ABSTRACT
This chapter presents the author's perspectives on the purposes of a syllabus and its content. A syllabus has space to explain how a course fits into an overall curriculum; what topics it will cover; what concepts and skills a student might expect to learn; what expectations and assumptions a course might make; and various mechanics. A syllabus provides details pertinent to a specific course offering within three main categories: provide context or background to complement the general course description found in a college catalog, provide details that pertain to a specific offering of a course, and clarify cultural expectations that an instructor, institution, and many students may want to assume. A syllabus can help put a course into perspective, explaining why it covers various topics, why assignments or discussions are structured as they are, and the like. Finally, a syllabus can clarify details, so that students understand how a course will proceed and can plan their work accordingly.
