Here is some information about what to expect on the midterm exam. (This page will be further updated after class on M Oct 20 — see especially the link to a PDF with key terms and background concepts for each Kaplan chapter.)
- The exam is in class, on paper, closed-book
- No blue book is needed
- You may prepare and bring one page of notes:
- Letter-size paper (8.5 x 11 inches) or A4, or smaller
- Write on one side only (back may be used as scratch paper during exam)
- Your notes page must be handwritten — no screenshots or scans (but you can handwrite on a device and print the results)
- Your notes page must be turned in with the exam (it won't be graded)
- Students with ARS accommodations who wish to take their exam at the Testing Center
should follow ARS policies for registering
- Please let me know ASAP if this will be a problem
Structure of the exam
A. Questions based on the Kaplan textbook chapters
- True/false, multiple-choice, or matching questions
- In some cases, you may be asked to expand on or justify your choices
- Short-answer questions
- Brief definitions, explanations, or comparisons between two ideas or results
- How to review:
- The exam questions will be focused on important ideas and key terms, not tiny details
- You will not be asked to remember specific names of researchers
- Any "case-study section" in a Kaplan chapter will not be covered (usually sec Ch#.3, but sec 6.2 in the adult L2 chapter)
- See list of key terms and concepts for each Kaplan chapter (see also original submissions from presentation groups)
B. Questions based on the case-study presentations
- Data and statistics questions
- Given a big-picture research question, be able to state a relevant measurable research question
- Given a measurable research question, be able to state the Null Hypothesis
- Given a data table or data graphic (plus some explanatory text) from a research paper, be able to explain the axes or categories, and tell the story of what the table or graphic is showing
- Given p-values for experiment results, be able to identify which numerical values are statistically significant and which are not; understand what "statistical significance" means
- Discussion questions
- On the exam, you will be given a choice of three discussion ("essay") questions - you will answer one of them that is not based on your group's presentation chapter
- Each option will be based on the data graphic and discussion question provided by one of the case-study presentation groups (possibly edited for clarity or depth/breadth)
- How to review:
- You will not have to memorize anything from the presentations
- You will be given a data graphic and/or a research question to work from
- Follow these links for case-study presentation slides and exam-question slides
Topics covered
- Ch 2 - Non-standard dialects
- Appendix - Introductory statistics and data graphics
- Ch 3 [Group 1] - Signed languages
- Ch 4 [Group 2] - Non-humans and language
- Ch 5 [Group 3] -Children and first-language acquisition
- Ch 6 [Group 4] - Adult second-language acquisition
- Ch 7 [Group 5] - Bilingualism and cognition
- Ch 8 [Group 6] - Language and gender
- Ch 9 [Group 7] - Technology and language
- Ch 10 [Group 8] - "Beautiful" languages
- Ch 11 [Group 9] - Language and thought