Review
Purpose: The review has immense potential for getting the basics of the subject right, deepening our understanding of individual concepts, but also an appreciation of connections among them, and in turn for building a synthesis of what we have covered.
There are usually THREE KINDS OF REVIEWS (exams): 1) A Synthesis Essay, 2) A customary three-part Review, OR 3) An Oral Interview with the instructor. No promises but I usually provide a study guide.
What is REVIEWED? Significant concepts, terms, figures, texts and themes studied.
Tips, Hints, Guidelines, and Instructions for REVIEW:
◾️ READ THE QUESTION CAREFULLY: It is here usually that well-prepared students loose points. Either they answer the wrong question (i.e., misread the question), or are unsuccessful in answering it FULLY. Answer the question asked, and answer all parts of it.
◾️ READ THE QUESTION AGAIN AND AGAIN WHILE ANSWERING IT: Related to the last point, this works well for keeping one on track.
◾️ HANDWRITING: Expected to be neat and legible. If I cannot read your handwriting, I will not understand what you are saying. It will force me to assume and guess which makes no sense within the context of this intellectual practice.
◾️ TIME MANAGEMENT: Do not write essays for short Ids. For IDs and short answers you will have to prioritize between more and less important, and more and less relevant things you choose to mention. Common sense and basic arithmetic may come handy.
◾️ GREEN BOOK: Unless the exam is conducted on Moodle, you will absolutely need Green Books for your review. Loose paper (whether clipped or stapled) will either not be accepted or may result in loss of points. These may be purchased from the Davidson College Bookstore.
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Recurring Questions About the Exam:
Coherence, logical flow of thought and structure that is easy to follow, YES; thesis or argument, NO. And this applies to all answers.
It’s neither the 5-paragraph or just the 2-paragraph format. I also cannot offer a definite length for the answer in quantitative terms. The answer will be assessed both on its quantity and quality. The simple idea is to answer the question, and answer it fully. Staying on point and on target, and managing time, seek to impress with what you know. There is definitely no need for introductory or concluding paragraphs.
