midterm

MIDTERM, 3/12/03:

Note that the Midterm has been RESCHEDULED to Wednesday, March 12. This accomplishes two things:

1. Gives you a chance to attend the Crossman Lecture with Janet Wasko - a once-a-year event sponsored by the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and for which you can receive class participation points. Her lecture on "Disneyland" takes place Thursday, March 5, 5PM in HUMN 150. Please plan on attending.

2. It also gives us all a chance to have one last review session in lecture, which will be on Monday, March 10. Bring questions or points you'd like to go over again. I am even willing to show video segments again if you request them by the Thursday before.

There are eight possible questions that could be on your midterm exam. On the day of the midterm, you will be asked to write on ONE essay question from a choice of TWO. You will not know which two of the eight will be your exam questions until you come in the room. You will be given a "blue book" for completion of your essay (CORRECTION: I have learned that SJMC does not supply blue books, so you will need to buy your blue book in the book store for about $.25. Buy two and you'll be set for the final, too. Sorry for my misunderstanding about that). No notes allowed (you wouldn't have time to use them, anyway). Please bring a few pens; you'll have a tight timeline for completion (50 minutes) so you won't want to waste it.

For your assistance in preparing, I've written a timeline for the class. You will not be expected to know the specific dates of events, publications, etc.; "the mid-1950s" or "in the first decade of the 20th century" and "at about this same time" will be sufficient. I am giving the dates simply to help you organize the material, or perhaps to see the synthesis of ideas, trends, or developments in a new light.

My recommendation for preparing is this:

1. Choose the one question you absolutely dislike the most, and discard it. Remember, you'll always have a choice of two, even though you don't know which two, so...well, you can do the math.

2. Organize your thoughts into outline form for each of the remaining questions, thinking carefully about how you will organize your argument in writing. The more detailed your outline, the better.

3. Write a first sentence for each of the questions, or possibly a first paragraph.

4. Write a concluding sentence.

5. If you're planning on participating in a study group, I'd recommend doing all of the steps above before attending. But don't share your organization or sentences with others; everyone has to come up with his/her own and you won't want yours to look too much like someone else's. Instead, go to the study group with specific questions, such as examples you'd like to flesh out or things you believe you might have missed, or perhaps information or insights that a classmate might bring from a different context (e.g., another class, personal experience, etc.).

Personally, I've never been a big fan of study groups, because it's too easy to have the procrastinators poaching on those who are more well-prepared. You either end up feeling guilty and disturbed by others' preparedness, or you feel exploited by others' lack of preparedness. Study groups can also be a breeding-ground for unnecessary panic, time-consuming venting, and group-sanctioned procrastination that can quickly devolve into psychoanalysis of yourself, your TA, and/or your professor. You don't have time for that. I think a better strategy is to talk with one or maybe two friends about your concerns and questions.

6. On the day before the test, memorize your outlines as best you can, along with your first and concluding sentences. Then, get a good night's sleep (yes, I remember that this is college, but I feel like I have to say that!).

7. Finally, be on time so as to maximize your writing time.


		last updated: 2/26/03 MIDTERM, 3/12/03: Note that the Midterm has been RESCHEDULED to Wednesday, March 12. This accomplishes two things: 1. Gives you a chance to attend the Crossman Lecture with Janet Wasko - a once-a-year event sponsored by the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and for which you can receive class participation points. Her lecture on "Disneyland" takes place Thursday, March 5, 5PM in HUMN 150. Please plan on attending. 2. It also gives us all a chance to have one last review session in lecture, which will be on Monday, March 10. Bring questions or points you'd like to go over again. I am even willing to show video segments again if you request them by the Thursday before. There are eight possible questions that could be on your midterm exam. On the day of the midterm, you will be asked to write on ONE essay question from a choice of TWO. You will not know which two of the eight will be your exam questions until you come in the room. You will be given a "blue book" for completion of your essay (CORRECTION: I have learned that SJMC does not supply blue books, so you will need to buy your blue book in the book store for about $.25. Buy two and you'll be set for the final, too. Sorry for my misunderstanding about that). No notes allowed (you wouldn't have time to use them, anyway). Please bring a few pens; you'll have a tight timeline for completion (50 minutes) so you won't want to waste it. For your assistance in preparing, I've written a timeline for the class. You will not be expected to know the specific dates of events, publications, etc.; "the mid-1950s" or "in the first decade of the 20th century" and "at about this same time" will be sufficient. I am giving the dates simply to help you organize the material, or perhaps to see the synthesis of ideas, trends, or developments in a new light. My recommendation for preparing is this: 1. Choose the one question you absolutely dislike the most, and discard it. Remember, you'll always have a choice of two, even though you don't know which two, so...well, you can do the math. 2. Organize your thoughts into outline form for each of the remaining questions, thinking carefully about how you will organize your argument in writing. The more detailed your outline, the better. 3. Write a first sentence for each of the questions, or possibly a first paragraph. 4. Write a concluding sentence. 5. If you're planning on participating in a study group, I'd recommend doing all of the steps above before attending. But don't share your organization or sentences with others; everyone has to come up with his/her own and you won't want yours to look too much like someone else's. Instead, go to the study group with specific questions, such as examples you'd like to flesh out or things you believe you might have missed, or perhaps information or insights that a classmate might bring from a different context (e.g., another class, personal experience, etc.). Personally, I've never been a big fan of study groups, because it's too easy to have the procrastinators poaching on those who are more well-prepared. You either end up feeling guilty and disturbed by others' preparedness, or you feel exploited by others' lack of preparedness. Study groups can also be a breeding-ground for unnecessary panic, time-consuming venting, and group-sanctioned procrastination that can quickly devolve into psychoanalysis of yourself, your TA, and/or your professor. You don't have time for that. I think a better strategy is to talk with one or maybe two friends about your concerns and questions. 6. On the day before the test, memorize your outlines as best you can, along with your first and concluding sentences. Then, get a good night's sleep (yes, I remember that this is college, but I feel like I have to say that!). 7. Finally, be on time so as to maximize your writing time.