Doing your syllabus this week?
Putting a lot of time into writing it?
Afraid not enough students will read it?
Misspell three words in the syllabus. Don’t put the misspelled words together, but make them noticeable—such as spelling the word “attendance” as “atendence.” Tell students to read the syllabus carefully, as an editor might read it.
Then, on the class after you asked them to read the syllabus, pass out a note card to students as they enter the classroom.
Tell them there were a couple of obvious misspellings in the syllabus and that they should write their name and one of the words that was misspelled on the card.
Tell them this will count as their first quiz grade, perhaps 10 points.
Doing this gives an excellent way of seeing who read the syllabus as well as getting students to understand the responsibility necessary for them to do well in the course.
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BONUS
At the movies last week I saw a trailer for a film called “Whiplash.”
A character in the film named Terence Fletcher says: There are no two words in the English language more harmful than “good job.”
The character wasn’t talking about higher education, but what he said is applicable to higher education.
Why not teach in a way that students say more than “good job.” Why not demand of students more than just a “good job.”
Why not demand absolute excellence? Everyone comes out ahead.
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