“With the first term paper, students face a whole new challenge”Pilot project tests new tutorial concept

5 March 2026, by Zsuzsa Becker

Photo: Isabella Banger

Die ÄdSL-Tutorinnen Pia Wennrich, Sophie Grimm und Christina Scherer.

The Older German Language and Literature section of the Institute of German Studies tested a new tutorial concept in the winter semester of 2025/26. What makes it special is that the tutorial is not offered alongside the courses as usual, but is being held for the first time as a block course at the beginning of the semester break. The aim is to give students a focused introduction to academic work and thus improve the quality of their academic performance in the long term. The AStuB and the Writing Center provided didactic support for the project.

How did the idea for the pilot project come up?

Lina Herz: When I started teaching in Hamburg four years ago, I gradually noticed that knowledge of how to work scientifically, develop a research question or thesis, research literature, cite, bibliograph, excerpt, etc. This has nothing to do with a lack of willingness on the part of the students, but is simply due to the fact that there are no (modularized) courses in literary studies that systematically teach these skills. When I was a student, there were still compulsory exercises such as “Introduction to Literary Studies,” which sounds a bit outdated, but served the important purpose of ensuring that students were not alone and could learn to deal with the expectations of how and what to read and write at university. Especially after the pandemic, which led a generation of students to study alone in front of their screens, and with the changed writing conditions brought about by generative AI, the effects of which we are currently experiencing with full force, it seemed important to me to revive this ‘old’ event format – and to actually bring it to life: On site, in person, in a protected space, in peer-to-peer exchange with highly trained tutors who are available as contact persons with all the important information at their fingertips, and at the very moment when the term paper actually ‘happens’. Namely, at the beginning of the semester break, when you're sitting alone in front of your computer, with a lot on your mind and in your notes app, but you don't know exactly how and where to start.

What was the aim of the newly established tutorials, particularly with regard to the first term paper in the degree program?

Pia Wennrich: With the first term paper, students face the challenge of completing a new type of exam with numerous unfamiliar rules and working methods. However, a basic introduction to academic work is often neglected during studies—and that's exactly where we wanted to start. The aim is to provide students with a sound basic knowledge, especially for the subject of medical history, which requires working with historical texts. Not only do they receive a wealth of information and tips, but we also work together on examples and their own term paper ideas, which can be developed (further) in the tutorial. The aim is to familiarize students with the exam format so that they can approach their first term paper with confidence and enjoy writing—by students, for students.

How were you prepared for your role as tutors? What role did the collaboration with the AStuB and the Writing Center play in this?

Sophie Grimm: During three four-hour block sessions during the semester, we worked with Lenah Grimm (ÄdL) and Nadia Blüthmann (AStuB) to draw up a schedule for the tutorials. We worked out which topics should be covered and received input from Nadia on the didactic approach. During one of the three sessions, we were also accompanied by the Writing Center: Fridrun Freise and Valérie Le Vot provided us with all kinds of knowledge about the writing process and style issues. They gave us a lot of material that we later used in our tutorials. This included, for example, a worksheet on finding topics and research questions. Students were able to fill this out before the tutorial began in order to receive feedback and input from us on their term paper ideas in preparation for a discussion with their lecturers. The Writing Center also provided us with support in giving this feedback in a separate session. Thanks to all this support, we were able to start the tutorials well prepared.

The block days on academic writing took place in mid-February—how did they go and what were the main topics you focused on?

Christina Scherer: The block days are tutorials lasting several hours that cover all topics related to term papers. This includes everything from deciding on a topic and question that really interest me, to structuring my own work, researching literature and sources, to fine-tuning the language and style. There is particularly high demand for research and citation: students know they need secondary literature, but they don't know how to find it. Learning how to cite correctly is central to academic writing and prevents plagiarism. Finally, there is an opportunity to reflect on and optimize one's own writing process. By the end of the course, students should know what they can do to make their writing process more efficient and relaxed.

The response from students has been great. What does that say about the need for this, and what initial impressions can you share from the implementation?

Lina Herz: I am very pleased about this ‘pilot episode’ of the tutorial for two reasons. Firstly, the UHH has an excellent infrastructure for implementing such projects competently and with low barriers to entry. This made it very easy and possible for everyone involved to draw on the expertise of the AStuB and the Writing Center and to train our tutors in the best possible way. Many thanks for the great cooperation! Secondly, the response and interest from students was so great that we could have offered even more blocks. This speaks volumes and is a wonderful confirmation that we definitely want to expand and further optimize our offerings here. Whether and to what extent this format will be reflected in the results of the seminar papers remains to be seen in the coming months. That is why we will, of course, evaluate this further.

Lenah Grimm: Right at the start of the lecture period, students came to me and showed great interest in the content of the tutorial – the high demand was then also reflected in the registration figures, which rose steadily over the semester. Even during the preparation of term papers in the last few weeks, i.e., finding and agreeing on topics, many students already used the materials from the tutorial/writing center to structure and present their initial thoughts. Seeing how gratefully these offers were accepted made me very happy and encouraged me to continue and expand the project in the coming semesters.

If you want to recruit students for the next round in one sentence: Why is it worth participating?

Come to the tutorial, ...

Pia Wennrich: ...if you're having trouble with your first term paper and want to learn and practice how to approach academic writing in a confidential environment!

Sophie Grimm: ...to ask all the questions you've ever had about term papers in an open and non-judgmental space and get answers!

Christina Scherer: ...if term papers stress you out and you want to be more relaxed!