Finals

[ChristinaTherese]

We have them. That's all. Post in here if you feel like it.

 

I wish I wasn't trying to work on a paper on a Sunday.... But I discovered a wealth of information, so major progress has been made even if I've written hardly anything. That and the accompanying take home final are really the most stressful things I have on my plate. I'll have such a huge burden released when I turn them in tomorrow before 4:30.

[TheresaThoma]

I'm just going to say I hate feeling like I have to put my life on hold for finals. There are tons of other stuff that I need to be doing/want to do but I have to keep reminding myself that I have to stay focused until after the 15th.

[ChristinaTherese]

I've given up on focusing entirely on finals. Nope. Too much stress, and I watch an episode of Doctor Who or take a break some other way.

[AnneLine]

It's about balance.

 

You NEED to schedule some breaks, or you will burn out!

 

Make a plan and stick to it.  I tried to do 1 or 1.5 hours so of work, and then take a 15 - 30 minute break.  Have a snack, walk around the block, take a short nap.  then back to the next thing -- ideally a different subject if possible.  Maybe even block in a prayer and/or TV break from time to time.

 

Then rinse and repeat.  Take a longer break after every few study, study short break chunks.

 

You'll be surprised how much more you get done!

 

Got me thru undergrad and grad school with honors... and without getting totally burned out. 

 

First year I just being super-disciplined and doing without the breaks... and I got less done and nearly had a breakdown.

 

 

 

Hang in there.. you can do it... we're praying for you!!!!!

[Not The Philosopher]

I could also use some prayers; this may be the busiest week in my academic life yet.

[BG45]

Every Final I have one "free point" question, where each answer is worth full credit.

 

This is CRIM 235:

 

Question:  Free Point (any answer may be selected for full credit).

 

Answers:

 

A:  

 

B:  

 

 

D:  I once went up on the mountain to ask a wise old man the meaning of academic success and he told me three things.  The first was that we should always cross the street in groups, because no one will hit multiple students hopefully.  The second was that the meaning of academic success was something each person had to come up with individually.  The third was that any of these four answers is correct.

 

(I know, not in meme form, but it was too long for one.)

[ChristinaTherese]

It's about balance.

 

You NEED to schedule some breaks, or you will burn out!

 

Make a plan and stick to it.  I tried to do 1 or 1.5 hours so of work, and then take a 15 - 30 minute break.  Have a snack, walk around the block, take a short nap.  then back to the next thing -- ideally a different subject if possible.  Maybe even block in a prayer and/or TV break from time to time.

 

Then rinse and repeat.  Take a longer break after every few study, study short break chunks.

 

You'll be surprised how much more you get done!

 

Got me thru undergrad and grad school with honors... and without getting totally burned out. 

 

First year I just being super-disciplined and doing without the breaks... and I got less done and nearly had a breakdown.

 

 

 

Hang in there.. you can do it... we're praying for you!!!!!

Sounds like a good idea to me.... Especially with a ton of work on my plate all due in seven hours. (My that feels better, that it's due in a whole seven hours. I know I can do it if I'm disciplined with my breaks. Or maybe I'm just repeating that because I dread the other option... like the little engine that could.)

 

 

Every Final I have one "free point" question, where each answer is worth full credit.

 

This is CRIM 235:

 

Question:  Free Point (any answer may be selected for full credit).

 

Answers:

 

A:  

 

B:  

 

 

D:  I once went up on the mountain to ask a wise old man the meaning of academic success and he told me three things.  The first was that we should always cross the street in groups, because no one will hit multiple students hopefully.  The second was that the meaning of academic success was something each person had to come up with individually.  The third was that any of these four answers is correct.

 

(I know, not in meme form, but it was too long for one.)

 

That's fantastic. I wonder if your students who select c have slightly lower scores on the final than the others... I know I never bother to check my answers on the last final. I just want to turn it and and leave. Whatever I might have missed was probably minor anyway.

Edited December 9, 2013 by Christina Thérèse

[Luigi]

Here's the perfect song for finals time - and for (slow) dancing through your study break. James Taylor with Simon & Garfunkel doing Sam Cooke's "What a Wonderful World This Would Be."

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HW-eCUmZqw

[ChristinaTherese]

Yes! I finished my paper. Now I just have to do the final. Then I'll be free to work on studying for the next final.

 

Have I mentioned that it's kind of nice that it's not a Holy Day of Obligation today? Today, of all days... it would be tough. It would work somehow... but not well.

Edited December 9, 2013 by Christina Thérèse

[AnneLine]

Good for you!!!!!   'chunking' the work into manageable sections or 'chunks' (and that is the actual word they use, btw!) makes SUCH a big difference!  It lets you just focus on one thing at a time, and also gives you a realization that stuff is getting accomplished!

 

 

SO PROUD OF YOU, of ALL of you -- Hell Week is NOT to be taken as a walk in the park!

 

YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!! 

 

  :cheer:  :cheer:  :cheer: :cheer:  :cheer:  

 

 

[AnneLine]

I loved your final exam question, BG.   I had a history teacher who concluded her exams with a True/False question:

 

Last Question:

 

"History is Bunk"

 

True / False

 

 

A few people got all freaked out because she didn't SAY up front that it was a free question... you could see 'em sweating bullets.....

 

 

 

My most UNFAVORITE exam was the year that a bunch of us got stuck in a public transit vehicle UNDER GROUND on the way to the university, packed TO THE GILLS with students en-route to our final exams.  I had a biological anthropology exam that was worth something like 40% of my grade on the line.  Frankly, I think if we had been there 5 more mins, someone would have chewed his or her way out of that vehicle!

 

When we finally arrived at the campus, we nearly killed each other sprinting out of the car and cross the campus (my classroom was about 1/4 mile form the bus stop... some people had even FURTHER to go!  Arrived about 45 minutes INTO the 3 hour final exam.  ( :eek: )  

 

We'd been told by the professor that the first part of the exam would consist of choosing 3 of the first 5 questions to answer, each for a possible 20% of the total grade, and that there would be one mandatory the long essay for the remaining 40%.   He'd been very specific... and told us to plan our time accordingly.  

 

There were about 30 of us in the stalled transit vehicle, so it was clear what had happened to us..... and we asked if we could have an extra 40 mins.  He said that he was sorry, but he had a plane to catch that night, and NO we would not be allowed any additional time.   But he felt we could do the exam in the time remaining....   :rolleyes:

 

So.... I grabbed the paper and started writing my essay questions.   Glanced at the first 5 questions, chose 3... wrote frantically... answered the last question... all was good.  Still had a few minutes left... reviewed my work... pant, pant, brought up my paper.... left the room and collapsed with the others on the hall floor.   The student next to me said, that was just SO unfair, making us answer 4 out of the first 5 questions.  :blink:  Pardon?   You didn't see the instructions -- he switched it to FOUR out of the first 5, not 3 out of the first 5....

 

So... I lost a huge chunk of points by not reading the directions.   :doh:   I could have answered both of the other questions.  Sigh.

 

Got a B+ in that class, dang it!

 

 

SO... READ THE EXAM INSTRUCTIONS!!!!!!!!

 

 

[AnneLine]

the goal is in sight!!!!

 

you can do it!!!!!!

 

 

[Talithacum]

As finals approach, taking breaks and staying organized always helps. The other best thing is a prayer by St. Thomas Acquinas for students.

 

 

Creator of all things,

true source of light and wisdom,

origin of all being,

graciously let a ray of your light penetrate

the darkness of my understanding.

 

Take from me the double darkness

in which I have been born,

an obscurity of sin and ignorance.

 

Give me a keen understanding,

a retentive memory, and

the ability to grasp things

correctly and fundamentally.

 

Grant me the talent

of being exact in my explanations

and the ability to express myself

with thoroughness and charm.

 

Point out the beginning,

direct the progress,

and help in the completion.

 

I ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

[ChristinaTherese]

Internet was down when I was supposed to turn my paper and final in four hours ago, I didn't have enough ink in the printer, and the power was out (which is why internet was down) and I couldn't get into the library to use the printers there. So I just sent them in, with explanation, four hours late. That one will be fine. And I studied for my next final (tomorrow at 9 AM) with a friend, so now I can just rest. Yay!

[AnneLine]

YAAAAAAY!   Now have a little fun, and then get some sleep!  :)