Your Career: How to Draft (or Redraft) a Syllabus

The new semester is fast approaching, which means it’s time to start preparing for fall courses. ADVERTISEMENT [Your Career Logo]( Did someone forward you this newsletter? [Sign up free]( to receive your own copy. The new semester is fast approaching, which means it’s time to start preparing your fall courses. Maybe you’re designing a new course for the fall semester, or looking to revamp an old one. But even if you don’t have to do either, there’s never a bad time to re-examine and rethink your syllabi. The course syllabus is, in most cases, the first contact that students will have with both you and the course. As the old saying goes, you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. The syllabus sets the tone for the course. Rather than emphasize what they can’t do, an effective syllabus is a promise that, as a result of your course, students will be able to do a number of things either for the first time or at least better than they could before. As you create or revise a syllabus, then, the question you ought to keep at the center of the process is: What am I saying to my students? Every syllabus should include the following essential elements: basic course information; instructor information; course goals; course materials and requirements; course policies; grading and assessment guidelines; and the course calendar. For detailed advice on what to put in each of those sections: Continue reading: “[How to Create a Syllabus]( by Kevin Gannon Share your suggestions for the newsletter with Denise Magner, an editor at The Chronicle, at denise.magner@chronicle.com. If you’d like to opt out, you can log in to our website and [manage your newsletter preferences here](. ADVERTISEMENT UPCOMING EVENT [Join us August 2-19]( for a virtual professional development program on overcoming the challenges of the department chair role and creating a strategic vision for individual and departmental growth. [Reserve your spot now](. 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