Friday workshops
These workshops explain the basics and explore various topics together. Small exercises allow participants to try out what they have just learned.
Target group
Unless otherwise stated, the workshops are open to all students and interested doctoral candidates.
Location
All workshops (with workshop on December 12 2.00 pm being an exception) will take place in room R 303 in Schellingstraße 3, rear building.
Find the Training Room with the LMU Room Finder
Registration
Places are in high demand. Please only register for events that you actually intend to attend and cancel early if you are unable to attend.
Please note that workshops starting in December 2025 will only be activated at the end of November!
24.10.2025, 12:00 –14:00 c.t.: Note-taking skills in lectures (in German)
Content
Would you like to improve your note-taking skills in lectures and optimise your notes? In this workshop, you will learn how to take notes efficiently while maintaining your concentration in the lecture.
We will discuss various note-taking methods, including capturing key information, structuring notes and highlighting key concepts. We will also look at techniques for reviewing and organising notes to facilitate and optimise long-term learning.
Target group
First-year students and advanced students
Date
Friday, October 24 2025, noon – 2.00 pm c.t.
Registration
24.10.2025, 14:00 – 16:00 c.t.: Time management
Content
Academic writing is a process where planning should not be underestimated. You can influence several aspects in order to make the process more structured and keep you on track until your deadline.
This workshop will introduce you to different writing and time management methods that you can apply to help you create your own plan and make the process go smoother altogether.
Date
Friday, October 24 2025, 2.00 - 4.00 pm c.t.
Registration
07.11.2025, 10:00 – 12:00 c.t.: Giving good presentations (in German)
Content
Presentations are an integral part of university studies. But what makes a successful presentation? How does it differ from presentations at school? How can you ensure that your audience actually listens, and how can you facilitate a productive discussion afterwards? And how can you overcome your fear of public speaking? We will explore all of these questions in this workshop.
Date
Friday, November 07 2025, 10.00 am - noon
Registration
07.11.2025, 12:00 – 14:00 c.t.: Reading strategies for academic texts (in German)
Content
In this workshop, we will focus on how to deal with scientific literature effectively and efficiently. We will explore various reading strategies for grasping the essential information in a short time and for understanding even difficult texts. We will also discuss which approach is best suited to each phase of the work, reading goal and text type.
Date
Friday, November 07 2025, noon – 2.00 pm c.t.
Registration
07.11.2025, 14:00 – 16:00 c.t.: How to use Citavi correctly (in German)
Content
In this workshop, you will learn how to organise and manage your literature using the Citavi programme. You will learn how to import bibliographic data and how to manage and organise your literature. We will also show you how to cite and create bibliographies in Word using Citavi.
Please install the programme before the course begins.
Information about the full version of Citavi (LMU campus licence)
Note: Citavi is not available on MacOS. If you work with a Macbook, you can participate in the UB's Endnote webinar.
Date
Friday, November 07 2025, 2.00 – 4.00 pm c.t.
Registration
14.11.2025, 10:00 – 12:00 c.t.: The structure of a paper (in German)
Content
You have a topic for your term paper, you have already done your research and perhaps even have a finished question. Now comes the next big step: how do you manage to combine your ideas and results into a meaningful term paper? What goes in which chapter? And how many chapters do you actually need?
In this workshop, we will look at how to structure a term paper so that it fits the topic and research question and is easy for other readers to follow. The lecturer will bring her own practice materials to the workshop, so you don't need to be very far along in your own term papers to participate. If time allows, the lecturer would also like to make room for you to talk about your topics.
Date
Friday, November 14 2025, 10,00 am – noon c.t.
Registration
14.11.2025, 12:00 – 14:00 c.t.: Writing types and working methods (in German)
Content
Do you sometimes wonder why everyone else seems more relaxed when doing homework? Why your work plan doesn't seem to work, even though you really want to stick to it? Then perhaps your individual writing style needs more attention.
We all have different strengths, inclinations and personal challenges – and we all achieve our goals using different strategies. In this workshop, we will try to better understand ourselves as writers and identify which working methods really suit us. We will explore what we are particularly good at and how we can consciously use these strengths – and what tricks we can perhaps learn from others to overcome difficulties.
Date
Friday, November 14 2025, noon – 2.00 pm c.t.
Registration
14.11.2025, 14:00 - 16:00 c.t.: Dealing with writer's block (in German)
Content
Having a plan on paper is a good start, but it doesn't mean the paper is written yet. Often, you get stuck on individual points for a long time, often you can't even get started writing, and often you can't motivate yourself to do it. This section is about how to overcome such interruptions and the fear of writing.
Date
Friday, November 14 2025, 2.00 - 4.00 pm c.t.
Registration
21.11.2025, 10.00 – 12:00 c.t.: Reasoning in the Humanities (in German)
Content
Part of your assignment is to contribute your own thoughts and views on a topic. This also means that you weigh things up against each other and that you do not agree with everything that researchers before you have written. How do you ensure that your readers ultimately believe what you say? In this workshop, we will look at the general basics of argumentation and practise some common forms of argumentation that can be used effectively in essays.
Exercise materials will be provided in the workshop, so you do not need to be very far along in your own essays to participate. If time permits, there will also be room for your own topics.
Date
Friday, November 21 2025, 10.00 – noon c.t.
Registration
21.11.2025, 12:00 – 14:00 c.t.: Writing routines and methods
Content
Writing can feel overwhelming when you don’t know where to begin. However, breaking down the process into manageable steps and exploring different approaches can help you get started. Join this workshop and learn how to establish writing routines, experiment with various methods, and recognise different writing types.
Date
Friday, November 21 2025, noon – 2.00 pm c.t.
Registration
28.11.2025, 10:00 – 12:00 c.t.: The academic style (in German)
Content
What exactly is academic style? What can I write and what can't I write? Why does it all sound so complicated? Why was this marked for me now? Academic style is a world unto itself, especially in Germany and particularly in the humanities. In this workshop, we will try to find an introduction to this world. We will learn a few practical rules of classical rhetoric (without a word of Latin – promise!); we will look at why texts are particularly successful or unsuccessful, and of course we will also write ourselves.
Date
Friday, November 28 2025, 10.00 am – noon c.t.: The academic style (in German)
Registration
28.11.2025, 12:00 – 14:00 c.t.: In-depth reading using the PQ4R method (in German)
Content
The PQ4R method offers a structured approach to complex texts and helps you not only to grasp scientific content, but to truly understand it. In this workshop, you will learn the six steps of the method—from initial orientation to targeted repetition—and apply them directly to a practical text.
28.11.2025, 14:00 – 16:00 c.t.: My First Academic Paper
Have you never written a university-level essay or research paper? Are you daunted by the idea of writing? Are you feeling intimidated by academic writing? Then this is the workshop for you!
In this workshop, we will discuss the basics of the writing process and the academic term paper, so you feel ready to tackle this new task.
Target group: This is a workshop targeted towards first year undergraduate students or students who are new to essay writing. While this workshop leans into humanities writing methods, students from all disciplines are welcome and interdisciplinary knowledge exchange is highly encouraged.
05.12.2025, 10:00 - 12:00 c.t.: ChatGPT as a sparring partner (in German)
Would you like to utilise AI support without neglecting your own thinking? In this workshop, you will learn how ChatGPT can act as your personal sparring partner to support your thinking – without relinquishing control. You will learn how AI can enrich your thought processes through methods such as Socratic dialogue and targeted feedback tools – and discover many other techniques that will help you refine and expand your ideas.
Please note: There are no uniform regulations at LMU governing whether or not the use of AI is permitted, or under what conditions. Please clarify for yourself whether you are allowed to use AI in your coursework.
For optimal participation, please create an account with ChatGPT before the course begins.
05.12.2025, 12:00 - 14:00 c.t.: Competent literature research (in German)
Thorough research is essential for academic work. But where do you start? And how do you find the right literature on a topic? In this workshop, you will learn the steps you need to take to confidently find suitable literature for your term papers or theses.
Contents:
- Getting your bearings: What am I actually looking for, when and where?
- Finding and linking search terms
- Comparing search tools and search strategies
- Tips & tricks for search engines
05.12.2025, 14:00 - 16:00 c.t.: Introduction and Conclusion
The introduction and the conclusion form the framework of any academic paper. That’s why it’s important to understand how they’re structured and what they should include. In this workshop, we’ll discuss different approaches to writing introductions and conclusions. We’ll also look at how you can use them to build a strong framework for your main body to link everything together effectively.
12.12.2025, 10:00 - 12:00 c.t.: Formatting with Word (in German)
Whether it's a term paper or an academic essay, proper formatting is an essential part of academic writing. In this workshop, you will learn the basics of formatting with Word: from page margins and headings to tables of contents, footnotes and citations. This will ensure that your work is convincing not only in terms of content but also in terms of form!
Please ensure that your laptop has an Office package installed.
Information about the free Microsoft 365 package via LMU membership
12.12.2025, 12:00 - 14:00 c.t.: Finding topics with ChatGPT (in German)
When used consciously and skilfully, AI tools can be employed in a variety of ways in academic work. In this workshop, we will look at creative strategies for using ChatGPT to help us find topics. We will also discuss critical evaluation and further work with the output.
Please note: There are no uniform guidelines for AI use at LMU. You must therefore clarify for yourself whether its use is permitted in your work.
Please bring your laptop or tablet with you. You will also need a ChatGPT account (the basic version is sufficient).
19.12.2025, 12:00 - 14:00 c.t.: Citing correctly (in German)
Especially when you are about to write your first term paper, the fear of accidentally submitting plagiarised work is often great. But once you have learned the correct citation method, you are actually always on the safe side. To make it easier to get started with academic writing, this workshop will explain what plagiarism is and why we cite sources, what footnotes and bibliographies look like, and how to use direct and indirect quotations effectively. All of this will then be practised using examples. This workshop is particularly aimed at students who have little or no experience with citing sources.
19.12.2025, 10:00 - 12:00 c.t.: From topic to question (in German)
Do you have an interesting topic in mind, but your research question is still unclear? In this workshop, you will learn how to develop a clear scientific question from an initial idea. We will discuss typical mistakes, develop helpful methods for narrowing down the topic, and test them directly in practical exercises. This will lay the foundation for a well-founded scientific paper.
09.01.2026, 10:00 - 12:00 c.t.: Correct citation
Especially students who are new to writing academic papers are often unsure about the formalities around citing sources. What are references? What is a citation style? How do I avoid even accidental plagiarism? How do I write a bibliography correctly? We will tackle questions like these in the workshop, explain how to integrate references and bibliographies into your paper, and you can practise with some exercises.
Pro tip: Your institute might have a so-called style sheet, which explains specific formal requirements for term papers. Look it up and bring it to the workshop!
09.01.2026, 12:00 - 14:00 c.t.: Learning strategies for neurodiversity (in German)
Neurodiversity refers to a variety of thinking and learning styles that differ from the norm. This can include aspects such as attention deficit disorder, autism, dyslexia, ADHD and more. In our workshop, we will address the needs of neurodivergent students and develop effective learning and working techniques that take individual thinking styles into account.
We will discuss various work and learning strategies that can be applied during the semester to support the learning process. This includes techniques for organising notes, time management, effective participation in lectures, and much more. In addition, we will cover methods for coping with exam stress and preparing for exams and assignments.
The workshop is aimed at all students who have difficulty adapting to traditional learning methods.
09.01.2026, 14:00 - 16:00 c.t.: Writing in English: academic style
Writing in a second language is already a challenge in its own right but even then the work is not done. In this workshop, we will go over the basics of English sentence construction, academic standards in English and review what to tackle to elevate your text that last bit more.
This workshop is aimed at ESL writers.
16.01.2026, 10:00 - 12:00 c.t.: My first paper (in German)
Your first term paper is coming up – but what exactly is it? In this workshop, you will learn what is expected of you in a term paper, how it is typically structured, and what you need to keep in mind. Spoiler alert: it's not rocket science!
The workshop is aimed at anyone who has little or no experience with term papers and provides a space for all questions – even those you might not otherwise dare to ask.
Pro tip: Check to see if your department or seminar leader has a guide to term papers. You can also ask questions if anything in it is unclear to you.
16.01.2026, 12:00 - 14:00 c.t.: time management (in German)
Between exams, courses and assignments, it's not easy to keep track of everything. And this semester, you don't want to leave everything to the last minute again. But where to start and how to get it all done? If this sounds familiar, then this workshop is for you. Together, we will develop various strategies for self-organisation and time management and find out which system works for you. You will learn all kinds of tricks and tips that will help you create a good schedule and reduce stress.
Note: The strategies are transferable, but as always, our focus is on academic assignments.
23.01.2026. 10:00 - 12:00 c.t.: Overcome writer's block (in German)
If you feel hesitant about starting to write, you are certainly not alone. Whether it is your first piece of work or you are returning to academic writing after a setback, writing is not always easy. In this workshop, we will exchange ideas and consider together how academic writing can be approached in a way that does not cause anxiety. At the same time, we will develop strategies to successfully combat writer's block.
23.01.2026, 12:00 - 14:00 c.t.: Bachelor thesis – what can I expect? (in German)
The course description will follow shortly.
30.01.2026, 10:00 - 12:00 c.t.: Revising texts (in German)
Writing is (to a large extent) revising – and that is a skill that needs to be learned! In this workshop, you will learn how to revise your own academic paper on several levels and what you need to bear in mind when doing so. Of course, there will be plenty of opportunity to ask any questions you may have on the topic.
The workshop is aimed at anyone who wants to take a critical look at their academic work and give it the necessary ‘finishing touches’.
30.01.2026, 12:00 - 14:00 c.t.: Writing under pressure – completing last-minute projects (in German)
The deadline is approaching and your text is not ready yet? In this workshop, you will learn how to write a clearly structured and well-argued academic text even under time pressure. We will discuss strategies for quick planning, efficient research and focused writing – without compromising on quality. With practical tips and exercises, we will show you how to overcome writer's block and get your text to the point quickly.
