Key Information
About the content
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.
Syllabus
Week 2 (October 1-7): Principles of effective writing (verbs)
Week 3 (October 8-14): Crafting better sentences and paragraphs
Week 4 (October 15-21): Organization; and streamlining the writing process
Week 5 (October 22-28): The format of an original manuscript
Week 6 (October 29-Nov. 4): Reviews, commentaries, and opinion pieces; and the publication process
Week 7 (November 5-11): Issues in scientific writing (plagiarism, authorship, ghostwriting, reproducible research)
Week 8 (November 12-18): How to do a peer review; and how to communicate with the lay public
Instructors
Dr. Kristin Sainani
Associate Professor
Health Research and Policy
Content Designer
Platform
Coursera is a digital company offering massive open online course founded by computer teachers Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller Stanford University, located in Mountain View, California.
Coursera works with top universities and organizations to make some of their courses available online, and offers courses in many subjects, including: physics, engineering, humanities, medicine, biology, social sciences, mathematics, business, computer science, digital marketing, data science, and other subjects.
It's a must if you are just starting to write scientific articles, and a good resource to review your skills if you have some experience.
It's a must if you are just starting to write scientific articles, and a good resource to review your skills if you have some experience.
I completed the course over a month ago, and I am struck by how often I recall and use things I learned. Writing in the Sciences lays a broad foundation for science writers and subject matter experts alike. Young scientists will find many helpful hints and tips, and even experienced editors will find nuggets to squirrel away. The instructor owns a strong background in science as well as in writing/editing, and her expertise and experience lend a unique perspective to the material. I give Writing in the Sciences my highest recommendation.
Every person who intends to join scientific world must take this course. Course content is very well designed and explained. This course has made an impact on the way I think and write.
Very refreshing course that clearly states the do's and dont's of scientific writing. Highly recommended for beginners and even professional writers/editors.
This class has a very adaptable pace. It is also very complete, with relevant instances from Nature papers, but also from The NY Times for lay summaries. It has been particularly useful to me as a non-native english speaker. I definitely recommend it.
