Examination period for January is over today. For me, it was over yesterday, a tough week and tough times revising, and the usual exam stress, sickness and delusion that usually comes with it!
Unlike most though, I only had 2 exams this period, compared to my 4 I will have in the summer.
Semester 1 : France under the 5th Republic (Tuesday) & Freed and Equality: Contemporary Debates (Thursday)
Semester 2: Philosophy of Mind, Philosophical Logic, Britain: From Blitz to Brown & The National Politics of Germany
There is also an exteded essay to do, 5,000 word research project for which I am centering on Republicism. The topic and the question it takes I am not sure yet, hopefully I have get my tutor to sign off on the following:
Is an Elected Head of a State a Human Right? Discuss with reference to the United Kingdom
This brings in for me, the Republicanism aspect of which I am interested in terms of my own domestic politics and personal convictions, and researching political human rights as I have so greatly enjoyed reading the works of Rawls.
But back to the topic at hand that I am discussing in this blog: The examination period is over. Stressful times, but a huge sigh of relief. Not much revision done for the second exam but by comparison,I found it easier in exam conditions (Freedom and Equality), thean in my other exam. French politics. On Tuesday morning it wasn't a case of not knowing enough, it was knowing too much. That and the exam being just an hour - the shortest exam I've ever had of any real significance - it was harder to get into the groove and there was a feeling that I felt a bit rusty, despite not being away from writing as I have been writing academic-esque, journalistic blogs over the past two months.
As regular readers may recall and other fellow students, I cocked up on the Freedom and Equality essay earlier in the year. I have considered, and shall attempt to take action take what I feel is an injustice. Ironic, considering the course module, it largely concerns Justice to a degree! What is unclear is whether I will have my marks substantially reversed, though I do feel that I was harsh;y penalised over my bibliography, which was no different from previous essays. Indeed, the feedback I got from such essays were comments that my bibliography was "good".
My other essay for French politics went really well by comparison and I was pleased in comparison with the mark. Having said that, the exams in question were a reverse really (though hopefully not as bad!); I felt I did better on Freedom and Equality (1700+words per question compared to 1300 for French politics). It's not the words but the content, but the word amount to an extent explains for me that I struggled with my frame of writing and articulating my ideas.
Still, I am more than confident to have passed, and with regards to French politics be very suprised to have got a 2:1, where I more than likely expect a 2:2.
Freedom and Equality on the other hand is a different issue. By the exam I hope to have safely passed the 2:1 mark, that I will be pleased with and regardless to the situation with the essay I will have passed the course, and ended up with a respectable 2:2 in that as well. Unless, by some miracle, the second marker sees my essay in a radically different light, a 2:1 is out of my reach (unless of course I have mastered the exam). A course colleague has also informed me that an good showing on my exam will mean that my essay mark will be bumped up on account of better reflecting ability to write. I am not so sure if this is true, but perhaps if it is then perhaps a borderline 2:1 is not impossible (I would hope).
But then, I never know with university exams. I was unable to get a 1st in any of my essay-style exams though in Introduction to Logic I got above 80, and came close in Comparative politics with a good 67. So there is no reason to beleive I do not have the ability, but results and time, will tell. I hope that I have passed and done well to help cure my disillusionment with the University of Manchester and my course as of late. Unfortunately I think I will have to wait some 6 weeks before I find out the provisional scores. Until then, I need to pull my socks up and get something going with the extended essay which is due in April, not to mention the extra workload of 4 course modules this semester as well.
For now though, this weekend at least and for the introductory week of the semester starting on Monday, I am going to relax, enjoy myself, and ease my way back into the scheme of things. The number one thing to look forward to is Chiodos on Tuesday night at the Sugarmill.
With that. I'm going to listen to my favourite song of theirs - Baby, You Wouldn't Last a Minute on the Creek (lyrics here):
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