Looking to upgrade your course syllabus this term? Maybe Professor Pam Mork’s example can help. She teaches General Chemistry at Concordia College in Minnesota.

While some students love chemistry, I’m betting most see this particular course as a requirement—and therefore one they simply have to “grin and bear.”

Below is a 3-page excerpt of how her syllabus used to look (hover over image and click/tap on the arrows at the bottom to toggle between pages):

Ghastly, in retrospect described Pam’s reaction. Actually, her syllabus is probably a lot like most of ours. As such, it serves as a perfect mini-case study for the upcoming term.

Pam’s challenge was simple: Make the course inviting. Having read my ebook, Create an Engaging Syllabus: A Concise, 7-Step Guide for Professors, she implemented several ideas, four of which we’ll share below.

(And, yes, you can view her revamped syllabus at the end!)

STEP 1. Hook students in the opening paragraph

Pam was able to alter the language in her course description to be more student-oriented (note: check with your department first, as some have strict requirements). She opened with the question on every students’ mind: Why would anyone want to study chemistry?

Countering potential objections upfront shows students you’ve thought through their concerns. After a brief explanation, Pam continues to draw readers in:

Why does a muscle contract? Why does a campfire warm us up? Why are fireworks different colors? Every breath we take is a chemical reaction. Every morsel we nibble is metabolized in a chemical reaction. Every garment we don is created in a chemical reaction. We can’t escape chemistry!

In my ebook, I discuss how master marketers use the acronym AIDA (attention, interest, desire, and action) to connect with their target audience. It’s about packaging information. Framing it. Think of this analogy: Beef manufacturers could say their product is either “75% lean” or “25% fat.” Both are flip sides of the same coin. But the former resonates with customers more than the latter.

Sometimes academics don’t like to think this way. They think it’s spin. In reality, it’s just effective communication, something we strive for when writing articles and conference proposals. With General Chemistry, Pam presented her course in a way that students will see its value and utility. That’s the premise of AIDA. How might you incorporate attention and interest?

STEP 2. Turn lecture topics into questions

The course calendar is the ideal section to transform staid topics (e.g., “Chapter 1: Atoms”) into intriguing ones. Imagine students opening up to page 3 of the syllabus and seeing the following topics reframed as (provocative) questions:

Are All Atoms of an Element the Same?

How are Chemistry and Chinese Alike?

How Do We Know How Much NaCl is Dissolved in a Beaker of Water?

Will students jump up and down and announce, “This is AWESOME”? Maybe not. But I’d be thrilled if students were simply intrigued to want to learn more.

For a reader, it’s potentially a small, yet positive moment (more on this later). As you plan your topics this term, think about  framing your topics. They don’t have to be posed as questions either. The session 8 topic in Pam’s syllabus, for instance, provides some intrigue: Let the Reactions Begin. Better than writing Chapter 8: Chemical Reactions, no?

STEP 3. Provide concrete expectations

When students take your course, I’m betting most of them wonder things like, What’s considered an “A” in this course? Or thinking, I have no idea what this professor is like.  

 Pam got creative. She shows us what an “A” student looks like, what a “B” student looks like, and so forth.

If I’m the type of student who “arrives right before class starts”—as Pam describes in the middle box, last bullet point—at least I’d know what she values: students who come early and skim their previous notes. The professor has modeled student professionalism up front.

Perhaps some readers here are tempted to think, “If Pam really wants to engage students, she shouldn’t say [XYZ]…” or I would never do [XYZ] like she did…

But it’s easy for us to judge. Instead, I hope readers sees the underlying and valid idea she’s implemented: managing student expectations, a critical skill all educators need. Most times, students will adjust to your teaching approach—whether you grade “hard,” stick to the policies, or assign tough papers—as long as you don’t surprise them. That’s what Pam has done here.

Aside from providing the usual (grading scales, homework/attendance policies, etc.), what other creative ways can you manage students’ expectations? (Wanna know what I do? I show students how I grade them on the first day of class; see my post, Show—Don’t Tell—How You Grade.)

[Download my ebook, Create an Engaging Syllabus HERE.]

STEP 4. Highlight important information

Why don’t students just read the syllabus? It’s all written there! I’ve felt this way many times. Use sidebars or feature boxes to emphasize points. Think of ways to turn assignment dates, grading scale, and even your attendance policy into points of interest. Here Pam uses a sidebar to encourage students to stay connected to the latest class news:

On the left, Prof. Mork makes her feelings on plagiarism known, without getting too technical. I’m a big fan of putting the “fine print” elsewhere—either in the back of the syllabus or online whenever possible. Out of the prime real estate area, so to speak.

But it’s more than just highlighting information. In the end, Pam is helping students. Not just by reminding them about class policies, but also by providing real help. How to improve their grades. How to study, as Pam shows here:

I’ve read and reviewed hundreds (if not thousands) of syllabi. The most engaging ones tend to incorporate a series of positive “micro-experiences.” They’re simply little moments that strengthen the connection between the student and the subject matter and/or instructor. Pam cares about her students, and it shows when she writes things like this:

Such micro-experiences shape the way students see you and the course. So, as you plan your syllabus, think of the series of improvements you can implement, which — taken together — will intrigue and inspire your students.

Side Note: I avoided talking about visual or graphic design. Most of us simply aren’t trained in this area, so we do the best we can—including me. Pam was kind enough to share her syllabus—or more accurately, her syllabus for that particular semester. No doubt she’s continued to refine it over time—to make it look and sound even better. So I refrained from commenting on color schemes, layouts choices, and other “design”-type elements. My hope is that this syllabus can open a dialogue to improve the level of our collective syllabi.

Click below to view images of Prof. Mork’s revised syllabus. Note that Pam separated her six-page syllabus into two parts, saving Part 2 to hand out mid-semester as to not overwhelm students on Day 1. Something to think about.

Part 1

Part 2

Warm and constructive comments are highly encouraged! Even better, share your syllabus below.

To download my ebook, Create an Engaging Syllabus, go HERE.