Table of Contents
What Makes a Text “Academic”?
Academic texts are written for study, research, and professional discussion. They aim to be precise, logical, and well supported by evidence. In this chapter you will learn how to recognize typical features of German academic writing and how to start using them yourself.
Academic texts appear in many forms, for example seminar papers, theses, research articles, conference papers, book chapters, and academic reviews. Across these genres you will see recurring patterns in structure, language, and vocabulary. Becoming familiar with these patterns will help you both understand and produce advanced German texts in an academic context.
Typical Structure of Academic Texts
Most German academic texts follow a clear, recognizable structure. Even when headings differ, the functions are similar.
A common scheme looks like this:
| Typical Part (German) | Function in English |
|---|---|
| Einleitung | Introduce topic, context, question, and aim |
| Theoretischer Rahmen | Present theories and concepts |
| Forschungsstand | Overview of previous research |
| Methode | Explain data, material, and method |
| Analyse / Ergebnisse | Present and explain findings |
| Diskussion | Interpret results, relate to theory and research |
| Fazit / Schluss | Summarize, answer question, show implications |
Not every text has all parts, but most longer academic texts contain at least an introduction, a main body with argumentation and analysis, and a conclusion.
Important: An academic text must be clearly structured, with each part having a specific function such as introducing the problem, presenting methods, or drawing conclusions.
Even shorter texts, like a seminar essay, should show an internal logic. Paragraphs are not random. They move from general to specific, from question to answer, from claim to support.
Formal Style and Register
German academic texts usually use a formal register. This affects pronouns, vocabulary, and how directly you address the reader.
Personal pronouns are used differently from everyday language. In many disciplines, the author avoids “ich” and prefers impersonal or neutral forms. In some fields, especially in the humanities, “ich” is more accepted. You should always follow the conventions of your discipline and your institution.
Common strategies to sound more academic are:
| Strategy | Example in German | Function in English |
|---|---|---|
| Impersonal constructions | Es wird gezeigt, dass … | It is shown that … |
| Passive voice | Die Daten wurden analysiert. | The data were analyzed. |
| Nominal style | Zur Diskussion steht die Frage der Integration. | The question of integration is under discussion. |
| Abstract vocabulary | Diese Annahme beruht auf der Hypothese, dass … | This assumption is based on the hypothesis that… |
Important: In academic German, avoid colloquial expressions and use a consistent formal register with precise and neutral wording.
You normally avoid contractions and spoken fillers. Instead of “naja” or “irgendwie,” use “jedoch,” “allerdings,” or “in gewissem Maße,” depending on the context.
Coherence and Argumentation
Academic texts must be coherent. Sentences and paragraphs need logical connections so that the reader can follow your argument.
Important functions include:
- Introducing a topic or paragraph.
- Adding information.
- Contrasting ideas.
- Explaining causes and results.
- Summarizing and concluding.
German academic texts often use specific connectors and conjunctive adverbs to show these relations. These should be chosen carefully.
Examples:
| Function | Connector / Phrase (German) | Use in English |
|---|---|---|
| Addition | außerdem, zudem, darüber hinaus | also, in addition, furthermore |
| Contrast | hingegen, jedoch, dagegen | however, by contrast |
| Cause / reason | denn, weil, aufgrund, infolgedessen | because, due to, as a result |
| Example | zum Beispiel, etwa, dies zeigt sich an | for example, this is shown by |
| Conclusion | daher, folglich, somit, insgesamt | therefore, thus, overall |
Important: Every important claim in an academic text should be connected to others through clear logical markers such as “jedoch,” “daher,” or “außerdem.”
Coherence also means that each paragraph has one main idea, which is introduced at the beginning and supported by explanation, argument, or evidence.
The Role of Sources and Citation
Academic texts are based on previous work. In German academic culture, correct citation is central for academic honesty and quality.
Typical features include:
- References to existing theories and studies.
- Clear separation of your ideas and the ideas of others.
- A consistent citation style and a bibliography or “Literaturverzeichnis.”
You will often see reporting structures such as:
- Nach Müller (2019) zeigt sich, dass …
- Wie Schmidt (2020) darlegt, …
- In ihrer Studie kommt Keller (2018) zu dem Ergebnis, dass …
These phrases signal that information comes from another author and not from you.
Important: In academic texts, all ideas, data, and formulations taken from others must be clearly attributed, usually with author and year or a footnote.
Quotations can be direct, with quotation marks, or indirect, in reported form. German uses different conventions for each, and they must not be mixed carelessly.
Typical Academic Vocabulary and Phrases
Academic German uses many recurring linguistic patterns. Learning these will help you understand and write academic texts more easily.
Some typical functions and formulas are:
| Function | Example phrases (German) |
|---|---|
| Introducing a topic | Diese Arbeit befasst sich mit … / Im Mittelpunkt steht … |
| Stating aim of text | Ziel dieser Untersuchung ist es, … / Es soll gezeigt werden, dass … |
| Defining terms | Unter X wird hier Y verstanden. / X bezeichnet in diesem Zusammenhang … |
| Referring to structure | Zunächst wird …, anschließend …, abschließend … |
| Presenting results | Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass … / Es lässt sich feststellen, dass … |
| Limiting statements | In diesem Zusammenhang ist zu beachten, dass … / Dies gilt jedoch nur bedingt. |
| Evaluating or assessing | Diese Argumentation erscheint überzeugend, weil … / Problematisch bleibt jedoch … |
Academic vocabulary is often abstract and built from Latin or Greek roots. Words like “Analyse,” “Struktur,” “Funktion,” “Dimension,” “Kategorie,” and “Hypothese” appear frequently across disciplines.
Text Types and Disciplines
Not all academic texts are the same. Different disciplines favor different structures and ways of arguing.
For example:
- In the humanities, texts often contain long analyses of concepts, detailed interpretations, and many references to primary and secondary literature.
- In the natural sciences, texts often follow a strict experimental structure, with a strong focus on methods, data, and quantifiable results.
- In the social sciences, texts combine theory, methodology, and empirical analysis, and discuss implications for society or policy.
Despite these differences, the academic core remains similar: clarity of purpose, transparency of method, logical argumentation, and explicit use of sources.
Reading Strategies for Academic Texts
Because academic texts are dense and often very long, strategic reading is important.
Useful strategies include:
- Skimming the abstract, introduction, and conclusion to understand the central question and main results.
- Scanning headings and subheadings to see the structure.
- Focusing on topic sentences at the beginning of paragraphs.
- Marking connectors and key terms that show the argument.
You do not always need to read every word. Knowing which parts typically contain what information will help you read more efficiently.
Producing Your Own Academic Texts
When you write your own academic text in German, you should:
- Define a clear question or problem.
- Plan a structure with an introduction, a logically ordered main part, and a conclusion.
- Use formal, precise language and avoid spoken style.
- Use connectors and academic phrases to guide the reader.
- Document your sources carefully and consistently.
Important: An academic text is not just “correct German.” It is goal oriented, structured, and supported by evidence, with language adapted to an academic audience.
By practicing these elements, you will gradually develop a personal academic style that fits both German conventions and your discipline.
Vocabulary List
| German | English |
|---|---|
| der akademische Text | academic text |
| die Einleitung | introduction |
| der theoretische Rahmen | theoretical framework |
| der Forschungsstand | state of research |
| die Methode | method |
| die Analyse | analysis |
| das Ergebnis | result |
| die Diskussion | discussion |
| das Fazit | conclusion, summary |
| der Schluss | conclusion |
| die Struktur | structure |
| die Kohärenz | coherence |
| das Argument | argument |
| die Argumentation | line of argument |
| das Register | register (level of formality) |
| die Fachsprache | technical / specialist language |
| das Quellenverzeichnis | list of sources |
| das Literaturverzeichnis | bibliography |
| zitieren | to cite |
| das Zitat | quotation |
| die Quelle | source |
| die Hypothese | hypothesis |
| die Annahme | assumption |
| die Untersuchung | study, investigation |
| die Fragestellung | research question |
| die Definition | definition |
| definieren | to define |
| die These | thesis, claim |
| die Gliederung | outline, structure |
| formell | formal |
| sachlich | objective, factual |
| die Schlussfolgerung | conclusion, inference |
| einleiten | to introduce |
| darlegen | to present, to explain |
| nachweisen | to prove, to demonstrate |
| feststellen | to determine, to establish |
| belegen | to support with evidence |
| zusammenfassen | to summarize |
| der Überblick | overview |
| die Disziplin | discipline (academic field) |
| die Geisteswissenschaften | humanities |
| die Naturwissenschaften | natural sciences |
| die Sozialwissenschaften | social sciences |
| die Empirie | empirical data |
| empirisch | empirical |
| theoretisch | theoretical |
| abschließend | in conclusion, finally |
| hingegen | by contrast |
| jedoch | however |
| daher | therefore |
| folglich | consequently |