How to score well
on J100 Concepts Assgns
Rich Cameron
Issue date: 5/15/02 Section: Journalism Prgrm
The concepts assignments are designed to make sure you understand key material in the class. They are always due about the time of the test.
The BEST way to work on them is as you are exposed to the lectures and as you read the accompanying chapters in the textbook. The WORST way to complete them is all at once just before a test, or worse AFTER you've taken the test. A well done concepts paper should give you additional material to look at when taking the open-note test.
Answers for some concepts questions come strictly from lectures. Some strictly from the textbook. Others are covered both places and you should pay attention to that.
In answering the questions you should look for opportunities to do more than merely repeat the words from my lectures or the words from the textbook. Rote repetition of the lectures or the textbook will not insure full credit on each answer. You should restate the information in your own words and/or give real life EXAMPLES to show you understand the information. Your job is to convince me that you not only have IDENTIFIED the concept, but that you UNDERSTAND IT.
While it is possible to put too much information, indicating that you are trying the shotgun approach and you don't really understand the concept, generally more information is better than too little information.
Not all concept questions are equal, either, even though they are graded that way. The last concept, for instance, usually requires a longer, more complete answer than the other nine.
Each concept is worth up to 2 points. I usually grade either as a 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 or 2.0 on each concept. Simply repeat my words and you might get only half credit for each concept.
There will be five concept assignments, one for each section of the class. The 100 points (5x20) possible represents about half of your total homework points.
Good luck.
The BEST way to work on them is as you are exposed to the lectures and as you read the accompanying chapters in the textbook. The WORST way to complete them is all at once just before a test, or worse AFTER you've taken the test. A well done concepts paper should give you additional material to look at when taking the open-note test.
Answers for some concepts questions come strictly from lectures. Some strictly from the textbook. Others are covered both places and you should pay attention to that.
In answering the questions you should look for opportunities to do more than merely repeat the words from my lectures or the words from the textbook. Rote repetition of the lectures or the textbook will not insure full credit on each answer. You should restate the information in your own words and/or give real life EXAMPLES to show you understand the information. Your job is to convince me that you not only have IDENTIFIED the concept, but that you UNDERSTAND IT.
While it is possible to put too much information, indicating that you are trying the shotgun approach and you don't really understand the concept, generally more information is better than too little information.
Not all concept questions are equal, either, even though they are graded that way. The last concept, for instance, usually requires a longer, more complete answer than the other nine.
Each concept is worth up to 2 points. I usually grade either as a 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 or 2.0 on each concept. Simply repeat my words and you might get only half credit for each concept.
There will be five concept assignments, one for each section of the class. The 100 points (5x20) possible represents about half of your total homework points.
Good luck.
