I don't know how to prepare for this final exam. Help?

So my professor decided she's going to give us a two part final, one part take home, and one part in class, both of which are going to be essays.

I'm worried because when I asked her if she would tell us the question for the in class part ahead of time so we would know what to expect (and leave our answer sheet/outline at home), she said no.

I'm worried she's going to throw something at me I know almost nothing about.

I have good notes and I've been reviewing, but I feel as if I forgot things & don't have every bit of my notes memorized.

I've taken essay exams before, but those professors have always given me the questions before hand and had us leave notes at home.

No. She never says things like "This may be on an exam."

Help? What can I do?

xxeliza321xx :    The best thing you can do for yourself [and your final grade] is not worry about a thing. Stress would affect your performance. You cannot have that. Stressing out too much makes people freak when they are writing an exam or traveling to take it. [I AM SKIPPING!!! AAAAAGH!!!] The same exams they would have passed if they took them and did not lose their cool during.

 Here is what you will do instead. Remember that essay exams and "essay segments" of larger exams have the most to do with evaluating your skill at "writing essays" in the form of a compelling argument. Instead of losing your butt-pudding over something you cannot possibly be aware of, focus on what you do know. The course materials and "current world events" [do not ignore those] have given you a wealth of "inspiration" for your essay writing. Think of your political science materials. There are opinions about the history of politics plus the current day and why things work and have worked the way they do to consider in the way you approach your discussion.

 Being that this is a scientific analysis of politics class, the "why" ought to be the most important. Think about what you know from your studies and what opinions you have about what has historically occurred, "why" it has happened the way it did and how precisely you would like to go about convincing the reader of your opinion.

 If you are not looking to make an essay that suggests anything ground-breaking or newly influential, why not check up on what positions the educated perspectives on politics are saying [i.e. published 'political science' professors]? How would their view affect yours? You could begin new lines of argument supporting their established position.

 Who knows? Maybe your professor wrote a published essay stating an opinionated claim she made. If you get your hands on that, it might be gold. Whatever her view is, you can choose words which harmonize what you already believe with the kind of things she has stated. If your stated opinion supports hers, she may just take an interest when she grades your two essays and either take what you say as some kind of inherent truth [regardless of the prompt you are given for each essay] and be hooked on your writing without grading it carefully for a compelling argument because she will instantly agree with what she already believes or perhaps want to offer you extra help if your writing skill is not up to scratch so that you may be published as well[in the interest of supporting her own theories or just because she sees promise in a similar thinking student]. Either way, "pass with flying colours" could be in the "house of cards".

 If your teacher has not given you what you believe you need to pass, focusing some attention directly on the kind of academic intellect she is, what impresses her and what her expectations are is a step in the right direction. I doubt your professor has gone radio silence on those things, so pay attention. She didn't come to you directly to get to know you in this way, so you must go to her. Find out what she likes and what she likes reading, hearing and knowing about.  What "triggers" [sometimes words] perk the interests of your professor?

 Teachers grade essays quite lowly when they are bored reading it. They task themselves with finding out why what they are reading is such a dull experience. What's wrong with it?

 Solution: Write about something interesting; that intrigues and makes a reader drool for more. A five-paragraph essay - longer ones can actually be easier because you will have more body and less limitation to develop your discussion roots before lancing into the conclusion you have so carefully prepared [like fisher baiting a hook to reel them in] - does not require much forethought about the prompted subject if it is already familiar to you. Take a position the grader will not have seen every time they give such an exam.

 Also, something that might interest you [personal enthusiasm], just about anyone [crowd-sourced popularity] or specifically your professor [get the grader on your side] are all good choice political tactics in the direction you may wish to position your essay subjects. You can even try dirty tactics.

 The definition of politics is "influencing other people". So use exactly what you have been learning about on a scientific level to influence your grader, be the master influencer and use the intelligence you discover to tower over your classmates in your professor's view of your prowess and prominence.


 Good luck Eliza!

 P3 

Postman3 : yeah, this is actually GREAT advice. I do have passions when it comes to politics - higher education and voter registration since those are what I do at NYPIRG. Thoughts now?

xxeliza321xx :   I have presented my piece. Focus on your own thoughts now Eliza and find your own powerful words.



 P3
 
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Thank you for your grace and kind compliment.  ^ ^   It is lovely to know that you have passions.

 

Postman3 : Awesome, thanks. I'm about to send you a message about another topic. Your help would really be appreciated!

Just be calm and everything will turn out fine. Just make sure you prepare adequately if possible and hope for the best.