996009 Writing for International Research Communities (WS) (SoSe 2021)

In the academic world, clear, concise texts that are written well and appropriately for their audiences play an important role in convincing journal editors and conference organisers to accept a paper for review and publication, or to invite a researcher to present at a conference.
This workshop supports PhD students and Post-Docs who need to produce professional texts in English as a second or foreign language. It focuses on issues regarding standards of professional English texts for Anglo-Saxon or international research communities, organising ideas and structuring texts effectively, presenting own and other researchers‘ findings and opinions appropriately, and using correct terminology and vocabulary.

(If you are more interested in writing and research processes in general, please have a look at the workshop “Planning, Thinking, and Deciding – Using Writing in the Research Process“.)

During the workshop, participants work with their own texts as well with examples from their own disciplines that they bring along and consider to be particularly well-written. They discuss features of good academic/scientific texts and are equipped to use adequate language in different genres and for different audiences. In addition, they receive peer feedback on their own drafts. All exercises empower them to formulate correct, clear, concise, and reader-oriented texts.

The two-day workshop covers the following topics:
• taking inventory: participants‘ strengths and challenges regarding academic/scientific writing in English;
• a brief introduction to research and writing processes;
• reporting results, ideas, and opinions: general considerations and linguistic devices;
• being structured and organised: transitions, connectives, & co.;
• making yourself understood: principles of clear and concise writing;
• language matters: avoiding typical problems in formal written English;
• using peer feedback to revise texts;
• writing better abstracts;
• useful online and offline resources.

Please register for the workshop by sending an e-mail to Stefanie Haacke-Werron (stefanie.haacke@uni-bielefeld.de). Please note that the registration is binding.