Usually, a few members of the class are concerned about their preparation for the mid-terms.  Students often want to know if there are sample questions or models that they can use to help prepare.

We cannot provide any specific sample questions.  We can, however, give you the following guidelines that may help you focus your time and energy as we come to the midterm.

But first, we want to emphasize how useful study groups are in preparing for the exam.  There is nothing like small group discussions, including having to explain a key point to someone else, to give you mastery of the material.

Some themes that come to mind:

*  income equality and inequality, and how countries deal with it
*  economic integration:  its challenges and opportunities
*  employment and growth:  what are the trade-offs in securing both goals
*  monetary policy and the public interest
*  cultural aspects of globalization:  how countries both open *and* protect themselves
*  economic and trade policies:  how they are linked, and how countries have performed
*  economic development strategies:  what are they, and how have they worked
*  privatization, and the appropriate role of government in an economy
*  effective public institutions:  what are they, how are they created, lost, maintained
*  national economic policy and international institutions:  how does the global system work, and in whose interest

In identifying these themes, you should try to see it from a variety of viewpoints, as we have done in our debates.  Being conversant with several points of view will sharpen your thinking a great deal (and make you a much more interesting conversation partner!).

This is not a complete list.  Do not rely on it as your only guide.  You can and should develop a number of other themes that arise out of our material.  These are provided merely to give you an idea of what a theme is.

Be prepared to discuss the big themes in terms of the material read or discussed in class.  This means, in essence, to be prepared to "tell the story" of the theme in terms that you know and that we've talked about.  Often, this means making comparisons, using the similarities and differences in the cases we've studied as the foundation of your argument.

This will show that you know what you are talking about, and that you are aware of and can use data to illustrate your points.  You don't have to recite lots of numbers, but a few carefully chosen ones can make your argument much more compelling.  Good essays contain more than "bumper stickers," and will be careful in linking themes, stories and facts.  And remember, the exam is open book and open notes.

As a matter of policy, many of the issues we are studying might have been different, had different decisions been made or different interests represented.  Seeing these issues not as "done deals" but as continually evolving arrangements is the essence of public policy and governance.  Getting practice thinking about alternatives therefore is very useful.

For example, if you were to prepare a decision memo for the president of your country on an issue, you would likely include an analysis of the main alternatives.  This is also where you might want to push for your own solution to pressing problems.  Thinking boldly makes your work interesting.

You have learned a lot so far this semester, if you've been doing the reading and participating in class.  Many of the ideas come up several times, and comparing and contrasting how different countries or organizations have dealt with them will stand you in good stead.

1.  Organize your thoughts before starting your answer by doing a rough outline of the points you want to cover on the back of your exam paper.

2.  Pace yourself!  Don't spend too much time on the first question.

3.  Use only the factual information that supports your contentions.  This is not an information dump.  Quality is what counts.  There are no "school solutions" or expected answers to the questions.  We are not in the least looking for specific "right" answers, and there is no expected answer length.

If you marshal your arguments well and support them with cogent data and facts, you will do well on the exam.