Tips for Syllabus Construction

(Or "How to get Your Syllabus Approved on the First Try.")

All examples below come from submitted syllabi.

1. Proofread your syllabus before submitting. Any syllabus with more than 2 typos, misspellings, or ungrammatical constructions will not be approved.
   
   
   
2. Check to see if there are mistakes in syllabus's pre-loaded content. If there are, inform the Program Coordinator (dchezik@gmail.com) so that he can have them corrected. Remember, students think you're responsible for those errors!
   
   
3. Although it's a minor point, use APA style when you list the textbook (and other references). After all, you want student papers to be in APA format, right? In addition, Park is emphasizing standardization so that there is equivalence across sites and modalities. Part of that is having syllabi that are stylistically the same.
        Finally, part of a psychology class is becoming acquainted with the standards and practices of the discipline. APA style is the style psychologists use and the format in which their research is submitted. If MLA was preloaded as an acceptable format, explain to the students that you'd prefer they use APA style.
   
   Example of not APA style:
   The Basics of Social Research (3rd Ed.)
   Author: Earl Babbie
   ISBN: 0-534-63036-7
   Example of APA style:
   Babbie, E. (2001). The basics of social research (3rd. Ed.). New York: Publishing Company.
   Note that in APA style the author is always listed first, followed by the date. Also, title is in italics, not uppercase, not underlined, etc.; and only the first letter is capitalized.
   See APA Style for more details.
4. Try to limit the number of font and paragraph styles you use. Too many variations are confusing and make the syllabus difficult to read.
   
   
5. Make sure you have included a grading scale. This is one of aspect of course equivalence. If your passing cutoff is 80%, and another instructor's is 60%, then your course in inherently more difficult, all things being equal. (Sixty is most common, although not required.) This has implications for accreditation, since our accrediting agency requires equivalence of courses across sites and modalities.
   
   
6. Try to put data about grading and assignments in tables for easier reading. I have seen these sections so jumbled and run together, they looked like they had been scribbled on a cocktail napkin. Students would have to be cryptographers to figure them out.
   
   
7. Before submitting, look over your syllabus to see if there are changes that might make it look more professional. Remember, the quality of your work reflects not only on you, but on Park University as well.
   
   
8. If you think I'm being picky, I probably am. I'm just trying to protect Park's image as a quality institution. Hopefully, listing having taught for Park on your vita will impress people, not put them off.
   
   
9. If you have any comments or suggestions, please email me at dchezik@gmail.com.