You don't need any prior knowledge of public international law (PIL) to participate in the Schreibwerkstatt, but you will need some general information and understanding of core PIL concepts to be able to analyse and source relevant materials. The course thus consists of a short series of classes designed to equip you with the basic information and tools you will need to research and write your article. These will be followed by small group writing workshops and one-to-one coaching over the rest of the semester in which you will strengthen your case, sharpen your analysis and improve your presentation to prepare your piece for publication in the GPIL blog and Cambridge University Press yearbook.

Introduction to Public International Law I & II: (Rohan Sinha)

The first two classes provide a crash course in the subject that will be easily accessible to anyone with no prior knowledge. You will learn about subjects and sources of international law, State jurisdiction and basic legal principles of inter-state relations, such as State immunity, diplomatic and consular relations, as well as the use of force and self-defence. These are central concepts in international relations and we will discuss recent and contemporary case studies and issues in global affairs, with which you will already be familiar, to illustrate how these function in practice.

Introduction to GPIL and Sources of State practice in International Law: (Prof. Stefan Talmon)

In the next two classes, you will be guided through the features and style of the GPIL blog and learn how to source materials on state practices in international law. You will learn how GPIL's blog posts differ from other legal materials and blogs you encounter (EJIL:Talk!, opinio juris etc.), as well as how and where to insert commentary and analysis and format your piece for publication. You will also learn how to locate and use sources of German state practice (and that of other states where relevant) in materials such as UN Documents (GA, SC, ECOSOC, HRC) and UN treaty series, German parliamentary material and court decisions.

Writing Sessions: (Dr. Alisa Jones)

These will focus on the blog and book in which your articles will be published, but you will also be learning more broadly about principles of writing in general and writing in English in particular that are transferable to other formats. There will be two whole group sessions. The first will focus on structure and content, examining how a post is built from the ground up and how to support your argument and final verdict with evidence. Over the following two weeks, there will be small group sessions in which you will work with your fellow bloggers and provide peer feedback on one another's cases. Most of you will have been assigned a case and many of the relevant materials you will need to write your post. Please read these before you attend the first writing session and bring them to the small group classes! By the second session, you should have completed a rough draft of your post and we will be ready to look at language and style and how to prepare your pieces for publication.

Winter semester 2024/25 course schedule (tentative):

24.10.2024     Introduction to Public International Law I (Hörsaal G)

7.11.2024     Introduction to Public International Law II (Hörsaal G)

14.11.2024     Introduction to GPIL (Hörsaal G)

21.11.2024     Researching international law (Hörsaal G)

28.11.2024     Writing: Structure and content (Hörsaal D)

By appointment:

Writing: Language and style

Writing: Small group workshops

Individual coaching and feedback