Effective Strategies for Academic Writing
A workshop offered by the Bonn Graduate Center
Writing is an essential skill for you as a successful researcher. Although AI tools may support you in planning and polishing, it’s vital to understand strategies that highlight your unique voice as a writer and make your English papers both readable and engaging. This lively two-day workshop offers you practical, easy to apply techniques to elevate your writing.
In-person Workshop
Thursday, June 25, 2026
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Friday, June 26, 2026
9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Trainer
Lesley-Anne Weiling
Language
English
Location
Alte Sternwarte
Poppelsdorfer Allee 47*
Target Group
Doctoral students and postdocs
Track(s)
Research
Certificate
16 units are applicable within the Doctorate plus or Careers plus certificate
* The premises have limited accessibility. Please contact us if you need assistance.
Description
In this workshop, you’ll discover:
- The writing process and techniques to overcome writer’s block and procrastination
- Cultural differences in writing and reader expectations in English
- How to find your message and structure your paper
- How to compose well-structured paragraphs and sentences with the reader in mind
- How to develop your scholarly voice and write with authority
- How to write titles, compelling abstracts and introductions
- How to identify common mistakes in academic writing and how to correct them
- Concise writing
- Additional resources to support your writing (including the opportunities and pitfalls of the lastest AI tools in academic writing)
This workshop is lively, with plenty of discussion, pair work and group exercises. You’ll have the opportunity to share your own text in a short peer review session on the second day. You’ll also receive individual feedback on a text sample from the instructor. This workshop is helpful for you if you’re starting out on your PhD journey or if you’re an early career researcher interested in refreshing your approach to writing English texts.
Content
By the end of the workshop you will be able to:
- apply structured writing strategies to overcome writer’s block and procrastination and organise papers with a clear message and logical flow.
- adapt your writing to meet the expectations of English-language academic writers, taking cultural differences in writing conventions into account.
- construct well-structured paragraphs, titles, abstracts and introductions that communicate ideas clearly and engage readers effectively.
Creditable for the Micro Credential 'Academic Writing & Publishing'
Micro Credentials for doctoral students offer the opportunity to systematically add key future skills to your professional expertise. You can apply for a Micro Credential if you successfully complete at least four workshops from one area of expertise.
Feedback from Participants
"I really liked the lecturer. She is a very positive person and very motivating." (Participant 2024)
"The instructor was excellent in sharing her knowledge about academic writing. It was very easy to follow her but also she managed to explain everything in a way that was relevant for all of us. I would highly recommend this workshop and the instructor to anyone." (Participant 2025)
Contact
Bonn Graduate Center
Address
Alte Sternwarte
Poppelsdorfer Allee 47
53115 Bonn
More Workshops?
Have a look at further workshops offered in our Doctorate plus program this semester.
Also see
Certificate Doctorate plus
Acquire the Doctorate plus Certificate in one of our three career tracks and apply for an 'Add-on' in your track (job shadowing or career coaching).
E-Training
With our on-demand e-training courses, you can continue your education at your convenience.
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