed the words as I walked into my bedroom and confronted the piles of clothes on the floor.

It wasn't just the clothes that had me feeling overwhelmed — it was everything. The bills, the upkeep of the house I had been living in for six years, the laundry, and the load of doing it all as a single mom of three. My plate was full, and I was so damn close to giving up —whatever that meant.

I loved my house. It had a charm of its own and was within walking distance to both my ex's house and the kids' schools, and my landlord never increased the rent.

I was, however, on a month-to-month lease , and with that came a sense of unease. In other ways, too, the house contributed to my sense of unease. The yard required an infinite amount of work, the oil tank and furnace were constantly malfunctioning, and don't even get me started on the mice issue.

I was drowning and needed to find a way out, though I didn't know what that was, so I prayed.

The house was put up for sale, and we had to move

Imagine my surprise when I read the email from my landlord that said, "We are putting the house up for sale and need you out by March 1." That was only 30 days away. Where would we go? How would I afford it? I didn't have savings to rely on ; hell, I didn't even have a credit card.

Related stories

I had prayed for a solution, for a sense of ease. This couldn't be my answer. This was more stress.

So, I hit Zillow. Two bedrooms, 1,000 square feet, $2,700 a month. Three bedrooms, 1,200 square feet, $3,000 a month. The prices were outrageous and well beyond my budget. When I finally found a place that left me feeling positive, my application was denied because my credit was subpar.

I was defeated. My plate was not just full. It was breaking and leaving a mess all around me. My mom generously offered that we could stay with her until I found something. I was grateful, but at 46 years old I was desperate for a solution that would honor my need for independence, privacy, and affordability. It was time to get creative.

I found a hotel room that rents for long-term stays

I frantically searched Airbnb and Vrbo, but the few long-term options were already booked. As a last-ditch effort, I reached out to local hotels and inquired about rates for long-term stays. That's when I received surprise email No. 2. Only this one was from Avon Old Farms Hotel , and, with it, I felt as if I had won the lottery.

"We have a two-bedroom apartment on-site that we rent out for longer stays. It's $2200 a month and includes all utilities and hotel amenities," the email said.

Sure, this was only a temporary solution — the apartment was on the small side, and the location was not perfect. But it was a place my kids and I could call our own, even if only for a few months.

After taking a look at the apartment, I signed on the dotted line. Quickly after moving in, I was told the cleaning team would be coming every Tuesday to do a deep clean, change the bedding, and swap out our used towels with clean ones. The gift of having towels laundered and stocked on top of the weekly cleaning was going to be the greatest gift in the world for me.

I still had to tell my kids, though, whom I assumed would be less than thrilled with a small temporary arrangement further from their father. But they found the adventure in our setup right away as they explored the beautiful hotel grounds. Their eyes lit up when I showed them the pool, the game room, the sauna, and the gym. They quickly discovered that the hotel restaurant hosted trivia every Thursday night, and it has since become our favorite weekly activity. We swim on hot days, cook s'mores at the firepits on the weekends, and enjoy continental breakfast in the mornings.

This is not an apartment I would've ever looked for, and I would not have known to look at a hotel for my housing needs. On paper, it is not a great fit for me and my kids. But the amenities are the answer to my prayers. They have offered me the gift of ease, and that, after all, is exactly what I prayed for.

Watch: Was Italy's $1 home scheme worth it?

• Main content

• Aspects of Project Management Words: 2790
• The System of IT Project Management Words: 1247
• Project Scheduling and Time Management Words: 1720
• Program, Project, and Sub-Project Definitions Words: 377
• Project Management: IT Project Success Words: 1665
• Managing Projects and Its Principles Words: 3722
• The Edinburgh Tram: Project Management Words: 2258
• Project Manager’s Role in the Project Success Words: 1526
• London Crossrail Project Management Principles Words: 3373
• Project Management and Its Importance in Examples Words: 1303
• Project Management Tools Words: 1714
• International Project Management Words: 4425
• Research Project Management in Theory and Practice Words: 2044
• Project or Program Failure and Organization Reputation Words: 2992
• Project or Program Failure and Organisation Reputation Words: 3167

Project vs. Program: Explaining the Differences

Introduction.

Project management is a vital part of the governance structure and is actively used in South Africa in science and defense development, information technology, and construction. Many project management methods and techniques have been directly and successfully applied in the administration and public sector, while the terminology can still remain unclear. The paper aims to examine the difference between a project, a sub-project, and a program used and implemented by project managers in the Department of Public Works and to give examples of such projects. The executive who has been appointed to oversee the construction of a community hall needs to explain this information to a community meeting that is being held to initiate this project.

Main Differences Between a Project, a Programme, and a Sub-project

The meaning of each concept must be defined separately to determine the difference between each one of them. First, to understand what a project is, it is essential to distinguish between a project and a process. A process is a repeatable task or operation that produces an expected result. Examples of a process are printing out documents, selling products, and evaluating a subordinate’s work; a process’s main characteristic is repetitiveness (Bogdanova et al., 2020:284-285). Moreover, the result of a process is predictable, while a project is a set of actions, limited in time and aimed at solving a problem or achieving a specific goal. It is also important to note that a project, unlike a process, always has a high degree of uncertainty, although it consists of known processes. Thus, a project is a unique task or group of tasks with a goal, purpose, beginning, and end (Moutinho & Rabechini, 2020:1262). Accordingly, examples of a project corresponding to the processes examples: writing a program for printing documents, building a store to sell goods, and developing new methods for evaluating the effectiveness of employees.

A project program is a group of related projects of the same type, with the same focus, or carried out by the same team. It may also include sub-programs – smaller programs grouped by more clearly defined characteristics. For example, the state’s Mpumalanga development program includes a sub-program to develop the downtown area, which already includes the construction of a community hall. On the other hand, a sub-project is a part of the project as a sub-program of the program. In the case of a sub-project, it may be a list of specific tasks grouped within the project. These tasks have their exact purpose within the project and can be carried out by a designated team. For example, when building a community hall, the sub-project may include creating plans and budgets for the building using computer design systems or by hand.

Thus, the main difference between a project, program, and sub-project is the number and size of goals, objectives, and time units. According to the project management theory, each project has four essential criteria while still being unique: time, content, cost, and quality (Mashwama et al., 2020:305-308). All these attributes are interrelated, and changing one will modify the other. When building a community hall, higher quality requirements can be set, but that will increase both the cost, time, and complexity of the project and sub-projects. Although quality is the most subjective property of a project outcome, evaluating the result always implies its importance. Quality and complexity will inevitably suffer with shorter construction times, and costs can decrease or increase. A sub-project always has a goal similar to, or a direct part of, the project’s goal (Bogdanova et al., 2020). The interaction between the project and the project program is also similar.

Every program, project, and sub-project has a responsible multifunctional person with a wide range of competencies: the project manager (Ribeiro & Domingues, 2018). The main functions of such a person correlate with all the processes that take place in a project, in particular:

• Communications management controls internal and external contacts between team members and external stakeholders. It also includes various types and forms of statistics.
• Stakeholder management means working with parties interested in the project and influencing it: partners, sponsors, media, and authorities.
• Team management is the management of talents and working with creative people or artists. This type of management contains everything from finding a team to organizing its work, mentoring, and motivating it.
• Project content management is filling the project or a sub-project with content, making necessary changes, and adjusting task objectives.
• Time management consists of meeting deadlines and keeping track of the overall project schedule.
• Cost management includes everything that concerns the project’s financial resources.
• Risk management is one of the critical functions, especially in massive program plans. Risk analysis, developing and implementing a risk management strategy.
• Quality management defines quality criteria and requires constant monitoring and controlling of the reality corresponding to the expected result. The result of best quality is obtained when the project is divided into sub-projects, and each is assessed with awareness.
• Overall monitoring and control of project implementation and integration of all its components and processes to achieve project goals.

Based on the information above, all the differences between a program, a project, and a sub-project can be further divided into four categories. The first and most apparent is the scale of the concept, where a program is a set of projects, and a project is a set of sub-projects (Seelhofer & Graf, 2018:12). The second category is related to the first but is not as obvious. Its essence is duration: the program timeline is much broader if provided, while project and sub-project timeframes are specific and measurable. The third category of difference is complexity: the execution of a program is much more intricate than a project, as it involves many sub-tasks that need to be coordinated. Lastly, the fourth category is the outcome: a project is realized when the planned actions and steps are completed by the specified date. The result of the program is a global change of state or the impact on the current situation, so even its partial implementation is possible, and the final effect may exceed all expectations.

The Department of Public Works Operations

The Department of Public Works declares that an integrated infrastructure and transport system has to be built to promote social and economic development. This government organization’s primary goal is to effectively execute all directives that will facilitate the management of all province’s tangible infrastructure assets (Mashwama et al., 2020). Much attention is provided to the roads and transportation systems, both freight and public. Examples of programs, projects, and subprojects the Department conducts will be presented below.

Programs Examples

The Department of Public Works, Roads and Transportation in Mpumalanga province has many programs in operation to improve citizen living standards and infrastructure. For example, one of the most crucial programs deals with the development of an improved public transportation system. Its main goal is to give all citizens equal access to affordable, reliable, and safe public transportation and taxi. The public works program is also significant: provincial infrastructures are being expanded, built, and maintained, and public customer services are being improved.

Project Examples

Examples of projects integrated into programs in the Department of Public Works are numerous and decent. The expansion and improvement program of the transportation system includes such vital projects as the implementation of taxi services’ recapitalization, restructuring of the bus subsidy system, and renewal of the regional freight railroad. One of the projects in the development program, for example, is the current one, the community hall building plan.

Sub-project Examples

Sub-projects are incomparably more numerous in the Department of Public Works. The current project can be analyzed and divided into sub-projects according to construction stages or tasks to be performed. Even before the construction is underway, the major tasks for sub-projects within the project are identified clearly: creating a building plan, communications planning, and staff recruitment for specific types of work. With professional project management, the balance of costs, time, and scope can be achieved.

As mentioned above, the differences between a program, a project, and a sub-project lie in the scale of the goals and the methods. The program’s goals are the most global, achieved by the sum of the accomplished project goals. Moreover, the latter, in turn, is split into objectives within mini-projects, called sub-projects. With this division, the maximum efficiency in achieving the purposes is attained as the overall manageability rises.

Bogdanova, M., Parashkevova, E., & Stoyanova, M. (2020). Agile project management in the public sector–methodological aspects . Journal of European Economy , 19 (2), 283-298.

Mashwama, N., Thwala, D., & Aigbavboa, C. (Ed.). (2020). Obstacles of sustainable construction project management in South Africa construction industry. In L. Scott, M. Dastbaz, & C. Gorse (Eds.), Sustainable ecological engineering design (pp. 305-314). Switzerland: Springer Publishing. (Original work published 2020).

Moutinho, J. D. A., & Rabechini, R. J. (2020). Project management in the public context: Research field mapping. Revista de Administração Pública , 54 (1), 1260-1285.

Ribeiro, A., & Domingues, L. (2018). Acceptance of an agile methodology in the public sector. Procedia Computer Science, 138 , 621-629.

Seelhofer, D., & Graf, C. O. (2018). National project management maturity: A conceptual framework. Central European Business Review , 7 (2), 1-20. Web.

Cite this paper

• Chicago (N-B)
• Chicago (A-D)

StudyCorgi. (2023, July 24). Project vs. Program: Explaining the Differences. https://studycorgi.com/project-vs-program-explaining-the-differences/

"Project vs. Program: Explaining the Differences." StudyCorgi , 24 July 2023, studycorgi.com/project-vs-program-explaining-the-differences/.

StudyCorgi . (2023) 'Project vs. Program: Explaining the Differences'. 24 July.

1. StudyCorgi . "Project vs. Program: Explaining the Differences." July 24, 2023. https://studycorgi.com/project-vs-program-explaining-the-differences/.

Bibliography

StudyCorgi . "Project vs. Program: Explaining the Differences." July 24, 2023. https://studycorgi.com/project-vs-program-explaining-the-differences/.

StudyCorgi . 2023. "Project vs. Program: Explaining the Differences." July 24, 2023. https://studycorgi.com/project-vs-program-explaining-the-differences/.

This paper, “Project vs. Program: Explaining the Differences”, was written and voluntary submitted to our free essay database by a straight-A student. Please ensure you properly reference the paper if you're using it to write your assignment.

Before publication, the StudyCorgi editorial team proofread and checked the paper to make sure it meets the highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, fact accuracy, copyright issues, and inclusive language. Last updated: January 20, 2024 .

If you are the author of this paper and no longer wish to have it published on StudyCorgi, request the removal . Please use the “ Donate your paper ” form to submit an essay.

Kamala Harris steals another idea from Trump. Now she wants to build the wall – no joke.

The border wall is just the latest example of kamala harris' backtracking on former stances. her convictions seem about as deep as what the polls tell her to support..

I thought I was reading a headline from The Babylon Bee when I saw on Tuesday that Vice President Kamala Harris now wants to build the border wall . 

But it wasn’t satire. 

Rather, the Democratic presidential nominee has decided she supports one of former President Donald Trump’s signature ideas − and one despised by progressives.

Here's how left-leaning Axios described Harris' newfound desire to build the wall: "It's the latest example of Harris flip-flopping on her past liberal positions such as supporting  Medicare for All  and banning  fracking  – proposals that aides say she now is against."

We haven’t gotten any explanations, either, as Harris hasn’t done a single interview or press conference since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race last month.

Finally, the campaign has agreed to an interview with CNN on Thursday , but it won't just be Harris. Her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, will be there, too. That makes it seem like Harris can't handle an interview on her own and feels like a cop-out.

No there there: We need more than vibes to know what Kamala Harris is all about

Just scheduling this one interview has caused a lot of consternation for Harris' campaign . I’m guessing a lot of that turmoil has to do with the fact that Harris doesn’t have a coherent agenda for what her presidency would look like. (The rest of the angst is tied to Harris’ general incompetence on camera when off teleprompter ). 

From 'un-American' to full steam ahead 

Let’s take a quick trip down memory lane. In 2019, when Harris was running in the Democratic presidential primary, the U.S. senator of California had some thoughts on the border wall.

Harris called it Trump’s “ medieval vanity project ” then and “ un-American ” in a 2018 social media post. She also posted in 2020 that “Trump’s border wall is a complete waste of taxpayer money and won’t make us any safer .”

Seems pretty straightforward.

In addition, Harris is on the record during her first presidential run vowing to decriminalize illegal border crossings and offering undocumented immigrants health care under her Medicare-for-all plan. She also said she wouldn’t deport immigrants here illegally , if they hadn’t done anything else wrong. 

Fast-forward to now.

Immigration has rocketed to one of the most important issues for voters – in no small part because the Biden-Harris administration oversaw chaos at the southern border amid record numbers of illegal crossings.

Even though Biden appointed Harris as border czar in 2021, she accomplished nothing to deter illegal migration across the border.

You can't say that: It's no laughing matter. Humorless scolds on the left want to silence your 'offensive' views.

So she knows she’s weak on this issue, and now her campaign is trying to make Harris look like a tough border enforcer.

But that’s all hard to believe when one looks at her record the past four years and at what she has said.

Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store .

Last week at the Democratic National Convention, Harris pledged to sign a bipartisan Senate bill that would spend hundreds of millions of dollars to continue building the border wall. And she has released a campaign ad that features the wall several times . 

I guess that settles that. 

Harris can't make up her mind on anything 

The border wall is just the latest example of Harris backtracking on former stances. Her convictions seem about as deep as what the polls tell her to support.

Her few actual policy ideas since becoming the Democratic nominee, including price controls on groceries , are so terrible that Harris’ fellow Democrats are downplaying the idea by saying that price controls would never pass through Congress.

And the wall isn’t the only talking point Harris has stolen from Trump. Earlier this month, she pledged no taxes on tipped wages . Problem is, Trump already had proposed that idea weeks earlier. 

Fudging the facts: From IVF to his military service, Walz is a bit of a fabulist. Can't we get the truth?

That means, of Harris’ limited proposals, one isn’t likely to go anywhere and two are copied from Trump, whom Democrats portray as the archenemy of democracy. 

The general vagueness over what Harris actually believes and supports has led to confusion in the campaign over how to best leverage her running mate, Walz. 

As Politico reports , the “danger in sending him out to do big solo interviews is that he might not have a full command of where Harris is on every issue.”

Boy, I wonder why.

I have one question for Harris: “Who are you?”

I’d honestly like to know.

Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at [email protected] or on X, formerly Twitter: @ Ingrid_Jacques

You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page , on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter .

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Guest Essay

This Is Who Kamala Harris Fails

By Hala Alyan

Dr. Alyan is a clinical psychologist and professor in New York City.

As a Palestinian American, I’ve watched with growing apprehension the recent rebranding and memeification of Kamala Harris: Look! Here’s a woman who does jubilant dances, is firmly intelligent, has the same guffaw as your mother. It’s endearing. It’s refreshing.

I’m not immune to the charms of American mythology. I spent much of my childhood in Midwestern suburbia, bred on rom-coms and the glittering spectacle of professional wrestling. I, too, love the promise of a third act, a swooping hero, the prop of a good soundtrack. But for me to lean into the powerful marketing of the current vice president as a bastion of hope requires enormous amnesia — not only of this administration’s complicit funding of Palestinian slaughter but also of Ms. Harris’s track record on criminal reform , immigration and law enforcement .

Because even in those Midwestern suburbs I was also Palestinian, raised on stories of the nakba, land theft, a boy burned alive , a young American woman mangled by an Israeli bulldozer , the searing image of a man trying to protect his son from flying bullets . Ms. Harris’s viral quote on existing in your context is handy here: Palestinian Americans and their allies are bringing a context to this election. They carry a hope for ending Palestinian oppression that feels almost futile, but irresponsible to abandon, and a memory that extends past a few glitzy weeks.

The Democratic National Convention was a visually and sonically arresting display, full of bright-eyed, stirring speeches on race, identity, democracy — including a moving speech by the parents of an Israeli hostage — and talk of social justice and liberation. It began with a land acknowledgment. And yet the word Palestine was only held, briefly, in the mouths of non-Palestinians. Mentions of a cease-fire in Gaza were urgent but vague, as though one would be midwifed via fervent prayer rather than the sober reconsideration of our nation’s active participation and funding of the current onslaught.

The most generous read of Ms. Harris vis-à-vis Palestinians is that she has inherited — versus had an active role in — a disastrous foreign policy on Gaza, and now must contend with hundreds of thousands of ambivalent voters who oppose it. There is no doubt Ms. Harris is more articulate than President Biden on the issue. In her speech accepting the Democratic nomination, she spoke of Palestinians’ devastation, of their displacement, their hunger, their right to “freedom” and “self-determination.” “The scale of suffering is heartbreaking,” she said.

I appreciate Ms. Harris’s broken heart. What I’d appreciate more is a direct naming of who is killing and starving Palestinians, acts that are neither inevitable nor without a perpetrator. I’d appreciate the upholding of international law through sanctions and an arms embargo. It’s hard to abide the passive framing of Palestinian death in the same speech that reasserts a nuclear power’s right to defend itself — a “defense” that in the past few months has included both American and Israeli representatives calling to level Gaza, mobs rioting to defend the rights of soldiers accused of raping a Palestinian prisoner , and bombs shredding hundreds of starving children in refugee camps.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .

Thesis and Purpose Statements

Use the guidelines below to learn the differences between thesis and purpose statements.

In the first stages of writing, thesis or purpose statements are usually rough or ill-formed and are useful primarily as planning tools.

A thesis statement or purpose statement will emerge as you think and write about a topic. The statement can be restricted or clarified and eventually worked into an introduction.

As you revise your paper, try to phrase your thesis or purpose statement in a precise way so that it matches the content and organization of your paper.

Thesis statements

A thesis statement is a sentence that makes an assertion about a topic and predicts how the topic will be developed. It does not simply announce a topic: it says something about the topic.

Good: X has made a significant impact on the teenage population due to its . . . Bad: In this paper, I will discuss X.

A thesis statement makes a promise to the reader about the scope, purpose, and direction of the paper. It summarizes the conclusions that the writer has reached about the topic.

A thesis statement is generally located near the end of the introduction. Sometimes in a long paper, the thesis will be expressed in several sentences or an entire paragraph.

A thesis statement is focused and specific enough to be proven within the boundaries of the paper. Key words (nouns and verbs) should be specific, accurate, and indicative of the range of research, thrust of the argument or analysis, and the organization of supporting information.

Purpose statements

A purpose statement announces the purpose, scope, and direction of the paper. It tells the reader what to expect in a paper and what the specific focus will be.

Common beginnings include:

“This paper examines . . .,” “The aim of this paper is to . . .,” and “The purpose of this essay is to . . .”

A purpose statement makes a promise to the reader about the development of the argument but does not preview the particular conclusions that the writer has drawn.

A purpose statement usually appears toward the end of the introduction. The purpose statement may be expressed in several sentences or even an entire paragraph.

A purpose statement is specific enough to satisfy the requirements of the assignment. Purpose statements are common in research papers in some academic disciplines, while in other disciplines they are considered too blunt or direct. If you are unsure about using a purpose statement, ask your instructor.

This paper will examine the ecological destruction of the Sahel preceding the drought and the causes of this disintegration of the land. The focus will be on the economic, political, and social relationships which brought about the environmental problems in the Sahel.

Sample purpose and thesis statements

The following example combines a purpose statement and a thesis statement (bold).

The goal of this paper is to examine the effects of Chile’s agrarian reform on the lives of rural peasants. The nature of the topic dictates the use of both a chronological and a comparative analysis of peasant lives at various points during the reform period. . . The Chilean reform example provides evidence that land distribution is an essential component of both the improvement of peasant conditions and the development of a democratic society. More extensive and enduring reforms would likely have allowed Chile the opportunity to further expand these horizons.

For more tips about writing thesis statements, take a look at our new handout on Developing a Thesis Statement.

Writing Process and Structure

This is an accordion element with a series of buttons that open and close related content panels.

Getting Started with Your Paper

Interpreting Writing Assignments from Your Courses

Generating Ideas for Your Paper

Creating an Argument

Thesis vs. Purpose Statements

Developing a Thesis Statement

Architecture of Arguments

Working with Sources

Quoting and Paraphrasing Sources

Using Literary Quotations

Citing Sources in Your Paper

Drafting Your Paper

Introductions

Paragraphing

Developing Strategic Transitions

Conclusions

Revising Your Paper

Peer Reviews

Reverse Outlines

Revising an Argumentative Paper

Revision Strategies for Longer Projects

Finishing Your Paper

Twelve Common Errors: An Editing Checklist

How to Proofread your Paper

Writing Collaboratively

Collaborative and Group Writing