Overview
This exam is open-book and open-notes, but do not consult any other person or anyone's
exam answers. The length of your response should be no more than 5 double-spaced pages
(12-point Times New Roman or Cambria font, 1-inch margins). Your midterm exam
must be submitted under the Assignments tab on your T.A.’s Bruin Learn site
no later than 11:59 p.m., Tuesday. This exam is worth 25 percent of your final grade.
Exam Essay Prompt
Does education promote socioeconomic opportunities or maintain socioeconomic
inequalities, or do both? In explaining your answer, draw on material learned in lectures
and readings.
Guidelines on Midterm Exams (100 points total)
I. Introductory section (20 points)
State your thesis, i.e., whether you will argue that education promotes
socioeconomic opportunities or maintains socioeconomic inequalities, or both;
Briefly state how you will support your argument;
Do not include a title page;
II-IV (or however many sections you prefer). Main body sections
Construct a logical sequence of sections that supports the argument you are
making; (30 points)
Describe the main topic of each section or paragraph;
Your argument should proceed in such a way as to convince the reader of
the persuasiveness based on your handling of evidence;
Use transitions between points to allow the reader to follow how your points
relate to the argument you are making;
Describe the evidence to support your argument; (30 points)
Draw on at least 5 readings and at least 5 references to material from
lectures;
Cite the readings/lectures as (last name and date) for readings and
(Brand and week) for lectures, e.g., (Reardon 2011) or (Brand week
3); You can also jointly cite a reading and a reference to lecture
material, e.g., (Reardon 2011; Brand week 3);
You do not need a references section unless you draw on materials
outside the course. We do not ask for any outside sources. If,
however, there is something outside the course you want to cite,
3
please supply a references section in APA format. Do not use
footnotes.
When drawing on lectures and readings, do so accurately and do so to
facilitate a logical and persuasive argument;
Demonstrate mastery of course concepts;
Be thoughtful, reflective, and insightful; go beyond the words on the page;
Do not draw on personal experiences as evidence for your midterm;
V. Conclusion (20 points)
Include a concluding statement that summarizes your argument and the evidence
you used to support your argument;
Discuss the implications of your argument;
Do not use outside sources
No personal experience
Only use APA formatting for in text citations
Do not use AI.
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