Key Quizzes
A key quiz will consist of one or more plants to be identified. You may use any resource other than another person; however, all names submitted as answers must conform to the names in the Jepson Manual, no matter which reference was used for identification. Each quiz will have a set time limit, ordinarily 30 minutes per plant. Because plant material may be limited, you should take only as much as necessary. If insufficient material remains for you, you may take excess from other students in the class. Each plant is worth a total of ten (10) points, and will be graded in a specific fashion:
- Identify the family, write it on your answer sheet, and raise your hand. I will check your answer, and if it is correct, you will receive five (5) points. If it is not correct, I will mark it with an "X" and you may try again for a successful identification. If you are successful on the second attempt, you will get three (4) points, on the third attempt two (2), and if you have not correctly identified the family in three tries, I will give you the correct family name (for no points, of course).
- Identify the genus, write it on your answer sheet, and raise your hand. I will check your answer, and if it is correct, you will receive three (3) points. If it is not correct, I will mark it with an "X" and you may try again for a successful identification. If you are successful on the second attempt, you will get two (2) points, on the third attempt one (1), and if you have not correctly identified the genus in three tries, I will give you the correct genus name (for no points).
- Identify the species, write it on your answer sheet, and raise your hand. I will check your answer, and if it is correct, you will receive two (2) points. If it is not correct, I will mark it with an "X" and you may try again for a successful identification. If you are successful on the second attempt, you will get one (1) point. If not, you will receive no points for species.
- You may choose to forfeit the applicable points at any time in exchange for the correct name of a family or genus. This is most worthwhile if you are stumped, running out of time, and hope to have better luck with genus or species.
All names must be spelled correctly, since you merely have to copy from the book. Misspelled names are wrong. For these quizzes, infraspecific names (subspecies, varieties, formas) and authorities for the species names are unnecessary. The plants may be identified in any order, and if you wish you may move on to another plant after having identified a plant only to family or genus (you can go back and finish it later). At the end of the quiz, you may add up the points and make a record of your score before you turn in your paper. Be sure to put your name on your paper before you turn it in; it is the only record I have of your score.
