Exam #1

15 points.  Exams will be completed in-class. The exam is designed to take you 45 minutes, but you have have the full 75-minute class period if you want. You may not use books, notes, or electronic devices. (You may, and should, study together with other students before the exam starts.) 

The exam has two sections:

• 5 short-answer identification questions worth 2 points each (choose 5 out of 8).
• 1 essay question worth 5 points.  

The exam will be the exact same format as the exams I gave for this class in prior semesters, although the questions might be different. (See exam #1 from prior recent semesters: fall 2022 Download fall 2022, fall 2023, Download fall 2023, spring 2024 Download spring 2024) 

Here is how to prepare for the exam generally:

Make sure that you are familiar with all of the major concepts we have covered in part 1 of the course.  I have slides and videos on the web page recapping some of the key definitions, and the very well-written textbook has explanations throughout (as well as a glossary).

Meet with other students in the class to compare notes and help each other prepare, and meet with the class peer mentors. 

On the last two days before the exam I will devote part of the time to review sessions and will answer any questions anyone asks. So, come with questions.

Here is how to prepare for the first part of the exam specifically:

In the first part of the exam, I will give you a list of eight terms. Choose any five of them, and give me a definition of the term and an example. The example must be a real example from international politics. For example, if I give you the term "violence" you would respond by writing something like "Violence is a costly action that hurts people or destroys things people value. For example, in World War 2 Germany used violence to destroy a city in The Netherlands in order to try to get The Netherlands to surrender." That would be a great answer, because it has a definition and a real example.

Here is a list of terms that I might choose to put in part 1 of the exam:

Arms race
Audience cost
Bluffing
Brinksmanship
Coercion
Commitment problem
Coordination Dilemma
Democratic Peace
Deterrence
Extremist
False optimism
Force
Insurrection
Misperception
Pre-emptive war
Preventive War   
Provocation
Sons of the soil
Terrorism
Tripwire
Violence

Here is how to prepare for the second part of the exam specifically:

In the second part of the exam, I will ask you a specific question that will be something on the general topic of why it is that some conflicts turn violent, using concepts from the course (false optimism, preventive war, or pre-emptive war) and current or historical examples. In your answer, you will write a short essay (think of this as a 4-5 paragraph essay). I will give you specific instructions, but in general you will need to be ready to explain why, even though violence is an inefficient way to manage conflict, people sometimes choose violence anyway.