Part 1 (10 multiple choice questions, 10 fill-in-th-blank and short answer)

KEY Terms/Identifications to know!
 

Part Two: ESSAY--2 of the following will appear on the exam and you will do 1(TOTAL=60 points, 60% of the exam.)

1.)Using class lectures and discussions and the Perez-Stable book, discuss the origins, course, and legacy of the Cuban revolution.  Finally, discuss the Cuban revolution's impact on American politics.  Be specific and use illustrative examples to highlight your arguments.

2.)Using class lectures and discussions, the Perez-Stable book, and the "Crucible of Empire" film, discuss the origins of Cuban Nationalism during the 1898 war in Cuba.  Be specific and use illustrative examples to highlight your arguments.

3.)Using class lectures and discussions, the Perez-Stable book, and the "Fidel" film, discuss the radicalization of the Cuban revolution from 1959 through 1962.  What were the key turning points?  Be specific and use illustrative examples to highlight your arguments.

4.)Using class lectures and discussions, the Perez-Stable book, and the "Fidel" film, discuss the changing nature of US policies toward Cuba from the 1950s through the end of the 1960s.  What were the key turning points?  Be specific and use illustrative examples to highlight your arguments.
 
 

Taking Examinations

Thorough preparation is the key to success on all examinations. During the test you can't get help working that problem you skipped over in your math assignment!

Preparation is also important because your time might be limited. If you are not thoroughly familiar with the material, you will run out of time. Third, solid preparation is necessary because you will have to analyze and apply material. You might be asked to compare two concepts covered in different chapters or in different lectures weeks apart. Review the study hints described earlier in this section to prepare yourself for exams.

Essay Exams

Essays require a comprehensive understanding of large amounts of information and an ability to integrate this knowledge into a coherent essay. Simple memorization of unrelated facts will do you little good. You will be asked about fundamental ideas from the lectures, the readings, and the discussions. Here are some key principles to help you do well:

• Use your exam time well; pace yourself. Read the entire examination, including all the instructions. Plan out the amount of time you will need to answer each question. Then choose the question you know the most about first. It may feel a bit odd, but you will soon get used to it. If you still run out of time, at least you will have the satisfaction of knowing you are rushing through or leaving out what you could not have answered very well anyway. Also, since most students are somewhat tense before an examination, if you answer the first question well, that tension will likely go away. As you relax, you will find it easier to remember names, terms, and other bits of information to help answer other questions.

 
• Know the key task words in the essay questions and address the task asked for. Examples of key task words are "compare," "analyze," "define," "describe," and "evaluate."

 
• Write a focused, organized essay that answers the question asked. Outline first. This will help you stick to answering the question asked and not rambling about anything you know. If there is a bit of information you have forgotten, leave a space in your outline that you can go back to once you remember it. This should be a very brief outline in the margin of the exam paper or the inside cover of the blue book. A good rule of thumb is to spend 20% of your time in planning and outlining (pre-writing), 75% writing, and 5% reviewing what you wrote.

 
• Support your essay with factual material organized logically. Begin by telling the instructor what you are going to tell him or her. That is, present your thesis by reforming the question as a statement. Next, repeat words from the question in topic sentences in succeeding paragraphs. Each paragraph should start with a general statement (your topic sentence) and then follow with specific, informative sentences in support of your topic sentence. Always support your generalizations with specific facts and examples, but avoid supplying a mass of misinformation as this usually creates an impression that you do not know what you are talking about even on those sections of the exam where you really do. Wild guessing is almost sure to do you more harm than good. Finally, have a concluding paragraph which may include your own opinion. But make sure that your answer as a whole supports this opinion. Do not avoid facts that do not support your position; rather, explain why they are not relevant to your position. Just stating your opinion without facts to prove it rarely impresses anybody and is no indication of learning.

 
• Never allow your answer to wander away from the focus of the question. And remember, you need to prove your central points. But, do not repeat yourself. Every sentence or section should add new material or advance a line of argument.