Academic research and writing

This book addresses fundamental aspects and techniques of academic research and writing in order to provide the beginner and the intermediate student with a solid basis for working on essay assignments, term papers as well as undergraduate and graduate research projects. The objective is to deliver an easily applicable, yet theoretically profound introduction into the field of academic research and writing, which can be understood without additional literature. Applying a classroom tested instructional design, each chapter starts with an abstract and keywords followed by a structured overview explaining the chapter’s context und relevance, from which learning objectives are derived. As supporting elements, examples and sample cases are used throughout the book. End of chapter questions and problems deepen the understanding of the chapter’s contents. The book forms part of an integrated educational media concept developed on the basis of the authors’ experience in working with students on academic research projects. The textbook can be used either separately or in combination with complementary e-learning tutorials. E-learning and further materials are available for free at: https://academic-research-and-writing.org

Rita Werner, M.A., is co-founder of iCADEMICUS, an educational media service provider. As an author and editor she writes and edits textbooks. She has specialised in different forms and applications of language and text. Furthermore, she runs Communicat, a company for text and marketing consulting. Her fields of expertise include strategic advisory, branding, naming, corporate and crisis communication. Previously, she spent eleven years at international advertising agencies as creative director and copywriter in Frankfurt and Hamburg. Prior to that, she was employed as a trained journalist and editor at a German newspaper and an environmental maga-zine. Rita Werner studied Sociology, Economics and American Literature at Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. As a Fulbright scholar, she received a Master of Arts in Political and Social Science from the New School University, New York City, USA.