Exam Info for the Sept. 21 Exam:

Format of the exam:

The exam will start with a section of 20 or so names or terms to define/describe. For example, if I put "Edward Jenner", you might write, "Invented the science of vaccination (immunization) with his vaccine against smallpox." Or, if put "Killer T-cell" you might write, "Effector lymphocyte that kills virally infected cells which present viral epitopes bound to MHC class I molecules."

Next will be a few multiple choice questions.

Next will be some short answers questions requiring 2-5 lines of written answer.

Next will be some medium length questions (less than half a page written answer)

Next will be at least one long question requiring about a page of writing on your part, and the integration of what you've learned so far.

The medium and long answer questions will require more than simple regurgitation of facts (i.e. some thinking), but will arise out of the material we've covered. So in addition to the various facts we've covered, you will want to consider the underlying concepts, the links between different subjects we've considered, and so on.

You should know in detail everything covered in the lectures, except for cases (like the detailed lymph node slide) that I mentioned during lecture that you did not need to focus on. The exam, naturally, will focus on the material covered in class. However, you are responsible for all of the assigned readings as well. I will probably ask one or two short questions directly from the readings. But I will not ask for detailed knowledge of topics in the readings that were not mentioned in the lectures.

Each question will have the number of points it is worth beside it, so you can estimate how much time/effort to devote to it in relation to other questions. This also gives some idea of how much detail I expect you to provide.

The exam will be fairly long and will require you to move through it at a good pace. But it will certainly be possible to finish it in the time allowed if you know the material well. So know it well!