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[gayle]

I'm curious what others think about writing a syllabus 'with attitude.'  I saw a syllabus today, written by an advanced grad student, that included quite a bit of attitude. 

Examples (modified by me to protect identity so please focus on the concept more than the specific example):

Parts with very casual language - 'Look, I don't want to have to do daily quizzes anymore than you do...'

Using "light" curses, like 'darn' or 'suck'

Humorous pseudo threats - 'If you miss class on the day you are scheduled to give your group presentation, you may be decapitated.  At a minimum you will receive an F for the assignment...'

It was quite entertaining, which encourages students to actually read it, and I wouldn't have blinked an eye if it came form a more experienced tenured faculty member, but it seems like a risky strategy for a grad student.  Thoughts?

[belladonna]

That syllabus doesn't really sound appropriate to me at all. There are a lot of ways to make syllabi interesting (for example, explaining why writing a term paper will be instrumental to one's learning) without having very casual language or humorous pseudo threats.

Writing an interesting syllabus, but with serious wording (adult wording?) will help convey to the students that you expect mature, responsible behavior in class. And isn't that what we want from our students?

True, a tenured professor can pull off a syllabus with an attitude. But those who are just starting their teaching careers should perhaps think twice before using this strategy.

[trabb]

I usually save that kind of stuff for the second class when I go over the important points on the syllabus.

[francie_]

Oh, I'm sure this syllabus will not fail to capture the attention of a faculty member, perhaps even a department chair, sooner or later.  Perhaps when someone (and I'm not suggesting you do such a thing, Gayle) slips it under hus door.

[expatinuk]

I never put things like that in the syllabus. I do, however, make 'silly' threats. My usual one is 'You have to wash my car.'

[starfleet_grad]

I did the silly threat thing once. Student went to my chair to complain. I got in trouble. Never again. Many students do not have a sense a humor. CYA and keep course policies serious.

[prytania3]

It's novel, but I'm not sure I'd recommend novel for the untenured...

[cms99]

I may make silly threats in the classroom, but never in the syllabus.  It comes across as too unprofessional, and if students complain to the chair or dean, then you look really foolish.  Remember, a syllabus is viewed as a binding contract, and when it's out in public, anyone can see it, and they will judge you on what is written in it.

[prytania3]

I may make silly threats in the classroom, but never in the syllabus.  It comes across as too unprofessional, and if students complain to the chair or dean, then you look really foolish.  Remember, a syllabus is viewed as a binding contract, and when it's out in public, anyone can see it, and they will judge you on what is written in it.

I do, too. It's much easier to retract or deny something you said, but once something is on the syllabus and enters the radical absence--well, it can take on a whole life of its own, which may not be good for the syllabus writer.

[phdbliss]

Yeah - it seems to lack a general sense of decorum and any resemblance of professionality...if I were an undergrad in this class, I think I might be skeptical of this instructor for trying to be too cool. Know what I mean?

[case_insensitive]

I'm curious what others think about writing a syllabus 'with attitude.'  I saw a syllabus today, written by an advanced grad student, that included quite a bit of attitude. 

Examples (modified by me to protect identity so please focus on the concept more than the specific example):

Parts with very casual language - 'Look, I don't want to have to do daily quizzes anymore than you do...'

Using "light" curses, like 'darn' or 'suck'

Humorous pseudo threats - 'If you miss class on the day you are scheduled to give your group presentation, you may be decapitated.  At a minimum you will receive an F for the assignment...'

It was quite entertaining, which encourages students to actually read it, and I wouldn't have blinked an eye if it came form a more experienced tenured faculty member, but it seems like a risky strategy for a grad student.  Thoughts?

If the instructor writes like this, the students will think writing like this is acceptable.

[yellowtractor]

I enjoy drawing up syllabi, and while I wouldn't say mine have "attitude," they are a little more, uh, creative than the departmental norm.  That said, I never make "silly" threats, either in the syllabus or in class.  If I tell students the consequence for X is Y, then it's Y.  In my experience you simply can't count on students either (a) to appreciate your sense of humor or (b) to even recognize irony or humor for what you intend them to be.  (At least in a classroom setting you can get some visual register of whether or to what extent they get it.)

Whatever your pedagogical style, it is extremely important that you keep in mind what cms99 says:  syllabi are considered, by students as well as by administrators, as binding contracts (subject to amendment, of course, but still).  Playing games in your syllabi may be gratifying in the moment, but it may come back to haunt you if a situation with a class or student goes sour (for whatever reason) and you face a grade protest or other complaint lodged with the administration.

I agree with Belladonna that setting a certain tone in a syllabus affects the students' expectations of how you will run the class.  There are various middle grounds between dry academese and hipster pretension.  (In general, don't try to out-hip your students:  you will either fail miserably, in which case they will hold you in contempt, or else you will succeed, in which case they will bitterly resent you.  That old Pollyanna-ish standby, "be yourself," is still your best bet.)

[gayle]

It's good to see so many responses echoing my reaction to this one.  It was...unusual to say the least. 

I'd almost like to think it was a creative writing assignment, but it was posted on <university course software> website for the course as the official course syllabus.

So here's a follow up question.  Does the faculty adviser have any responsibility  in these situations?  IE, if a grad student that was your official advisee was teaching a class, not just a TA but the instructor of record, would you normally review their syllabus before they posted/distributed it?  Always, or only on request? 

[oldfullprof]

I do use contractions in mine, like "don't" or "won't."  No syllabus prig, I-- but I wouldn't use the word "suck" in one. 

I believe in minimizing syllabi.

[rockprof]

I verbally say outrageous things when going over the syllabus, but wouldn't put them in writing.

For example, the syllabus lists the withdrawal date for the class and I'll tell them "If you take this course and find it's not for you, or you think I'm an a**hole, you can drop it without penalty."

Not a good think to put in writing.