No curve will be used in grading exams. The final exam will be cumulative in the same sense that knowledge and insights gained in this course should be cumulative. That said, the emphasis on the final exam will be on material covered during the second half of the course, since the mid term exam. Exam questions will be drawn both from reading materials and from material covered in class. The exam questions will require you to integrate these materials.
Experience indicates it is very difficult to do well without attending class on a regular basis.
All exams will involve answering two essay questions from a set of three questions. Typically a list of 10-15 questions will be prepared. A preliminary set of questions for the first exam is appended to this syllabus to give you some idea of what to expect. You are encouraged to work together in advance of the exam, sharing ideas on how to address particular questions. The exchange of insights and notes from readings and classroom discussions is a legitimate part of the learning experience for this course and will be useful in preparing for exams.