Suggestion 12. Distribute a bibliographic list on each major topic

IF YOU WANT TO:

• Give references for more interesting and involved points

• Encourage students to read further on a topic

Distributing a bibliography of recommended readings on each major topic covered by the course.

Some faculty members include these bibliographies (annotated or not) as part of their course syllabus; others distribute them weekly as each new topic is introduced. "Updating and annotating these bibliographies is made easier if you keep a file on each topic and insert journal articles, book reviews, or notes throughout the year," a professor of education points out. "Typically, I can use the same bibliography for two or three years," says a professor of forestry. "In the interim years, I just append new items or write them out on the board."

A teacher in political science distributes a bibliography and has students annotate the references as an assignment. Another has his TA do the annotation. "In this way I can be certain that the TA is familiar with all the recommended readings for the course," he says. "Because the TA is typically one of my own graduate students, this exercise also provides an excellent preparation for orals."

Limitations on Use of Suggestion

  Discipline:  None
Course Level:  Upper division and graduate
 Course Size:  None
        Mode:  None

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