Information Sheet: Final Exam
The three-hour Final Exam will take place during Exam Week at the regularly scheduled time (listed on the class website and on the calendar of assignments). You are strongly advised to use the full time allotted to you, particularly if you are trying for GWR certification on the exam.
The final exam will be worth 300 points: 150 pts. for the objective
sections, 150 pts. for the essay. The format will resemble that of the
midterm
exam. The final exam will be semi-cumulative: all works read this
quarter will be covered in some parts (see below), but
particular
emphasis will be on readings and material introduced since the midterm.
You are responsible for material covered in lectures, on study
guides and online readings, and in assigned background pages.
You will be asked to demonstrate your understanding of significant issues
in individual works and your ability to make meaningful connections among
readings. Your cumulative exam score, based on 500 total exam
points for the midterm and final, will count for 50% of your final
course grade (i.e. the midterm will be worth 20% of your final course
grade, 10% each for the objective
and essay
sections; the final will be worth 30% of your final course grade, 15% each
for the objective and essay
sections).
Exam hint 1: Reading quizzes are excellent study guides; use them as you prepare for the objective portion of exams. Exam hint 2: For the essay section, be sure that you are thoroughly familiar with the paper guidelines , in particular the section on the INTRODUCTORY PARAGRAPH. Please note: you may NOT write your exam essay on the same work(s) or topic which you chose for your out-of-class paper. AUTOMATIC 50% PENALTY for writing the same work(s)!
Objective portion of exam
will cover:
2) Item IDs. Identifications of various elements -- characters, objects, themes, motifs, Latin phrases, and terms -- in or associated with works read since the midterm (only). You will receive ONE point for IDENTIFYING THE ITEM ITSELF (e.g. Chauntecleer = a rooster who is almost eaten by a fox and who functions as a stand-in for the Nun's Priest himself) AND AN ADDITIONAL POINT for identifying the WORK OR WORKS in which the item appears (e.g. Chauntecleer is a character in the NPT). Latin phrases should be translated AND their relevance to / role in the reading should be explained. For the purpose of this section, each specific reading from Chaucer's Canterbury Tales counts as a separate work (which you may indicate using abbreviations for characters, Prologue and Tale, e.g. GP, Parson's P, WBP, WBT, FT, MT, NPT, Pardoner's P, Pardoner's T). You will be expected to specify GP (not just "Prologue," to distinguish the GP from WBP or Pardoner's P) or to identify passage by pilgrim AND as prologue, epilogue or tale. Review names of main characters! While you will not need to remember the specific titles for the lyric poems, you should know which are by unknown authors and which two have known authors (e.g. St. Godric and William Herebert). There will be choice in this section.
3) Factual questions concerning genre, form, background information, or literary terms. While you ARE responsible for knowing authors, genres, languages and forms for ALL works read this quarter, MORE background questions will focus on material covered since midterm. You will be expected to answer ALL questions.
4) Passages IDs: passages chosen only from works read since the midterm exam. For the purpose of this section, each specific reading from Chaucer (GP, Parson's P, WBP, WBT, FT, KT, MT, NPT, Pardoner's P, Pardoner's T) counts as a separate work (you will be expected to specify GP or pilgrim AND if passage is from prologue, epilogue or tale). As applicable, Chaucer passages will be taken from assigned Middle English lines in Norton (NOT from the modern translations!). You will not need to to identify lyric poems by title, but you should know which are by unknown authors and which are by known authors (St. Godric and William Herebert). Hint 1: quiz passages MAY reappear on the exam. Hint 2: review character names, or you will miss points unneccessarily!
To Prepare:
2) Essay: questions will invite you to demonstrate your understanding of key issues in a work or works read this quarter and/or invite you to make meaningful connections between works. Some prompts will focus on changes in a theme, genre or motif over time; others will ask you to discuss particular works in depth. Be sure that your introduction fully articulates what you will argue in the essay, which should offer informed interpretation of the texts within their medieval context rather than a personal reaction to them or simply a description -- however accurate -- of their contents. Be sure that your argument is presented in clearly organized paragraphs and that points are made in logical order (i.e. paragraph structure should correspond to logical steps in your argument). Be sure that each paragraph contains allusions to specific textual evidence in support of your argument. NB: you may NOT write on same work or topic that you discussed in your out-of-class paper or your midterm exam essay; there will be a substantial penalty if you do! (No penalty applies for writing on a work on which you posted a Personal Response to your Blackboard Discussion Board).
Final words of wisdom:
--Don't forget to purchase an exam book (large format, please) and bring it with you to the exam.
-- STUDY WITH A FRIEND!
--Get some sleep the night before and DON'T skip breakfast!!
Contents of this and all linked pages Copyright Debora B. Schwartz, 1999-2010--YOU'VE DONE GREAT JOBS SO FAR; PREPARE WELL AND GOOD LUCK!!!