Academic Writing – Structure, Research Questions and Research Design (Part 1)
Academic writing is one of the key requirements of university study – from essays and term papers right through to bachelor’s or master’s theses. For international students in particular, however, academic writing in German often presents a particular challenge: How do you formulate a clear research question? How do you structure an academic text? And how do you organise your own writing process?
In this seminar, we will explore the fundamentals of academic research and writing. You will learn how to narrow down a topic, formulate a precise research question and develop a coherent argumentative structure. Particular emphasis will be placed on structuring academic texts and building clear arguments.
Through practical exercises, we will work through the key stages of the writing process – from developing ideas, through outlining and planning the text, to drafting your own initial passages. The aim is to gain confidence in academic writing and to consciously shape your own writing process.
In addition, we will reflect on the sensible use of AI tools in the writing process and discuss the opportunities and limitations of such tools in an academic context.
The seminar is aimed in particular at international students from all degree programmes who wish to strengthen their foundations in academic writing in German. The seminar will be held in German. Individual coaching sessions can be booked afterwards.
Click here for Part 2: Language practice & text production
The workshop is organised by the IFMB2 project (International Office).
You can find more information about our project here: IFMB2 | FH Potsdam.
Upcoming events organised by the International Office can be found here: Termine | FH Potsdam.
18/04/2026, 10.00 am – 12.30 pm
First Workshop Session
Further Dates in the Workshop Series
- 23/04/2026 – 6.00 pm – 7.00 pm (Special Appointment Writing Night)
- 25/04/2026 – 10.00 am – 12.30 pm (online)
- 02/05/2026 – 10.00 am – 12.30 pm(online)
- 23/05/2026 – 10:00 am – 12.30 pm (online)
Additional Information
- Registration for the first session also counts as registration for the entire workshop series.
- The workshop will take place online via Zoom. The Zoom link will be provided after registration.
