Redefining the midterm

Chaos strikes again, providing reason to change system.

Ask anyone when finals are. It's fairly likely you can get a straight answer, or at least a response like, "go look it up."

That because finals are dependable. They always begin at the same time every year -- in this case, from December 14th to 18th, with the last day of instruction on the 10th. Very orderly stuff, finals week.

Everything's dependable, clear cut, and organized. Each class, whether it's Japanese or History 151 (or that crazy Wednesday/Friday, 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. class) has a unique time period scheduled for it.

All the parties stop, people study intensely, and the roommates get real quiet. It's almost scary the way they move around, like they have some special reverence for the terminally ill.

Everything is very, very predictable.

That's not the case with midterms, however. Midterms are unpredictable, and usually cluster together with due dates for research papers -- although from time to time a loner will strike in mid-November.

Unique to each course, they only rarely come "one per class."

Your roommates don't respect your space, the timing's all off, and your professors just can't seem to understand why you're having a hard time finishing the twenty-five page paper you've known about since the beginning of the semester but haven't had two consecutive seconds to spend on it.

On top of that, you've got the holidays to plan for and your job to work so you can save up some money.

Oh, and by the way, your mom just called and threatened to disown you if you send her another jar of guava jelly for a Christmas present for the third consecutive year.

Aaaahhh, yes. Midterms.

Occasionally, I'll find myself sitting back (though usually not for too long -- I have three papers due very soon, in addition to two midterms), wondering whatever happened to the word "test."

It almost seems archaic, like the way we used to say the word "dude." Professors don't seem to give tests anymore. There are only midterms and quizzes.

It might be because previous students didn't think tests were important enough to study for. In order to make the students take examinations more seriously, professors probably started calling them midterms, just so students would study more.

Whatever the cause, the overuse of the word "midterm" is devaluing its meaning and reputation. Perhaps it's time to go back to basics, and redefine just what term means what.

This way, we have a standard for gauging how serious each particular class of examination really is, and everyone will go into class that day knowing exactly what to expect.

So for all the professors who happened to have picked up the Ka Leo today, no matter what university you're from, please take notes -- there'll be a "test" on this later.

A "quiz" is a short, one-half to one page questionnaire that evaluates a student's comprehension of a short-term assignment. A few short answer questions are appropriate, and an announcement need not be granted before the class, provided forewarning was given at the beginning of the semester.

A "test" is more serious, and requires some degree of studying. Multiple choice is a popular format for tests, which can be given at any time during the semester. These dates must, of course, be included in the syllabus, although they may be pushed back by student consensus.

The "midterm," is second in importance only to the final, and should be limited to only one per semester per class.

Notice is absolutely necessary, both in written form via the syllabus and orally, with at least a week between the two dates. Ideally, they are preceded by a study session, and issued in the middle of the term.

To reiterate, the middle of the term. Hence the prefix MID- before the base word TERM.

Far too often do we find midterms schedule at extreme ends of the semester. By the way some students manage to stay up all night while sleeping through every class, the midterm season seems to range from the second day of school all the way to eh last day of finals.

Yes indeed, the midterm season is a stressful one.

But fear not. Even if you get one of those professors who can't tell a test from a midterm, you can make a great excuse out of it.

"Honest, mom. I was so busy studying for my 32nd midterm, I didn't have time to go shopping for Christmas presents. But don't worry, I sent out some of that guava jelly I know you love."