Workshops (winter term 2023-24)

Photo: Nicolaus / Zessko

Please note: our workshops start as indicated at the full hours.

Cite like a pro

Date and Time: 27.10.2023, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Instructor: Annika Ebert
Place: Campus "Neues Palais", House 19, Room tba
Register two weeks before the date following this link.

One of the most essential features of academic writing are correctly used and formatted citations. However, many students, particularly those at the beginning of their studies, struggle with this aspect of writing. Questions like “Do I need to cite this?”, “What is APA?”, or “What does it even mean to plagiarize?” are probably familiar to all students and researchers. In this workshop, you will be introduced to the most important basics of citing so that by the end of it, you will be able to answer all of these questions. We will talk about plagiarism, in-text citations, works-cited lists, and the most commonly used citation styles. This workshop is recommended to all students new to academic writing or those who wish to revise the basics.

Reading techniques

Date and Time: 03.11.2023, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Instructor: Janina Deilke
Place: Campus "Neues Palais", House 19, Room 1.19.3.16
Register two weeks before the date via this link.

Is your pile of books also growing faster than you can read? Do you also have the impression that your memory of what you have already read fades too quickly? In this workshop, you will learn about reading as a differentiated process and become familiar with different reading techniques. The goal is to break down the reading process into several steps and to critically question conventional reading patterns. In addition, we want to encourage you to try out new approaches to reading and thus to approach new texts in a more variable way. The respective reading techniques are thereby suggestions for the individual design of a more productive and sustainable reading, which accompanies the entire writing process. Please have at least one text of your own ready.

Finding your Topic and Research Question

Date and Time: 10.11.2023, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Instructor: Fiona Wünsch
Place: Campus "Neues Palais", House 19, Room 1.19.3.16
Register two weeks before the date via our website EES.

You are not sure yet what you could write about? Maybe you already have a rough idea but don’t know how to generate a good topic and an interesting research question from it? In this workshop, you will find out.
You will learn how to make your ideas visible and how to work with them.
A good topic is the basis for all further steps; together with the research question, it represents the common thread of your writing process and your text.

Creative Scientific Writing

Date and Time: 24.11.2023, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Instructor: Janina Deilke
Place: Campus "Neues Palais", House 19, Room 1.19.3.16
Register two weeks before the date via this link.

Would you like to process and write down your scientific findings in a unique and creative way? Then, creative academic writing is an exciting process that allows ample room for your individual thoughts and ideas. In our workshop, we will try out various writing techniques and exchange our impressions with each other. The goal of the workshop is to explore your thoughts, create new ideas and strengthen your motivation to write. We will work together to explore new strategies and possibilities and encourage you to write texts that reflect your own interests and personality within the given framework, such as a term paper. Let’s work together to allow your creativity to flow into your scientific writing and make your writing project an inspiring and personal success!

Prepare the Writing: Structure and Outline

Date and Time: 01.12.2023, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Instructor: Milena Heyelmann
Place: Campus "Neues Palais", House 19, Room 1.19.3.16
Register two weeks before the date following this link.

In this workshop, we will discuss the pitfalls of writing an academic text in English (as a non-native speaker) from a structural perspective. A well-structured text will help your reader to follow your thoughts and understand your line of argumentation. We will also discuss how to develop an outline for the text and thereby plan the writing process.

Revisiting the Text: How to (re)write, edit, correct and finalise your paper

Date and Time: 08.12.2023, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Instructor: Alyssa Schmid
Place: Campus "Neues Palais", House 19, Room 1.19.3.16
Register two weeks before the date via this link.

The last stage of your writing does not need to be a cumbersome process of rewriting, correcting and rearranging. In order to successfully master this final stage of your writing process, we will give you some tools to design it according to your needs. We will explore different text levels and you will learn how to plan and organise this phase.

Module Paper Workshop (online) - An offer of the Faculty of Human Sciences and Faculty of Arts -

From February till March, a brand new round of our Module Paper Workshop will begin. A small group of students will be supported and accompanied in writing a (module) paper in English.

Students of all disciplines are welcome to join.

About:

Do you know the topic you want to write about but feel a little bit lost, not knowing where to start? You want to learn more about how to structure the reading process, grow or plan the outline of your text, or how to revise and edit your chapters? Here is the answer: Join us for our 4-week Module Paper Workshop! You will learn about your individual writing process, get to know different writing tools and have a chance to try out methods which will help you to write a ready-to-hand-in text within 4 weeks.

What to expect:

Workshop: 4 weeks
Regular meetings: two times per week
Small time slots: 2 hours per session

If you sign up you have to be ready to attend all meetings. You will get enough time to write individually, exchange ideas in groups, and get feedback from our trained writing tutors. At the end of the process, you will be rewared with a text which is ready to be read.

All you need:

An idea! Bring a topic idea for your term paper.
Time and commitment! You will have to write every day for an hour throughout theses 4 weeks.

Please sign up in advance of the course, if you want to participate. Registration starts in January /February via this link.

Please note: Our workshops are mainly addressed at students of the University of Potsdam. If you are affiliated with another university please send an e-mail before your registration and ask whether we have capacities for external participants.

We regularly offer workshops both in German and English. You can find information about topics, dates, locations, and registration instructions usually first on our German-language website.

We are always trying to improve our seminars. Do you have any ideas or specific topics you would like us to address? Send an e-mail to: schreibberatung@uni-potsdam.de

Potsdam Graduate School

If you are a PhD student at the University of Potsdam we recommend the workshops offered by the Potsdam Graduate School.

FAQs

If you have general questions concerning admission, registration or credit points etc. please have a look at our FAQ website.