Self-study materials

Design your writing process

Diagram of the writing process: 1. Orientation and planning, 2. Collecting, evaluating and structuring materials, 3. Writing the draft, 4. Feedback and revision, 5. Final touches and submission
Diagram based on Wolfsberger (2016: 19)

How you design your writing process is up to you. The diagram above shows you how it works: it illustrates how a typical process of writing an academic paper in a Bachelor or Master degree can look like.


It may happen that some phases overlap each other, or that you temporarily revisit an earlier phase. Your individual needs, the type of your writing project and other factors also play an important role.


In the following menu, you will find example situations and tips about which writing strategies could help you with your corresponding objective. Have fun discovering and trying it out!

Which situation applies to you?

a)    You want to plan a writing project, but you don’t have a clear overview of all that goes with it?

Take a look at the step-by-step guide to academic writing:

> Handout Step-by-step guide (PDF-file, not barrier-free)

> Handout Step-by-step guide (plain text, barrier-free)

 

b)    Do you find it difficult to put your thoughts into words and to activate a writing flow?

Try the freewriting strategy:

> Handout Freewriting (PDF-file, not barrier-free)

> Handout Freewriting (plain text, barrier-free)

 

c)    Do you want to explore possible content and connections in your text?

The lightning-fast research proposal can help you with this:

> Handout Lightning-fast research proposal (PDF-file, not barrier-free)

Handout Lightning-fast research proposal (plain text file, barrier-free)

a)    Are you lacking ideas?

Get started and create an association chain with clustering:

> Handout Clustering (PDF-file, not barrier-free)

> Handout Clustering (plain text, barrier-free)

 

b)    Are you missing clarity and focus in your work?

Try our handout for developing a research question:

> Handout Developing a research question (PDF-file, not barrier-free)

Handout Developing a research question (plain text file, barrier-free)

 

c)    Are there several different topic aspects that might be relevant?

With this writing strategy, you can specify your topic:

Handout Specifying your topic (PDF-file, not barrier-free)
Handout Specifying your topic (plain text file, barrier-free)

a)    Maybe you are trying to do too much at once?

With the tomato time method, you can divide big tasks into smaller ones:

> Handout Tomato time (PDF-file, not barrier-free)

> Handout Tomato time (plain text, barrier-free)

 

b)   Does the path to the end of your degree look unclear and far away?

Then milestones can help you to phrase interim goals:

> Handout Milestones (PDF-file, not barrier-free)

Handout Milestones (plain text file, barrier-free)

 

c)     Are you missing an overview of what the writing process encompasses?

Take a look at the step-by-step guide to academic writing:

Handout Step-by-step guide (PDF-file, not barrier-free)

Handout Step-by-step guide (plain text, barrier-free)

a)    Does everything seem to be important for your project?

Here you can find out how to develop a research question that will help you decide:

Handout Developing a research question (PDF-file, not barrier-free)

Handout Developing a research question (plain text file, barrier-free)

 

b)    Do you find reading difficult overall?

This is fully understandable - it will become easier with a goal-oriented reading strategy:

Handout Reading with a goal (PDF-file, not barrier-free)

> Handout Reading with a goal (plain text, barrier-free)

 

c)    Is it not quite clear which information you actually need?

Try specifying your topic to get a better overview:

Handout Specifying your topic (PDF-file, not barrier-free)
Handout Specifying your topic (plain text file, barrier-free)

a)    Do you have a feeling that every word should be perfect from the very beginning?

With the freewriting strategy, you can allow yourself to write without overthinking:

Handout Freewriting (PDF-file, not barrier-free)

Handout Freewriting (plain text, barrier-free)

 

b)    Would you like to explore your thoughts and delve into them while writing?

Give the writing relay a try:

> Handout Writing relay (PDF-file, not barrier-free)

Handout Writing relay (plain text file, barrier-free)

 

c)    Do you tend to be self-critical while writing?

Start a dialogue with your critical voice:

Handout Critical voice (PDF-file, not barrier-free)

> Handout Critical voice (plain text, barrier-free)

a)    Do you want to review and identify the key aspects of your work?

The cornerstones of an academic writing assignment can help you with this:

> Handout Cornerstones(PDF-file, not barrier-free)

> Handout Cornerstones (plain text file, barrier-free)

 

b)    Do you want to gain an overview of what you already know and where uncertainties remain?

The lightning-fast research proposal can help you with this:

Handout Lightning-fast research proposal (PDF-file, not barrier-free)

Handout Lightning-fast research proposal (plain text file, barrier-free)

 

c)    Do you want to know whether the function and content of your text sections align with each other?

Use the structure check as a reviewing tool:

> Handout Structure Check (PDF-file, not barrier-free)

> Handout Structure Check (plain text, barrier-free)

a)    Do you need an overview over different components that could make up your text?

Use the structural elements to gain clarity:

> Handout Structural elements (PDF-file, not barrier-free)

> Handout Structural elements (plain text, barrier-free)

 

b)  Would you like to explore how your sources, research question, method etc. interact with each other?

The cornerstones of an academic writing assignment can help you with this:

> Handout Cornerstones (PDF-file, not barrier-free)

> Handout Cornerstones (plain text file, barrier-free)

 

c) Is it because you are uncertain about a source you want to work with?

The CRAAP-test could be the solution:

> Handout CRAAP-Test (PDF-file, not barrier-free)

> Handout CRAAP-Test (plain text, barrier-free)

a)  Do you want to know if function and content of your text passages match?

Use the structure check as a tool for revision:

Handout Structure Check (PDF-file, not barrier-free)

Handout Structure Check (plain text, barrier-free)

 

b)  Is it because you lost track of what really lies at the core of your paper?

Try our instructions to develop a research question:

Handout Developing a research question (PDF-file, not barrier-free)

Handout Developing a research question (plain text file, barrier-free)

 

c)  Can you differentiate between what's truely necessary and what's nice to have?

Try narrowing down your topic:

Handout Specifying your topic (PDF-file, not barrier-free)
Handout Specifying your topic (plain text file, barrier-free)

Person points at a sign reading 'Quicktipp'
Image: Hidayat / stW BERLIN

Many of the writing strategies presented here are also covered in our workshops, where we can provide you with more information and methods of application.

Take a look at our program in the event calendar. (Select the filter "Writing" - please note, however, that we do not offer all workshops at all times.)

Interested in more writing tips and up to date information on our upcoming events? Sign up for our newsletterhttps://seu2.cleverreach.com

 

Alphabetical overview

What's it for? Try clustering if you want to generate a lot of ideas in a short time.

When? All stages of the writing process
Duration: approx. 15-20 min.

Files for Download: 
Handout Clustering (PDF-file, not barrier-free)
Handout Clustering (plain text, barrier-free)

 

 

What's it for? Collect your sources, theories, methods etc. and discover their reciprocal effects.

When? Orientation and planning; collecting, evaluating and structuring material; writing the draft

Duration: approx. 30 min.

Files for Download: 
Handout Cornerstones (PDF-file, not barrier-free)
> Handout Cornerstones (plain text file, barrier-free)

What's it for? Check your sources to be sure that they match the requirements of an academic paper.

When? Orientation and planning; collecting, evaluating and structuring material; writing the draft

Duration: approx. 30 min.

Files for Download: 
Handout CRAAP-test (PDF-file, not barrier-free)
Handout CRAAP-Test (plain text, barrier-free)

What's it for? When perfectionism prevents you from starting, continuing, or finishing.

When? Writing the draft; Asking for feedback and revising the paper
Duration: approx. 30 min.

Files for Download: 
> Handout Critical voice (PDF-file, not barrier-free)
Handout Critical voice (plain text, barrier-free)

What's it for? A research question can help you find a focus and brings more depth to your paper.
When? Orientation and planning; collecting, evaluating and structuring material
Duration: approx. 15 min.

Files for Download: 
Handout Developing a research question (PDF-file, not barrier-free)
> Handout Developing a research question (plain text file, barrier-free)

 

What's it for? Allow yourself to write down your train of thought without self-censoring, interruptions etc.
When? All stages of the writing process
Duration: approx. 10 min.

Files for Download: 
Handout Freewriting (PDF-file, not barrier-free)
Handout Freewriting (plain text, barrier-free)

What's it for? This writing strategy helps you to clarify what you are writing about and the most important aspects of your text.

When? Orientation and planning; collecting, evaluating and structuring material; writing the draft

Duration: approx. 20-30 min.

Files for Download: 
> Handout Lightning-fast research proposal (PDF-file, not barrier-free)
> Handout Lightning-fast research proposal (plain text file, barrier-free)

What's it for? Plan your path to submitting your paper in smaller, specific steps.
When? Orientation and planning; collecting, evaluating and structuring material
Duration: approx. 30 min.

Files for Download: 
Handout Milestones (PDF-file, not barrier-free)
> Handout Milestones (plain text file, barrier-free)

What's it for? A systematic approach helps with gaining control over a flood of information.

When? Orientation and planning; collecting, evaluating and structuring material; writing the draft
Duration: approx. 40 min.

Files for Download: 
> Handout Reading with a goal (PDF-file, not barrier-free)
Handout Reading with a goal (plain text, barrier-free)

What's it for? Gain an overview over different facets of your topic to make it more managable.
When? Orientation and planning; collecting, evaluating and structuring material; writing the draft
Duration: approx. 20 min.

Files for Download: 
Handout Specifying your topic (PDF-file, not barrier-free)
> Handout Specifying your topic (plain text file, barrier-free)

What's it for? Gain an overview over important tasks and their connections in the writing process.
When? All stages of the writing process
Duration: approx. 10 min.

Files for Download: 
Handout Step-by-step guide (PDF-file, not barrier-free)
Handout Step-by-step guide (plain text, barrier-free)

What's it for? Discover how you can establish a convincing line of reasoning.

When? Asking for feedback and revising the paper
Duration: approx. 10 min.

Files for Download: 
> Handout Structural elements (PDF-file, not barrier-free)
Handout Structural elements (plain text, barrier-free)

What's it for? Write more efficiently by breaking down large tasks into smaller ones.
When? All stages of the writing process
Duration: approx. 1,5 hours

Files for Download: 
Handout Tomato time (PDF-file, not barrier-free)
Handout Tomato time (plain text, barrier-free)

What's it for? Discover and deepen your thoughts in a series of connected Freewritings.
When? All stages of the writing process
Duration: approx. 30 min.

Files for Download: 
Handout Writing relay (PDF-file, not barrier-free)
> Handout Writing relay (plain text file, barrier-free)

What's it for? Check your text for the so-called 'golden thread' (a connection of function and content regarding your research question).
When? Asking for feedback and revising the paper
Duration: approx. 30 min.

Files for Download: 
Handout Structure Check (PDF-file, not barrier-free)
Handout Structure Check (plain text, barrier-free)