Tuesday, December 08, 2009 2:02 AM,

Just a few comments as you prepare for the final exam.

1. The final exam will be in Hogg Memorial Auditorium.  We have checked out 
the room and it is big enough to accomodate all of you.  So, we will not need 
two rooms.  The web site has been changed to reflect this.

2. The exam will be December 15, from 2pm to 5pm.

3. Same rules, regarding the exam environment: 3 sheets of paper, no laptops, 
cell phones, other electronic goodies, or backpacks next to you.  I want you 
to all have a fair environment to demonstrate what you know at the end of the 
semester.

4. I know many of you are worried about your grade in this course.  It is 
pointless to tell you not to worry, that is what humans do.  However, I hope 
you know that the final exam is also an opportunity to demonstrate just how 
much you do know.  And that is what I am looking for in the exam you turn in.

5. The exam itself, you will find, is in two parts.  You may find Part A much, 
much easier than Part B.  The purpose of Part A is to give you a chance to 
show that you have mastered the basics, and should move on to EE 312 in the 
Spring.  Get those questions right and you will pass the course.  Part B is 
somewhat more difficult.  I will use your answers to those questions to 
separate the A's from the B's from the C's, assuming of course you have no 
trouble with Part A.

6. I am expecting the average student to be able to complete the entire exam 
in 2 hours.  You will have 3 hours.  My experience has been that students do 
not find themselves under time pressure on my final exam.

7. I will hold open office hours Friday evening, starting at 7pm.  We will use 
the same format as we did for the first two exams.  The room we will use has 
already been posted.

Good luck preparing for and taking the final exam.

I may send you additional emails if I find some things I feel worth sharing 
with you.

Yale Patt