State the goals of the course. These goals describe the overarching destination. Whereas the objectives set out the specifics of the course, the goals describe what the objectives are leading up to. For example, a goal might be for the student "to understand communication theory and its role in today's society." This describes what the student will learn and not how to tell when the student has learned it.
Work backward from the goal to define what steps a student must take to reach the goal. Each of these is an objective. Write each objective on a piece of paper, each on a separate line. Do not put a period on the objectives. You will add to them.
Decide what qualifications a student must meet to prove he has fulfilled that objective. Imagine that one objective a student must meet is to define two models that scholars use to describe the process of communication. How will the student prove he can define these models? Should he write a paper or pass an examination?
Write how the student will prove that he has mastered the objective and attached it to the end of the objective with the word "by." For example, you might use the objective in Step 3 about defining models and add: "by writing a paper using appropriate APA style guidelines that cites sources proving scholars use both models." This provides a clear way to measure when the student has met the objective and when he has not. Repeat for each objective.