ID Exams

Preparing for ID 1

Read the first 23 pages in the Hines book. On the course website, click on the links associated with those first 23 pages: [pp 1-11 ; the Western Hemisphere ; Folsom points ; Paleo-Indian Cultures ; Native American "Culture Areas" ; Mound Builders ; Secota ; Southwestern Tribes ; Mimbres Bowls ; Petroglyphs ; A Chinook Talepp 12-23 ; European Exploration ; Tainos ; the Spanish Empire ; Cortes ; La Malinche ; Codex Mendoza ; Sir Francis Drake Meets the Miwok]. While you are reading, take notes (I find that underlining just gives you colorful books, but taking the trouble to write things down on paper, visualize yourself doing it, reformulating what you read in your own words--all that helps the information find a brain cell to stick to). Jot down what seem to be important people, place names, and so forth.

When you've done that, go to WEBCT, open up the first week folder, click on the link for ID 1, and see how you do. It is a good idea to take ID 1 as soon as you can, so you can see your score and my comments, if any, before you take ID 2. (I will grade the ID 1s as they come in, so that you can get ID 2 done by the 11 a.m. Monday deadline.)

Preparing for ID Exams generally:

The text pages covered in each ID exam are shown on your Schedule. To prepare for the ID Exams, review the assigned pages and review your lecture notes. The terms used in the ID exams always come from the Hine and Faragher textbook, "The American West: A New Interpretive History." 

Look also at the hyperlinks on the Schedule--these links are often clues as to what will be on the ID exam.

ID exams never "go backwards;" that is, you will never see terms on ID 3 from the readings covered in ID 1 or 2.

Taking the Exams

Access these exams on WEBCT. Go to http://webct.dvc.edu/webct/public/home.pl 

Log in using your 7-digit Datatel School ID (including leading zeros). Your password is your 6-digit date of birth (e.g. Feb. 15, 1982 would be 021582).

On the Course Menu on the left, click on the link "Weekly Assignments." Open the link for the week in question, and click on the "ID" link at the bottom. All the available exams will be displayed in the center of your screen. Click on the appropriate "ID" link to open your exam. 

PLEASE NOTE: The ID quizzes are TIMED. You only get one chance to take each ID quiz, so be sure you are ready before you begin. You get two minutes per term. That is plenty of time to write a response. The ID quizzes are set to deliver all at once, and you are allowed (and encouraged) to go back and add more to your answers before finally submitting your work. Please note that the box will expand to accommodate your answer.

Write in as much detail as possible. You do not have to write in perfect sentences with perfect spelling and punctuation--just tell me everything you remember about the term or individual. Be sure to save often--you will not be permitted to save new information after the time limit has passed.

Please note: There will be a lag in grading the ID quizzes, because I have to read them and assign point values to each student's answers. Your score will appear -- I PROMISE -- in the "My Grades" section of WEBCT as soon as I have graded your work. Please try to be patient.

Warning!

Answer in YOUR OWN WORDS. I will know if you cut and paste information from the internet.

Reviewing your graded ID Exams

You must review your graded ID EXAMs, especially ID EXAM 1, before you attempt the next ID EXAM. Reading my comments on your ID EXAM 1 will give you a better idea of how much and what kind of information I am looking for in your answers. I may also give you additional information or tell you if you got something wrong--info you might need before you attempt the Cumulative Exams.

To read my comments on your ID exams, go to WEBCT. Follow the instructions above for accessing the ID Exam in question. Click on the link for the exam. If I have graded it, your score will be available. Click on the link "View Scores." You will be able to see your scores and my comments (if any).