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Unit 4 - Writing

Site: Moodle-Kursserver der Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Course: Digital Learning Kit - self learning course for studying with digital tools
Book: Unit 4 - Writing
Printed by: Gast
Date: Friday, 22 November 2024, 7:25 AM

Table of contents

List of contents



Test: Which type of writer am I?

Which type of writer am I? 

Planned and structured? Or do I just go for it? Your own writing style when writing scientific texts can be very different.

In the following test, you can find out which writing type is most like you. You are rarely just one type, but rather a mixture of different styles. And of course, no writing type is right or wrong. It is therefore completely ok to write the way you do and after our test you will be able to assess yourself even better and understand what advantages and disadvantages your way of writing offers you.



Here you will find more detailed descriptions and tips for each type of writer:



Note on accessibility: If you coudn't do the test due to accessibility problems, please contact: schreibtutoren@uni-jena.de. They will be happy to assist you doing the test (for students of the University of Jena only).

Correct and plagiarism-free citations

How do I cite correctly and without plagiarism?

Academic citations are an essential part of any written work in a degree program. However, at first glance it can seem quite overwhelming: there are countless rules and requirements and the constant fear of being accused of plagiarism hovers in the background. Here you can get an initial overview of the topic of citation and what you should bear in mind.

Important: This text is intended as an overview of the most important information on the subject of citation and does not replace a complete guide. You should therefore ask your institute, department or faculty whether they have guidelines on citation. If this is the case, be sure to follow these guidelines!






Using reference management software

How do I insert literature into the text?

Have you written a section in your term paper and now want to insert the appropriate sources? Have you been writing each citation by hand after a sentence and then laboriously adding the source to your bibliography in the correct format? Fortunately, there is a tool for inserting sources into your text that does all the work for you. With the help of so-called reference management programs, you can easily insert your references into your text in the desired or specified citation style.

When setting up a reference management program, you can also install a plug-in that you can use in the writing program of your choice. In the tabs of your writing program, you will then see a tab for the reference management program that is linked to your reference collection. If you want to insert a reference, all you need to do is enter the author's name in a search field and select the correct source. The reference to this source will then be inserted in the correct format and created in the bibliography. You can adapt the citation style to your wishes or specifications in the settings or you can select one of several preset citation styles. The program also automatically sorts the bibliography according to the selected citation style (e.g. chronologically or alphabetically).

Example for how to insert literature in your text using Zotero.

In addition to Zotero, Citavi and EndNote are also well-known management programs for which you can also attend training courses at the ThULB. Since Zotero is compatible with many writing programs, works on all common operating systems and can also be used in OnlyOffice, the FSU cloud writing program, for example, it is particularly recommended for you as a student. As an open source application, Zotero is also available free of charge. Take a look at the tutorial for using it here, below which you will also find information on the corresponding training courses offered by the ThULB.

MS Word for scientific papers

How do I use MS Word correctly for scientific papers?

A tutorial will follow until the end of April, 2024.

LaTeX for scientific papers

How do I format my texts professionally?

LaTeX can also be combined with Zotero.

AI tools for the writing process

 

(How) can and may I use AI for writing?

Whether and to what extent you are allowed to use artificial intelligence for your term paper and how you have to mark this is determined by the lecturers in the declaration of independent work („Eigenständigkeitserklärung“) for the paper. In some subjects, especially in the humanities, independent and competent formulation is also a required competence that you acquire during your studies and should therefore also train and apply in term papers and theses.

AI can support you at various points in the writing and working process; however, it is very important that you are aware that the results of AI may be incomplete or even incorrect (hallucinated): Some works or content are "made up by AI". In the unit Risks and opportunities when using AI tools for research you will also find an overview of the risks and chances of researching with the help of AI. By declaring your indepent work (and signing the Eigenständigkeitserklärung), you assume full responsibility for the accuracy of the content of your work.

The AI can support you with your writing in the following ways:

 

  • Help with formulation
  • Collection of ideas for paraphrasing, i.e. rephrasing content
  • Correction of spelling
  • Translation of content

 

The best-known and largely free tools for this work are ChatGPT, DeepL (for translations) and DeepL write (for paraphrasing). An overview and selection of tools in the context of academic reading and writing processes can be found in German here.

Here you can find a search engine for various types of AI tools.

Further training opportunities for working with AI and handling large amounts of data are available here in Jena in the "Data Literacy Jena" certificate program and via the THInKI project ("Thuringian University Initiative for AI in Studies").

The AI Campus offers freely accessible self-study courses on the topic.

 

Commenting on texts

How do I revise my texts? Below the presentation you will find the content in accessible text form.






The Writing Center of the University of Jena

Who can I turn to if I need support?

The Writing Center of the University of Jena offers free services for students on all aspects of academic writing. There you can discuss your writing with students and get advice based on the peer tutoring principle. You can also pick up material and writing tips from the Writing Center.

Find out more here: www.schreibenlernen.uni-jena.de/

Application

As it is one thing to get the tips and another to apply them, we have developed a reflection tool for the Digital Learning Kit that you can use regularly, preferably in exchange with fellow students.

On the Mahara platform as a tool for group work, you can find other students who are interested in similar topics and join together in groups.

On this personal learning environment you can find other students who are interested in similar topics and form groups. On Mahara there is an exchange group for the Digital Learning Kit, where you can get together and exchange information about the different modules.

You can find out what you need to consider when logging in to Mahara for the first time, how to join the group and what else you can do on Mahara in the "First steps on Mahara" guide. Log in with your URZ abbreviation and login, which is the same data you use for Friedolin.

The exchange group also provides reflection templates for documenting your work and slowly improve it through reflection. You can copy and edit these templates in your personal portfolio on Mahara. If you wish, you can share them with the other group members to exchange ideas.

Alternatively, you can answer the questions here - alone or with fellow students. Use the dialog cards below to do so!




Further resources

  • Broders, S. (2020). Academic skills : an introduction for English and American studies / Simone Broders: An introduction for English and American studies. Wilhelm Fink.
  • Tsatsenko, N. (2021). Academic writing : guidelines for preparing a seminar paper with examples / Natalia Tsatsenko: Guidelines for preparing a seminar paper with examples. Universitätsbibliothek der Universität Siegen.