PROJECT #1

Final Exam FAQs

How long should my exam essay responses be?

All of these questions can be answered in informal/exam-style academic prose. The length of your responses will depend upon your writing style. There is no minimum or maximum word count that will guarantee a passing grade. All responses will be evaluated according to the quality of course-based analysis deployed to analyse the five (5) identifications in accordance with the Final Exam instructions.

When you are editing your responses, here are some questions that you might wish to ask:

1. Does my response use course terms, methods of critical analysis, and theories to analyse the specific details of the excerpt effectively?

2. Do my examples from two (2) additional required course readings/viewings reflect that I am familiar with the specifics of the texts under consideration?

3. Is the majority of my response course-based critical analysis as opposed to summary or general/unspecialized commentary?

4. Does my answer demonstrate a solid understanding of “modernity” and of the historical Early Modern and Modern Ages?

5. Does my response communicate my analyses and arguments in language that is clear, concise, non-repetitive, and logical (i.e. in full and grammatically correct sentences and paragraphs)?

Should my exam be written as a formal essay?

No. Your name, student number, etc. and page numbers should appear on each page of your MLA formatted exam. Each response, however, can be written as you would a typical in-class final exam. For example, you may organize your response according to the Final Exam instructions:

Identification 1

1. (a)

(b)

(c)

2.

3.

Quotations from course readings/texts should be followed with the source in parentheses [i.e. “anachronism” (Davies) or “general will” (Rousseau) or “reification” (Lecture – “Modernity & The West: A General Introduction to Course Theories”].

Does my response need to have “a thesis”?

If you mean “Does my response need to be written as a formal essay?” please see above. Otherwise, yes, your answer needs a solid point of view/organizing principle/theory – you are analysing substantial quotations that require you to select specific course texts that will enable you to showcase your course-based knowledge and critical skills in your response.

Can I include secondary sources in my exam responses?

No. The purpose of this final graded component is to reward students who have completed their coursework in full. Your focus should, therefore, be to demonstrate a high degree of familiarity with course timelines, methods of inclusive critical analysis, concepts, terminology, and definitions. As this is an open-book exercise, you have ample opportunity to review all course resources while you are preparing your exam submission.

Can I include additional examples in my responses?

Absolutely, the guidelines that appear in the questions represent the minimum of course texts that you must include in your response by means of direct quotation and a clear explanation of relevance.

What should I do if I require clarification of the questions or instructions?

You should contact your tutorial leader. Please note that it is your responsibility to review the Final Exam posting in full and request any guidance you may need in a timely fashion.