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Create an Engaging Syllabus: A Concise, 7-Step Guide for Professors
How do I write a syllabus? What kind of tone should it set? Isn't there a template I can just use? These are some of the questions many professors--especially if you're NEW--want answered. You just want the specifics, minus the jargon. A syllabus that captivates students and gets them excited about the course you teach.The problem is, students think our course syllabus is like a contract. And who can blame them for thinking that way, with its hefty requirements, policies, objectives, and outcomes? We forget the syllabus is often the first thing students see about us, so it can really affect the way they approach your course.Yet most of us never really learned how to create one, especially one that ENGAGES. We adapt old versions written by some retired instructor years ago. It's time we found a better way.CREATE AN ENGAGING A Concise, 7-Step Guide for Professors gives you the roadmap you've always wanted. Here's what it The right way to think of your syllabus ( It's not a contract)- How to make your tone and language more inviting- How to instantly captivate your students' attention ( avoid the formal "Course Description" language)- How to deal with the "boring" but required stuff (i.e., policies, outcomes, etc.)- How to leverage the way Generation Z reads and absorbs information- Powerful ways to capture visual appealMost importantly, this book includes TEMPLATES. Two of them.You get a simply-designed, text-only version--for those who don't want to mess around. You also get a more graphic version, for that extra WOW factor. Both will get students in the right frame of mind.Written by Norman Eng--bestselling author of TEACHING The Ultimate Guide to Lecturing, Presenting, and Engaging Students)--CREATE AN ENGAGING SYLLABUS takes a routine topic and gives it the makeover professors have been asking for. Find out the 7 simple steps to a winning syllabus in this power-packed, 62-paged book.
68 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 4, 2018
162 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Norman Eng
5 books20 followersNorman Eng is a doctor of education (Ed.D.) with a background in teaching and marketing—two areas that relate to lecturing, presenting, and engaging audiences.
As a marketing executive, he worked with clients to realize their communication goals in the pharmaceutical, insurance, pet, and retail industries. Norman learned one major lesson--know your target audience--something he discusses in his book “Teaching College.”
He applied this lesson to his teaching as a public school elementary school teacher in the early- to mid-2000s, where he was nominated as one of Honor Roll’s Outstanding American Teachers.
As an adjunct assistant professor for local colleges in the City University of New York system, Norman realized that much of what he gained as a marketer and as an elementary school teacher held true for college instructors: Students—whether undergraduate or graduate—need to see the value of what you are teaching to their lives.
With consistently high student and departmental evaluations in two separate colleges every semester, Dr. Eng hopes to share what he has gained so far from these three industries—marketing, K–12 education, and higher education—with the larger community of higher education instructors, whether they are graduate students, adjunct lecturers, assistant professors, or beyond.
As a marketing executive, he worked with clients to realize their communication goals in the pharmaceutical, insurance, pet, and retail industries. Norman learned one major lesson--know your target audience--something he discusses in his book “Teaching College.”
He applied this lesson to his teaching as a public school elementary school teacher in the early- to mid-2000s, where he was nominated as one of Honor Roll’s Outstanding American Teachers.
As an adjunct assistant professor for local colleges in the City University of New York system, Norman realized that much of what he gained as a marketer and as an elementary school teacher held true for college instructors: Students—whether undergraduate or graduate—need to see the value of what you are teaching to their lives.
With consistently high student and departmental evaluations in two separate colleges every semester, Dr. Eng hopes to share what he has gained so far from these three industries—marketing, K–12 education, and higher education—with the larger community of higher education instructors, whether they are graduate students, adjunct lecturers, assistant professors, or beyond.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 15, 2019
Useful Gudie
A quick and tip-filled guide to rewriting a syllabus; interesting ways to rethink this document to not only improve student interest but make a syllabus more likely to be read and utilized.
A quick and tip-filled guide to rewriting a syllabus; interesting ways to rethink this document to not only improve student interest but make a syllabus more likely to be read and utilized.
December 5, 2018
In Create an Engaging Syllabus, Eng helps readers get to the heart of their course's purpose and appeal and to craft a syllabus that gets students excited to take the course. Eng's experience in both marketing and professorship enable him to paint syllabi in new and powerful ways. Pro tips, resources, and vivid examples make the content clear and digestible, and templates make it easy for readers to apply learned concepts. As a fan of Eng's book Teaching College: The Ultimate Guide to Lecturing, Presenting, and Engaging Students, I loved getting this expansion on syllabi. Every professor can benefit from this engaging read, just as those professors' syllabi and students will benefit.
May 26, 2020
Excellent for both the novice and the expert
So much great information here! I’m a fairly new adjunct, but open to improving my teaching style and how I present myself and my materials to students.
I have both of Norman’s books (this and Teaching College) and they have not only helped me focus on content and delivery, but made me feel more confident in general. I wish every teacher was willing and able to open their minds and follow the guidance in here.
It’s been such a wonderful experience having my students tell me they’ve appreciated how I teach.
So much great information here! I’m a fairly new adjunct, but open to improving my teaching style and how I present myself and my materials to students.
I have both of Norman’s books (this and Teaching College) and they have not only helped me focus on content and delivery, but made me feel more confident in general. I wish every teacher was willing and able to open their minds and follow the guidance in here.
It’s been such a wonderful experience having my students tell me they’ve appreciated how I teach.
January 8, 2019
Get rid of your boring syllabus and prepare to engage your students!
Dr. Eng brings his marketing and education background to bear when revamping his own syllabi to meet his students where they are. How many times have you dreaded going over the syllabus with your students as much as they did? Put these suggestions and templates into your course and start off the semester on the right foot!
Dr. Eng brings his marketing and education background to bear when revamping his own syllabi to meet his students where they are. How many times have you dreaded going over the syllabus with your students as much as they did? Put these suggestions and templates into your course and start off the semester on the right foot!
March 2, 2024
Actionable tips here!
While I understand the importance of the syllabus from the administrative point of view, I never saw the need to write it FOR the student. Never thought about the impact layout and language has on them. No wonder why they don't pay attention to the darned thing. I'll be revamping my syllabus for sure.
While I understand the importance of the syllabus from the administrative point of view, I never saw the need to write it FOR the student. Never thought about the impact layout and language has on them. No wonder why they don't pay attention to the darned thing. I'll be revamping my syllabus for sure.
December 5, 2018
Nice ways to create syllabus
For teachers and/or coachers who pursue changing and providing, sharing knowledge & skills in the better way. It's not only about marketing or design but also creating new interesting to discover something new around
For teachers and/or coachers who pursue changing and providing, sharing knowledge & skills in the better way. It's not only about marketing or design but also creating new interesting to discover something new around
February 11, 2019
Must Read for Educators
Eng does a great job breaking down a syllabus piece by piece giving pointers and best practices for each section. He explains why it is important to appeal to the new generation of students and follows it up with a template and an example syllabi.
Eng does a great job breaking down a syllabus piece by piece giving pointers and best practices for each section. He explains why it is important to appeal to the new generation of students and follows it up with a template and an example syllabi.
May 26, 2019
Helpful and concise
Very helpful to a newish college adjunct. I like the idea of helping students engage in the material and inspire them to learn. Great tips included and resources for all levels of experience. I read his book and that is also highly recommended.
Very helpful to a newish college adjunct. I like the idea of helping students engage in the material and inspire them to learn. Great tips included and resources for all levels of experience. I read his book and that is also highly recommended.
April 8, 2019
This is a very helpful resource for designing a more approachable and interactive syllabus that perhaps our students will read? :-)
June 18, 2020
Great little book.
I has a well defined purpose and it delivers it.
I has a well defined purpose and it delivers it.
November 1, 2021
Helpful
Helpful for creating a syllabus for my English class. Looking for ways to revamp my current syllabus for the next semester. Great ideas for a newbie.
Helpful for creating a syllabus for my English class. Looking for ways to revamp my current syllabus for the next semester. Great ideas for a newbie.
March 16, 2025
very helpful,
Needed this to create my first syllabus and this helped a ton plus gave sample templates.
I appreciate the tips and tricks this book provides
Needed this to create my first syllabus and this helped a ton plus gave sample templates.
I appreciate the tips and tricks this book provides
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews