Ancient Cultures of Middle America -- University of Minnesota Duluth

Exam Information

Final Exam Rubrics

UMD Final Examinations Policies , Academic Affairs

What will be covered?
How long should the answers be?
When is it?
Other Useful Information
Make-up Exams

The s2019 Ancient Middle America Midterm Exam will be Tuesday, 26 February 2019

REM: Bring your Laptop

Laptop

The Live Chat for the Ancient Middle America Midterm Exam will be Monday, 25 February 2019, 7:00-8:00 p.m. Sign in on

The s2019 Ancient Middle America Final Exam will be at 8:00-9:55 on Tuesday, 7 May 2019, in Cina 214

REM: Bring your Laptop

Laptop

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How long should your answers be?

Answer: About the same length as Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

The question of length is a good one. It's also a difficult one to answer as it depends on the question itself, your style of writing, the detail which you give to your examples, and—since this is an open-book exam where you basically could prepare questions in advance and then cut and paste from other sources (with proper credit given to those sources)—a good answer can vary quite a bit in length.

At a minimum you should have a beginning, a middle, and an end (sometimes also known as introduction, body, conclusion).

You should also be sure to answer the question(s) asked, and if there are two, three or more parts to a question, be sure to answer all of them.

Be sure to give examples when you make a statement.

I think it is a good thing to have a look at the OWL's advice before every exam:

Writing Essays for Exams

To use their recommendations, a well focused, well organized, well supported, well packaged essay answer could be done (for most of the questions) in the equivalent of about a page and a half to two "normal" pages (double-spaced, one-inch margins, #11 or #12 font)—which is about 375-500 words.

How long was the Gettysburg Address?

263 or 268 or 270 words depending on which printed version you check

A standard "letter size" 8-1/2 X 11 sheet of paper has about 255 words, with a size 12 font

So your answer should be about one page long, two if you use the Owl's recommendations

General Information

Final Exam
Check your grade in your Gradebook
Use "The Curve" to figure out your letter grade
- "The Strike Zone"
- Information on Standard Deviation (sometimes useful for interpreting your grade)

Criteria for Grading College Papers
Academic Integrity Policies
Incompletes [an error occurred while processing this directive]

General Information

Final Exam

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General Information

Both the midsemester and the final will be essay exams

The s2019 Ancient Middle America Midterm Exam will be Tuesday, 26 February 2019

REM: Bring your Laptop

The s2019 Ancient Middle America Final Exam will be at 8:00-9:55 on Tuesday, 7 May 2019, in Cina 214

REM: Bring your Laptop

How long should your answers be?

Answer: About the same length as Lincoln's Gettysburg Address

Writing Essays for Exams

How long was the Gettysburg Address?

263 or 268 or 270 words depending on which printed version you check

A standard "letter size" 8-1/2 X 11 sheet of paper has about 255 words, with a size 12 font

So your answer should be about one page long, two if you use the Owl's recommendations

top of page $/\$ A-Z index

Useful Information

Writing Essays for Exams

Check your grade in your Gradebook

Sample Exam Format

Use "The Curve" to figure out your letter grade

~ "The Strike Zone"

~ Information on Standard Deviation (sometimes useful for interpreting your grade)

Criteria for Grading College Papers

Academic Integrity Policies

Incompletes

Tim Roufs

"The Curve"

The actual numbers used to determine final grades may differ slightly (in your favor) because adjustments may be made after we go over the exams in class
	A = 94.0-100+%	A- = 90.0-92.9%
B+ = 87.0-89.9%	B = 83.0-86.9%	B- = 80.0-82.9%
C+ = 77.0-79.9%	C = 73.0-76.9%	C- = 70.0-72.9%
D+ = 67.0-69.9%	D = 60.0-66.9%	F = below 59.9%

Midterm Exam Format

This includes the lecture materials, in-class videos, e-mails, the basic introductory materials of the texts, and the text and class materials on the following countries:
The exam will cover materials up to and including Day (01) of Week 07: text materials, in-class videos, lectures, and e-mails. That includes Chs. 01 - 05 from Mexico, and Chs. 01 - 03 and Ch. 09 from The Maya
- Topics include:
  - Mesoamerica: The Area and the People
    - including Rural-Urban Patterns in Central Highland Mexico
  - Basic Terms and Concepts in American Archaeology
    - Kirchhoff handout (just know what this is about)
    - stages handout
    - Time Line and Stages (Periods)
  - The Lithic, or Early Hunters Stage
    - Class Slides -- The Lithic Stage
  - The Archaic, or Incipient Agriculturalists, including Tehuacán
    - Class Slides -- The Archaic Stage
    - Tehuacán handout
  - The Preclassic Period
    - Class Slides
      - Introduction to the Preclassic
      - Late Preclassic
      - Middle Preclassic
      - Early Preclassic
  - Video and AV materials from class
  - Major class-related materials that you may have received on E-mail may be included on the exam
This is an open-book exam
- You may bring and use your texts, dictionary, thesaurus, a writing handbook, class handouts, notes, outlines, drafts, and memos
- You may also use references and materials from your other classes, with the caveat, of course, that you properly cite any sources you use
- You may bring and use your laptop
  
  the exam will be available in your folder.
  
  but you must upload your exam to your folder at the end of the exam period
  
  REM: Be sure to have your batteries charged
  
  Please be prepared to upload the entire exam as one file
  
  NOTE: It does not work simply to type in the .rtf extension on an existing .wps file. You must load the original document and then resave it as a .rtf file type

You will have four (4) questions randomly selected from a pool of questions.
- In a nutshell, the exam will consist of four questions drawn at random by “James” Moodle from a pool of questions generated from the questions you have submitted to the Midterm wiki, plus one or more that I have added (also included in the wiki).
- Use the list of questions you generated in the Midterm wiki as study questions. Be sure to note the notes added, the ones which comment on the submitted questions.
up to 400 points (up to 100 points each)
It is recommended (and best) to use the list of questions you generated in the Midterm wiki as study questions.
- If you woule like to see archived past questions, have a look at the Sample Midterm Exam Format below

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Look over the exam materials in the Moodle exam wiki
Review the materials so far covered this semester
- in your texts
- in your class notes
- on the video viewing guides
- and on the handouts
  - stages handout
    - Mesoamerican Time Line and Stages (Periods)
  - Anthropology and Its Parts
  - Major Characteristics of Anthropology
Useful Information:
- UMD Study Strategies
- test taking strategies
- learning styles
- listening skills
- notetaking
- special facilities / arrangements
- Text Assignments Summary for Weeks 01 - 06
- basic information about the text
- How to write an essay exam -- OWL (Purdue University Online Writing Lab)
- extra help with exams

Final Examination Format

General Information

The s2019 Ancient Middle America Final Exam will be at 8:00-9:55 on Tuesday, 7 May 2019, in Cina 214

REM: Bring your Laptop

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[4 questions randomly generated from a pool of questions made up of the questions from the Final Exam wiki for up to 400 points]

Once you begin you exam you will have two and one-half hours to complete it
- BE SURE TO UPLOAD ALL OF YOUR ANSWERS BEFORE YOUR TIME EXPIRES
- MOODLE WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO UPLOAD YOUR ANSWERS AFTER TIME HAS ELAPSED
The Final will be an open-book essay exam
- Essay exams usually provide a better learning experience and, in addition, afford practice in writing
- You may bring and use your texts, dictionary, thesaurus, a writing handbook, class handouts, notes, outlines, drafts, memos, a laptop, and a Ouija board. You may also use references and materials from your other classes and the web, with the caveat, of course, that you properly cite any sources you use.
- You may bring and use your laptop
  - but you must upload your exam to your Moodle folder at the end of the exam period

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Final Exam

The exam will cover materials up to and including the end of Week 15
Some of the questions will be cumulative, but most will focus on the materials covered since the midsemester exam.
This includes the lecture materials, in-class videos, e-mails, the Forum, the basic introductory materials of the texts, and the text and class materials.
There will also be questions available on the final asking you to compare and contrast things in two or more items included in the entire semester
- these comparison/contrast questions will include countries covered earlier in the semester
This is an open-book exam
- You may bring and use your texts, dictionary, thesaurus, a writing handbook, class handouts, notes, outlines, drafts, and memos
- You may also use references and materials from your other classes, with the caveat, of course, that you properly cite any sources you use

You may bring and use their laptop
but you must upload your exam to your Moodle folder at the end of the exam period

REM: Be sure to have your batteries charged

Please be prepared to upload the entire exam as one file

NOTE: It does not work simply to type in the .rtf extension on an existing .wps file. You must load the original document and then resave it as a .rtf file type

The final exam counts up to 400 points (4 X up to 100)
You must answer the FOUR (4) questions on the final randomly generated by “James” from the pool of questions put together from the study questions on the Wiki. Each question is worth up to 100 points each. They may include . . .
- At least one current affairs question
  
  There could also be one question on a major topic during the semester that for one reason or another doesn’t happen to end up in the Wiki list. You could also have on your exam a theoretical question on a major topic that may also have not made it onto the Wiki list (one that attempts to have you bring together and synthesize various major topics of the semester).
  - You could also have on your exam one theoretical question on a major topic that may also have not made it onto the Wiki list (one that attempts to have you bring together and synthesize various major topics of the semester)
A caveat: there is always a possibility that there might be some very last-minute fast-breaking current-affairs news announced (that’s announced too late to make it onto the Wiki list) that might also be included in the pool from which the four questions are taken. But it would have to be closely related to a topic that you have studied during the semester.

There will be a live Final Exam chat on —for last-minute questions about the exam. Join in; the live chat for the midterm was fun, and useful.

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*(The total number of points available for the forum postings will depend on new discoveries and announcements that appear during the semester. New topics will be added as appropriate. In the end, "participation" will likely account for about 25% of your grade)

The final exam will cover materials from the entire semester, i.e. it will be cumulative, but with emphasis on the materials covered since the midsemester exam. Focus on the textbooks, in-class videos / movies, and lectures

Major class-related materials that you may have received on e-mail may be included on the exam

to top of page / A-Z index

Sample Exam Format

Midsemester Exam will look something like this.
(NOTE: The exact compositon of question sources will likely vary.)

Anthropology 3618 Ancient Cultures of Middle America

Essay Sample Exam Format

21 November 2024

This exam is available in electronic form
from your folder

This is an open-book exam. You may bring and use your texts, dictionary, thesaurus, a writing handbook, class handouts, notes, outlines, drafts, memos, and a Ouija board. You may also use references and materials from your other classes and the web, with the caveat, of course, that you properly cite any sources you use.

You may bring and use your laptop but you must upload your exam to your folder at the end of the exam period.

Answer the FOUR (4) questions provided by "James" Moodle. Keep in mind that there is more than one approach you can take in answering these questions. Follow these guidelines:

[On the midsemester exam you need to answer only 4 questions..]

Keep in mind that there is more than one approach you can take in answering these questions. Total possible points for each of the questions is 100. Follow these guidelines:

Organize your answer before you begin.

Be sure to state:

What or who something is
Where it occurred or is located
Why it is important
When it occurred
How it happened or how it works

State YOUR position or approach clearly.

Cite specific examples or references to support your statements.

Mention problem areas or other relevant materials which you would like to consider further in a more thorough statement.

Summarize your argument or discussion.

Wherever appropriate use materials from more than one region of the world.

Remember that each of your responses should have a beginning, a middle, and an end.

Do not discuss any topic at length in more than one question.

The exam questions will be taken from the pool of questions that you and your classmates generate on the Final Exam question wiki

The pool will include at least one current affairs question

The pool will include one question allowing you to make up and answer a question

See details and my comments in the Moodle wiki