Stellar Coronae with XMM-Newton RGS I. Coronal Structure

First results from high-resolution coronal spectroscopy with the XMM-Newton Reflection Grating Spectrometers (RGS) are reviewed. Five stellar systems (HR 1099, Capella, Procyon, YY Gem, AB Dor) have been observed. The emphasis of the present paper is on overall coronal structure. Elemental abundances in active stars axe found to be 'anomalous' in the sense that they tend to increase with increasing First Ionization Potential (FIP - i.e., signifying an inverse FIP effect). Coronal densities are measured at levels of a few times 10(10) cm(-3) for cooler plasma, although there are indications for very high densities in the hotter plasma components.