Methodological Guidelines for the Dissertation in CMC

Methodological Revision in CMC: The Dissertation

  • Context & Subject: Methodological revision in CMC (Révision de la méthodologie en CMC).
  • Date: Tuesday, September 15, 2026 (Mardi, 15 Septembre 2026).
  • Fundamental Structure: A dissertation (la dissertation) is strictly composed of three mandatory sections (trois parties obligatoires):
    1. L'Introduction (The Introduction)
    2. Le Développement (The Development / Body)
    3. La Conclusion (The Conclusion)

Section 1: L'Introduction (The Introduction)

The introduction of a dissertation establishes the foundation of the work and must contain three required parts in sequence:

  • 1. La Signification ou La Présentation (Meaning or Presentation / Contextualization):

    • Core Directive: After defining or presenting the topic (après avoir défini ou présenté le sujet), it must be brought back into its proper context (n'oublions pas de le ramener dans son contexte).
    • Practical Example:
    • Assigned Subject: La préhistoire en Côte d'Ivoire (Prehistory in Ivory Coast).
    • Sample Contextualized Presentation: "La préhistoire est l'époque qui vient avant l'histoire. À l'instar de tous les pays africains, la C.I. a connu la préhistoire." (Prehistory is the era preceding history. Just like all African countries, Ivory Coast experienced prehistory.)

  • 2. La Problématique (The Problem Statement / Core Question):

    • Definition: The central guiding question that drives the inquiry and critical analysis of the dissertation.
    • Practical Example: "Comment se présente la préhistoire en CI ?" (How does prehistory present itself in Ivory Coast?)

  • 3. L'Annonce du Plan (Announcement of the Plan / Outline):

    • Definition: Explicitly lays out the main structural parts and progression of the essay.
    • Specific Requirement: The outline/plan is already provided directly in the course material (Le plan est déjà donné dans le cours).

Section 2: Le Développement (The Body / Development)

The body of the dissertation contains three mandatory parts (trois parties obligatoires). Each theme or sub-section within the body must follow a structured presentation:

  • La Phrase Introductive (Introductory Sentence): A topic sentence introducing the paragraph or specific theme being examined.
  • Définition du Terme Clé (Definition of Key Terms): Clear conceptual definition of terms central to the subject matter (e.g., Définition du paléolithique / Definition of the Paleolithic period).
  • L'Explication ou L'Exposé du Thème (Explanation or Exposition of the Theme): Detailed presentation and analytical development of the thematic content (e.g., L'explication ou l'exposé du 1er thème).
  • La Phrase de Transition (Transition Sentence): A sentence that concludes the active argument and smoothly transitions into the subsequent section or theme.

Section 3: La Conclusion (The Conclusion)

The conclusion forms the final synthesis of the dissertation and strictly contains three elements:

  • 1. Le Bilan (The Assessment / Summary): A summary statement synthesizing the major themes, evidence, and arguments presented throughout the development.
  • 2. La Réponse à la Problématique (The Direct Answer to the Core Question): An explicit, decisive answer to the main question posed in the introduction's problematic.
  • 3. L'Ouverture (The Opening / Broader Perspective): A final forward-looking statement or opening question that connects the findings to broader historical, methodological, or prospective contexts.