It's in There

On the first day of class nearly every professor distributes a syllabus, an outline of the course, assignments, and policies. Want to know anything about the course? It's in there -- the syllabus is your guide to the course. As an instructor, I've noticed that students either panic upon receiving it, frantically scanning and turning pages way ahead of my overview and explanation of each item. These students often ask questions about items well before we cover them and, in their attempts to address their own critical questions, miss out on important information. Other students simply zone out, their eyes glaze over and they barely look at the pages, don't turn them, and don't take in much of the discussion. These students often ask questions on items that have already been discussed in detail and sometime repeat questions. Don't be either of these students. Be calm. Listen. Read. Then ask questions. The syllabus is your guide to the course -- everything you need to know to get through and succeed this semester is in there. Learn more about the syllabus and its parts.