The following scenarios detail problems that occur during essay exams. Read each scenario and then identify the problem, its cause, and potential solutions – ways the problem may be prevented.
1. Susan enjoys an active social life. Besides attending college, she has a part-time job, belongs to several clubs, and also volunteers to help her friends with their homework. The night before her history test, she begins to study. She races through an entire semester’s worth of notes and readings. She stays up until 5:00 a.m. When she starts her exam, the questions look vaguely familiar, but she can’t organize her thoughts. She is exhausted.
Problem:
Cause:
Solution:
2. Joshua is a conscientious student. He attends his Botany class, reads the materials, and reviews for his exam one week in advance. He feels confident on the day of the exam. His first question asks him to “Enumerate and discuss the steps involved in the process of photosynthesis.” He isn’t sure what “enumerate” means, so he frantically writes down random facts about photosynthesis. His final answer is unfocused and confusing.
Problem:
Cause:
Solution:
3. Judy is preparing for her exam in political science which is three days away. She sits down to study and realizes that the exam will cover 600 pages of reading and 70 pages of lecture notes. She decides to reread everything. When the exam day arrives, she has only read one third of the materials.
Problem:
Cause:
Solution:
4. Helen reads the three essay exam questions on her geography final. She knows the answer for question #2. She immediately plans and then writes a thorough, well developed response. She realizes she has omitted an important quote, so she starts to rewrite the entire essay. She finishes her first essay, and the instructor says: “Five more minutes.”
Problem:
Cause:
Solution:
5. Karen selects essay #3 on her American literature exam. The question reads: “Benjamin Franklin has been called the ‘first fixer and former of American political thought.’ Discuss Franklin’s contribution to American political thought. How does his life exemplify the myth of the self-made man in pursuit of the American dream?” Karen remembers a few details from Franklin’s autobiography, but doesn’t think Franklin’s life was as interesting as her own grandfather’s struggle to build his own business. She decides to focus upon her grandfather instead. The instructor will appreciate her ingenuity.
Problem:
Cause:
Solution:
6. George didn’t go to class on Monday. He knew they were just reviewing for the test. He figured his roommate could get the notes from this other guy in his class. He had asked him to ask this guy, who was also in his roommate’s speech class. It was no big deal. The night before the test, George asked his roommate about the notes. Jim, his roommate, said the guy never came to speech. So George looked at his notes for a few minutes and then went to sleep. The next morning, he went to take the test. The instructor asked the class to take out their blue books, and their two note cards. George didn’t have either. He ran to the bookstore for a blue book, returned and wrote the exam without any note cards. He left the exam frustrated and angry.
Problem:
Cause:
Solution: