The Other Side Of The Lectern

Today is national talk like a pirate day. I'd like to think I did my part.

"Mr. Beauchamp, what is the thinking process of the reporter?"

Aaarrgh.

I gave my first exam today. As usual (?) students were trying to get last-minute answers out of me before D-Period began. Other students were hurriedly perusing their notes for little nuggets to commit to memory (rather than actually learning).

All in all I feel like the exam went well. I reviewed with the students last class period and told them more than they would need to know about what was going to make up the exam. I told them there would be about 50 questions and that the test would be worth 200 points. Groans all around. Shocked faces twisted in wonderment that I would dare make the average question worth four points. Where did I get off...? I quickly explained that there were 1350 points available in this course, and that I wanted the exams to be weighted accordingly. I said, "If you fail a test it will drop your overall grade by one letter." Good thing this is print news writing and not statistics.

As for the exam itself, I included just about every kind of question one could want. I started off with an oldie but a goody: multiple choice. Next, to set the mood right, I threw in a pinch of true/false, followed closely by a section of matching. To showboat I rustled up some short answer. The exam also included some listing, identification and I had the students write a lead based on six reported facts.

We'll see how the scores line up, but I think I made the test simple enough for everyone to pass if they put in a couple hours of study. But you never know with college students. I'm sure I'll hear a bevy of excuses come next Tuesday.

I just hope no one offers up "a touch of the scurvy."