SPCH 225/B. Larson

How to Take a Cooperative Exam

1. Assemble your group. One person should direct the group during the discussion of each question.

2. Brainstorm possible responses to each question before deciding which questions to choose for the exam.

3. One group membership should record brainstorming responses for future reference.

4. Once the group has decided which three questions will be answered for the exam, split the group into thirds (for groups of five – 2 – 2 – 1, for groups of seven – 2 – 2 – 3 ). Each subgroup will work on one or two questions.

5. Assemble the subgroups into the full group and discuss each subgroup’s preliminary answers. Critique the answers before a final draft is undertaken. This is a critical step. Do not skip it.

6. One member from each group will volunteer to write up the final draft of the answers for each subgroup’s questions on the paper provided by instructor. Combine the answers. The entire group should read the final draft before turning it in to make certain there are no mistakes. If mistakes are found, make corrections, include on the final draft the names of all group members who participated actively in the process, and turn in the exam.

7. Note: the group may vote to exclude any member(s) who did not pull their weight in the process of answering the questions. Exclusion will not occur if the group is split. This must be a unanimous decision from all members (excluding the person in question). If a group member is excluded from the group’s final paper, they will receive a ZERO for the group exam. Partial credit may be obtained by excluded member through completion of a separate individual exam on the same day, immediately following final exam.