Plan a Research Paper / Seminar Paper

Plan the milestones backwards from the submission deadline.

Rule of thumb: one third research, one third writing, and one third revision and formal requirements.

Topic finalised: DD.MM.

Outline discussed with supervisor: DD.MM.

First draft completed: DD.MM.

Revision completed: DD.MM.

Submission: DD.MM.

Use a precise question instead of a broad topic: not Climate Change, but How Is Climate Change Affecting Viticulture in the Rhine-Hesse Region?

Use one box per source: full citation, main point, and page numbers of important passages

Clarify the school's required citation style (footnotes or in-text citations) and apply it consistently from the beginning. Adding citations afterwards is painful.

1. Introduction: research question and approach

2. to 4. Main section: enter the chapters

5. Conclusion: answer to the research question

Bibliography, appendix

Use one box per chapter with a deadline

Tip: Do not start with the introduction; it is easier to write at the end

Write bullet points first, then turn them into sentences. A poor first draft is better than a blank page.

Cover page according to the requirements

Table of contents with page numbers

All quotations cited and bibliography complete

Declaration of independent work signed

Proofread by 2 people

Printing and binding: allow a 2-day buffer