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.
Writing in the Sciences
Offered By
Stanford University
About this Course
4.9
2,092 ratings
Skills you will gain
GrammarMedical WritingScience CommunicationWriting
Syllabus - What you will learn from this course
Week
11
Unit 1 introduces the course and reviews key principles of effective writing. In particular, you will practice cutting clutter from writing.
7 videos (Total 79 min), 1 quiz
7 videos
1.2: Examples of what not to do6m
1.3: Overview, principles of effective writing6m
1.4: Cut the clutter17m
1.5: Cut the clutter, more tricks4m
1.6: Practicing cutting clutter9m
Demo Edit 1 (Optional)23m
1 practice exercise
Unit 1 Homeworks
Week
22
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.
7 videos (Total 87 min), 1 quiz
7 videos
2.2: Is it really OK to use "We" and "I"5m
2.3: Active voice practice5m
2.4: Write with verbs8m
2.5: Practice examples20m
2.6: A few grammar tips10m
Demo Edit 2 (Optional)20m
1 practice exercise
Unit 2 Homeworks
Week
33
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.
8 videos (Total 105 min), 2 quizzes
8 videos
3.2: Practice, colon and dash6m
3.3: Parallelism5m
3.4: Paragraphs9m
3.5: Paragraph Editing I13m
3.6: Paragraph Editing II11m
Module 3.7: A few more tips7m
Demo Edit 3 (Optional)22m
1 practice exercise
Unit 3 Homeworks
Week
44
Unit 4 reviews the writing process. I will give you tips for making the writing process easier, more efficient, and more organized.
7 videos (Total 81 min), 1 quiz
7 videos
4.2 Overview of the writing process7m
4.3 The pre-writing step11m
4.4 The writing step7m
4.5: Revision5m
4.6: Checklist for the final draft12m
Demo Edit 4 (Optional)20m
1 practice exercise
Unit 4 Homeworks
4.9
332 Reviews23%
started a new career after completing these courses
18%
got a tangible career benefit from this course
Top Reviews
By HE•Dec 20th 2017
Thanks Dr. Kristin for this interesting course. It was so useful. I have learnt a lot from it. Your pretty way of teaching encouraged me to complete the course. Thanks for this exciting experience.
By DK•Jun 17th 2018
Extremely helpful for someone who is just beginning his scientific career (me). It is particularly convenient to have examples from medical articles, as this is the science field I am exploring.
Instructor
Dr. Kristin Sainani
Associate ProfessorHealth Research and Policy
About Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is an American private research university located in Stanford, California on an 8,180-acre (3,310 ha) campus near Palo Alto, California, United States.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will I have access to the lectures and assignments?
Once you enroll for a Certificate, you’ll have access to all videos, quizzes, and programming assignments (if applicable). Peer review assignments can only be submitted and reviewed once your session has begun. If you choose to explore the course without purchasing, you may not be able to access certain assignments.
What will I get if I purchase the Certificate?
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. If you only want to read and view the course content, you can audit the course for free.
What is the refund policy?
Is financial aid available?
Are there other versions of this course available?
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.
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