Academic Archive - Online Writing Lab

Literature Recommendations for Academic Writing

Maria Noll — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 14:06:30 +0000

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 das Erstellen einer Seminararbeit in den Geistes- und Sozialwissenschaften. Orientiert an der Schreibprozessforschung wurde ein Konzept entwickelt, bei dem das Schreiben in Einzeltätigkeiten untergliedert wird, z. B. Einleiten, Gliedern, Argumentieren, Überarbeiten.
Lese: Die Seminararbeit Schreiben für den Leser

Fröhlich, Melanie; Henkel, Christiane; Surmann, Anna (2017): Zusammen schreibt man weniger allein – (Gruppen-)Schreibprojekte gemeinsam meistern. Opladen, Toronto: Barbara Budrich.

Wissenschaftliches Schreiben muss keine einsame Tätigkeit sein. Studierende erhalten konkrete Anleitungen und Tipps für die Organisation als Gruppe, lernen, gemeinsam zu schreiben und von den Möglichkeiten, die diese Form des wissenschaftlichen Arbeitens bietet, zu profitieren.
Lese: Zusammen schreibt man weniger allein

Kühtz, Stefan (2018): Wissenschaftlich formulieren. Tipps und Textbausteine für Studium und Schule. 5., aktualisierte und erweiterte Auflage. Stuttgart, Paderborn: UTB, Ferdinand Schöningh.

„Kann man das so schreiben?“ Das Buch beinhaltet Tipps, Anleitungen und konkrete Formulierungsvorschläge für deinen Text. Das neue Online-Tool macht das Schreiben noch leichter: Formulierungsvorschläge können ganz einfach ausgewählt und direkt in die eigene Arbeit eingefügt werden.
Lese: Wissenschaftlich formulieren

Niedermair, Klaus (2010): Recherchieren und Dokumentieren. 1. Aufl. Stuttgart: UTB GmbH

Alle Wege zu Information und Wissen führen über das Internet. Das Buch vermittelt die Techniken und Fertigkeiten des Recherchierens und Dokumentierens. In unterschiedlichen Suchszenarien wird das dafür nötige strategische Wissen geboten und das konkrete Vorgehen anhand von Beispielen gezeigt.
Lese: Recherchieren und Dokumentieren

Samac, Klaus; Prenner, Monika; Schwetz, Herbert (2014): Die Bachelorarbeit an Universität und Fachhochschule. Ein Lehr- und Lernbuch zur Gestaltung wissenschaftlicher Arbeiten. 3. aktual. u. erw. Aufl. Stuttgart, Wien: UTB; facultas.wuv.

Als praktische Hilfestellung für Studierende aller Fachrichtungen beantwortet das Buch Fragen rund um das Thema Bachelorarbeit, gibt Hinweise zur Textverarbeitung in Word und bietet eine Orientierung im kreativen Schreibprozess.
Lese: Die Bachelorarbeit an Universität und Fachhochschule

Voss, Rödiger (2022): Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten … leicht verständlich. Mit zahlreichen Abbildungen und Übersichten. 8. überarbeitete Auflage. München, Stuttgart: UVK , UTB.

Wissenschaftlich arbeiten – wie geht das eigentlich? Dazu zählen Themenfindung, Zeitmanagement, Recherche, Zitierweise, Lese- sowie Schreibtechniken, inhaltliche und formale Gestaltung von wissenschaftlichen Arbeiten.
Lese: Wissenschaftliches Arbeiten … leicht verständlich

Wolfsberger, Judith (2021): Frei geschrieben. Mut, Freiheit & Strategie für wissenschaftliche Abschlussarbeiten. 5., bearbeitete Auflage. Wien, Köln, Weimar: Böhlau.

Schreibblockaden lösen, Fokus finden, Leichtigkeit & Sicherheit beim Schreiben gewinnen, Eigene Sprache entwickeln statt Copy & Paste-Plagiate, „Time Finder“ für Vielbeschäftigte, Schreibmarathon: 80 Seiten in 8 Wochen, Studium abschließen mit Strategie. Geeignet für alle wissenschaftlichen Abschlussarbeiten.
Lese: Frei geschrieben

Frequently asked questions

What does academic work include?

Academic work includes: choosing a topic, time management, research, citation methods, reading and writing techniques, as well as the content and formal design of academic papers.

Are there any literature tips for academic writing in English?

You can find literature tips for academic writing in English in this article: Resources for Writing in English.

Der Beitrag Literature Recommendations for Academic Writing erschien zuerst auf Online Writing Lab.

The Writing Process

Maria Noll — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 15:20:28 +0000

Phases of writing a scientific paper

Writing a scientific paper consists of several phases. However, these steps rarely follow this seemingly ideal order – you may often find yourself working on several stages in parallel and going back over what you have already done. Keep asking for feedback whenever possible and plan for several content revision phases.

Planning

Find a topic
Read up on the subject
Define your research question
Clarify the requirements
Determine the research method
Create a timeline

Structuring

Conduct systematic research
Create a preliminary outline
Get feedback
Revise the outline

Writing

Take notes for each point in your outline
Write a draft version

Revising

Get feedback
Revise the content
Revise the language
Adapt formatting to requirements
Have someone proofread your work

Writing often seems like a lonely and overwhelming task – but it doesn’t have to be! A variety of resources can support you during the writing process: fellow students, writing groups, lecturers, the library, the writing center, and many more.

Shaping the revision process

Good texts often differ from bad ones only in how thoroughly they were revised. Plan at least a quarter to half of your available time for revisions.

The drafts of professionals may not look any different from yours – but they revise them more thoroughly and more often.

The Bietschorn model (Ulmi, Bürki, Verhein & Marti, 2014) offers six categories you can use to systematically revise your text:

Content: Are the topics, content, and research questions relevant and aligned? Is what you present factually and academically correct and proven by literature or your own research?
Thematic development: Is the thematic focus clear and consistent? Is the topic presented in a coherent and structured way? Are titles and headings meaningful and appropriate?
Information density and references: Does the assumed level of prior knowledge match the target audience? Are the references to the literature precise? Are assumptions clear and statements marked as such?
Reader guidance: Are text-structuring elements such as cross-references or interim summaries used effectively? Are there enough signals to help readers understand how the parts of the text relate to each other? Are terms introduced, defined if necessary, and used consistently?
Language: Are the sentences clear, concise, and easy to understand? Is the grammar correct? Is the choice of words appropriate? Have spelling and punctuation been checked and corrected?
Genre-specific requirements: Is your own position clearly recognizable? Have formal requirements for structure, length, citation, and references been met? How do you refer to yourself in the text (“I” / impersonal style) – does this match the requirements of the text and the expectations of your lecturers?

Tips for the writing process

Break the entire writing project into small tasks: Proceed step by step and take breaks when you reach milestones. Set yourself clear goals.
Create a timeline: Time is a critical factor in writing, as it almost always takes longer than expected. Create a schedule at the beginning of the project and adjust it regularly to reflect the actual situation. It can help to set fixed writing times in your weekly schedule – but don’t forget to plan enough breaks.
Start writing early: Often it’s only when you start writing that you realize where you still have gaps, need more research, or didn’t understand something – or that you’ve already prepared enough.
Talk to others about your work: For many people, speaking is easier than writing. Try talking about your topic, your questions, and even your doubts and mental blocks. This can help you realize more quickly what you want to say in a section – making it easier to formulate.
Get feedback early: Texts are meant for communication. That means only readers can tell whether you’ve written what you intended to say. Also keep in mind that the people giving you feedback have different amounts of time at different times. So plan enough time to receive feedback and revise your text accordingly.

Frequently asked questions

How important is it to revise my paper?

A good paper depends on the intensity of the revision process. The Bietschorn model can help you systematically revise your text. Before a text is ready for submission or even publication, it must go through many rounds of revision. Plan at least a quarter to half of your available time for revisions.

How do I start writing my scientific paper?

Every writing process is highly individual. Especially at the beginning, it can help to invest time in planning. This always includes reading up on the topic and understanding the requirements.

Der Beitrag The Writing Process erschien zuerst auf Online Writing Lab.

Language in Social Science Texts

Maria Noll — Thu, 21 Aug 2025 08:51:06 +0000

What makes language scientific?

There isn’t the one correct scientific language, but rather a dynamic range of possibilities within a field. However, the language in scientific texts is generally:

objective
proven
neutral
precise and unambiguous
short and concise
formal

Write objectively

Write about content that is relevant to your research question at that point.

Example

Depending on education, profession, social status, and marital status, employees have different options for balancing work and family life.

Not: Balancing work and family life is a difficult balancing act for many employees. Although companies can create alternatives to working outside the office with telework or remote work, the opportunities for successful reconciliation of work and family life vary greatly depending on education, profession, social status, and marital status.

For the statement to be made (i.e., “The factors of successful reconciliation on the part of employees”), it is not relevant here whether companies provide teleworking options or similar. This could be addressed in the next or an additional section. The first sentence was deleted because its content is trivial.

Prove everything

Present findings that are verifiable and supported by evidence. Do not make assumptions. Claims must be identified as such.

Example

According to a study by the Techniker Krankenkasse (2013, p. 14), 60 percent of people under the age of 25 eat convenience foods at least once a week.

Not: Studies by health insurance companies have shown that young adults eat poorly.

Name the studies you use so that readers can assess the scientific validity, e.g., sample size, representativeness, and methods. In addition, the sentence is more precise and neutral after rephrasing.

Remain neutral

Avoid judgmental expressions. If you make evaluations, they must occur in an appropriate place and explicitly, e.g., in the conclusion.

Example

Müller (2012, p. 4) shows that the crime rate increased between 1992 and 2012. According to a study by the Federal Criminal Police Office (2013, p. 55), this is due to the growing spread of firearms.

Not: Müller (2012, p. 34) unfortunately shows that the crime rate has risen in the last 20 years. This is probably due to the far too high prevalence of firearms, according to a study by the Federal Criminal Police Office (2013, p. 55).

“Unfortunately,” “far too high,” and “probably” are both evaluative and vague expressions.

Write precisely and clearly

Avoid long paraphrases if you can express the idea with a technical term. Even if clear language is required, remember: You are writing an academic paper for a specialist audience. Later in your professional practice, you will also write texts intended for experts, such as reports or concepts, which do not need to be understood by every layperson.

However, technical terms should be introduced and defined where necessary, if they are not widely known.

Example

For these reasons, experts recommend full-day schools.

Not: For these reasons, experts recommend schools that, in addition to morning classes, offer an all-day program at least three days a week, with a minimum of seven hours each day.

Here, the technical term “full-day school” can be used instead of a lengthy explanation. The different types of full-day schools are not relevant at this point.

Formulate concisely and simple

Academic texts are working documents that should be easy to read and understand. Therefore, formulate as briefly and clearly as possible, and do not hide your statements behind unnecessarily complicated words and phrases.

Example 1

The German education system, and thus the school system, is diverse and partly confusing. What is meant by the term full-day school differs in terms of content, organization, and region.

Not: The school system, as part of the education system in Germany, is nowadays very diverse and partly also confusing. When you deal with the topic of “full-day school,” it quickly becomes clear that there is no single type of full-day school. In terms of content and organization, as well as regionally in the federal states and municipalities, there are major differences. Therefore, before this topic can be discussed, a definition should first be provided.

The example is awkward, redundant, and imprecisely worded. The phrase “as part of” can be omitted without changing the meaning. What is the difference between “diverse” and “very diverse,” or between “major differences” and “differences”? “When you deal with the topic” is an unnecessary filler. The adjective “regional” and the phrase “in federal states and municipalities” say the same thing. The sentence “Therefore, before this topic can be discussed, a definition should first be provided” is unnecessary because the text has already pointed out the inconsistent use of the term. If the definition follows, the sentence can be omitted.

Example 2

Music therapy is one way to approach a person as an individual. Everyone perceives music differently, which is why music therapy does not appeal to everyone. However, its improvisational component makes it possible to respond individually to each person and their abilities. Therefore, music therapy can meaningfully complement common therapy methods.

Not: Music therapy is one way to approach a person as an individual and give them a stimulus. Of course, not everyone will respond to musical therapy, as everyone has a different relationship with music. However, due to the high proportion of improvisation, it provides an incredibly fascinating way to respond individually to the person and their abilities. Therefore, this form of music therapy is already a method that can very meaningfully supplement common therapy forms and offer hope.

The example contains filler words as well as evaluative and flowery expressions such as “incredibly fascinating,” “high proportion,” “offer hope.” The sentences can be phrased more precisely and concisely.

Example 3

The number of places in transitional homes is limited.

Not: The places in transitional homes are subject to a quantitative limitation.

The sentence uses unnecessarily complicated phrases and sounds artificial.

Express yourself formally

A certain level of formality is expected in academic writing. Therefore, avoid colloquial language, jargon, and promotional language. However, do not use overly formal language either.

Example 1

People who have committed offenses are imprisoned in correctional facilities.

Not: People who have dedicated their lives to crime are imprisoned in correctional facilities.

The word “dedicated” is used incorrectly in terms of meaning and grammar. It also sounds pretentious.

Example 2

The students at this school often wear worn-out clothes.

Not: The students at this school often wear old and shabby outfits.

The phrase “shabby outfits” is colloquial and judgmental.

Example 3

The program FIT UND AKTIV for seniors has existed since 1946.

Not: The success story of FIT UND AKTIV began about 70 years ago.

The phrase “success story” gives the impression of promotional language. The expression “about 70 years ago” is imprecise.

Every text written as part of your studies or your profession should also apply correct spelling, punctuation, and grammar. This is particularly true for academic work. An excessive number of formal errors may lead readers and examiners to doubt your overall diligence – for example, your academic work.

Use the spell check of your word processor, research grammar, and ask fellow students, friends, or writing tutors for feedback. AI writing tools can also help you proofread your texts.

It is normal to become text-blind while writing and repeatedly overlook even obvious mistakes.

Frequently asked questions

What characterizes academic language?

Although there are subject-specific differences, the language in all academic texts is generally: objective, proven, neutral, precise, clear, concise, and formal.

How can I improve my academic writing style?

To continuously improve your academic writing style, we recommend reading scholarly literature regularly, especially in your research area, and seeking text feedback from your lecturers and fellow students.

Der Beitrag Language in Social Science Texts erschien zuerst auf Online Writing Lab.