Category Archives: Writing

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Lesson 2: 3 Things to Know about the Syllabus

  • Read It!
  • Know It!
  • Own It!

 Congratulations! It’s your first day of college. You’re excited, scared, and defiantly nervous as you walk into your first class, settling in just moments before the professor enters with a stack of papers known as the COURSE SYLLABUS.

Like a high school syllabus, a college syllabus is similar in terms of course description, materials required, types of assignments and how the grade is formulated. However, unlike high school, the college syllabus cannot be placed into your binder, the great abyss, to never be seen again or only on a rare occasion. It must be color coded, referenced often, and copied onto some form of a schedule calendar.

The college syllabus must be Read, Known, and Owned by the student!

 READ the syllabus for:

  • The office hours, location, telephone number and email address. This is how you find and get a hold of your professor.
  • The materials needed for the class. Textbooks are listed with mandatory readings as well as suggested reading. Keep in mind the readings are suggested for a reason.  If there is a section somewhere on the syllabus where your professor has put readings on RESERVE, then readings are in the library at the reserve desk where you may check it out for a specific period of time, normally two hours, but check with the reserve desk.
  • Know the requirements for the class and how many tests, papers and presentations make up the grade.

KNOW the listed assignments on the syllabus and the requirements such as:

  • The dates of expected readings, when papers are due, when presentations are given and dates of exams. (FYI: If the syllabus says 9/22 pages 99-151, have those pages read by September 22.)
  • Exam requirements regarding scan-tron and bluebook size, or take home exams.
  • Requirements for presentations.
  • When and how papers are turned in. Are they due at the beginning of class, in the professor’s mailbox by a specific time stamped (a time stamp machine is in the box area), is it preferred papers are slipped under the office door, or emailed?
  • Documentation preferences. Does the professor require MLA, Chicago, or APA documentation? It makes a big difference and each academic discipline and professor requires something different. (See Resources).

OWN the syllabus by:               

  • Protecting it. You only get one. (Plastic sleeve covers are a great idea and place the pages back-to-back in the front of each course section.)
  • Use different color highlighters. For example, use orange for exam days, blue for essays, yellow for readings, purple for presentations.
  • Make notes on it so you remember certain items announced in class.
  • Cross off dates and assignments that have passed.

Keep in mind, the syllabus is the course agenda for organization, expectation, and assignments so always remember to: Read It!  Know It!  Own It!

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Plan It!

Eventually my goal is to separate creative writing posts from college preparation posts. However, from time to time I’ll combine entries as they relate to one another, and I get comfortable with the entire blog idea.

That’s right; I said I need to get comfortable with the blog idea. My old school ways simply weren’t working any longer and like any true professional I evolved.

As I started to change an epiphany hit me over the head and then came back kicking my butt! Developing and writing a blog, essay, story, novel, or even a business plan requires planning, brainstorming, researching and trial and error before publishing.

Wait a minute! Stop everything! I just explained the writing process.

Yup!

As I created my website I discovered everything from thought to creation required the exact same premise as the writing process.  Simply put, one needs a plan.

It’s like going to the grocery store. First comes the list of needed items from the top of my head and then I look through the cabinets and refrigerator– the brainstorm. Sometimes I go even further and lump items together according to isles—the outline. Then it’s time to look through the ads, checking for the best prices—the research. Without a plan I waste time and money—the disaster.

Start early and plan it. Whether you’re writing creative for creative audience, or an expository audience, give yourself a deadline for a final copy and plan accordingly. Remember to sketch out your ideas—the brainstorm. Lump them together and know where you want to go—the outline. Don’t forget to research, research, research and document, document, document accordingly. (I will address that at a later time). Start drafting. I mean that word as a gerund; a verb and a plural noun, there should be more than one draft. Remember what happens without a good plan—disaster.

The bottom line is that everything must start with a process and a plan before trial and error, which is your drafting. Write a first draft. Get those thoughts on paper. Let it get cold. Wait a few days. Then, look at it. Yes, you wrote that, so now fix it! It wouldn’t hurt to let it get cold again and then fix it, again.

Keep in mind; everything starts with a plan.  Just plan it!