Exposé Writing in English
The exposé represents the foundation and starting point for the doctoral thesis and is a crucial first step in the overall writing process. This one-day workshop is designed for doctoral candidates across all disciplines (Dr.phil., PhD in Practice, Dr.techn., Dr.rer.nat.) and offers hands-on guidance for writing exposés in English.
The workshop focuses on concrete techniques and strategies, drawing on functional concepts and recent findings from text linguistics. In addition to conceptual input, participants will analyse good-practice examples and apply the insights directly in practical exercises, ideally working with their own texts.
Workshop topics
- Writing process and its phases: From identifying and narrowing down a topic, to research, structuring materials, drafting and revising
- Academic style: Tailoring style to the target audience, addressing readers appropriately, using linguistic resources and formulation alternatives; achieving clarity and conciseness without sacrificing complexity
- Specifics of academic English: Use of imagery, common phrases, typical mistakes
- Structuring the text: Tools for planning and outlining, building specific sections, linking passages, using paragraphs as structuring units
- Creating coherence: Ensuring smooth reading flow through conscious thematic progression
- Perspective: Positioning oneself in the research landscape; dealing with one’s own and others’ perspectives (critique, questioning, relating, comparing)
- Argumentation: Building arguments, common patterns of scientific argumentation, avoiding fallacies
- Using AI in the writing process: Potentials and limits for topic development, structuring, and improving flow and style
Format
Each topic will be introduced conceptually (principles, rules, dos and don’ts), illustrated with good-practice examples, and then practiced by participants under the trainer’s guidance. Whenever possible, participants will work with drafts of their own exposés and receive targeted feedback.
Objective
By the end of the workshop, participants will have a deeper understanding of the requirements of an English-language exposé and will be equipped with practical tools to present their research project clearly, coherently, and convincingly.
Trainer
Priv.-Doz. Dr. Markus Rheindorf is a linguist and has been working as a trainer in the field of academic writing for more than 20 years, including at the University of Vienna, the Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, the University of Graz, and the Vienna University of Technology. His approach is rooted in applied linguistics, ensuring that teaching is always closely connected to concrete research on academic writing and academic genres. In addition to workshops and seminars, he also offers individual writing consultations for ongoing writing projects.
Dates
Date | Thu 15 January 2026: 9 – 16:30 h
Venue | Karl-Schweighofer-Gasse 3,1070 Vienna, room DG18 (meeting room)
Preparation and registration
You can register to the workshop, if you are enrolled and a regular student at the Academy of Fine Arts Vienna or University of Arts Linz.
Please register until the latest December 15, 2025 via doktoratszentrum@akbild.ac.at with the subject "Workshop January 2026" and a current certification of enrollment.
The workshop is limited to a maximum of 15 persons (first come, first served).
Language
The workshop will be held in English. However, questions in German are possible.