You will write the Final Exam in an NVCC Testing Center. Be sure to take the appropriate
Exam Pass and a photo ID with you. Call the
Testing Center first to make sure it will be open long enough for you to complete the exam.
If it is not possible for you to get to an NVCC Testing Center, you may arrange for a proctor at another location. If you need a proctor, go to the
ELI Policies and Procedures Screen. Select the link for Examination Proctors, from the Table of Contents, for information on how to arrange for a proctor.
Remember: you must pass both exams to pass the course. The Final Exam is worth up to 200 points, or 20% of the course grade.
Please take a few minutes, either before or after your final exam, to answer a short
online survey about your experience in this course. Your answers are anonymous, but they do help us to improve the course.
Congratulations! You've completed the course.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE
FINAL EXAM
If you have done the required Research Report successfully, you should not have any trouble with this exam. There is no time limit, but allow about 2-3 hours. You are encouraged to use a word processor if one is available at the Testing Center
Remember, you must pass both exams to pass the course.
Completed plan sheet for the exam (optional but
a very good idea)
Any print or written materials you bring to the exam will be collected and sent to ELI. You will not be able to get either this material or your exam back. I will read your exam and send your grade to you with my comments. Allow about
a week for turnaround.
EXAM DIRECTIONS
1. What to expect. The Final Exam will ask you to write THREE separate presentations of the material in your Research Report. Each presentation will explain the topic of your Research Report to a different, specific audience:
A class of sixth graders
The readers of Time magazine (adults with no special technical knowledge of the subject-matter of the report)
Professionals in the subject-matter of the report.
2. For each presentation list first:
What the audience already knows about this topic
What background information, if any, they need in order to understand your discussion of the topic
What approach might interest this audience
What purpose this presentation might have (e.g. an article in Weekly Reader, a memo to your fellow workers, information to help lobby for a new bill in the state legislature, a marketing report to help sell your company's newest product, a newsletter, a technical article in a journal, etc.)
3. For each presentation, include an introduction suitable to its audience and purpose, a developed body of information, a
description of a helpful visual, and an appropriate conclusion. Be sure to write out the full presentation; don't just plan it! Each presentation should be about 500 words long. You may make it longer if you need to.
4. You may bring print materials, xeroxed visuals, and a copy of your research report to the testing center; they will be
collected and sent to me at ELI. They will not be returned to you. Allow about two hours to write this exam; you may have more time if needed. Good luck!
VISUALS:
Since the current Blackboard Exam Box cannot accept
visuals, you will need to briefly describe each visual
instead of actually inserting it. This is the same
process you used in your Midterm exam.
Since this is a technical
writing course, good layout and design are important,
as well as neatness, correctness, and intelligibility.
FINAL EXAM GRADING
Weight: The Final Exam is worth up to 200 points, or 20% of your total grade, depending on how well it meets the grading criteria below.
Length: Four to six pages should be plenty for this assignment. Allow
between 2 and 3 hours for the exam; you may use more time if you need it.
Final Exam Grading Criteria:
Each of the three presentations uses appropriate planning for its specified audience
Each presentation uses an appropriate tone and content for its specified audience.
Each presentation is well-organized
and stays focused on topic.
Each presentation deals with relevant substance from your Research Report (e.g. don't make the part for children trivial; the goal is to communicate your content to each audience, not to dilute information).
All presentations have a neat, professional appearance.
There is at least one simple, appropriate visual
described briefly for each audience.
Each presentation is well-developed
and uses relevant, specific examples.
The entire exam (except visuals) is composed on a computer and printed out.
All presentations use correct, clear, college-level English.
Each presentation provides any necessary context (e.g. not a fragment that fits into something larger, which is missing).
1. What to expect. The Final Exam will ask you to write THREE separate presentations of the material in your Research Report. Each presentation will explain the topic of your Research Report to a different, specific audience:
