The sample syllabus for the sixth edition is in the form of a .pdf file. Teachers are able to use a printout of the file directly for copying and distribution in class—all they have to add are the course name and number as well as dates in the blanks left for that purpose. To read and print this file, teachers will need to have the Acrobat Reader installed on their computer. The Reader can be downloaded free of charge from the Adobe website.

The syllabus admittedly proceeds at a very fast pace. However, instructors should feel free to slow that pace down at any point.

Syllabus (.pdf file)

Where the syllabus identifies "chapter tests" as class assignments, it's up to instructors to decide if they want to cover parts of two or more tests or concentrate on only one. With a more advanced class, I find it useful to do at least some of the tests as class exercises. If the test consists of shorter passages, then the class can complete only two or three test items. If there don't seem to be any problems, then students can move on to the next test. And yes, the tests in the book are arranged according to level of difficulty, so while the first or second test might seem easy, the tests will become more difficult. At some point, the class will probably have to concentrate on one test.

Note that for some of the assignments, students can work in the text or on the web. The web assignments refer to the Online Practice Exercises and the Additional Materials for Reading for Thinking.