Online Writing Lab

Rewriting & Revising

Contents and structure Macrostructure. The macrostructure of a text refers to its division into chapters, subchapters, sections and paragraphs. Ask yourself the following questions to improve the macrostructure of your academic text: Are the research question, results, and objective of the work clear and comprehensible throughout the entire text? Is the topic sufficiently narrowed down? …

The Narrowing Table

Developing a research question After you have chosen a topic you want to work on in your academic paper, you still need to develop a specific research question – in other words, narrow down your topic to a clear focus. A research question is the guiding question you answer in your academic work. A good …

Writing an Introduction in the Social Sciences

Info: Here you can find an overview of the overall structure of a paper in the social sciences. What belongs in the introduction? An introduction should answer three main questions: What topic does the paper address? Which questions will be answered regarding this topic? For empirical work: Which method is used to answer these questions? …

Writing Internship Reports

Why internship reports? The documentation of scientific work is essential for engineering practice. Over time, formal conventions have been developed that are intended to make creating and reading such documents easier. During studies, these conventions are learned, practiced, and examined. Accordingly, reports should clearly and understandably convey the matter to be described. They should be …

Declaration of the Thesis in Accordance with the APO/RaPO

Info: Here you can find an overview of the overall structure of a paper in engineering and natural sciences. With the “Erklärung Abschlussarbeit gemäß APO/RaPO“ you confirm that you wrote the thesis independently and that you have not previously submitted it elsewhere for examination purposes. In addition, you guarantee that you used no sources or aids …

Research Methods in Academic Papers

Areas of application In the natural and engineering sciences, one distinguishes between: more theoretical theses (simulation, calculation) practical theses (experiment, field trial, experimental setup; see Hirsch-Weber et al. 2016, p. 81) In the social and economic sciences, theses are often empirical, i.e., data are collected, e.g., through a questionnaire or interviews. Literature: Hirsch-Weber, Andreas et …

Tables and Figures

Captions All figures and tables must be captioned and numbered. As a rule, tables have headings, while figures or diagrams are provided with captions. These captions must be self-explanatory, i.e., each figure must be understandable from its caption without having to read the surrounding text. Reference all figures and tables in the text. Figures and …

Writing a Research Proposal

When should I write a research proposal? Once you start exploring various topics for your academic work, certain topics and questions will emerge that you are genuinely interested in. This is the time to start taking a more systematic approach towards deciding on your topic and specific research question. Even if you have already decided …

Writing my First Term Paper in Social Sciences

Before you start To write a good term paper, it helps to bring curiosity and interest in the topic. It is useful to be able to answer the following questions: Can you choose the topic and research question yourself? When is your submission deadline? Do you know what your lecturers expect from you? What framework …

Quantitative Studies

Empirical research refers to any research that uses empirical observations, that is, experiences, to answer its questions. While these data in qualitative research consist, for example, of interviews or notes, quantitative research relies on numerical data, e.g. measurements. Elements of a quantitative paper An empirical paper with a quantitative approach tests hypotheses derived from theory …

Qualitative Studies

Characteristics of a qualitative study Qualitative social research has developed a wide range of research methods and practices over time. Despite different perspectives, there are basic principles that most qualitative researchers agree on. These are the main characteristics of qualitative research: Theory building: In qualitative research, theory building takes place inductively or deductively. With an …

The Structure of a Paper in Social Sciences

Formal elements before the main content In the following order: Title page Always Abstract For theses Contents Always List of graphics If several graphics are included List of tables If several tables are included List of abbreviations If there are abbreviations that need explanation Main content In the following order: Introduction Always Description of the …

Writing an Abstract

Info: Here you can find an overview of the overall structure of a Social Sciences paper. Important elements of an abstract You should cover the following points in an abstract in the order presented: Introduce the topic and the research question Explain the relevance of the topic Present the aim of the paper Provide information …

Creating a List of Abbreviations

Info: Here you will find an overview of the overall structure of a Social Science / Natural Science paper. This list then contains all subject-specific abbreviations or those introduced in the context of the respective paper. Common abbreviations listed in the dictionary (such as “e.g.”, “i.e.” or “etc.”) are not included. The list of abbreviations …

Description of the Research Subject

Info: Here you can find an overview of the overall structure of a Social Science paper. As a rule, you already briefly introduce your research subject in the introduction. However, it is often common to explain your research subject in detail and precisely in the following chapter. Example Due to the moderate effectiveness and side …

Describing the Research Method

Info: Here you will find an overview of the overall structure of a Social Science paper. What belongs in the methodology chapter? For empirical studies, you present the methods of data collection resp. data generation and the methods of analysis and interpretation in a separate chapter of your academic paper, and provide justification for these. …

Statutory Declaration

Info: Here you can find an overview of the overall structure of a Social Science paper. With the statutory declaration, you confirm that you have written the paper yourself, used only the sources listed, and properly cited any sources used. You also confirm that you have not submitted the work for any other course or …

The Appendix of a Social Science Paper

Info: Here you can find an overview of the overall structure of a Social Science paper. The appendix contains unwieldy text parts that complement and document the statements in the main text. The main text must be understandable without the appendix. The appendix is titled “Appendix”, does not receive an order number, and has its …

Writing the Conclusion

Info: Here you can find an overview of the overall structure of a Social Science paper. The final chapter of the paper contains a summary of the main statements of the work and possible conclusions derived from them. For a conclusion, you take up the research question, answer it in a summarized way, and provide …

Discussing Your Results

Info: Here you can find an overview of the overall structure of a Social Science paper. Present your results clearly. Either summarize them or categorize the most important results logically. In empirical works, results are usually presented in a separate chapter. In qualitative research, however, results and your interpretation (discussion) are often closely linked, so …

State of Research

Info: Here you will find an overview of the overall structure of a Social Science paper. Place your topic in the Social Science context by presenting findings from research. You can describe related studies that answer the given question in a different way or address similar questions in a similar manner. If you intend to …

Using Theories and Models for Your Research

Info: Here you will find an overview of the overall structure of a Social Science paper. In the social sciences, there are many theories and models about the same subject, some of which contradict each other. Make such controversies visible and engage with the different positions. As part of your academic work, it is necessary …

Explaining Terms

Info: Here you can find an overview of the overall structure of a Social Science paper. It is often useful to illustrate the different usage of terms or definitions and to justify your own choice. Refer to the scientific literature when doing so. Less important terms might only be explained in parentheses, a footnote, or …

Creating a Table of Contents

Info: Here you can find an overview of the overall structure of a Social Science paper. Red thread The table of contents must be complete and logically consistent: It corresponds to the structure of the paper, which provides a meaningful, systematic, and logically coherent sequence of the topic covered. In a good structure, the subpoints …

Designing the Cover Page

Info: Here you will find an overview of the overall structure of a Social Science paper. Elements of a cover page Authors with student ID and email address Title, if applicable with subtitle – this does not necessarily have to be the research question Semester and year of submission Submission date Title of the course …

The Appendix of a Paper in Engineering

Info: Here you will find an overview of the overall structure of a paper in engineering and natural sciences. Often, the appendix contains extensive collections of data, text, and/or images, e.g.: Measurement protocols Manufacturing documents (e.g. drawings) Data sheets of used components Information on intellectual property rights Requests to companies and corresponding replies, or similar …

Developing Concepts

What is a concept? Concepts exist not only in academic fields but also in businesses. Behind every good project is a detailed concept, that is, a precise plan. Developing a concept is necessary to plan, justify, or even modify a project consciously. How do I develop my concept? At the beginning, you should always clarify …

Body Section: Summary, Conclusion and Outlook

Info: Here you can find an overview of the overall structure of a paper in engineering and natural sciences. The title of this section is “Summary and Outlook” or “Summary, Conclusion, and Outlook” – not “Ending.” How it’s done In the final part of your paper, you answer the questions posed in the introduction. You …

Working With Literature

As a basis, you first review the theoretical and empirical works in the relevant research field. A methods section is usually omitted in such papers. Your supervisor may request a paragraph on where and how research was conducted; in individual cases, you should ask about this. The chapters of the results section are structured according …

Body Section: Discussion

Info: Here you will find an overview of the overall structure of a paper in engineering and natural sciences. Purpose of the discussion In the discussion, you assess what your results mean, to what extent you have achieved your objectives, and what recommendations may arise from your results. By evaluation, we do not mean your …

Body Section: Tests in Development Theses

Info: Here you can find an overview of the overall structure of a paper in engineering and natural sciences. Different test variants This part of any development is so important that there is an entire development model based on it: Test-Driven Development. The following test variants are possible: Mockup tests for early validation of an …

Body Section: Results from Experimental Research

Info: Here you will find an overview of the overall structure of a paper in engineering and natural sciences. In most cases, this means you will need to prepare a large amount of data graphically and/or in tables, as well as statistically. In addition, you must also put the results into words. It is not …

Body Section: Solution Development

Info: Here you will find an overview of the overall structure of a paper in engineering and natural sciences. Scientific papers In scientific papers, the focus is on the experiment. In scientific papers, this section is called: “Materials and Methods.” Using practical experiments, you develop your solution based on the theory presented, describe the methodology …

Different Types of Academic Papers

Empirical work with a qualitative approach If your research has a qualitative focus, you do not examine representative samples but rather individual cases or small case numbers. For this, you work in great detail with your data material. The aim is not to test a hypothesis quantitatively. Instead, you try to gain deeper insights into …

Topic – Title – Research Question: Does It Make a Difference?

From topic to research question The topic is the subject you deal with as part of your academic work. To narrow the topic down so that you can work on it effectively, you need a specific research question that you can answer with and in your work. Your research question therefore focuses on a concrete …

Body Section: State of the Art / Research / Science

Info: Here you will find an overview of the overall structure of a paper in engineering and natural sciences. Procedure Present the state of the art in detail using the following sources: scholarly articles, patents, competitor analyses, standards, guidelines. This is where your literature review comes in. You can describe related work that answers the …

Writing the Theoretical Part of Your Thesis

Info: Here you can find an overview of the overall structure of a paper in engineering and natural sciences. In the theoretical section of your paper, you present the current state of research on the topic you are addressing and summarize the findings on this topic from previous work. From this, you derive the implications …

Developing a Concept for the Bachelor’s Thesis – Module “Conception”

Before the concept: the briefing Especially if you are creating a bachelor’s thesis for a client, you first need a detailed briefing before you can start with a conception. If you do not have clients but design your bachelor’s thesis according to your own specifications, you set these specifications and the goals of your thesis …

The Introduction of a Thesis in Engineering

Info: Here you can find an overview of the overall structure of a paper in engineering and natural sciences. This belongs in the introduction The introduction should lead to your topic. As a starting point, present the initial situation, for example by naming a current research problem to which your investigations relate, or by giving …

A Good Table of Contents

Info: Here you can find an overview of the overall structure of a paper in engineering and natural sciences. Formatting The table of contents carries the title “Table of Contents.” It lists all sections of the paper, including the bibliography, any other lists, and appendices. However, the table of contents itself is typically not listed …

Creating a Title Page

Info: Here you can find an overview of the overall structure of a paper in engineering and natural sciences. Contents of the title page A title page or cover page does not have a page number. It contains: Your first and last name and your student ID number Title, possibly with subtitle – this does …

Creating a List of Symbols

Info: Here you can find an overview of the overall structure of a paper in engineering and natural sciences. Listed here are: both Latin and Greek upper- and lowercase letters, as well as those from other alphabets, and special characters. The formula symbols are listed in alphabetical order in the directory, and the directory itself …

Writing an Abstract in Engineering

Info: Here you will find an overview of the overall structure of a thesis in engineering and natural sciences. What is it? To help your readers quickly understand what your scientific thesis is about, you should write an abstract – in other words, a summary. It can be compared to the blurb on the back …

Creating a Cover

Info: Here you can find an overview of the overall structure of a paper in engineering and natural sciences. Information on the cover The following information must not be missing from the cover page of your thesis: Name of the university Name of the faculty Name of the degree program Type of thesis Your first …

The Structure of a Thesis in Engineering and Natural Sciences

Adjust the standard structure Adapt the standard structure shown below to your topic and the approach you have chosen. Combine e.g. “Summary” and “Outlook” and replace the heading with meaningful titles without changing the meaning. You may omit elements that are not needed. In any case, discuss your outline with your instructors. During the course …

Typical Tasks in the Context of the Thesis

Steps in writing a thesis The following tasks are typically involved in writing a thesis: Develop a topic Create an outline Research academic literature Prepare and conduct the research or development Record and analyze results Write Revise and submit the text In practice, these tasks are usually not completed one after the other, but overlap …