GEOLOGY 117 - THE OCEANS

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Exams:

There are three hour exams and a final exam. Check the schedule for the topics covered and dates of exams.

* The format of exams is multiple-choice.

* Hour exams consist of about 50 questions.

* The final exam consists of about 75 questions. About one-third of the final will be on topics covered in the hour exams.

* Exams emphasize lecture material. Material from assigned text readings may also appear, but generally, the reading provides useful background and expands on the points, concepts, and issues presented in lectures. Exams will include text readings that are directly relevant to lecture topics.

Prior to each exam, the instructor will hold a one-hour question-and-answer session. The date, time, and place of each review session will be announced in class and posted on the web site. Come prepared with questions about any material that you do not understand.

Bring your student ID or another picture ID to all exams. You will need it as identification when you hand in the exam.

Past exams are not made available. The self-administered quizzes on the web site are examples of the types of questions asked on exams. In fact, questions on the quizzes may appear on exams.

Conflict and make-up exams will be available only to those students having valid excuses

++ personal travel, or exams or assignments in other courses are NOT acceptable excuses except under highly unusual circumstances.

++ If you have a valid reason to request a conflict exam, please see the instructor at least a week before the scheduled exam.

++ If you have a medical or family emergencies immediately before an exam, please contact the instructor as soon as possible (by phone or e-mail).

++A student who misses an exam for whatever reason must contact the instructor within a day after the scheduled exam. Failure to do so will result in a "0" for the exam.

++The University regulations on conflicting final exams are described after the final exam schedule at the end of the Timetable booklet.

Study hints in preparing for exams: Because exams emphasize material covered in lectures, it is very important that you attend lectures and take good notes. A summary of each lecture will be available on the web site. However, there is no substitute for your own, personal notes. Taking good notes and studying them on a regular basis is the best way to absorb and "master" the material presented in lecture. Concentrate on those topics in assigned text readings that are covered in lectures, and spend less time on topics that are mentioned briefly (or not at all) in lectures. The questions in the text readings and the summaries at the end of each chapter are useful in preparing for exams. In addition, the study/review questions and the self-administered quizzes on the web site should also be helpful in studying.

I have asked students in previous Geology 117 sections who did very well in the course what was the "secret of their success." Here are their suggestions:

1. Try to make time for the readings.
2. Make sure to review all of the lecture notes.
3. Answer all the study/review questions and review them before the test.
4. Use the book to help clarify anything from the notes or questions that you do not understand.
5. Don't wait until the day before the exam to start reviewing.

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