Session 1: General Introduction to LaTeX and it’s Academic Application

Overview

This session introduces the concept of the LaTeX typesetter, why LaTeX is the preferred alternative to Microsoft Word and similar softwares, as well as the very core principles of how to use LaTeX and explore the customisability it offers. We will also go over the general structure of the workshop and tackle important academic uses of LaTeX such as the usage of LaTeX for the writing of a thesis, a research paper, an academic report, etc. as well as introduce the concept of a LaTeX template which many institutions offer for their respective fields.

Lecturers

Jad Kanaan — Primary Instructor & Organizer (jhk22@mail.aub.edu)

Mouhammad Somaili — Instructor

Session Information

  • Date and Time: Wednesday 21 October 2026, 17:30 — 19:00
  • Place: Nicely 415

Core Concepts

  • Overleaf Account Creation
  • Commands vs Environments
  • Document Classes
  • Importing external packages
  • How to add a Table of Contents
  • Text stylisation
  • Bibliographies
  • Referencing
  • Custom Commands (also called Macros)
  • Tables
  • Cross-references
  • Abstracts
  • Beamer document class
  • Report document class

Slides

Session 1 Slides: Download PDF

References

Exercises & Extra Steps

  • The exercise for this session is in the section of the Problem Set

Questions? Reach out on the course’s WhatsApp!