J130 Fall 08 Schedule

Test One

This test will be in three parts --

a) reading comprehension and grammar points on poems covered in class,
b) questions designed to check the student's ability to use 動詞、助動詞、形容詞 charts (if 助詞 are involved, what they require ahead of them will be provided), and
c) meaning and interpretation questions on poems not before seen in class but using the topics presented in class (萩、露、月など)

This test will be closed book for Part A, charts only for Part B, and open book for Part C. Definitions will not be provided for Part A as it is assumed that the vocabulary has been more or less mastered for the poems already covered in class. Definitions and other information about words will be provided for Part B as necessary, to replace what would normally be gathered from a dictionary.

Laptops are acceptable for Part C and only Part C, but those who use laptops will sit on the front row facing into the room, that is, so that the laptop screens are visible to the instructor. It is possible that the poems of Part C will have online modern Japanese and English translations and/or online discussions of the poem, and the use of a laptop could be an unfair advantage.

English or hybrid Japanese/English definitions will be provided for vocabulary for poems in Part C for words that were NOT covered in poems assigned for class.

This test does not require the use of a 古語辞典 beyond the charts that it provides. If you have charts separate from this, they will be sufficient. If you copy charts from dictionaries, that will be sufficient. 古語辞典 will not be provided, nor will charts (they already have been, see bSpace).

This test is designed to determine if the student has mastered the main points listed online, become very familiar with the poems covered in class, and can bring that knowledge to poems encountered for the first time. If focuses on obtaining basic meaning over poetic interpretation, but the line between these is often a blurry one. Please remember that multimedia material given as required for class preparation is testable.

This test will take the full session and start promptly at the beginning of class. If you intend to use a laptop, please sit on the front row. You can face the front of the class for Parts A&B and reverse your position for Part C.

Final Exam Session 12:30-3:30

One-on-One Interviews, 9 minutes per student with a quick 1 minute to switch between students.

This interview session cannot be made-up and it is 20 percent of your grade. Plan your exam week accordingly.

Location: 215 Dwinelle

Content

I might ask grammar and/or interpretation of poems you might have seen before or of poems you have not. The best way to prepare is to look over the main points on the web. (You should already be familiar with these since they are supposed to be at least glanced over before every session.) Rereading the poems will also help. Aki and koi poems are both possibilities.

Interview content is specific for each student. It may or may not overlap in total or in part with other students.

Grading

This interview will be graded on a curve, just one letter grade, and is definitely not based on a percent of correct answers of the questions we will cover in 9 minutes. Further, each student is graded with her or his personal strengths and weakness kept in mind. It is likely I will move on to the next question if it seems we are not moving forward fast enough. This doesn't mean yo have "failed" or done poorly on a question; it just means I've decided to explore a different area. Please keep your answers brief but informative. I will be asking myself these basic questions: has the student made progress in reading waka? does the student have some knowledge (not perfect knowledge) of the main points that have been covered in class? ... things like this. I will be looking more at strategies that you turn to to work towards an understanding a poem and sensibility about the poems than correct or incorrect literal meanings of the poem. Although we will move fairly quickly from one point to the next, I do not consider speed as an important element in reading poems. I will move on just so I can ask a variety of questions.

You will earn a delicious chocolate or cookie at the end of your session

Recording of Session

I plan to audio or video record the sessions because I do not want to make notes while we are talking and I have no time to jot down notes between interviews. Therefore, the recording will be absolutely critical. Please let me know if you have a preference about audio or video recording; I might be able to accommodate your preference.

Required materials for the interview

Pencil and eraser.

Your classical dictionary. An electronic or web-based version is acceptable, but make sure you are already connected to the web and that the appropriate web page is open BEFORE being called into the interview room. I can provide a dictionary if necessary, but it will be one you are not familiar with and that might cause some time issues. Contact me about this well ahead of time. I might be able to match in the room the dictionary you use in the East Asian library.

Optional materials for the interview

This is an open book interview, so you are welcome to bring whatever is helpful to you, including class notes and so on.

Schedule

The schedule is as below. We will follow it strictly. There will be a clock in the hallway that matches the clock on my computer.

NO SUBSTITUTIONS. Your time slot is the only available time slot for you. The times printed below are firm.

You do not need to be present until your time slot but be on time (no excuses please) and you should leave the area after you are finished.

Enter the room when you see the student who is ahead of you exit the room.

Penalties

10% penalty for every minute late to the interview (61-120 seconds = 10% penalty, 121-180 seconds = 20% penalty, etc). The penalty will be calculated against whatever score was earned. This is only meant, really only meant, to make sure we all stay on time, myself included. I do not expect there to be and really hope there are not any late penalties.

Please, once you are finished, no discussing in any way your interview with those still waiting in the hall. (If you want to wait for a friend, please wait elsewhere, and agree on this BEFORE the exam, not in the hallway between interviews — there is no time to talk then.) Talking about the interview (until after 3:30) will be considered cheating since some material might be repeated. My usual penalty for cheating is an "F" for the assignment / exam involved.

INTERVIEW SCHEDULE

12:30-12:40 Hannah H

12:40-12:50 Jeremy

12:50-1 Saori

1-1:10 Lily

1:10-1:20 Kelly K

1:20-1:30 Nick

1:30-1:40 Daniel

1;40-1:50 Amy

1:50-2 Kheng

2-2:10 Lisa

2:10-2:20 Hannah C

2:20-2:30 Kelly W

2:30-2:40 An

2:40-2:50 Recca

2:50-3 Charlie

3-3:10 Adrian

3:10-3:20 Shirley

3:20-3:30 Brenden

Th, Nov 27

n/a

no class (Thanksgiving Break)