A word on grading the midterm: I grade the exam like a paper. Rather than assigning
numerical points for each answer, I grade the exam as a unit, give a letter grade,
and provide a longer typed comment at the end in which I discuss the strengths
and weaknesses of each answer as well as the exam as a whole. This approach is
time-consuming, but makes the connection between the midterm and the paper more
clear by emphasizing the acquisition of historical skills and not just information.