StrategiesforSuccessPersonalResponsibility
MISSINGTHEFINALEXAM!
PROFESSOR FREUD announced in her syllabus for Math 190 that there will be no make up final exams, and when the final starts, the doors will be locked and no one can enter or leave the classroom. Kim’s final is on the last day of school at noon, on December 18. No student, she emphasized, would pass the course without taking the final exam and there would be no make up tests! As the semester drew to a close, KIM had an “A” average in Professor Freud’s Math class, and she had been studying diligently for the test with her study group.
ARNOLD,Kim'shusband,feltthreatenedthathehadonlyahighschooldiplomawhilehiswifewasgettingcloseto hercollegedegree.Arnoldworkedatabakery,andhisco-workerPHILIPbeganteasingthatKimwouldsoondump Arnoldforacollegeguy.That'swhenArnoldstartedaccusingKimofhavinganaffairanddemandingshedropout ofcollege.ShetoldArnoldhewasbeingridiculous.Infact,shesaid,ayoungmaninherstudygrouphadaskedher out,butshehadrefused.Insteadoffeelingbetter,Arnoldbecameevenangrier.WithPhilipcontinuingtoprovoke him,ArnoldbecamesureKimwashavinganaffair,andhebegantellinghereverydaythatshewasstupidandwould nevergetadegreeinteaching.
Despitethetensionathome,Kimfeltpreparedforhermathfinal.SinceArnoldhadhiddenthecarkeys,she decidedtotakethebustothecollegeandwouldgetaridehomewithherfriend,CINDY,fromherEnglishclass, CINDYinvitedKimtojoinherandsomeotherstudentsforanend-of-semestercelebration.KimtoldCindyshehad aMathfinalthenextday,andCindypromisedshe'dmakesureKimgotinearlyenoughtogetagoodnight’ssleep. "Ideservesomefun,andI’mallreadyreadyforthefinal,"Kimdecided,andhoppedintothecar.Thecelebration wentlongintothenight.KimkeptaskingCindytotakeherhome,butCindykeptsaying,"Don'tbesuchabore.
Haveanotherdrink."WhenCindyfinallytookKimhome,itwas4:30inthemorning.Shesighedwithreliefwhenshe foundthatArnoldhadalreadyfallenasleep.
WhenKimwokeup,itwas11:30,just30minutesuntilherMathfinal.Shecouldmakeittothecollegeintimeby car,sosheshookArnoldandbeggedhimtodriveher.Hejustsnapped,"Ohsure,youstayoutallnightwithyour collegefriends.Then,I'msupposedtogetuponmydayoffanddriveyouallovertown.Forgetit.""Atleastgive methekeys,"shesaid,butArnoldmerelyrolledoverandwentbacktosleep.Panicked,KimcalledProfessor Freud'sofficeandtoldMARYthesecretarythatshewashavingcartrouble."Don'tworry,"MaryassuredKim, "I'msureProfessorFreudwon'tcareifyoutakethefinalinherofficeasshe’llbeheregradingpapersall afternoon.Justbesuretobeheretwohoursbeforesheleavesat5:00p.m."Relieved,Kimdecidednottowake Arnoldagain;insteadshedecidedtogetalittlemoresleep,andshetookthebuslater.
At2:15,KimwalkedintoProfessorFreud'soffice,Scantroninhandandreadyforthetest.ProfessorFreudsaid, "Sorry,Kim,you'vemissedthefinal."SherefusedtoletKimtakethefinalandgaveKiman"F"forthecourse.
Listedbelowarethecharactersinthisstory.RanktheminorderoftheirresponsibilityforKim'sfailing gradeinMath190.Giveadifferentscoretoeachcharacter.Bepreparedtoexplainyourchoices.
Mostresponsible123456Leastresponsible
_____ProfessorFreud,theteacher_____Philip,Arnold'sco-worker
_____Kim,thepsychologystudent_____Cindy,Kim'sclassmate
_____Arnold,Kim'shusband_____Mary,Prof.Freud'sSecretary