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Writing Lab – English Academic Writing for the Humanities and Social Sciences

Veranstaltungsdaten

This workshop addresses doctoral candidates and postdocs from the social sciences and humanities who have good command of the English language, seek to improve their English writing skills, and strive to make their academic papers more idiomatic. The workshop seeks to create an awareness of the typical patterns of non-idiomatic writing to which non-native authors writing in English – and especially German-speaking academics – are prone and equip the participants with strategies to avoid these pitfalls.

The workshop will be conducted in English by two trainers who have a professional background in the social sciences and many years of experience both in teaching English academic writing and in translating and editing academic texts by German-speaking scholars. There will be a follow-up session (in-person event on February 9, 2023, 2–6 pm) to give participants the opportunity to discuss their texts and other issues that may have emerged since the workshop.

Intended Learning Outcomes

• You will be aware of some of the important characteristics of the English language that will help improve your writing.
• You will be conscious of some of the pitfalls that German speakers are vulnerable to when writing in English and be familiar with strategies to avoid them.
• You will be able to use this knowledge to develop a more fluent and lively style of writing.
• You will be familiar with a wide range of resources, aids, and strategies to help you improve your writing.

Didactic Methods

Trainer input, discussion and practical exercises

Requirements

You will have the opportunity to hand in a one-page writing sample prior to the workshop; the trainers will review this sample and give you individual feedback. In addition, we kindly ask you to have a text by a native speaker of English available that you find very well written; we will use this text for an exercise.

The workshop is planned as an in-person event (December 8 and 9, 2022 and follow-up-session). You are required to comply with the hygiene measures in effect at the time of the event.

To participate in the online session (December 12, 2022), you need a PC/laptop with a current browser (recommended: Chrome) as well as a headset (or speakers and a microphone), a webcam, and a stable Internet connection.

Proficiency in English at the B2 level of competency is required.

Date

December 8, 2022, 10 am–5:30 pm (in person), and
December 9, 2022, 10 am–4 pm (in person), and
December 12, 2022, 10 am–2 pm (online)

Target group

Doctoral candidates and postdocs from the humanities and social sciences

Modalities

Maximum number of 10 participants
Internal 50 EUR
External 150 EUR

Registration

Please register until November 23, 2022 using the online registration form.