Why Do I Have to Cite?

Why cite at all? To prove facts: You state where your information comes from, ideally tracing it back to the original source. This not only respects copyright but also gives your readers the opportunity to examine methods and details for themselves. Example: 90 percent of Wikipedia authors are male (Bayer 2013). To build on existing …

Citing Internal Sources

Common procedure As a general rule, only publicly accessible sources should be listed in a bibliography. Internal company sources would not usually be included. However, such sources may still be cited. You have several options: You can simply list the sources in the bibliography and add a note in square brackets indicating that the source …

What is Plagiarism?

Definition Plagiarism refers to the use of texts, ideas, or research results without proper citation. It is considered plagiarism if you incorporate a thought or idea (content plagiarism) or even exact wording (verbatim plagiarism) in an academic text without citing the authors (Commission “Selbstkontrolle in der Wissenschaft” of the University of Bayreuth, 2011, p. 14). …

Resources for Writing in English

For Ohm members, the full texts are available via VPN. In order to access the OPAC, you need to be within the university network or establish a VPN connection from outside. Literature recommendations Murray, Rowena (2011): How to write a thesis. 3rd ed. Maidenhead, England: McGraw Hill. This book covers issues such as working out …

Literature Recommendations for Academic Writing

For Ohm members, the texts are available in full via VPN. To access the OPAC, you must be connected to the university network or – if accessing from outside – establish a VPN connection. Beinke, Christiane et al. (2016): Die Seminararbeit. Schreiben für den Leser. 3., völlig überarbeitete Auflage. Konstanz: UVK. Gegenstand des Lehrbuchs ist …

Planning Writing Time

Tips for time management in writing projects Determine your submission deadline and plan backwards from there. Create a list of tasks that need to be completed for the entire thesis. From this list, select upcoming tasks and break them down into smaller steps. Plan when each individual step is next and how long it will …

Effectively Researching: Tips and Tools for Getting Started

What does research actually mean? Research aims to gather existing knowledge on a specific topic and integrate it into your own research process. A thorough search allows you to close your own knowledge gaps, identify research gaps, and place your work within the context of existing studies. To navigate the landscape of information with confidence, …

How to Structure Your Ideas With a Mind Map

How do I create a mind map? Procedure: The core of the mind map is the central topic or question: Write this in the center and circle the term. Working from the core, add the most important and relevant main ideas as main branches and connect them to the central topic. Branching off these main …

The Perfect Writing Week

Why plan a writing week? This method has several advantages: You can discover what good writing means for you. You can improve your planning and time management, which in turn can motivate you to write. You can begin to see writing as an enjoyable activity. You can find your individual writing rhythm. How to do …

Using AI as a Writing Buddy

What can a digital writing buddy do? When writing, we collect ideas, develop them further, put them into a good order, and discard them again. We write, rewrite, write anew. That is normal, because: writing is a thinking process. By formulating ideas so that another person understands them, the thought develops further. As long as …

Language and Style in Engineering Sciences

To ensure that readers understand your engineering text as intended, it should have the following characteristics: Impersonal writing style Objective formulations Proven content Neutral expression Precise and unambiguous Short and concise Formal writing style That’s easier said than done – but writing is a craft, and with some practice, it can be learned. Write impersonally …

Avoiding Plagiarism When Using AI Writing Tools

What is plagiarism? Plagiarism means the adoption of texts, ideas or research results without proper citation. Whether intentional or unintentional: in academia, plagiarism contradicts the principles of scholarly work. Consequences include failed exams, in severe cases even expulsion and failed careers in science and politics.   The most common forms of plagiarism are: 1. Direct …

Developing Concepts

What is a concept? Concepts exist not only in academic fields but also in companies. Behind every good project is a detailed concept, that is, a precise plan. Developing a concept is necessary for taking an intentional approach to planning, justifying, or changing a project. How do I develop my concept? At the beginning, you …

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 …

Text Part: Summary, Conclusion and Outlook

Info: Here you can find an overview of The Structure of a Thesis 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 do …