Workshop with Individual Coaching: Scientific Writing and Working

Writing academic texts is one of the central requirements of a degree programme - from essays and term papers to bachelor's or master's theses. However, academic writing in German is often a particular challenge for international students.

In order to provide you with targeted support, we cordially invite you to our two-part intensive seminar. This series of workshops is aimed primarily at international students on all degree programmes who would like to further develop their written expression skills in academic German. The seminar will be held in German. Individual coaching sessions can be booked afterwards.

Both workshops can be attended independently of each other, but build on each other in terms of content.

Part 1: Structure, research question and research design

In this workshop, we look at the basics of scientific work and writing. You will learn how to narrow down a topic, formulate a precise research question and develop a comprehensible argumentation structure. A particular focus will be on structuring academic texts and building clear arguments.

We use practical exercises to work through key steps in the writing process. These include

• developing ideas
• outlining and text planning
• writing your own first text passages

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 aim is to gain confidence in academic writing and to consciously organise your own writing process.

Part 2: Language practice & text production

Part 2 focuses on the linguistic composition of academic texts in German. Grammar and vocabulary as central tools of writing take centre stage. In the seminar we will deal with

• typical formulations of academic writing
• indirect speech (subjunctive I)
• central grammar structures
• Punctuation and text coherence

This seminar will also reflect on the use of AI tools in the writing process - especially with regard to text revision, style improvement and responsible use in an academic context.

Through joint text work, peer feedback and short editing phases, you will develop a greater awareness of the style, precision and comprehensibility of your texts. The aim is to formulate academic texts in a clearer, more differentiated and more convincing way.

The individual coaching sessions can also be arranged independently of the workshop. Please send an email to international@fh-potsdam.de if you would like to arrange this.

The workshop is organised by the IFMB2 project (International Affairs Executive Office). You can find more information about our project here: IFMB2 | University of Applied Sciences Potsdam.

Upcoming events organised by the International Office can be found here: Dates | University of Applied Sciences Potsdam.