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Writing in the Sciences

Instructor: Dr. Kristin Sainani

600,986 already enrolled

8 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

9,788 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

3 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

97%

Most learners liked this course

8 modules

Gain insight into a topic and learn the fundamentals.

9,788 reviews

Beginner level

No prior experience required

Flexible schedule

3 weeks at 10 hours a week

Learn at your own pace

97%

Most learners liked this course

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

Shareable certificate

Add to your LinkedIn profile

Assessments

9 assignments¹

AI Graded see disclaimer

Taught in English

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There are 8 modules in this course

This course teaches scientists to become more effective writers, using practical examples and exercises. Topics include: principles of good writing, tricks for writing faster and with less anxiety, the format of a scientific manuscript, peer review, grant writing, ethical issues in scientific publication, and writing for general audiences.

Unit 1 introduces the course and reviews key principles of effective writing. In particular, you will practice cutting clutter from writing.

What's included

7 videos2 assignments

7 videos Total 79 minutes

1.1: Introduction; principles of effective writing 11 minutes
1.2: Examples of what not to do 7 minutes
1.3: Overview, principles of effective writing 6 minutes
1.4: Cut the clutter 17 minutes
1.5: Cut the clutter, more tricks 4 minutes
1.6: Practicing cutting clutter 10 minutes
Demo Edit 1 (Optional) 23 minutes

2 assignments Total 75 minutes

Unit 1 Practice 15 minutes
Unit 1 Homework 60 minutes

Unit 2 focuses on writing with strong, active verbs. Lessons include how to: write in the active voice; avoid turning verbs into nouns; choose strong verbs; and get to the main verb of a sentence quickly.

What's included

7 videos1 assignment

Unit 3 reviews how to vary sentence structure and write strong paragraphs. You will practice using the dash, colon, semi-colon, and parentheses, as well as writing well-organized and concise paragraphs.

What's included

8 videos1 assignment1 peer review

8 videos Total 105 minutes

3.1: Experiment with punctuation 28 minutes
3.2: Practice, colon and dash 7 minutes
3.3: Parallelism 6 minutes
3.4: Paragraphs 9 minutes
3.5: Paragraph Editing I 14 minutes
3.6: Paragraph Editing II 11 minutes
Module 3.7: A few more tips 7 minutes
Demo Edit 3 (Optional) 23 minutes

1 assignment Total 60 minutes

Unit 3 Homework 60 minutes

1 peer review Total 60 minutes

Paragraph editing exercise 60 minutes

Unit 4 reviews the writing process. I will give you tips for making the writing process easier, more efficient, and more organized.

What's included

7 videos1 assignment

Unit 5 reviews the sections of a scientific manuscript. You will learn how to format tables and figures, and how to write results, methods, introduction, and discussion sections.

What's included

9 videos1 assignment

Unit 6 discusses the peer review process, as well as ethical issues in scientific publishing. You will learn how to avoid plagiarism, determine authorship, submit a paper, write a peer review, and avoid predatory journals.

What's included

9 videos1 assignment1 peer review

9 videos Total 143 minutes

6.1: Plagiarism 18 minutes
6.2: Authorship 10 minutes
6.3: The Submission Process 12 minutes
6.4: Interview with Dr. Bradley Efron 15 minutes
6.5: Interview with Dr. George Lundberg 27 minutes
6.6: Interview with Dr. Gary Friedman 23 minutes
6.7: Doing a peer review 14 minutes
6.8: Predatory journals 8 minutes
Demo Edit 6 (Optional) 18 minutes

1 assignment Total 20 minutes

Unit 6 Homework 20 minutes

1 peer review Total 300 minutes

Essay 300 minutes

Unit 7 reviews types of writing beyond original research manuscripts. You will learn how to write review papers, grants, letters of recommendation, and personal essays.

What's included

7 videos1 assignment

Unit 8 reviews communication with broader audiences. You will learn how work with the media, be interviewed, conduct an interview, and write about science for general audiences.

What's included

8 videos1 assignment1 peer review

8 videos Total 125 minutes

8.1: Talking with the media 13 minutes
8.2: Panel Interview 23 minutes
8.3: Writing for general audiences 21 minutes
8.4: Writing a science news story 11 minutes
8.5: Interviewing a scientist 16 minutes
8.6: Social media 21 minutes
8.7: Concluding Remarks 1 minute
Demo Edit 8 (Optional) 19 minutes

1 assignment Total 60 minutes

Unit 8 Homework 60 minutes

1 peer review Total 60 minutes

Lay summary exercise 60 minutes

Instructor

Instructor ratings

(4,016 ratings)

Dr. Kristin Sainani

Stanford University

1 Course 600,986 learners

Offered by

Stanford University

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"Learning isn't just about being better at your job: it's so much more than that. Coursera allows me to learn without limits."

Learner reviews

5 stars
89.36%
4 stars
9.59%
3 stars
0.60%
2 stars
0.20%
1 star
0.23%

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Reviewed on Oct 12, 2020

This course covers each and every aspect about "Writing" - be it a research paper, a recommendation letter, an abstract, and much more. The well organized structure helps to grasp the points faster.

Reviewed on Jan 11, 2023

The best course I attain in Coursera. I struggled a lot to write my first manuscript and it took a lot of time. This course is beneficial for all scientific students. I highly recommended this course.

Reviewed on May 10, 2019

Fantastic course that's hard to fault. I am not a working scientist but an inspiring writer in the medical / scientific field. This couse refreshed my knowledge and taught me a lot more. Thank you.

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Frequently asked questions

Yes. There is a Stanford Lagunita offering, and a Continuing Medical Education (CME) offering. The different offerings are described below:

The Stanford Lagunita offering is self-paced, unmoderated, includes self assessment assignments, and offers you the ability to earn a free Statement of Accomplishment.

The Coursera offering is provided on a monthly basis, is more moderated, includes peer assessment assignments, and offers you the ability to earn a certificate of completion for a fee.

The CME offering can be used to earn Continuing Medical Education credits.

To access the course materials, assignments and to earn a Certificate, you will need to purchase the Certificate experience when you enroll in a course. You can try a Free Trial instead, or apply for Financial Aid. The course may offer 'Full Course, No Certificate' instead. This option lets you see all course materials, submit required assessments, and get a final grade. This also means that you will not be able to purchase a Certificate experience.

When you purchase a Certificate you get access to all course materials, including graded assignments. Upon completing the course, your electronic Certificate will be added to your Accomplishments page - from there, you can print your Certificate or add it to your LinkedIn profile.

Writing in the Sciences

Writing in the Sciences

Skills you'll gain

Details to know

See how employees at top companies are mastering in-demand skills

There are 8 modules in this course

1

What's included

2

What's included

3

What's included

4

What's included

5

What's included

6

What's included

7

What's included

8

What's included

Instructor

Offered by

Explore more from Basic Science

Scientific Writing for Research Grant Proposals

Designing Effective Science Communication

Introduction to Academic Writing

Teaching Writing Process

Why people choose Coursera for their career

Felipe M.

Jennifer J.

Larry W.

Chaitanya A.

Learner reviews

Open new doors with Coursera Plus

Advance your career with an online degree

Join over 3,400 global companies that choose Coursera for Business

Frequently asked questions

Are there other versions of this course available?

When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?

What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?

More questions