Exam #1 Study Guide -- Final Version
The first exam in this class
will have two parts: an in-class blue book essay portion and a take home
essay.
In-Class Exam
The in-class exam is scheduled
for Wednesday September 30 during our normal class time. Here is how
the exam will work. Here are several study questions
based upon our class readings and discussions. On the exam day, I will give you three of
these
questions and your job will be to answer your choice of two of
them. Each question will be worth 30 exam points.
I will be looking for mastery
of the vocabulary of wine and analysis of the questions that shows both a
general understanding of the problems and concepts and also a
detailed command of the relevant facts and issues. You should
prepare thoroughly, bearing in mind that you will have only about 40
minutes per question.
-
Jancis Robinson has written
that, "Wine is bottled geography." Explain the logic of this
statement and then present a brief critique -- to what extent is this
really true? Use specific examples where possible to illustrate your
analysis.
-
Jean-Robert Pitte argues that wine reflects its market. He uses Burgundy and
Bordeaux as evidence. Explain Pitte's argument and evidence, plus evidence
from your reading and class, and provide a
critique. Do you think he is correct? Explain.
-
Wine brands and the AOC
system are both attempts to solve certain inherent problems in the market
for wine. Explain briefly the nature of these problems and how AOC
and branded wines try to solve them. Do you think that one system is more
effective than the other? Explain.
-
Both France and the United
States experienced wine crises in the 1930s. Compare and contrast the two
crises -- how are they the same, what are the most significant
differences, why are these differences important?
Take Home Essay
The take home essay is due at
the start of class on Monday October 5 and is worth 40 exam points. Your
essay will be based upon your chosen Wine Identity region. Your
goal is to write a brief critical appraisal of wine and the idea of wine in your
region. Your essay will necessarily have two interconnected
components.
-
The analytical element (about
2/3 of your essay) should identify a key problem or tension in the world
of wine that is particularly important is your region (either today or in
its history) and make an argument about the causes or consequences of this
issue.
-
The descriptive element (about
1/3 of the essay) should provide the information about your wine region
that will be most relevant to understanding the problem you have
identified.
The message I am trying to send
here is that your essay will necessarily be descriptive to some degree,
but you need to move beyond description to analysis.
·
Length: no more than three single-spaced pages (plus a required bibliography).
· Format:
Single-spaced with an extra line between paragraphs. Academic papers
like this one need to include proper citations. Use whatever reference
format that is standard in your major (for IPE students, for example, that
would be the Chicago style with footnotes and a bibliography) but use it
correctly and consistently.
·
Late papers are subject to a penalty of 5 points per calendar day. This
penalty may be waived under exceptional circumstances at the professor’s
discretion. No email or electronic papers accepted.
