Final: Plan (Moved to the front)
Update: Due to popular demand, I will create a take-home option. This option will be given on the last day of class (and posted that day as well). The suggested study questions may be used, although there may be parts to the exam that don't use them at all. There will be 2-3 questions and you should expect to write about seven pages (double-spaced, normal fonts and margins) for the take-home. For reasons that should be obvious, the take-home exams will be held to a higher standard, especially with regard to organization, quality of writing, spelling, grammar, etc. Than the inclass exam. If the past is any guide to the future, the take-home and inclass grades will be similar. Of course, the past isn't always a guide to the future....
Here is my plan for the final.
About 10 days before the final is to take place, I'll distribute a list of 5-6 essay questions on the blog. On the final, you'll be asked to write responses to 2/3 essays. THese essays will be similar to the ones on the list (and it's possible one or more might be identical). In all likelihood, there will be some small difference between these questions and the one you'll prepare for.
Any comments? Suggestions? Let me know soon. This plan will be finalized by the end of the week.
posted by djw @ 6:02 PM
24 Comments:
Will it be held in class? and on what day? or can we take it home and write on 2 or 3 topics?
In class you stated we would be given a choice between take home and in class. Now it seems you have made a decision for us, is there still the option of take home for those who do not like exams and have test anxieties? Is your plan open to class discussion or review?
I would appreciate the take home option. Also do you have a minimum on how many pages you would like for a response.
I was planning on an in-class. If you have a strong preference for a take home or takehome option, let me know about it.
Has to be a take home! I know there is a lot of people who are taking the LSAT that week and specifically the day of the final, not that that's an excuse; but also there is so much information in this class I think it would be murder to have to try and memorize all the authors main points for an in class exam. I rather take it home and seclect what I'm going to reread, have some time to think about it, and write a more thoughtful analysis.
fiona said:
I like the take home option. I relish the opportunity to do proper research with contemplation and reflection on the question. I realize that we would be held to a higher standard of review and believe it to be a risk worth taking. Why not take the best we have to offer for the final exam and not some anxiety-ridden, and as a result, possibly flawed final in-class paper. This will give us a better opportunity to present back to you the knowledge you have imparted to us. The sooner the better, actually.
this is my personal prefernce .. take home final, PLEASE! I feel a complete reflection and evaluation would be better achieved outside of a time constraint of two hours.
Please do not make us do excess writing on questions you may not even ask, please! If we could write it and then email it to you by the time of the final that would be very much appreciated.
Also, this is your class and you have the final say .. but thank you for allowing and hearing our discussions on class issues.
I feel either way, so long as we are given accurate review questions. I hate it when instructors give several questions to study and then the final looks nothing like the review. Personally I would benifit by having a take home because I need the extra time to prepare a well thought response. But as you said it might be better for us to do it in class, as your standard will be lower. Will this be open Notes open book if in class? -Rick
How about we all just catch a Mariners game that weekend and call it good? But seriously, not to be the lone dissenting voice, but I would prefer to have an in-class exam. I personally already have a take home exam scheduled for one of my classes, and I would rather study the review guestions and write an in-class essay on one or two (preferably one) of them. I would just hope that the review questions are pretty similar to the actual questions asked and not extremely vague.
Some of us have double finals on that day and a take home exam would be very helpful
I vote for the take home option. Yes, I am being a bit selfish because I am one of those taking the LSAT on June 6th. I guarantee my mind will be on nothing but the LSAT that weekend and doubt I will properly study for anything else. What day will the exam be anyway?
Are we to assume then that you will give us the take home for the final exam on June 6th? When would it then be due?
DO you want seven pages per question or for the whole thing?
Responding to the last two questions:
1) The take home exam will be distributed June 1st, the last day of class. The study questions for the final will have been posted before that. At this point, you would choose which option to take at any time up to the time of the final, June 6th, 6:45. If you don't show up, you'd better be doing the take home! (email is preferred as a method of turning it in).
2) Seven pages total. I'm not a monster.
Just so we can be absolutely clear - are you going to post the take home exam on the blog on June 1st, also? When is the take home exam due?
Yes: I will post the take-home exam question and rules on June 1st on the blog.
I offer much gratitude for the take home option!
I tend to do better on take home exams than in class ones.
Good luck on your LSAT's, Janna.
So June 1 is the date of this handout for the take home final?
Twila
Any chance we can take both exams and then you will pick the better of the two grades?
Okay now you're just getting greedy!!! Thank you for letting us have the take home.
I do not want to appear like a suck-up so I am not signing my name. On behalf of the class I want to say -
thank you, thank you, thank you!
I am so impressed and appreciative of how diplomatic you run this class. Thank you for hearing us and considering our interests/needs too.
Thank you.
Twila: Yes.
Anon@11:43: No.
Anon@2:41: Thank you.
Suck Up
Just kidding, You're right, it has been helpful having an instuctor who is open to the fact we all have lives and work etc. This has been an intensely difficult quarter for me personally from family tragedy to tooth removal to Surgery, I have been through a lot and though I'm certain my grade will show it to some extent, having the opportunity to voice up and say what will help make my life just a little bit easier in these difficult times has been great. -Rick
Jeez - I'd also like to be a suck up and say that you are the best, most knowledgeable, personable, polite, pithy, and pragmatic professor from which I have ever had the pleasure of taking a class. Thank you for a most enjoyable and worthwhile experience.
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