How to Read a

…an outline or summary of topics to be

covered in a course.

Inspired by Maria Vita Calkins (2007) and Tara L. Davis Adapted by Jorge Aguilar (2012)

For use with How to Read a Syllabus LessonImages used for educational purposes only.

What is a Syllabus?

It is a… …document providing

information you need about the course.

…contract between the student and the instructor.

It includes… a course description course goals/objectives requirements outline or schedule instructor policies

It should… give details as to what

is expected of you. explains what it will

take to be successful. outlines instructor and

student responsibilities.

What is a Syllabus?

A syllabus is designed to answer the most frequently asked questions among students such as:

What topic will we discuss today?

When is this assignment due?

What must I do for this assignment?

When is the test/quiz? I was absent, what did I

miss?Before you ask your instructor, first consult your syllabus!

Parts of a Syllabus

There are as many styles of syllabi as there are instructors, but all cover five main areas.

General Course Information Course Description/Objectives Books and Materials Course Policies Course Calendar/Schedule

Parts of a Syllabus

General Course Information

On the top of the first page of every syllabus you will find:

Course title and number

Location and meeting times

Instructor Contact Information

– Instructor Name– Campus Mailbox #– Email Address– Office Room # – Phone number:

An instructor may also include office hours.

Parts of a Syllabus

Course Description and Objectives

Also included on the first page:

What to expect from the course.

What you should be able to do by the end of the course.

What types of teaching methods will be used such as:

– Mostly Lecture?– Discussions?– Projects or Groupwork?– Videos or Fieldtrips?

This info may also be found on other pages.

Parts of a Syllabus

Books and Materials

Found on the 1st or 2nd page:

Required Materials Required Books Recommended or suggested

books and additional materials

Other/Course Reserves– Reserves are items set aside at

the library for class use.

The type of info varies greatly from instructor to instructor

Parts of a Syllabus

Course Policies

Policies include expectations and consequences.

Grading / Attendance Policy– Tardiness/Absences

Late Assignments Make-ups or Extra Credit Electronic Device Use

– Cell phones, ipods, etc… Cheating and Plagiarism

Each instructor has their own rules!

Instructors typically have a brief review of plagiarism and cheating somewhere in the syllabus.

Students are also instructed to refer to their student handbook’s official section on plagiarism.

Parts of a Syllabus

Course Calendar and Schedule

The course outline is the most important part of the syllabus:

It is an overview of the course that includes assignment details:

– Due Dates– Daily/Weekly Topics and Readings– Homework Assignments– Essays and Papers– Tests and Exams

Some outlines are simple and others very detailed.

Schedules change. Listen and make adjustments.

Related Lessons

Lesson: How to Read a Syllabus Lesson: Calculating Your Grade in ORT

For 2008 Update by Tara L. Davis

Sanders, Scott. What is a Syllabus. (2007) Retrieved from: http://www.cornerstone.edu/news?news_ID=3138

Syllabus Images Slide 1 and 4: Retrieved from: http://chandra.as.utexas.edu/~kormendy/syllabus/2003-Syllabus.jpghttp://www.nmc.edu/~jteichman/mth08.gifhttp://www.cmseducation.org/about/images/syllabus.gifhttp://jeremy.zawodny.com/i/question_mark.jpg

From Original Power Point “Understanding a Course Syllabus” by Maria Vita Calkins

Altman, Howard B. Writing a Syllabus. Retrieved from: http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachingtip/writesyl.htm

American Heritage Dictionary online. Retrieved from: http://dictionary.reference.com

Davis, Barbara G. (1993). Tools for Teaching. Jossey-Bass Publishers. Chapter 2: The Course Syllabus

UCSC Teaching Toolbox. Retrieved from: http://teaching.ucsc.edu/tips.html

Sources