ENGL 252: Great Books II:  Medieval, Renaissance, 17th Century Dr. Debora B. Schwartz English Department, California Polytechnic State University     Final Exam Information (Large Lecture class) The closed-book, scantron final exam will take place during class at our last scheduled meeting or on the date scheduled on the course calendar.  It will test your understanding of the most significant issues in the primary works covered since the last Midterm; of connections between these works and previous readings; and of basic factual information covering the whole quarter.  Some portions of the final will focus ONLY on the new material covered since the last midterm; they will be analogous to another midterm exam.  But a significant portion of the objective exam points will be for questions which test your cumulative knowledge of  the readings and background information covered during the entire quarter. Some sections of the final exam focus only on A Midsummer Night's Dream and the filmed versions of the play isted on the class website.  In addition to the usual background information on the text and assigned background readings, be sure you know the names of characters in the play as well as information provided in bold for each film on the class webiste: the year, the director, the production company if given (BBC; Royal Shakespeare Company; Joseph Papp / Public Theater).  You should also know actors and the parts they played that are listed on the class website.  The  CUMULATIVE sections of the exam focus on background information covering ALL works read this quarter and for questions that draw connections between works.  BE SURE TO REVIEW the authors, titles, languages, genres and forms (rhymed verse, blank verse or prose) of ALL primary readings covered this quarter.  The cumulative sections of the exam will also test your understanding of the background information covered in lectures and assigned secondary readings (esp. online background readings), as well as your understanding of the most significant issues in individual works and your ability to make meaningful connections among these works.  Questions will be answered on a large-format scantron form.  To receive credit for your exam, you must print your name on the scantron form, sign it in cursive, and turn it in along with your exam, on which your name must also be written.  You must show your Driver's License or PolyCard when turning in your exam.  Persons who do not follow these instructions will receive no credit for the exam.   The cumulative component of the exam will test your retention of basic knowledge concerning the readings covered earlier in the quarter.  This cumulative component will cover basic factual information associated with ALL primary works read this quarter (so: review titles, authors, genres, languages, forms, etc.) as well as important concepts addressed in previously assigned background readings (review online readings and study guides, additional readings on e-reserve, assigned pages in textbooks, lecture notes, and factual information found on the class calendar of assignments).   Review  factual information listed on the Course Calendar as well as your lecture notes (including biographical information on Chaucer and Shakespeare).  In addition to testing your familiarity with A Midsummer Night's Dream (both Shakespeare's text and the filmed versions screened or discussed in class), the exam will include questions concerning the thematic connections between all of the works read this quarter.   To prepare for these questions, you may also find it useful to review relevant connections to previous readings as noted on the Chaucer and A Midsummer Night's Dream study guides. In format, most exam questions will resemble the questions on reading quizzes and the previous exams; expect a combination of True/False, multiple choice and/or matching. In focus, expect questions of the following sorts:  Passage IDs: significant passages chosen from assigned primary readingsfollowed by questions about the passage (e.g. who is speaking? to whom? when does this scene/dialogue take place? etc.). There may be passages from all of the primary readings, so don't neglect the shorter selections assigned for class!  HINT: class notes, and especially any passages you marked in your text during lectures, are good beginning points for review!   Factual questions concerning e.g. authors, titles, dates, languages, forms, historical developments, material presented on online background readings and other assigned background readings. HINT: online background readings and the text info on the course calendar are good beginning points for review.   Item IDs: you will be asked to identify a character, object, theme or motif and the work it occurs in  (e.g. Thessala = Fenice's nurse who brews magic potions for her in Cligés). HINT: class notes, as well as characters, events or motifs that are the focus of questions on study guides, are good beginning points for review. Chronology: dates given under "text info" on the course calendar for each primary work / author; additional historical context dates (e.g. those found on the translatio or Tristan tradition online readings).  You will be asked to match authors, works and/or events with a choice of dates.  To prepare for these sections, review class notes, background information on course calendar, required e-reserve readings and the online background readings. Think about the type of background questions asked on quizzes; quiz questions MAY reappear on exams! HINT 1: you should know (and be able to match to each other) the titles and authors of primary works we have read, as well as of primary works that were alluded to for historical context in lectures and on background readings; the dates and original language of these works/authors, the form in which these works were written. Review which episodes / plot events / characters appear in which primary works, and which filmed versions of A Midsummer Night's Dream handle which scenes and speeches in what particular ways.  HINT 2:  Even if you prepare thoroughly and are able to breeze through the exam, you are strongly advised to use the full time allotted to you. Should you be tempted to leave before the end of the allotted time, don't do so before PROOFREADING THE  EXAM CAREFULLY. Verify that you have followed instructions exactly in each section. HINT 3:  My exams are meaty.  To do well on them requires both study and thought.   THINK ABOUT multiple choice and true-false questions to ensure you have selected the correct response!     Words of Wisdom: 1) You are strongly advised to have read/screened/reviewed ALL material covered this quarter.  2) While I am known as a demanding tester, I am proud that students consider my exams to be fair. (I don't believe in playing "Gotcha!" with my students.) If you are well prepared, there should be no surprises on the exam -- unless you are surprised by the fact that the exam really DOES cover everything I say it will! 3) Again:  you will need to be well prepared in order to do well on the exam.  You may need the full time allotted to complete all sections of the exam. 4) Get enough sleep the night before the exam and don't skip dinner! 5) IT IS FREQUENTLY HELPFUL TO STUDY WITH A FRIEND!!   Contents of this and linked pages Copyright Debora B. Schwartz, 2005-2009 Return to ENGL 252 homepage Return to Dr. Schwartz's Teaching Page Return to Dr. Schwartz's homepage Send me mail!