I truly get almost giddy (on the inside) when that syllabus is headed my way down the row. I would jump around in my seat and make quick hand clapping motions with my hands if I wasn't going to be looked at funny.
Maybe it's the hope of a new beginning. A fresh start. There's no backtracking and making up for yesterday. Your past grades don't matter here. It all starts....right now...here's a syllabus.
I also like to know what's expected of me. I like to know that in two weeks there's a Spanish exam on Chapter 1. And that this paper that's due on September 20th is worth 20% of my grade. That's very important stuff to know when you've got two Cubs games and Pittsburgh's Irish Fest in one weekend.
The class syllabus can give some insight into the professor as well. Undoubtedly, Professor Whoever will highlight some key points in the syllabus. If he says cutesy little self-deprecating things about it, whether they're funny or not, you know he doesn't take himself too seriously. This is good. If he treats the syllabus like it's on the short list for the Pulitzer, then you know you're in trouble.
Of course the final reason for loving syllabi the way I do is the portion entitled "Objectives." This section outlines the goals of the class and lists the things that you'll learn. It answers that age old question.
"Why the hell am I here?"
2 comments:
I do not share your love of the objective section. Why? Because it's usually written in the typical, corporate, over-sanitized language that makes it so that you don't actually know what they heck they're talking about.
I do share your love of syllabi, especially when it says that your grade is based on two tests and there is no homework. :)
Yeah I have a class where the homework is due on Nov 30th. Right now that feels great. On November 15th that's not going to feel so fabulous. I have kind of started it though.
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