Writing
Exercise
Exam 1 Analysis
[8 Points
Possible] 5 Points
Possible if you're doing this
for Exam 2, and it's due Wednesday, November 29.
The point of this exercise is to analyze your preparation and
performance in the first exam and to plan your preparation for Exam
2. To complete this exercise you will need your exam answer
sheet. You will need to consult
the copy of the multiple choice exam which is posted outside
Living/Learning C-150 during working hours. Write detailed
answers to the questions that follow. Your answers must be responsive
to the guidelines for each analysis that are provided in the
next
section.
1. What kinds of multiple choice questions did you miss?
How can you explain the difficulty you had with the questions?
2. What could you have done to improve your answers to the essay
questions? You do not need to rewrite the essays, though that
might be a useful exercise.
3. What do you plan to do differently, and why, as you prepare
for Exam 2?
Type your
answers, double spaced. Attach
your exam answer sheets, both scantron and essay, to the
exercise. We will return all parts. Your answers should make it clear
that you have done the analysis and thought carefully about the exam
and your preparation for it.
Submit
your exercise as soon as possible. The deadline is
the beginning of class on Monday, 23 October.
Analyzing your exam preparation and
performance:
Multiple
Choice:
There are many types of multiple questions. Here is
a partial list to use in figuring out why you missed items on the exam.
Questions with not in
them [negatives]
Questions with more than one correct answer [all of the above]
Questions from the text
Questions on material you didn’t read
Questions from lectures
Questions on material from lectures you missed
Questions that require interpretation
of material
Questions that require application
of concepts to new examples
Questions that have more than one part [complex]
Questions you misread
Questions on material you didn’t understand
Questions about ideas you don't agree with
Essays:
The possible problems in the list above also apply to essay
questions.
Here are some possible ways essay answers could be improved.
Answer all parts of the question.
Give a good example.
Explain in adequate depth.
Use material that is actually part of the course.
Don’t write about topics that are not pertinent to the question.
Here are some things you could do to analyze your essays.
Review your notes and text to
see how
you might have improved your
answer.
Try to write a complete
articulate
answer.
Discuss your perfect answer with
the
people in your study group.
Preparation:
Performance on the exams often reflects some or all of the
following actions.
Attending all the lectures
Reviewing lecture notes regularly
Discussing lecture notes with other students
Doing all the reading
Discussing the reading with other students
Reviewing the reading periodically
Comparing lecture notes and text reading to see if and how they fit
together
Reviewing all the materials on the web site: overheads, main
points, and reading guide
Listening to the recordings of lectures you missed or for which your
notes are incomplete
Attending review sessions
Discussing the focus and study questions with other students, in depth,
until you are sure you can understand them and can answer them orally
and in writing
Doing the practice tests on the CD that came with the text
Reviewing the study guide on reserve in Bailey/Howe
What did you do, and what will you do next time?