Scientific writing is a complex activity that involves skill, discipline and creativity, practice and intuition. This workshop focuses on the practical side of writing through analyzing text examples, writing exercises and revising your own texts. All participants are invited to bring their own drafts, manuscripts or even previously published texts to take another look at them. The seminar contents include:

• A functional perspective on language (language as resource)
• Scientific genres/text types: abstract, research paper, research proposal/application
• Scientific English: succinct style, formality, common mistakes, target audience, helpful resources
• Structure: composition, functional stages, planning and connecting sections and paragraphs
• The ‘red thread’: reading flow, reader-friendliness despite scientific complexity
• Perspective: Managing your own voice and position in relation to the field, criticizing and endorsing
• Argumentation: Planning and building argumentation that is persuasive

The amis of this workshop are:

• To reflect your own writing practices and habits, discipline-specific norms and conventions as well as language competence in scientific English
• To develop your writing competence for scientific genres/text types
• To raise awareness of good practice with respect to both the writing process and the text as product
• To learn and practice writing techniques to improve efficiency and quality of both process and product.