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100 Introduction to Philosophy |
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Consolidation, revision, exams
Exams are not simply memory tests - we have machines (or parrots) to do that. So do not just remind us of what we said to you in lectures - that is too easy. Exams are an opportunity for you to exercise the skills of reasoning which Part I Philosophy is geared to encourage you to develop. Of course, in order to display these skills you do need to know the philosophical theories and positions about which you are reasoning (e.g. if you don't know what Cartesian Dualism is or how Ryle criticised it, you will be hard pressed to answer a question on whether the criticism is a fair one). Examination skills are in demand in all walks of life: to be sure, you do not elsewhere have to exercise them sitting in silent straight lines - that is a privilege of academia - but you do get put on the spot - in committees, the workplace, the board room, parliament, tv, the pub, wherever - to use what you happen to know at the time in the best way you can to bear upon a question you have just been asked and not necessarily thought about in quite that form. Revision The best way to start is to look at some old exam papers, select questions on the areas of the course you feel happiest with or for any other reason decide to answer exam questions on. Then what you need to do is to sketch out answers to those questions. The point of this is two-fold:
Having revised one topic, it is wise to set up exam conditions for yourself and see how much you can write in one hour. This will enable you to avoid running out of time in the exam. Revise materials in bundles and practice re-arranging the bundles to gear them to different questions - this sort of thing can be done in the bath, on a hillside … and can actually be fun. Revising should be an active process of exploring how the things you have studied during the course fit together - special things start to happen when they all get into your head together. There are many connections between different sections of the course - the exam is an opportunity to use these connections. Do not be afraid to use material from one section of the course in an answer to a question from another section if you feel it is relevant. You answer 3 questions in the exam. Revising only three topics is obviously cutting it much too fine. Revising the whole course is a bit excessive. Choose somewhere between the two with which you feel safe. The Exam Format The exam is three hours long and you are required to answer three questions which carry equal weight in terms of marks. It is divided into two sections: (a) on the first four sections of the course (approx. 8 questions
- 2 on each section); You have to answer two questions from section A and one question from section B. Your answers should be around 4 sides long for each question, depending on handwriting. On the subject of handwriting we cannot mark what we cannot read, so do try to be legible. The pass mark is 35. Writing Exams Select the questions you intend to answer at the beginning. If you leave, e.g. the choice of a third question until after you have written 2 answers, you will be tired and might choose unwisely. Sketch out plans (a bit like essay abstracts or seminar preparation) for each answer. While you are writing the first answer, extra things might occur to you to put into the later answers. Write them down - you might forget them. So, selection and planning time is probably about 15 minutes, which leaves you with 2 hours and 45 minutes for writing - divide that by 3 and that gives you 55 minutes per answer. But then there is reading through time. This is fairly important - it is easy, in the heat of the moment to leave out the odd word, like 'not', which might be a bit crucial. So it is wise to leave 15 minutes for that which leaves you with 50 minutes for writing each answer. Divide your time equally between the three questions. It is virtually impossible to make up for a missing or very short answer by two long ones. This, of course, is in the ideal world. I do not expect anyone has ever been so organised in any exam! Each answer should show:
If you seem to have run out of things to say, just imagine a seminar group challenging what you have just said and defend yourself against it. Do ensure that you answer the question - not that there's only one way of doing that. Organise the material you have to address the question asked. Lecture material will be relevant, but not just as it was presented in lectures. You can lose marks for putting in things irrelevant to the question. If you are in doubt about what the question is getting at, or fear you have misinterpreted it, say so and justify your interpretation as a possible one. Remember that there are always arguments for and against any thesis. Remember that there is a BIG difference between disagreeing with something as a sort of gut reaction and giving arguments against it. Remember, another human being is going to read what you write. If you have left something out, add a footnote. If you see any deficiency in what you have written, explain it - it shows critical awareness which is a philosophical virtue. Finally Do not panic. All Part 1 students have a right to resit if they fail, but it costs money and messes up your summer. You will perform better if you are healthy, rested, and have had enough sleep and food. Do not wear yourself out revising, though it can be the best way of not panicking. If you revise just by reading your notes right up to the last minute, you might have difficulty switching from 'input' to 'output' when you get a pen in your hand. There is a tradition in Universities that the older generation tells the younger generation to take a holiday prior to exams so as to be fresh for the occasion. I doubt if any younger generation has ever taken this advice seriously. Go into the exam with confidence that you have learnt a lot in the year and here is your opportunity to shine. Who knows, you might even enjoy the peace and quiet of the exam room and being waited on by invigilators - no 'phones ringing, no one to nag you, no worries! Jane Howarth END |
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