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Re-read your class notes and review
the book and the course packet materials carefully. Be prepared
to identify and describe all of the terms and ideas on the study
guide. I sometimes use a fill-in-the-blank format for terms; other
times, I require brief essays on a term or theme. Be prepared
to recall and insert terms at relevant points in essays.
In lengthy essays, keep these points
in mind:
1. Give correct answers to all
parts of the question.
Consider this one: "Compare
and contrast the Vedic views represented in the Samhitas with
b) the later views represented in the Brahmanas on the following
issues:
2. Answer the question asked.
This, too, seems obvious, but many
students become flustered or confused, and simply write down information
they have memorized without directly addressing the issues raised
in the question. I change the questions each year, even if the
material is the same. Others scribble down what they studied because
they might feel that to be more interesting. It won't be to me.
3. Write in an essay format.
Use complete sentences, paragraphs,
correct spelling, etc. I am not convinced you understand the material
by charts and phrases, and it is difficult to give points to incoherent
writing.
4. Provide relevant details
to illustrate your points, including terms.
If you answer the question correctly,
but with little information or explanation, the grade is a B or
B-. For an A, you must be able to flesh out your answer: that
is, provide the terms, examples, and details which leave the reader
with the sense that you have really understood and integrated
the material thoroughly.
5. Do not underestimate the
time or effort that is involved to study for this exam.
Success in essay exams requires
not just note preparation, but working through the concepts to
develop real understanding and memorization. I am not interested
in merely having you parrot disconnected facts. I recommend that
after reviewing notes and your marks in your books, prepare the
study guide thoroughly. You must actually know the material you
have organized. You must be able to explain the terms and ideas,
preferably to another person, ultimately, by exam day, without
looking at any materials, and recall the terms from memory.
I approve and recommend studying in
groups, taking turns explaining the concepts to one another. Study
sessions are most productive when each member has prepared the
material him- or herself, and done some memorization of key terms.
Splitting up sections of the guide between partners has resulted
in great problems in the past, because students assigned to particular
concepts or traditions may produce inferior, inadequate, and downright
inaccurate answers that become adopted by whole study groups who
don't make the effort to check on each contributor's work. In
other words,
Do not depend on other persons who
appear to be smart to do all of your work for you. They may be
convincing, but wrong.
If you do have trouble finding a reference
while working on your own, one should not spend an excessive amount
of time on it, and instead make note of it and wait for the group.
Chances are the point or two you miss will be picked up by others
in the group. Studying in this way is fun, builds friendships,
lessens competition, encourages doing well for fear of embarrassment,
and wrong answers tend to be spotted before memorization, which
should be the last segment of test preparation. Do not forget
to allow for the crucial hours of poring over the subset of your
set of notes alone to drill these concepts home.
Good Luck!