Ask your syllabus about deadlines and grading, and see the line it came from
A syllabus holds the rules of a course: what is due when, how much each piece counts, what happens if work is late and which readings go with which week. Students reread it all term, usually for one detail. Put the syllabus in a Search+ workspace, ask about that detail in plain words, and open the citation to read the instructor's exact policy before you plan around it.
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Last updated October 2026
How to use Search+ with a syllabus
- Upload every syllabus for the term
Add the syllabus for each course, whether the instructor posted it as a PDF or a Word file, plus any course schedule or assignment brief posted separately. One workspace per term keeps everything you need in one place.
- Say what you are planning
Put your goal in Workspace Context, such as "I am planning my weekly study time and need every due date and its weight". Search+ applies that to each question.
- Ask, then check the policy wording
Ask about one rule at a time: a deadline, a grading weight, the late policy. Open the citation to read the excerpt; if the syllabus has been updated, make sure you uploaded the current version.
Questions students and teaching assistants ask
What is due in week 6, and at what time on the due date?
How much of the final grade comes from the midterm, the final and participation?
What is the penalty for submitting an assignment a day late, and are there any extensions?
How many absences are allowed before it affects my grade?
Which chapters are assigned before the second exam?
Across the syllabi in this workspace, which weeks have more than one major deadline?
What a syllabus usually holds, and what to watch
Late work, academic integrity and attendance rules can appear in the course policies section, in an assignment description or in a university statement at the end. Ask by topic so the answer can find all of them.
Many instructors say the schedule is subject to change and post updates elsewhere. Upload the latest version and treat the course site and announcements as the final word.
Grading sections often include rules such as dropping the lowest quiz score or replacing a midterm with the final. Ask about those exceptions specifically.
Reading lists often mix required and optional items. Ask which readings are required for an exam.
Ask a question across all the syllabi in a workspace, or narrow it to one course, depending on what you are planning.
Your workspace and past conversations are saved, so the syllabus you uploaded in week one is there when the final approaches.
Sections of a syllabus and a question for each
| Section | What it usually covers | A question to ask Search+ |
|---|---|---|
| Course information | Instructor, office hours, contact | When are office hours and how should I book them? |
| Learning objectives | What students should be able to do | What skills does the course say I will be assessed on? |
| Materials | Textbooks and required readings | Which textbook edition is required? |
| Assessment and grading | Components, weights, scale | What percentage is needed for each letter grade? |
| Schedule | Topics, readings and due dates by week | What topics are covered in the last three weeks? |
| Course policies | Late work, attendance, integrity | Is collaboration allowed on problem sets? |
What is a syllabus?
A syllabus is the document an instructor issues at the start of a course that describes what the course covers, what students must read and submit, how work is graded and which rules apply.
Syllabus questions
Can Search+ list all my deadlines from a syllabus?
Will it work if my instructor changed the schedule?
Can it tell me what grade I need on the final?
Is it useful for teaching assistants?
What if I only have a scanned copy of the syllabus?
Does Search+ replace asking my instructor?
Know what is due before it is due
Start a workspace for the term, upload your syllabi, and ask about the next deadline.
Start a workspace