How does John create test questions?
This web page will help you learn the logic John that uses when he creates test questions from both (1) lecture and (2) the readings. Once you see the logic, you will be in a good position to predict almost all the possible questions that John could create for the entire course. This will also help you better understand the web page about the best ways to study.(1) Test questions from lectures.
John tries very diligently to break his lectures into parts, such as Part I, which may be followed by a set of subheads such as A, B, C. Under some of the A, B, C subheads, he may list points 1, 2, 3 and 4. He usually does not ask questions about any single tiny point that takes him less than 5-10 minutes to explain. But you should realize that any topic that he thinks to important enough to earn 10 minutes of his time or more could be a possible test question. Thus, point 4 under the topic A might be a test question if he spends 10 or 15 minutes on that point alone! On the other hand, if he starts lecturing on topic A and quickly lists four points, covering all four in 10 minutes, then he might ask you about topic A and expect you to explain all four of the main points about it.
(2) Test questions from the book and readings.
Please notice: You will find a list of all the questions that he can ask from the first readings Behavior Principles in Everyday Life (BPEL) near the front of the Xeroxed Reader. Just after that you will find all the questions John might ask about the first two readings in the Xerox Reader.
To see how John creates his questions from the text book, BPEL, let us begin with the first serious chapter you are reading in that book: This is Chapter 2, on Pavlovian Conditioning. FIRST STUDY TIP: Look at all the big black heads that start a new section and ask if you know the main points of that head; then ask if it is important enough that John would make it a test question. Now we will work through the first several questions John has created from Chapter 2.
On page 11 of BPEL, there is a section titled "Forming Associations," and it is about Angela's car crash. The first question that John could ask from Chapter 2 is about that example, though you will need to have read a few pages more to answer it completely. The question is:
---From the first part of Chapter 2, use the principles of Pavlovian conditioning to explain how a person such as Angela learns new things after an auto accident. What are the USs? What are the CSs? What are the emotions?
Notice how John has underlined the key words to help draw your attention to them. Then pay attention to the three questions that end with question marks. You must answer all three of them to earn full credit. One of the biggest problems that students have in earning full credit on John's tests is that they digress and get off target. Make sure that you stay focused on the issues that you need to cover.On page 12 of BPEL, there is a section titled "Two Types of Reflexes." John has created two questions that cover these central theoretical principles.
---From the early part of Chapter 2, explain the basic principles of Pavlovian conditioning.
---From Chapter 2, explain the two types of reflexes shown in Figure 2.1 (the figure that shows the basic 5 phases of Pavlovian conditioning).
These two questions ask you slightly different things, but both require that you know the contents of this main section.On page 13 of BPEL, there is a section titled "Predictive Stimuli." John could ask you the following question. Notice that it contains enough hints that you should be able to put down all the information -- if you have studied well.
---From the early part of Chapter 2, explain predictive stimuli. What kind of stimulus serves as a predictive stimulus? Why? What does it predict? Why?
As you answer this or any other question on the tests, keep looking back up to the question and ask yourself, "Have I answered everything?" You might even want to tick off each part of the question with a check mark as you complete it.On page 14 of BPEL, there is a section titled "Common Conditioned Responses." John is not going to ask you to list every item off of this long list (of out of any long list anywhere in the book. But he could ask you the following question.
---From Chapter 2, explain any six of the common conditioned responses presented in Table 2.1 and the related text. Describe the kinds of stimuli that trigger each one before and after Pavlovian conditioning.
You are free to explain any six you want. Before Pavlovian conditioning, only a US can trigger the reflex. What stimuli can trigger it after Pavlovian conditioning? Both a US and a CS can trigger the response after conditioning.Next come several pages that talk about obvious reflexes and less obvious reflexes. You could use any of those to answer the question in the middle of the prior paragraph. But you will notice that the text devotes quite a bit of space to emotions (on pages 19-23), so John might ask a question or two about emotions.
---From Chapter 2, explain how emotional responses are based on reflexes. Do all unconditioned reflexes have an emotional component? What is the emotional component of conditioned reflexes called? Give an example of the Pavlovian conditioning of emotions.
---From Chapter 2, explain the main points made in the section titled Understanding emotions. What stimuli should we pay attention to if we want to better understand emotions? What processes need we understand if we want to better understand emotions?
---From Chapter 2, explain empathy. What is it? How is it based on and related to Pavlovian conditioning? What kinds of people can best empathize with each other? Why?Next comes a major head titled, "The Dynamics of Conditioning" (page 23). There could easily be a question about this.
---From Chapter 2, explain how how the brain conditions certain neutral stimuli into CSs, but not others. Is awareness needed for this to happen? Give an example.Hopefully, you can see by now how John works his way through the book, looking for major heads and topics. He usually includes the key words from the bold headings in his questions. If not, he usually includes the important concepts from the section to clue you into the material that you need to explain. He often gives you a could of extra show phrases to remind you about things you need to include, as you saw in several of the questions, such as this:
---From Chapter 2, explain empathy. What is it? How is it based on and related to Pavlovian conditioning? What kinds of people can best empathize with each other? Why?If you have any other questions about the tests, the types of questions that John asks, or the best ways to study, drop by John's office during office hours and he will be happy to tell you more.
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