Sample Essay A: Exams & The Handong Honor Code
EC Sample Essay A
Prof. Alkema
Word Count: 551
Exams & the Handong Honor Code
Handong’s Honor Code is one of the distinctive features of the university, and also one way in which Christian values are relevant to classroom activities. There is some concern, from both professors and students, about how practical the Honor Code is in real life, especially when it comes to exams. When Handong students take exams they are not “proctored” – not watched by a teacher. Based on my experience teaching at the Rustaq College of Applied Sciences (CAS) in Oman, where an exam policy which is the exact opposite of the Honor Code is in place, I have full confidence in the usefulness of the Honor Code as it applies to exams. Un-proctored exams are better than proctored exams because of the attitudes toward students and the attitudes toward learning.
To begin with, the way in which exams are given at Rustaq CAS and at Handong reflects a very different attitude toward students. At Rustaq CAS, exams are written by a government agency rather than by teachers. The exams are then sent to the universities, and once they are printed they are kept locked up in a safe. On the exam day, teachers are assigned to classes other than the ones they teach, and they must watch the students carefully; the teachers themselves are also observed by the exam manager from time to time, to ensure that strict monitoring is taking place. The entire process creates an environment of suspicion and distrust, and the system is based on the assumption that students will cheat. On the other hand, Handong’s exams are much simpler and direct. Exams are created by the professor directly; exam papers are handed to the students, who should sign a pledge that they will not use other resources during the test time. Then the professor leaves the room and the students are expected to keep their word. Students are distrusted at Rustaq CAS but trusted at Handong.
A second difference between Rustaq CAS and Handong lies in the attitude toward learning. The Rustaq CAS structure of exams shows that learning is imposed from above, that students must be forced to learn and should be punished when they don’t do so. Student desire for learning is not considered to be a strong motivation, certainly not strong enough to overcome the impulse to cheat. On the other hand, at Handong the understanding is that learning, true learning, is the desire of both teachers and students. Within this framework, students will neither want nor need to cheat because they have an internal desire to learn and master the material upon which the exam is based. There is a downward pressure at Rustaq CAS – teachers force students to learn – which at Handong is replaced by an upward force – students who want to learn are assisted by teachers who can help them in that process.
In conclusion, no process is perfect, and certainly the un-proctored exams at Handong need careful thought and preparation, which is why the Honor Code is so strongly taught during HANST and iHANST. But the alternative is much worse! Handong’s un-proctored exam system is better because that system is built upon a positive view of students and an up-building approach to the learning process. As Handong students, you should consider these factors as you prepare for this semester’s final exams.
Sample Essay A: Structure Questions [Comparison/Contrast]
Read the first paragraph.
What does the word “proctored” mean? What does the word “un-proctored” mean?
Read the last sentence of the first paragraph, which is the THESIS STATEMENT, the plan for the entire essay.
Will the author COMPARE or CONTRAST the two systems?
As you read the entire essay, complete the table below.
Read the second paragraph again and answer these questions
How many sentences are in this paragraph?
Which sentence is the topic sentence of this paragraph?
How many sentences describe what happens at Rustaq CAS?
How many sentences describe what happens at Handong?
Which sentence is the conclusion sentence?
How is the conclusion sentence of this paragraph different from the topic sentence?
Read the third paragraph again and answer these questions.
How many sentences are in this paragraph?
Which sentence is the topic sentence of this paragraph?
How many sentences describe what happens at Rustaq CAS?
How many sentences describe what happens at Handong?
Which sentence is the conclusion sentence?
How is the conclusion sentence of this paragraph different from the topic sentence?
Sample Essay A: Content Questions
Do you have friends who attend other universities?
If so, have you told them about the way Handong’s exams are given?
If so, what do they think?
Have you ever cheated on an exam?
Have you ever wanted to cheat on an exam? If so, what stopped you?
What do you think of Handong’s Honor Code? Is it useful? Is it practical?
Do you think that Handong should change the Honor Code?
Do you think that all students follow the Honor Code?
The Honor Code goes beyond exams.
For example, what does the Honor Code have to say about completing homework assignments or writing reports?
The author believes that the Honor Code is based on a certain understanding of both students (the second paragraph) and the learning process (the third paragraph).
Do you agree with these ideas? Explain your answer.
How many sentences are in this paragraph?
Which sentence is the topic sentence of this paragraph?
How many sentences describe what happens at Rustaq CAS?
How many sentences describe what happens at Handong?
Which sentence is the conclusion sentence?
How is the conclusion sentence of this paragraph different from the topic sentence?
Read the third paragraph again and answer these questions.
How many sentences are in this paragraph?
Which sentence is the topic sentence of this paragraph?
How many sentences describe what happens at Rustaq CAS?
How many sentences describe what happens at Handong?
Which sentence is the conclusion sentence?
How is the conclusion sentence of this paragraph different from the topic sentence?
Sample Essay A: Content Questions
Do you have friends who attend other universities?
If so, have you told them about the way Handong’s exams are given?
If so, what do they think?
Have you ever cheated on an exam?
Have you ever wanted to cheat on an exam? If so, what stopped you?
What do you think of Handong’s Honor Code? Is it useful? Is it practical?
Do you think that Handong should change the Honor Code?
Do you think that all students follow the Honor Code?
The Honor Code goes beyond exams.
For example, what does the Honor Code have to say about completing homework assignments or writing reports?
The author believes that the Honor Code is based on a certain understanding of both students (the second paragraph) and the learning process (the third paragraph).
Do you agree with these ideas? Explain your answer.