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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 Lesson Images used for educational purposes only. It is a…
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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.
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.
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
An instructor may also include office hours. 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:
This info may also be found on other pages. 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?
The type of info varies greatly from instructor to instructor 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.
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. Each instructor has their own rules! 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
Schedules change. Listen and make adjustments. 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.
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