University of Kansas, Fall 2006
Philosophy 148: Reason and Argument
Ben Eggleston—eggleston@ku.edu

recap of test on chapters 1–3

The test on chapters 1–3 administered on September 21 was taken by 240 students. Here is some statistical information about their scores:

You should score your own test and make sure the correct score is listed for you in the online gradebook on Blackboard. Here is how to do that:

1. Check your answers to questions 1–12 against the correct answers:

2. Check your answers to questions 15–27 and 28–39 against the correct answers:

3. Give yourself 1 point for each of these that you got right, except for number 27. If you got that one right, give yourself 2 points instead of 1. You could earn up to 38 points on the multiple-choice part of the test.
4. Your discussion-section leader graded your answers to questions 13 and 14. Each one was graded on a scale of 0 to 1, where 1 is given for a correct answer and 0 for an incorrect answer. Multiply each score by 2, and add them together. You could earn up to 4 points on these two questions.
5. Divide your total number of points earned by the total number of points possible (42), and multiply by 100 to express your raw score as a percentage.
6. This test was curved by 6 percentage points. So, add 6 to the previous number.
7. Then round off to the nearest hundredth of a percentage point. For example, if your calculator reads 69.333333, round that off to 69.33. The resulting grade should match the grade recorded for you in the online gradebook on Blackboard. If it does not, please come see me (and, of course, bring your test with you).

note added October 3, 2006:

After the test was graded, several students offered arguments to the effect that several of the questions could reasonably be read in ways that would warrant other answers than the ones listed above as correct. Several of these arguments struck me as compelling; they concerned three questions:

• Question 4, I now think, can be read as containing an argument. So I regard A as a correct answer, along with B. Obviously I’ll revise this question before using it again, since (as I now see it) it’s such a close call between A and B.
• Question 23, I now think, does not contain a grouping ambiguity. So I regard A as the correct answer. I no longer think C is as good an answer as A, but since so much time has passed since the test was taken, I do not think it’s fair to take points away from those who, like me, thought C was the best answer. So I’m giving credit, this time, for both A and C.
• Question 37, I now think, does not have an answer choice that is clearly better than the others. I think that B, which I had counted as correct, is rivaled by D. So, I am giving credit for both B and D. As with question 4, obviously I’ll revise this question before using it again.

I appreciate having these corrections brought to my attention and have rescored the tests to reflect them. With these changes made, the test statistics are as follows:

I have also updated the grades in the online gradebook on Blackboard. If, upon examining your score, you think you have not been given additional points that you deserve, please let me know.