Summative assessment for Elementary and Intermediate Sanskrit includes quizzes, midterms, and finals. Quizzes train students to become sufficiently facile with the Devanāgarī script, sandhi (phonological changes) rules, and particular grammatical concepts to enable students to progress to reading more difficult texts.
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Midterms and finals serve a similar goal on a larger scale and encourage students to memorize vocabulary that will be necessary for reading more advanced texts. Exams include previously read passages for translation, as well as questions on grammatical structures and types of compounds used. Since the exams require a thorough review of vocabulary and grammar, they help students further develop their skills in producing polished translations of Sanskrit passages and increasing their understanding of grammatical structures to enable them to read texts at the Advanced level and engage in guided independent reading.
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Students are given a class participation rubric so that they know exactly what is expected from them. At the Intermediate II level, I also assign students to research a subject of their choice related to Sanskrit grammar or literature and present their findings in class (see Course Design and Planning page for more information). Here I utilize an oral presentation rubric adapted specifically to the Intermediate Sanskrit II course to guide them in their preparation of content, its presentation, organization, and delivery, in order to help students develop their public speaking skills and learn to be able to carry on an informed conversation regarding a research topic.
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