PREPARING TO TEACH
Section 4
Creating A Syllabus The syllabus is the basic document that describes your plans for a course and provides information about the course for students. Like a blueprint, a syllabus helps you build a course that is well thought out and organized. Details are carefully planned and not haphazardly tacked on at the last minute. A well-designed syllabus benefits you and your students in a number of ways.
Advantages of a Good Syllabus Developing an effective syllabus requires you to think about the course and to organize early. Books and other materials must be reviewed and ordered. Content and organization of the course, assigned readings, and projects must be determined and then worked into the semester's schedule. Developing a well-organized course is like a delicate balancing act, but once it is done, you have a clear plan for the semester.
Students, especially in the first two years, take a number of required courses and may not understand why they must take these particular courses or how they will contribute to their overall educational experience. Explaining the course rationale in a syllabus can help students understand why they are in the class and how the course fits into their educational plans.
Giving students a syllabus communicates your expectations. Students know what to expect and can plan their own work for the semester. This is particularly important to students when several of their courses have projects or exams close together.
A syllabus includes class policies, assignments, and deadlines. Because it is written and is usually retained by students, it can eliminate misunderstandings and clarify policies, thus reducing student confusion or, worse, the charge of "You never told us. . . ."
A carefully designed syllabus helps to set the climate for the class. It demonstrates that you take the course seriously and are concerned about students.
Finally, a syllabus gives relevant information about the course to prospective students, the the department office, and colleagues.
Effect of Your Syllabus on the Classroom Climate The way you design your syllabus helps to establish the classroom climate. Its tone can communicate concern for students or rigidity and indifference. Because the syllabus is the first written communication students receive from you, they tend to scrutinize it carefully to get a feeling for you as an instructor and your course expectations. Some syllabi convey a sense of excitement about the course. The projects sound stimulating and intriguing, and students get enthusiastic about what they will be doing. Other syllabi are hard to read or in need of revision. Examine your syllabus from a student perspective. Does it communicate the information your students need? Does it give them an idea how much the required books and materials cost? Is the language nonsexist? Will international students understand the expressions and abbreviations you use?
HINT: Ask former or current students to critique your syllabus and make suggestions for improvement. This might be a good end-of-course activity.