The last lecture is Wednesday, March 11, 1998. On Fri., March 13, 1998 we will have a discussion session on course materials and a review for the final exam.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE EXAM

1. The final exam is worth 30% of your grade. It is comprehensive! and will cover all materials reviewed in this course. Such an exam requires that you prepare by carefully organizing all of your notes from class and the reserve and book readings, plus organizing your web page materials. Make sure you have all class web pages for each unit, and have a complete set of class notes.

2. You have 120 minutes, 4:00-6:00 PM. Budget your time.

Time management suggestions

Section I  is the essay section and is 120 points = 48 % of exam = 58 minutes = 15 minutes per question.
Section II is the definitions/examples section and is 60 points = 24% of exam = 48 minutes = 10 minutes/question.
Section III is the multiple choice section and is 40 points = 16% of exam = 19 minutes = 3 minutes per question.
Section IV is the true/false section and is 30 points = 12% of exam = 14 minutes =  2 minutes per question.

3. PLEASE be CAREFUL, and read the question and answer it SPECIFICALLY and COMPLETELY (ANSWER ALL PARTS).

4. The exam is 250 points. Sections are arranged in order by weight, e.g. from the most to least points.

SECTION I. FOUR SHORT ESSAYS (x 30 points each = 120 points)

A short essay is a brief, approximately 4-8 sentence explanation of a concept or a process. For the final exam, you should first convince the reader that you know what this concept/process IS (e.g. define it) FIRST, then explain it. Remember, I'm looking for KEY WORDS or SYNONYMS that explain the concept in more detail. Mentions sources or figures to indicate you know the origin of the materials (e.g. you have done the readings and studied). You can draw or make a diagram, table or figure of the process/concept to make the written explanation more understandable at a glance. Essays will focus on four important concepts in the course. To prepare for essays, study the broad outlines and specific details of the major concepts and topics of this course.

SECTION II. FIVE DEFINITIONS (x 12 points each = 60 points)

A definition is a succinct explanation of a term or a concept. Use "key words" as much as possible (synonyms). Explanations can be completed in 2-3 sentences only and should take 1-3 minutes to write. Definitions will be taken from the readings, class lectures and web pages. If you have missed class lectures, you need to get a complete set of class notes because you may have missed important concepts mentioned in class (for example, what is the "emergent property principle"). It is sometimes good practice to cite an author or reference from where you have gained this knowledge (usually a published source, not "Costa-Pierce, class lectures"). For the final exam you will also be asked to give an example for each definition.

SECTION III. EIGHT MULTIPLE CHOICE (x 5 points each  = 40 points)

Circle the best answer or combination of answers. Some questions can only be answered correctly by circling more than one choice. Full credit will be given ONLY if the exact, correct number of options circled, e.g. partial credit will NOT be given. One problem with answers given on the mid-term is that many of you did not read and think about each and every choice because it appeared you were conditioned by multiple choice tests in the past that had only one or two possible choices! READ CAREFULLY EVERY CHOICE because who knows, you may need to circle ALL of the choices IF there is no "all of the above" choice!

SECTION IV. 10 TRUE OR FALSE (x 3 points each  = 30 points)

Mark a "T" or "F" next to the statement.

EXTRA CREDIT FOR  5 POINTS

A multiple choice question on a concept from one of the readings.