course on research writing

Introduction

Why is writing important in science.

Writing is the most common form of scientific communication, yet scientists have a reputation for being poor writers. Why? One reason could be that writing is never really taught to scientists. Better writing will benefit your science career in several ways. Within the scientific community, improved communication leads to improved collaboration, easier access to cross-disciplinary knowledge, and faster, less painful training. Besides this, you will be able to communicate better not only with other researchers, but with the public, who funds your research. If scientists were better writers, the gap between the public and academy would shrink.

How can I use this resource?

The Scientific Writing Resource is online course material that teaches how to write effectively. The material is not about correctness (grammar, punctuation, etc), but about communicating what you intend to the reader . It can be used either in a science class or by individuals. It is intended for science students at the graduate level.

Instructors: Use the resource in a science class to dedicate a lecture or two to writing skills. For each lesson, there are 3 resources: principles (for a lecture), examples, and a worksheet (for assignment).

Individuals: You can go through the resource on your own. The lessons can be done in about 45 minutes each. Just read through the lessons and examples, and then try your hand on the worksheets.

Communicating Effectively

The goal of writing is communication. These lessons do not put forth absolute rules . If the intent of the writer is communicated, the writing was effective, regardless of rules kept or broken. Instead of rules, these lessons provide principles of communication and writing from the reader’s persective. The ideas presented here are derived from many sources, notably including the philosophy of Joseph Williams and George Gopen . If you know what readers expect , then you can fill that expectation . Approaching writing like this will help you improve your written communication.

The key to success in writing lies in smart revision . At first, treat these as principles of revision rather than principles of writing. As you practice, they will naturally become integrated as you write.

This resource focuses on scientific writing, not science writing. What’s the difference? Find out here: What is scientific writing?

Start with lesson 1

Home > Course Workbook > 1

Writing and Publishing Scientific Articles: Course Workbook

Editing Services, Research Medical Library (formerly Scientific Publications)

Download Full Text (5.1 MB)

Download Title Page and Acknowledgments (146 KB)

Download Table of Contents (57 KB)

Download 2. Preliminary Steps in Writing a Scientific Manuscript (439 KB)

Download 3. Writing the Introduction Section (374 KB)

Download 4. Writing the Methods and Results Sections (417 KB)

Download 5. Writing the Discussion Section (486 KB)

Download 6. Writing the Abstract (264 KB)

Download 7. Writing an Effective Title (241 KB)

Download 8. Effective Figures and Tables (1.2 MB)

Download 9. References (335 KB)

Download 10. Ethical Issues in Scientific Publishing (348 KB)

Download 11. Navigating the Peer Review Process (272 KB)

Download 12. Cohesion and Clarity (654 KB)

Download 13. Writing Case Reports and Review Articles (213 KB)

Download 14. Checklists for Writing (204 KB)

Download 5. Resources (391 KB)

Description

Writing and Publishing Scientific Articles (WAPSA) is an in-depth writing-education program designed primarily for postdoctoral fellows, clinical trainees, and novice authors. Now offered online, this series of six modules offers practical advice on writing the sections of a biomedical research manuscript.

Learn more about the Writing and Publishing Scientific Articles Workshop, offered online.

Publication Date

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

writing, editing, scientific writing, publishing

• Disciplines

Medical Education | Technical and Professional Writing

Recommended Citation

Editing Services, Research Medical Library (formerly Scientific Publications), "Writing and Publishing Scientific Articles: Course Workbook" (2021). Writing and Publishing Scientific Articles: Course Workbook . 1. https://openworks.mdanderson.org/writingcourse/1

Creative Commons License

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A comprehensive programme that follows the research cycle

Research to Publication takes you through picking a research question to study design, ethical research and publication.

Simply click on the titles below to get find out more:

1. How to develop and report good research questions

2. Developing and writing protocols

3. Choosing the best study design

4. How to do ethical research

5. How to write a research paper

6. The essentials of running a clinical trial

7. Picking the right journal and getting published

8. Avoiding scientific misconduct

✨ Enrol by 15 May to get access to our Jumpstart Your Summer Writing events at no additional cost! 💰 ✨

Scientific Writing Program

For researchers who want to get published in top-tier journals using a highly efficient writing system.

Join our academic writing course

And get published in high-impact journals without lacking structure in the writing process

NOT SURE IF THIS SCIENTIFIC WRITING PROGRAM IS A GOOD FIT FOR YOU?

• procrastinate on your writing
• aren't effective at writing clearly and concisely
• experience writer's block, OR
• get rejected by high-impact journals,

…the answer is probably yes! Confirm by watching the training below.

Introducing...

The researchers’ writing academy, the only academic writing program you’ll ever need….

…if you want to learn how to write clear & concise research papers for high-ranking journals in a timely manner —even if you aren’t a native English speaker!

I used to offer only workshops for groups of researchers. But: They started at $5000 USD and researchers couldn’t sign up for them individually.

That’s why I’m so excited to welcome you to this academic writing course! The Researchers’ Writing Academy is for scientists and researchers who write research papers based on data they have gathered, whether qualitatively or quantitatively. Our program is a good fit for researchers in the health, physical, earth, life sciences, psychology and related fields.

The scientific writing course is based on my step-by-step paper writing system:

THE JOURNAL PUBLICATION FORMULA.

It’s the proven method that:.

• Speeds up your paper writing
• Crafts a compelling narrative for your paper
• Gives you a structured plan of what should go in each section
• Helps you communicate your research clearly and concisely

…so you can spend less time on writing papers and can start getting published in high-ranking journals!

Before enrolling in the Researchers’ Writing Academy, I felt like I was drowning in a writing sea. I had the world of time and resources but I simply did not know what to write. I followed Anna’s structured writing plan and I could see that my writing started to flow. The storytelling approach kickstarts the process of writing a paper for me and my introduction sections aren’t lengthy anymore but focused. I actually started to enjoy the writing process itself! I always knew I had it in me, and the Researchers’ Writing Academy was the key to that portal. This is by far the best course I have ever attended (not only on writing but in general)! As soon as I finished the course, I produced two papers. I am now publishing actual papers that I believe anyone would love to read! And that is my foundation stone for the science journey I am about to embark on.

THE JOURNAL PUBLICATION FORMULA ENSURES THAT YOU ALWAYS KNOW HOW TO START  AND WHERE TO STOP .

Let’s make those never-ending iterations with your co-authors or supervisor a thing of the past.

But that isn’t all. The Journal Publication Formula also shows you how you can take away the pressure of selling your paper .   Are you ready to massively decrease the chances to get desk-rejected?

Whether you have a large English vocabulary or not, the Journal Publication Formula makes sure that you are communicating even complicated concepts in your paper effectively.

YES, WE MENTOR YOU THROUGH THAT WHOLE INTIMIDATING PROCESS OF WRITING A PAPER FOR A HIGH-IMPACT JOURNAL. 💪

HOW THE JOURNAL PUBLICATION FORMULA WORKS:

This is how our scientific writing course, based on the journal publication formula, takes researchers from data to submission-ready draft:.

STREAMLINE YOUR WRITING PROCESS

Learn the most efficient workflow to write your paper and map it onto your calendar. Internal deadlines aren’t enough though, you’ll also learn to master committing to your writing sessions!

In addition, you’ll understand how to integrate your co-authors in the process and manage common ”writing wrenches” such as perfectionism, fear of rejection and writer’s block, so you’re all set up for a streamlined writing process.

Download your writing project plan to make the writing process efficient!

DEVELOP YOUR STORY

Master the scientific story framework, a no-fluff system to introduce a coherent narrative into your paper from the very beginning of the writing process.

You define the reader of your story and construct your argument (yes, science papers need an argument too!). Download your key story elements worksheet and your storyboard template to guide you through the process!

STRUCTURE EACH SECTION

You use the key story elements defined in Module 2 to start outlining each section of your paper. You create section and paragraph outlines for the Introduction, Results and Discussion sections.

The paragraph template for writing the Results sections makes sure that you are guiding your reader through your argument with flow.

You’ll also learn why the References section shouldn’t be an afterthought and how to select studies to cite in your paper.

COMMUNICATE CLEARLY AND CONCISELY

It’s finally time for writing your first draft! All you need to know about good writing are the 5 foundations of clear and concise writing — no need for an advanced English language class!

You will also be walked through how to effectively present your findings visually, aka how to make good Figures.

And when your first draft is ready, you can use our step-by-step process to edit your own writing effectively — so you always know when to stop perfecting your paper. 

PACKAGE FOR PUBLICATION

You are SO close to submitting your paper!

Learn how to write a compelling title, abstract and cover letter that are in line with the narrative of your paper in no time!

Psssst: You’ll use the key story elements defined in Module 2 again.

Download your templates for writing the abstract and cover letter!

And then we celebrate with you when your paper is:

I absolutely love, love the course. Anna gave me a formula that really makes sense. Once I watched the first module, I was hooked! During my enrollment, I worked on two first-author papers using the Journal Publication Formula. One of them was recently published. I consider myself fortunate that I found out about the Researchers’ Writing Academy.

Anna’s formula turns a complicated and oftentimes daunting task into an easy to follow method. This formula removed the barriers I had in my writing process, and helped me with task initiation, organization, and goal-making. I now have a clearly written manuscript that delivers my results, and demonstrates their impact from the first sentence to the last.

Here’s what you will get access to inside the Researchers’ Writing Academy- our academic writing program:

SCIENTIFIC WRITING COURSE: THE JOURNAL PUBLICATION FORMULA

This self-paced online course guides you through the whole process of writing a paper for a high-impact journal time-efficiently. Most videos are short (10-20 minutes), some are longer (40 minutes), the total viewing time is around 9 hours. The course also includes worksheets, templates and checklists and you will have access to the whole course for 12 months. 

BONUS WORKBOOK: THE PAPER WRITING GUIDE

You will receive a fillable PDF course companion workbook. Summarising the key points from the lessons, the workbook works as a detailed checklist that guides you through the paper writing process. Previous members have told me to publish and sell the workbook on its own because using it to write a paper was suddenly so efficient for them.

WAIT, THERE’S MORE.

You’ll also get access to our writing community and coaching.

COMMUNITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY

Writing doesn’t have to be lonely. Our members-only Researchers’ Writing Community (hosted on the platform Circle) is a space to network with like-minded researchers, celebrate wins, get accountability for your writing and meet other members for our weekly co-writing sessions and pop-up writing retreats. Become part of a network of researchers from all over the world — we have members in the US, UK, Italy, France, Germany, Canada, Denmark, New Zealand, Israel, Sweden, Czech Republic, Turkey, Brazil, Netherlands, Australia, Norway, Chile, Switzerland and counting.

COACHING AND MENTORSHIP

No question goes unanswered in our community group. We also host twice-monthly live group coaching calls. Submit your questions in advance and get tailored reviews of your story board, Introduction section, figures, cover letter — the choice is yours! Use the calls to consolidate what you learned in the lessons and to connect with the other members in the Academy.

Join us inside this scientific writing course!

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE RESEARCHERS’ WRITING ACADEMY?

12 x $87 usd.

PAYMENT PLAN

• Journal Publication Formula — the step-by-step paper writing system taught in 5 modules of a self-paced online course
• Member-only community hosted on Circle
• Paper Writing Guide (PDF Workbook) + worksheets + templates
• Twice-monthly group coaching calls (+ recordings*)
• Twice-monthly writing retreats
• Weekly co-writing sessions
• All course updates during enrolment period
• 12-month access

PAY IN FULL

• Twice-monthly live group coaching calls (+ recordings*)
• Weekly co-writing sessions 
• 12 month access

(Save $47 USD!)

Before enrolling in the Researchers' Writing Academy, I approached academic writing as something tedious that I needed to do. I struggled to know what story I wanted to tell in my papers and my writing always seemed kind of chunky and disconnected. More often than not, my co-authors and I would end up having an editing nightmare! Now, after joining the course, I have confidence in my writing skill. I know exactly what I need to do, how to structure paragraphs and how to make my writing flow. Anna is very patient with her students and able to pick up the story of a paper quickly - no matter the research field. Writing a paper with co-authors is now a much smoother process. I can now write a draft in just four weeks – if I’m clear on my results and fully in writing mode. The other big change is that I have started to really enjoy writing. Being able to see a year-long project turn into a well-written manuscript is so much fun! Since enrolling in the course, my papers read so much better and I have already published one paper (that was highlighted by the journal as paper of the month!) and two more are on the way!

Writing was dreadful for me. I had to write one last paper from my PhD and I had no motivation to do that because the paper had been rejected twice already and I had moved to a new role and discipline. The Journal Publication Formula gave me that clear vision of why people should care about the research and that made it easier to write the paper! It helped me organise my thoughts and the structure of the paper. The paper is under review now, so it passed the first test: It didn’t get desk-rejected! The prorgram helped me to enjoy writing and I think it made me a better academic! Because if you enjoy writing papers, you are going to write more of them. The program is definitely worth the money spent because you get the hang of how you want to structure your papers. Going through the process of the Journal Publication Formula gave me confidence into defining my own voice and what I wanted my papers to be like. It’s an investment into my future self.

Join the RWA now and participate in our special May events at no additional cost:

• Summer Writing Planning Workshop
• 2-week Guided Writing Sprint
• 3 Online Writing Retreats

WE WANT YOU TO FEEL COMFORTABLE WHEN INVESTING IN YOUR CAREER.

14-DAY MONEY-BACK-GUARANTEE.

I'm not asking you to make a decision now. Enrol in the Researchers' Writing Academy today and explore the program so you can make the most informed decision. Should the program not be the right fit for you (for whatever reason), you will receive a full refund up to 14 days after enrolling.

Writing doesn’t have to be lonely.

The awesome thing about joining the Researchers’ Writing Academy is that you don’t only get access to the academic writing course, you also get to meet researchers who are in the exact same boat as you. You can connect in our member-only community and meet for our weekly co-writing sessions and twice-monthly writing retreats.

RESEARCHERS FROM AROUND THE WORLD HAVE JOINED THE ACADEMY.

Current members and alumni of the Researchers’ Writing Academy are based at the Delft University of Technology (Netherlands), Stanford University (US), University of Michigan (US), University of Cambridge (UK), Harvard Medical School (US), ETH Zürich (Switzerland), University of Edinburgh (UK), The Arctic University of Norway, National Institute of Health (NIH; US), National Health Service (NHS; UK), Cornell University (US), University of Auckland (NZ), Karolinska Institute (SE), Trinity College Dublin (IE), MIT (US), Yale University (US), CNRS (France), Heidelberg University (DE), Cancer Research UK, Emory University (US) and many, many more.

EMAILS WE HAVE RECEIVED FROM OUR MEMBERS

Reply from a member after checking in with them 10 days after enrolling:.

Email from a member reaching out after her paper got published and attracted media attention:

Email from a member sharing her manuscript with us after it was published:

To get started with this scientific writing program, just choose your preferred option:

I really enjoyed the course. I am an excellent writer and have been writing and submitting manuscripts for a while. However, the course significantly improved my process of engaging with and receiving feedback from my co-authors. The particular breakthrough I received in the RWA was with regard to the necessary work prior to writing, especially with regard to creating an outline prior to committing to a full manuscript. It sounds like a simple intervention; but it really changed the way I interact with my co-authors. It has cut down significantly on major edits of fully written manuscripts and allows me to fully engage co-authors early on in the manuscript-writing process. Now there is less confusion and fewer surprises during the writing process!

The most concrete result after joining the Researchers’ Writing Academy is that my second PhD article has just been published in One Earth and the fact that it attracted media attention! It was really rewarding! But what is more important is that I now have confidence in the whole writing process and that is life-changing for me. I used the Scientific Storytelling Framework taught in the course not only to write my paper but also to prepare for the interviews with journalists. I think the Researchers’ Writing Academy is the only program available that teaches you how to organise the whole writing process so you produce a scientific paper that gets published.

Let me ask you this…

What would happen in your life and career if you could rely on a systematic process to write papers that get accepted in high-impact journals.

The question isn’t how much time you could save by mastering a repeatable system to write clear and concise papers.

IT’S WHAT MAY HAPPEN TO YOUR CAREER IF YOU DO.

If you invested $87 today….

...how much time could you save throughout the rest of your career ?  

Anna’s class was the most valuable time I spent trying to improve my writing skills. I finally feel like I have an effective recipe that will help me overcome my long-standing fear of turning results into a compelling document.

YOU ARE WARMLY INVITED TO JOIN US INSIDE THE RESEARCHERS’ WRITING ACADEMY

Learn how to write a scientific research paper efficiently in this academic writing course.

Join us now and get immediate access to the only blueprint you will ever need to get published in high-ranking journals while leaving the land of procrastination behind!

Before joining the Researchers’ Writing Academy, I was questioning if I belonged in academia – AND whether or not someone was going to figure out! My writing was disorganised and the feedback I would often get was something along the lines of “we don’t think your research fits in our journal” even though I thought it fitted perfectly. The Researchers’ Writing Academy has helped me understand in a tangible way how to communicate my research through storytelling. And I already got a Revise & Resubmit! I got so much confidence from this program and this is a big deal for me. Now I’m fully committed to my academic career! Anna demonstrates in the course that she actually knows the information she’s teaching and isn’t just regurgitating what others have said in the past. She really hooks her audience! On a broader level, I have understood that we researchers aren’t just all bad communicators. Rather, the reason why we often don’t communicate well is that we don’t know the process or structure to communicate better. And that’s fixable!

WHAT OUR ALUMNI SAY ABOUT OUR ACADEMIC WRITING COURSE — THE RESEARCHERS’ WRITING ACADEMY:

Maria Olczak, PhD candidate at Queens Mary University of London, shares her experience in the Researchers’ Writing Academy.

Read More →

Dr Amelie Jeanneau, bushfire risk researcher at The University of Adelaide in Australia details how she got the confidence to define her own voice through the Journal Publication Formula.

Read more →

Dr Katia Canenguez, Health Disparities researcher at Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School shares her experience in the Researchers’ Writing Academy.

Dr Soundarya Soundararajan, medical scientist at the National Institute of Occupational Health in India, reflects on her writing since joining the Researchers’ Writing Academy.

Dr Jia Ng, Assistant Professor at the Zucker School of Medicine in the US, reflects on her writing and her writing process since joining the Researchers’ Writing Academy.

Dr Jourdan Davis, Assistant Professor at the University of North Carolina, reflects on her writing since joining the Researchers’ Writing Academy.

Get funding from your institution!

Did you know you can get your institution to invest in your professional development?

Secure funding to join our scientific writing program - The Researchers' Writing Academy. Here's how to make the ask:

>> If you are currently in the process of getting funding from your institution, send me a message here so I can reserve a spot for you at the current price! 🔖 <<

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here are questions other researchers often ask before joining the Researchers’ Writing Academy:

STILL GOT A QUESTION? GET IN TOUCH.

Not the right licence type, we also offer licences for groups and institutions..

Enrol with 6 or more researchers from your lab, department or research group and get a discount of 30% per licence.

Have your whole university research staff, department graduate school get access to the Researchers’ Writing Academy at a flat rate.

OUR SCIENTIFIC WRITING COURSE — THE RESEARCHERS’ WRITING ACADEMY — IS RIGHT FOR YOU IF YOU WANT TO…

• Lay the foundation for a long and fruitful career in academia
• Get recognition for the science you’re doing and make an impact in your research field
• Have more time to actually do science
• Make writing enjoyable (yes, that IS possible for you too!)

Choose your payment option to join this scientific writing course and get proper academic writing training!

PAYMENT PLANS

Join the rwa now to participate in our special may events at no additional cost:.

Want to learn more?

I made this video to answer your questions about how to get published in top-tier journals without lacking structure in the writing process. You’ll understand how to avoid the three top mistakes researchers make when writing scientific papers that get them stuck in procrastination and desk-rejection territory.

*The coaching calls will be recorded and available to all participants of the course for 12 months from the date the call took place.

Testimonials. I present real world experiences, testimonials and insights about other people’s experiences with my programs and services for purpose of illustration only. The testimonials, examples, and photos used are of actual clients and results they personally achieved. They are not intended to represent or guarantee that current or future clients will achieve the same or similar results; rather, these testimonials represent what is possible for illustrative purposes only.

© Copyright 2018-2024 by Anna Clemens. All Rights Reserved. 

Photography by Alice Dix

• Harvard Library
• Research Guides
• Harvard Graduate School of Design - Frances Loeb Library

Write and Cite

• From Research to Writing
• Academic Integrity
• Citing Sources
• Fair Use, Permissions, and Copyright
• Writing Resources

Getting Started

Decoding the assignment, academic writing at the gsd, reading and notetaking.

• Grants and Fellowships

On this page you will find resources offering an overview of the writing process to help you begin your writing journey. This page focuses on best practices for academic writing and stages of the writing process, and it includes helpful guides for the types of writing you might encounter at the GSD. 

• Frances Loeb Library Homepage From the library homepage, you can access all kinds of resources and tools to help with your research.
• GSD Research Guides Start your research by utilizing our curated research guides.
• Manage Your Research Find GSD-approved tools to organize and store your research.
• Ask a Design Librarian If you have a research question and don't know who to ask, submit your question here and FLL library staff will find the answer.
• Research Consultations Meet with a GSD librarian to learn more about our collections, refine your research plan, and learn strategies for locating the sources you need.

Successful academic writing starts with identifying the explicit and implicit expectations of the assignment. If you don't understand the assignment, you may not only have trouble starting to write but might put effort into the wrong things. If you are still unsure how to proceed after following these steps, ask your instructor. And if you want support at any point in the writing process, including reading through the assignment, make an appointment with GSD's Writing Services at Frances Loeb Library.

Explicit Expectations

Look for these elements in the assignment prompt:

- Is it asking for outside research?

- Are there course texts or materials you will need to include?

- Is there an approximate length requirement?

- Which skills does it want you to demonstrate? Look for the verbs

• Compare or contrast

Implicit Expectations

Some expectations of the assignment may not be mentioned in the prompt, so give some thought to the context of the assignment to figure these out. 

- What kind of theoretical, practical, or disciplinary frameworks or procedures has the professor been modeling in class and assigning for homework? This writing assignment is probably in some way asking you to demonstrate understanding and proficiency in applying them.

- Who is your audience and what is the situation? You will adjust your use of industry terminology and the density of your writing depending on whether you are writing for your instructors or for a broader community. The assignment might not tell you that your writing will be persuasive or evaluative, but if you know your relationship to your audience, you can determine if you need to persuade them with evidence and analysis, help them make their own decision by providing pros and cons for a project, or energize them by helping them imagine the benefits and practicality of a design.

• Understanding Assignments UNC's Writing Center provides a detailed process for decoding assignments, including definitions of many key terms to watch for.
• Tips for Reading Assignment Prompts Harvard College Writing Center's brief overview of steps to take in understanding an assignment.
• Understanding Assignments Purdue OWL's succinct step-by-step guide for understanding assignment prompts.
• How to Read an Assignment Harvard College Writing Center's brief advice on what to do and avoid with examples.
• What is "Academic" Writing? This essay is useful for understanding style and method in academic writing.
• Harvard Faculty Explain Analytical Writing Faculty from Harvard College explain analytical writing in this project from the Harvard College Writing Center.
• Advice on Academic Writing This catalog of advice from the University of Toronto was created by writing instructors.
• Scholarly Pursuits (GSAS) This searchable booklet from Harvard GSAS is a comprehensive guide to writing dissertations, dissertation-fellowship applications, academic journal articles, and academic job documents.
• Strategies for Essay Writing This resource from Harvard College Writing Center offers strategies to begin a writing project.

On this page you will find resources to help you on the "front end" of your writing journey. Most of these documents and sites focus on reading and notetaking strategies to help you build a research agenda and argument. Also included are a series of resources from the GSD and Harvard for productivity and time management. 

Questions to ask before you start reading:

1. how much time do i have for this text.

If you have more to read than you can realistically complete in the time you have, you will need to be strategic about how to proceed. Powering through as fast as you can for as long as you can will not be efficient or effective. 

2. What do I most need from this text?

Knowing your purpose will help you determine how long you should spend on any one part of that text. If you are reading for class or for research, or if you are reading for background information or to explore an argument, you will use different reading strategies.

3. How can I find what I need from this text?

Once you know what you need, there are strategies for finding it quickly, like pre-reading, skimming, and scanning.

Determining your purpose

Your purpose will become clearer if you first situate the text within a larger context.

Reading for Class

Your professor had a reason for assigning the text, so first try to understand their intention. The professor might tell you their reason or provide reading questions to direct you. You can also infer the purpose from headings and groupings in the syllabus and from how the professor has approached prior readings in past lectures. Looking ahead to how you might use the text in future assignments or projects will also help you decide how much time to spend and what to focus on.

Reading for Research

For independent research, you will first need to decide if a text is even worth reading. Plan ahead by knowing what you need, like background information, theoretical underpinnings, similar arguments to engage with critically, or images and data. Check the source's date and author(s) to determine its relevance and authority. Keep your research goals in mind and try to stay focused on your immediate goals. If you discover a text that interests you but is not for this project, make a note to come back to it later. However, a source that excites your interest and changes your research goals or argument can be worth following now so long as you still have time to make that change. 

Once you decide that a source is worth your time, you will apply your choice of reading strategy based on the type of information the text contains and how you plan to use it. For instance, if you want to use a graphic or obtain biographical information, a quick search would be enough. If you want to challenge the author’s argument, you will need to read more rigorously and slowly.

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• Grant Funding for Researchers Certificate

Online certificate program for clinicians and basic scientists seeking grant funding from diverse sources

Consulting Service: NIH K Grant Specific Aims 

Apply to have the specific aims section of your grant reviewed by Harvard faculty. Request consult .

For more information:

Course goals.

• Learn how to discover funding opportunities, and understand the requirements of funders and expectations once awarded.
• Understand the basic construction of a grant and how to address each component when applying for NIH, non-NIH government agencies, foundations, philanthropic, and industry funding.
• Tailor your research interests to the priorities of government agencies, foundations, philanthropic organizations, and industry.
• Learn the communication skills necessary to cultivate and maintain relationships with foundations and industry professionals.
• Learn ways that mentors, grant administrators, and other collaborators can support your grant funding process.

The Grant Funding for Researchers Certificate combines five existing online grant writing courses. Throughout the program, participants will learn the skills needed to meet grant application requirements from diverse funding sources.

Topics include:

Techniques to Writing a Competitive Grant In this module, participants will learn grant writing strategies firsthand from researchers who have successfully applied for funding from a variety of sources.

NIH Funding: Navigating the R01 & K Grant Submission Process Designed with the NIH K/R grant cycle in mind, this course begins with an overview of the NIH grant submission process. Participants will learn about writing the sections of the R01 and K grants, as well as the NIH peer review process. Through video lectures and interviews, this module will discuss the NIH diversity programs and supplements.

Non-NIH Government Agency Funding: Grant Submission Process Participants will explore the availability of medical research funding from the National Science Foundation, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, Department of Defense, and other non-NIH agencies.

Industry Funding: Application Process & Establishing Industry Relationships Designed as an introduction to industry funding, this module will focus on the unique aspects of this process.

Funding Your Research: How to Obtain Foundation & Philanthropic Grants Participants will learn how to identify and apply for foundation and philanthropic grant funding. Researchers who have successfully applied for funding discuss their strategies, as well as the relational aspects that occur between the researcher, institution, and foundation and/or philanthropic organization.

Session dates

September 20, 2023 – June 26, 2024

Time commitment

Online coursework and assignments average two to three hours per week.

Please note: To be eligible to receive a Professional Certificate and/or CME credits, participants must complete all required assignments and surveys by Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024 .

Application due

September 15, 2023 at 5:00pm ET

Clinical researchers, basic scientists, and junior division grant administrators who seek to gain an initial overview of grant writing including how to prepare, manage, and write competitive grant applications.

Eligibility

Participants are expected to have a central hypothesis or objective for their future grant application so that they can use the program to begin preparing for submission within the next two years. This program is ideal for:

• MD, PhD, DMD, ScD, DNP, doctorate- or master-level degree, or actively involved with the grant-writing process
• Grant administrators who are involved pre- and post-award management
• Free for Harvard and affiliates
• Non-CTSA member: $1500.00
• CTSA member: $1125.00
• Cancellation and Refund Policy [PDF]

Accreditation Statement

The Harvard Catalyst Education Program is accredited by the Massachusetts Medical Society to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Harvard Catalyst Education Program’s policy requires full participation and the completion of all activity surveys to be eligible for CME credit; no partial credit is allowed.

The application process is currently closed. Please check back for future opportunities.

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ENG-101 Academic Writing & Research 1

Learn critical writing, reading, and thinking strategies. Write multiple essays, culminating in an instructor-guided research paper. Analyze a variety of texts and identify their cultural, historical, and social contexts. Develop foundational information literacy, academic research, and documentation skills. Prerequisite: Appropriate placement into ENG 101. Note: A grade of C or better is required to satisfy the general education requirement. Also offered as ENG 101H; credit is not given for both ENG 101 and ENG 101H.

Term: Spring 2024

Course Type: Credit - 3 Credits

Section: 007 (Closed)

Ways to take the class: Face-to-face

Time: 9:30AM to 10:45AM

Start Date: 01/22/2024

End Date: 05/19/2024

Location: Arnold Campus

Room: HUM 104 Building: Humanities

Instructor: Kathrine Perkins (Subject to change)

Class Size: 20

General Education Requirement: English Composition

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Content Writing Cornell Certificate Program

Overview and courses.

Crafting effective content and copy is an essential skill for anyone looking to spread a message. Whether creating content for a social media brand strategy, writing an executive brief, or developing an email campaign, writing effective copy to deliver the right content, to the right audience, at the right time, is the key to success.

This certificate program provides an opportunity to strengthen your copywriting and content writing skills. You will examine how to write content that attracts attention and engages the reader in a manner that increases the likelihood that your message is received. You will review writing commonalities that transcend content type and delivery methods. You will then explore diverse applications and practice specific writing assignments, whether writing a post for a website or social media, creating a press release or media story, or composing an email summarizing a policy change or new business opportunity. Through each course, you have the opportunity to put each concept into practice for writing types and audiences of your choice. By the end of this program, you will have developed a set of best practices to make you a better writer.

For the best experience in this program it is recommended to take these courses in the order that they appear.

This program includes a year of free access to Symposium! These events feature several days of live, highly participatory virtual Zoom sessions with Cornell faculty and experts to explore the marketing industry’s most pressing topics. Symposium events are held several times throughout the year. Once enrolled in your program, you will receive information about upcoming events. Throughout the year, you may participate in as many sessions as you wish. Attending Symposium sessions is not required to successfully complete the certificate program.

Course list

Writing concise copy.

Writing concise copy is a crucial skill for any professional looking to communicate complex ideas to an internal or external audience.

This course provides you with important insights about how to write concisely for various professional applications, including effective issue and topic summaries, policy briefs, and memos. You will investigate how to incorporate and summarize complex content as well as how to establish an effective writing format, style, and tone for a given writing product. Finally, you will convert complex or technical content into a concise copy that is understandable for a non-expert audience. By the end of this course, you will be able to craft accessible, information-based copy describing or defining an issue, event, or activity.

Writing Persuasive Copy

Persuasive writing provides an opportunity to influence readers and help facilitate change. Any time you write material that attempts to encourage action, shape opinion, analyze options, or influence perception or direction, you are engaged in persuasive writing.

In this course, you will be introduced to a three-step process that will enable you to create compelling, fact-supported analyses, arguments, opinions, and recommendations to influence others. You will then be guided through the process of establishing strong, reasoned content while writing persuasive copy for an audience of your choice. By the end of this course, you will have practiced writing clear, concise copy that persuades readers to engage with and act upon your arguments and recommendations.

Writing Web Copy

In today's communication landscape, writing effective web copy is one of the most important skills you can master. Websites are the primary way that organizations communicate with customers, stakeholders, and an interested public. Crafting effective, tailored web content is an essential skill for communication professionals and others tasked with creating website content.

In this course, you will practice skills that will help you master writing web copy for maximum understanding, engagement, and impact. These skills require approaching communication from multiple angles — from the big-picture view to the precise language you use. In this course, you will be provided with tools and guidance that will help you define your intended audience and create written copy that will make your website stand out from the crowd — not only capturing but maintaining your audience's attention in a meaningful way.

Writing Online Media Copy

Crafting media stories for the online world is a critical skill for any professional who engages in communication with the general public. This flexible form of writing is used for public relations, marketing, blogs and informative stories. The media format is highly adaptable and is the foundation of press releases, event announcements, newsletters, articles, and other forms of communication with public audiences.

This course delves into the best practices for writing for online media. You will start by exploring the basics of effective writing skills and how to apply them in a variety of digital formats to strengthen your foundation. By creating effective headlines and openers, you will discover how to grab your reader's attention and keep them engaged. Using narrative techniques, you will develop the skills to build on your reader's attention and draw your audience in. Ultimately, by refining your transitions, word choice, voice, rhythm, and paragraph structure, you will leave this course with a stronger skill set in media writing.

Writing Social Media Copy

Creating engaging social media content is critical in today's multimedia world. Even the most seasoned writers often fail to create effective posts; social media platforms differ in content and scope, and the landscape changes quickly. Mastering fundamental best practices and avoiding some of the most common mistakes will greatly enhance your communication strategy, no matter which social media platforms you use.

In this course, you will practice amplifying your online content by using social media platforms to drive traffic and increase sharing. You will explore the proven “hub and spoke” concept to drive readers to your central website content. By learning how to differentiate your content depending on the platform, you will more efficiently reach and resonate with your target audience. Forming an overarching strategic social media approach before you craft individual posts will ensure your messaging has maximum impact. By the end of this program, you will have the skills you need to write punchy, powerful text that readers both enjoy and trust.

Marketing Symposium   LIVE

Symposium sessions feature two days of live, highly interactive virtual Zoom sessions that will explore today’s most pressing topics. The Marketing Symposium offers you a unique opportunity to engage in real-time conversations with peers and experts from the Cornell community and beyond. Using the context of your own experiences, you will take part in reflections and small-group discussions to build on the skills and knowledge you have gained from your courses.

Join us for the next Symposium, in which we’ll share experiences from across the industry, inspiring real-time conversations about best practices, innovation, and the future of marketing work. You will support your coursework by applying your knowledge and experiences to some of the most pressing topics and trends in the marketing field. By participating in relevant and engaging discussions, you will discover a variety of perspectives and build connections with your fellow participants from across the industry.

Upcoming Symposium: August 13 – 14, 2024 11AM – 1PM ET

All sessions are held on Zoom.

Future dates are subject to change. You may participate in as many sessions as you wish. Attending Symposium sessions is not required to successfully complete any certificate program. Once enrolled in your courses, you will receive information about upcoming events. Accessibility accommodations will be available upon request.

How It Works

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Faculty Author

• Certificates Authored

Lauren Chambliss is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Communication for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University. Professor Chambliss’ experience lies in communicating for impact and influence for public audiences, particularly target audiences, media, policymakers and opinion/thought leaders, and targeted stakeholder groups. She focuses on written expression and teaches a core course, “Writing for Communication,” at Cornell. Her interest is in using research-based techniques in multiple media messaging, including online and social media, to convey messages and improve public understanding of science-based information and solutions to global challenges. Professor Chambliss is committed to helping students master critical communication skills through the application of theory for today’s dynamic media environment.

In addition to her regular teaching schedule, Professor Chambliss created the first international writing course and online writing course for CALS. She also runs a competitive six-month fellowship program that teaches selected students to master research-based communication skills then pairs them with local, national, and international organizations working on the front lines of environmental justice, education, and activism.

Professor Chambliss earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Berkeley, and holds a Master’s degree from American University. She is a former Director of Communications at the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, overseeing all marketing and communication, and worked as a journalist in Washington, D.C., for 20 years. Professor Chambliss has earned multiple awards for her work, including the Town-Gown Team Award (2016), Department of Communication faculty team and EcoVillage of Ithaca Partnership Award; the Stevie International Business Award – Bronze Best Annual Report (2015) International Business Awards; the CASE Bronze Award (2011), sub-website category: CALS Green: Energy Conservation and Sustainability Initiative website; and the USDA Grand Challenge Award (2008) for best report on the future of bioenergy.

Content Writing

Key course takeaways.

• Present information succinctly and share key points in a compelling way
• Write persuasive content that engages readers with clear, actionable next steps
• Develop website audience personas and craft web content that attracts and retains the intended audience
• Transfer best practices to effectively write for a variety of online outlets, including media stories for public audiences
• Target and influence readers on social media platforms with messages reflective of an individual’s or organization’s brand

Download a Brochure

What You'll Earn

• Content Writing Certificate from Cornell University
• 50 Professional Development Hours (5 CEUs)

Watch the Video

Who should enroll.

• Copywriters and copy editors
• Staff writers
• Communications professionals
• Technical writers
• Web content developers
• Social media and blog content developers

“Completing eCornell’s Content Writing certificate program was an incredible experience for me. I am a marketer, and I was able to apply each of my projects directly to the tasks I was working on in my role. The things that I learned, the tips, the tools, the information, and the leave-behinds made me a better marketer and will continue to make me a stronger content creator. Thank you, eCornell, for this exceptional program!”

Request information now by completing the form below..

Enter your information to get access to a virtual open house with the eCornell team to get your questions answered live.

UW TACOMA DIVISION OF CULTURE, ART AND COMM WRITING INSTRUCTION

• Spring Quarter 2024
• Summer Quarter 2024
• Autumn Quarter 2024

TWRT 101 Writing Ready (2) Provides a foundation in college-level writing before enrolling in Introduction to Academic Writing and the first-year program. Introduces reading and composing skills needed for successful writing in academic settings, including close readings, critical thinking, and writing in response to others' ideas. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 101

TWRT 111 Discourse Foundations (2, max. 8) Helps improve academic writing skills by focusing on students' own writing practices. Teaches reading skills to comprehend and analyze complex texts, review and analyze grammar structures as they appear in academic writing, and build advanced vocabulary. Prerequisite: either TWRT 120, TWRT 121, or TCORE 101; must be taken concurrently . Credit/no-credit only. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 111

TWRT 120 Academic Writing I (5) Introduces principles of argument, critical thinking, reflection, analytical reading, writing, and research practices needed for academic writing. Covers skills for managing the writing process and how to transfer learning to other disciplinary contexts for writing as part of first of a two-course sequence. Prerequisite: completion of Tacoma Writing Selection survey. Credit/no-credit only. Offered: AW. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 120

TWRT 121 Academic Writing II (5) C Reinforces and engages more deeply with principles of argument, critical thinking, reflection, analytical reading, writing, and research practices needed for academic writing. Covers skills for managing the writing process and how to transfer learning to other disciplinary contexts for writing as second part of a two-course sequence. Prerequisite: TWRT 120. Offered: WSp. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 121

TWRT 200 Introduction to Creative Writing (5) A&H Introduces several genres and explores the creative writing process and terminology of imaginative expression. Cannot be taken for credit if credit received for TWRT 201. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 200

TWRT 201 Creative Writing in the Global Context (5) A&H Introduces fundamentals of Prose and Poetry writing and explores the creative writing process and terminology of imaginative expression within international contexts. Emphasizes the importance of local and global audiences in shaping literary arts through Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) projects in partnership with students and faculty at international universities. Cannot be taken for credit if credit received for TWRT 200. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 201

TWRT 211 Argument and Research in Writing (5) C Focuses on writing critical analyses of texts in the arts and sciences. Emphasizes close reading, critical thinking, and developing well-supported arguments as well as advanced library research skills. Stresses managing the writing process so that good work can be produced within given time constraints. Prepares students for upper-division writing tasks. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 211

TWRT 270 Poetry Writing (5) A&H Introduces students to the craft and process of poetry writing from initial draft to advanced revision. Explores current writing styles, poetic forms, and various aesthetic issues. Students discuss craft, assigned writings, and share work with other class members. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 270

TWRT 274 Spoken Word Poetry (5) A&H, DIV Introduces students to creating spoken word performances and studying spoken word and slam poetry by analyzing its composition, performance, and social and historical contexts. Develops critical studies relevant to the U.S. rooted in social theories of race, gender, ethnicity and disability, and concepts related to inequality and exclusion. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 274

TWRT 280 Fiction Writing (5) A&H Introduces the process and techniques of fiction writing. Readings familiarize students with various writing styles and strategies of other writers. Students discuss craft, the assigned readings, and share work with other class members. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 280

TWRT 287 Creative Nonfiction Writing (5) A&H Builds narrative and descriptive skills in several genres of creative nonfiction, including the personal essay, feature articles for general trade magazines, or the literary essay. Includes reading of models and writers' workshops to provide feedback on drafts. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 287

TWRT 291 Technical Communication in the Workplace (5) C Teaches objective-oriented and audience-centered communication for the workplace, while focusing on key genres of technical communication - reports, proposals, manual, and document design - essential for success in the professional world. Prerequisite: a minimum grade of 2.0 in either T CORE 101, TWRT 112, TWRT 121, or TWRT 211. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 291

TWRT 292 Power, Privilege, and Bias in Technology Design (3) DIV Explores how design and technology are shaped by social, political, cultural and material forces and can create barriers and contribute to social change, inequality and equity. Examines technology as a tool of oppression or liberation in regards to identity categories and difference--ability, ethnicity, race, age, class, gender, and sexuality. Prerequisite: Either TCORE 101, TWRT 112, TWRT 121, TWRT 211, ENGL 131, or ENGL 141. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 292

TWRT 320 Rhetoric, Public Life, and Civic Engagement (5) Introduces rhetorical criticism by examining how particular rhetorical theories and traditions have been applied to specific social issues. Explores the development of rhetoric, as both a theory and a practice, and how those at the margins of the Western rhetorical tradition have worked to expand its purview. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 320

TWRT 330 Written and Visual Rhetoric (5) A&H Explores the principles and practices of written and visual rhetoric to learn to employ both effectively in print-based and electronic texts. Prerequisite: minimum grade of 2.0 in TWRT 211. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 330

TWRT 331 Writing in the Natural Sciences (5) A&H, C Studies communications and rhetorical principles for sharing scientific knowledge in professional meetings with other scientists and with general audiences. Focuses on three most common genes: scientific paper (including literature review and abstract writing), research proposal, and scientific poster. Prerequisite: a minimum grade 2.0 in either TWRT 211 or TWRT 291. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 331

TWRT 333 Writing Through Comics (5) A&H Introduces a critical perspective on comics and builds skills in creative writing and rhetoric studies. Focuses on theory and craft, providing a lens for interpretation and application, employing workshops for students to create (and revise) their own comics. Prerequisite: minimum 2.0 grade in either T CORE 101, TWRT 112, TWRT 121, TWRT 211 or ENGL 131. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 333

TWRT 340 Asian American Rhetorics, Literacies, and Activism (5) DIV Explores rhetorical and literacy practices of diverse Asian Americans and analyzes the role of language in Asian American activism across time and space. Develops skills in rhetorical analysis and multimodal composition. Prerequisite: a minimum grade of 2.0 in either T CORE 101, TWRT 112, TWRT 121, TWRT 211, ENGL 121, ENGL 131, ENGL 141, or ENGL 182; recommended: TWRT 211 or T SOC 270. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 340

TWRT 350 Principles of User Centered Design (5) SSc Explores the philosophy and process for developing solutions to design problems, including technical systems such as software applications and communication projects such as websites. Develops skills to identify and solve design problems through research, testing, and analysis. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 350

TWRT 353 User Experience Writing (5) Explores the concept of writing as a design practice and process used to solve problems for users through a human-centered design process. Develops skills to research and write for inclusive user experiences, including the ability to understand and address implicit bias through strategic use of tone, voice, and language. Prerequisite: either T CORE 101, TWRT 121, TWRT 211, or TWRT 291. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 353

TWRT 355 Usability Testing and Research (5) SSc Explores the concept of usability and research methods related to the evaluation of information and communication products as part of the user-centered design process. Develops skills to design and conduct usability studies, analyze results, and make recommendations. Prerequisite: TWRT 291. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 355

TWRT 360 PLAYWRITING (5) A&H Introduces foundational skills in playwriting and writing for the stage including reading of scripts and analyses of produced plays to develop awareness of the playwright's process and position in theater productions. Employs workshops to provide feedback on drafts as students write and refine scripts. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 360

TWRT 362 Writing and War (5) A&H/SSc Introduces students to the practice of multi-genre creative writing in the context of war. Emphasizes the writing of witness and explores the cultural impact of violent conflict in poetry and prose. Discusses writing as an act of peace and requires students to develop creative writing techniques in multiple genres. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 362

TWRT 364 Food Writing for Cultural Exploration (5) A&H, DIV Examines the construction of cultural identity through the craft and structure of writing food-focused narratives. Using Latinx and Ethnic American interdisciplinary texts, students will evaluate the intersectional nature of race/ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomics in food traditions. These texts will be used as models for the creation of original content in poetry and prose. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 364

TWRT 365 Literary Editing and Publishing (5) A&H Explores practices of literary editing, magazine design, and literary small press publishing. Readings examine history, aesthetics, funding, promotion, layout, and other issues faced by literary journals in print and in emerging online media. Student assignments reflect practices of literary editors. Credit/no-credit only. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 365

TWRT 372 Writing Eco-Poetry (5) A&H Introduces the practice of poetry writing within the context of nature and eco-writing. Develops skills to read, analyze, and respond to seminal works of nature poems, eco-poems, and critical essays from Romanticism to contemporary poetry, then create, workshop, and revise original nature and eco-poems. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 372

TWRT 382 WRITING POPULAR FICTION (5) A&H Teaches students to write popular fiction. Explores questions of narrative, characterization, action, form, formula, and code in popular genres. Uses primary and secondary texts to study mystery, romance, spy thriller, western, horror, and science fiction. Emphasizes peer review, revision, assessment, and reflection as methods of producing excellent written work. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 382

TWRT 384 WRITING HISTORICAL FICTION (5) A&H Builds upon foundations skills in fiction writing and introduces elements essential to writing historical fiction, including research. Includes readings from creative and historical texts and employs workshops to provide feedback on drafts as students write and revise their own short stories. Prerequisite: either TWRT 200, TWRT 280, TWRT 380, or TWRT 382. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 384

TWRT 388 Writing for Social Change (5) A&H Examines the rhetorical force of various forms of communication within specific social, political, and cultural contexts. Building on research and writing completed in other courses, students compose a project demonstrating their learning and which is intended for public audiences. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 388

TWRT 389 Nature Writing (5) A&H Introduces students to the skills of creative non-fiction writing within the context of nature and environmental writing. Students read, analyze, and respond to seminal works of nature essays and environmental essays, as well as eco-critical writing, then create, workshop, and revise their own original nature and environmental essays. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 389

TWRT 391 Advanced Technical Communication (5) A&H Explores Technical Communication concepts and skills to inform the creation of information across a variety of genres. Focuses on researching, creating, and delivering information through written and oral communication forms used in professional and technical settings. Prerequisite: TWRT 291 View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 391

TWRT 420 Rhetoric and the City: Composing Urban Landscapes (5) SSc Examines cites through an interdisciplinary lens, as texts that can be read, revised, and re-written as/through symbolic action. After reading and discussing critical theory about space and place, students conduct place-based research in preparation to compose critical essays, narratives, and visuals depicting specific experiences related to the city. Prerequisite: either T CORE 101, TWRT 112, TWRT 121, TWRT 211, ENGL 131, or ENGL 141; recommended: TWRT 320, TWRT 330, TWRT 340, or TWRT 388. Offered: Sp. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 420

TWRT 440 Cross-Cultural Communication Design (5) SSc Examines issues that affect communication from global and local perspectives including the role culture and technology play in human interactions. Discusses the research and practices that writers and designers need to consider when internationalizing and localizing information products. Explores techniques and skills to develop effective communication products. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 440

TWRT 450 Principles of Accessible Design (5) SSc Explores accessibility barriers, standards, and guidelines for designing products and processes such as self-service kiosks and websites. Develops skills to solve accessibility problems through video ethnographies of barriers, apply automated and adaptive technology tools for testing and analyze data for devising solutions. Prerequisite: either TWRT 291, TWRT 350, TWRT 355, TWRT 440, TCOM 320, or TCOM 420. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 450

TWRT 464 Teaching Writing (5) A&H Studies theories and practices of writing education and the history and challenges of writing assessment. Explores learning communities. Emphasizes pedagogical questions of social class, ethnicity, multilingualism, gender, sexual orientation, disability, and nationality. Prerequisite: minimum grade of 2.0 in either TWRT 211 or TWRT 272. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 464

TWRT 470 Advanced Poetry Writing (5, max. 10) A&H Builds upon foundational skills in writing both traditional and contemporary poetry. Includes reading of models and writers' workshops to provide feedback on drafts. Students develop a portfolio of polished writing by the end of the course. Prerequisite: minimum grade of 2.0 in either TWRT 270 or TWRT 372. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 470

TWRT 480 Advanced Fiction Writing (5, max. 10) A&H Builds upon foundational skills in fiction writing such as dialog, narration, theme, language, and character. Includes reading of models and writers' workshops to provide feedback on drafts. Students develop a portfolio of polished writing by the end of the course. Prerequisite: minimum grade of 2.0 in either TWRT 280, TWRT 380, TWRT 382, or TWRT 384. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 480

TWRT 487 Advanced Creative Nonfiction (5, max. 10) A&H Builds on beginning creative nonfiction skills in several genres: personal or lyric essay, literary journalism, the nonfiction "short", or prose poetry. Includes reading of models and writers' workshops to provide feedback on drafts. Students develop a portfolio of polished writing by the end of the course. Prerequisite: TWRT 287 or TWRT 389. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 487

TWRT 492 Special Topics in Rhetoric and Composition (5, max. 10) SSc Introduces students to current and emergent conversations in the fields of/at the intersection of rhetoric, composition, literacy studies, and technical communication. The content of specific sections to be determined by individual faculty in Writing Studies in reflection of their research and scholarly interests. Sections may also reflect new directions in research methods and pedagogical approaches. Prerequisite: either T CORE 101, TWRT 112, TWRT 121, TWRT 211, ENGL 131, or ENGL 141. ; recommended: TWRT 320, TWRT 330, TWRT 340, or TWRT 388. Offered: Sp. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 492

TWRT 499 Advanced Topics in Creative Writing (1-5, max. 15) A&H Builds on beginning creative writing skills. Includes reading of models and writers' workshops to provide feedback on drafts. Students work on developing a portfolio of published writing. Prerequisite: either TWRT 270, TWRT 280, or TWRT 287. View course details in MyPlan: TWRT 499

Free Online Grant Writing Classes

Ready to learn how to write a winning nonprofit grant proposal choose your first course and learn where to find grants, how to become a grant writer, grant writing best practices, and so much more, explore some of our most popular courses on grant writing.

Get Grant Ready

Cornerstone ondemand foundation.

This short video covers the basics of preparing a grant application.

Acquiring Public Grants

Dare mighty things.

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Proposal Writing

Cornerstone ondemand foundation, learn how to write effective and persuasive grant proposals..

Earn a free certificate in grant writing!

Learn how to find the right grants for your nonprofit and write great grant proposals with this free, 2-hour online training. Eligible for CFRE Continuing Education Credits.

> Click here to learn more about this free grant writing certificate program 

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Legal Research, Writing & Analysis I

Course Details

This course can only be taken as part of the Certificate in Paralegal Studies .

About this Course

Thorough research, excellent writing and careful analysis are integral components of legal work. As Bryan Garner notes in The Winning Brief , “Good writing can win cases, and bad writing can lose them.” Finding the law, stating it, and applying it clearly and correctly is the pathway to success in the practice of law. 

This course deals with the fundamentals of legal research, writing and analysis, along with the skills needed to communicate effectively in legal matters. You’ll be introduced to the principles of good legal writing, commonly used legal research sources, the formats of legal memoranda, and proper legal citation. You’ll discover that writing is not only a communication tool but also an essential part of developing the analytical skills necessary to practicing law.

What You’ll Learn

• Ways to locate and use the standard legal research materials for Washington state, both in the library and online
• The basics of using Westlaw and other computer-assisted legal research tools
• Techniques for analyzing statutory and case authority and applying it to a given fact pattern
• How to prepare objective legal memoranda
• Methods for citing commonly used legal materials applying The Bluebook and Washington Style Sheet rules

Program Overview

Complete the courses listed below to earn the certificate. The number of courses offered each quarter varies depending on how many quarters the program covers. See below for details.

COURSES  

Introduction to Law & Legal Practice

Professional Responsibility & Ethics

Civil Procedure & Litigation I

Interviewing & Investigation Techniques

Law Office Procedures & Technology

Civil Procedure & Litigation II

Contract Law

Legal Research, Writing & Analysis II

Business Law

Complex Litigation

Litigation Specialties

Certificate in Paralegal Studies

Sponsored by the UW School of Law .

View this program's advisory board .

Advisory Board

Each of our programs uses an advisory board to review content, guide design and recommend updates to ensure the program remains current as the field of study evolves. By tapping the minds of the top thinkers, doers and leaders in the field, we offer a transformational learning experience. The following individuals serve as the advisory board for this program.

Judge Abby Cynamon , Circuit Court, Eleventh Judicial Circuit, Miami-Dade County, Florida

Robb Doody , Program Manager, International & Academic Programs, UW Continuum College

Elva Gonzalez , Senior Paralegal, Perkins Coie LLP, and Past President, Washington State Paralegal Association

Brenda Higley , Litigation Paralegal Manager, Perkins Coie LLP

Amy Holman , Senior Litigation Paralegal, Calfo Eakes LLP

Shelly Langley , Owner, Langley Recruiting, LLC

Elissa Leavitt , Legal Operations Manager, Menlo Security, Inc.

Terry J. Price , Executive Director, Graduate Education, UW School of Law

David Soma , J.D., Attorney

Talk to an Enrollment Coach

Our enrollment coaches can help you determine if the Legal Research, Writing & Analysis I course is right for you. Your coach can also support you as you apply and enroll. Start the conversation!

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Undergraduate Course Descriptions and Writing Placement Scores

Mission:         The purpose of Writing Academic English courses is to provide matriculated undergraduate students whose native language is not English with the necessary skills to write at the college level. Students are initially enrolled based on writing placement scores.  The ultimate goal of each 3-credit course is for the student to advance to the next level until the proficiency necessary to succeed in the mainstream writing program has been reached.

WAE 190 - Intermediate Writing Academic English:  The purpose of WAE 190 is to provide students with writing experiences designed to help them express ideas effectively in sentences.  It strives to develop students' writing skills through the use of the dictionary, practicing structures of written English, and learning to proofread in preparation for advanced editing in WAE 192.  To accomplish these goals, students work on expanding their English competence on the sentence level, work on expanding their vocabulary through reading and the use of the dictionary, work on strategies that promote independence and proofreading of their writing and complete many short writing assignments.  Grammar proficiency tests are administered throughout the semester. These tests emphasize the use of particular grammatical points in the context of a creative effort on the part of the student.  A final exam is administered that is judged by a committee composed of PAE writing instructors.  This course is graded A-F.  A grade below a C requires the student to repeat the course.  A grade of C or better requires the student to advance to WAE 192.                                                                                                      

Prerequisite:  Writing Placement Score  1 

WAE 192 - High Intermediate Writing Academic English:       The purpose of WAE 192 is to provide students with writing experiences designed to help them express ideas effectively in sentences and paragraphs.  It strives to develop students' writing skills through the use of the dictionary, practicing structures of written English and learning to edit in preparation for advanced editing in WAE 194.  To accomplish these goals, students work on expanding their English competence on the sentence level, work on expanding their vocabulary through reading and use of the dictionary, work on strategies that promote independence and editing of their writing and complete many short writing assignments and one informal essay.  Grammar proficiency tests are administered throughout the semester.  These tests emphasize the use of particular grammatical points in the context of a creative effort on the part of the students.  A final exam is administered that is judged by a committee composed of PAE writing instructors. This course is graded A-F.  A grade below a C requires the student to repeat the course.  A grade of C or better requires the student to advance to WAE 194.  

Prerequisite:  Writing Placement Score 1.5 or successful completion of WAE 190                                              

WAE 194 - Advanced Writing Academic English:   The purpose of WAE 194 is to provide students with writing experiences designed to improve their academic writing skills through the process of prewriting, drafting, editing and revising.  It also strives to build confidence, fluency and grammatical correctness in students' writing and it serves as preparation for WRT 101.  To accomplish these goals, students keep a journal, work on expanding their English competence on the sentence level, work on strategies that promote independence and self-evaluation of their writing, complete many short writing assignments and produce at least two longer revised essays. Grammar proficiency tests and a midterm are administered throughout the semester.  These tests emphasize the use of particular grammatical points in the context of a creative effort on the part of the student.  The final exam, a process writing essay, is judged by a committee composed of PAE writing instructors  This course is graded A-F.  A grade below a C requires the student to repeat the course.  A grade of C or better requires the student to advance to WRT 101.     

Prerequisite:  Writing Placement Score 2 or successful completion of WAE 192

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In this one-day workshop, you'll learn the three dimensions of professional writing: organization, format, and style. Using the Business Writers Handbook, you will become familiar with the generally accepted principles governing day-to-day correspondence. You will review how to improve your writing skills by applying plain English principles, such as writing in the active voice. You will also discuss how to manage the writing and editing process when working with a team of contributors. The instructor will focus on letters and memos (whether delivered on paper by mail, or electronically by email), reports, and executive summaries.

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Building While on a Visa—Tips for Immigrant Founders

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Are you an immigrant entrepreneur navigating the challenges of building a startup while on a visa? Or an international student unsure where to begin? Join us for an insightful session with Alexis Maciel, an investor at Unshackled Ventures, as she shares valuable tips and best practices for immigrant founders.

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May 13-17: Boulder Startup Week —A free conference-style event with sessions at local venues in downtown Boulder that educate attendees and provide professional networking opportunities.

May 16:  Mercury 100 and IQ Awards —BizWest presents the Mercury 100 Fastest-Growing Private Companies Awards and the IQ Awards (Innovation Quotient) in one gala event and wants you to be a part of the celebration.

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Writing data management plans - term 3 training sessions

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Learn more about writing data management plans using the UCL DMP template. Places are available for both the face-to-face and online courses.

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It's Giving Syntactic Shift Examining the Syntactic Pattern of It's Giving "X"

Article sidebar, main article content.

This paper was originally written for Dr. Heather Bliss’ LING 282W course Writing for Linguistics . The assignment asked students to investigate a research question based on previous writing assignments into an experimental or argument paper. The paper uses APA citation style.

Past findings have shown that the syntactic category of slang terms often have a tendency to shift and deviate from the standard variety of the language. For example, one study exploring the syntactic category of the slang diminutive suffix “-ie” shows that when added to a verb, it forms a noun such as “munchie”—the feeling of hunger after smoking marijuana—from “munch”—to eat snack foods (Gallová, 2021). While this highlights a specific aspect of syntactic variation in slang, further research on the linguistic properties of other slang terms remains warranted. The present study shares a similar focus, aiming to determine the type of syntactic shift shown by the slang phrase “it’s giving X”, with “X” being any particular modifier of the direct object. Specifically, the inquiry addresses whether “X” adheres to a subject-verb-indirect object-direct object (S-V-IO-DO [1] ) or simply a subject-verb-direct object (S-V-DO [2] ) sentence pattern. To explore this, three Gen Z participants, proficient in Standard Canadian English, performed a test for syntactic distribution. The test involved using their judgment to assess whether the modifier “X” could be plugged into nine sentences featuring the subject “it’s”, the verb “giving”, with or without the addition of the term “me” as the indirect object and “vibes” as the direct object, while maintaining grammaticality. Results indicate that the modifier “X” grammatically conforms to both S-V-IO-DO and S-V-DO sentence patterns, which shows its versatility in syntactic structures.

[1] S-V-IO-DO refers to Subject-Verb-Indirect Object-Direct Object

[2] S-V-DO refers to Subject-Verb-Direct Object

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