ObjectivesDiscuss the use of essay questionsCompare two types of essay questionsHypothesize the advantages and disadvantages of using essay questionsCompare two types of scoring rubricsEvaluate sample essays using a scoring rubricCreate examples of two types of essay questions

Whats So Great About Essay Questions?They allow assessment of students abilities to:Formulate problemsOrganize, integrate, and evaluate ideas and informationApply knowledge and skills

Forms and Uses of Essay Questions

May be used to measure knowledge of factual informationFull potential realized with more higher-order thinking problems

Useful in meeting learning outcomes concerned with the abilities to conceptualize, construct, organize, integrate, relate, and evaluate ideas in content areas such as: history, civics, literature, science, math, etc.Most widely used when the main focus is on student writing in any subjectExamples: distinguishing between narrative essays, expository essays, and persuasive essays or focusing on writing process

Confucius Say The freedom of response provided by essay questions is not an all-or-nothing affair but, rather, a matter of degrees.

Restricted ResponseExtended- Response

Restricted Response Essay QuestionsUsually limits both the content and the response by restricting the scope of the topic to be discussed, generally indicated in the questionUseful for measuring learning outcomes requiring interpretation and application of data in a specific areaAny outcomes measured by an objective interpretive exercise can be measured by a restricted response essay question

Examples of Restricted Response Essay QuestionsDescribe two situations that demonstrate the application of the law of supply and demand. Do not use those examples discussed in class.State the main differences between the Vietnam War and previous wars in which the United States has participated.Why is the barometer one of the most useful instruments for forecasting weather? Answer in a brief paragraph.

The Restricted Response essay question provides for more ease of assessment, but it restricts the scope of the topic to be discussed and indicates the nature of the desired response to the student which limits his or her opportunity to demonstrate these behaviors on their own.

Is there a better method for evaluating complex achievement

Extended-Response Essay QuestionsFreedom of response allows student to select information that they think is pertinent, to organize the answer in accordance with their best judgment, and to integrate and evaluate ideas as they deem appropriatePlaces value on higher-order thinking skills

Examples of Extended-Response Essay QuestionsImagine that you and a friend found a magic wand. Write a story about an adventure that you and your friend had with the magic wand.Compare developments in international relations in the administrations of President William Clinton and President George W. Bush. Cite examples when possible.

To Keep Things SimpleObjective Interpretive- selectRestricted Response Essay- supplyExtended-Response Essay- write

Pros & Cons of Essay QuestionsApply your knowledgeThey give student the options to chose what they want to write aboutreasoningThe teacher can tell if the student studies or notCan often prepare in advance what to write

Time consumingGrading: grammar usage vs. contentLegibility

Hard to formulate ideas in timeTakes longer to grade

How Can We Change Those Cons to Pros?Unreliability- clearly defining learning outcomes to be measured, properly framing questions, carefully following scoring rules, and obtaining practice in scoringAmount of time- reserve use of extended-response questions for learning outcomes that cannot be measured well objectively

Limited Sampling- try to obtain as representative a sample of learning outcomes as possible (accumulate a series of essays throughout the school year to be included in a writing portfolio)

Suggestions for Constructing Essay QuestionsRestrict use of essays to learning outcomes that cannot be measured well objectivelyConstruct questions that call forth skills specified in learning standards

Example box on page 235

Phrase the question so that the students task is clearly indicated

Example: Poor: Compare the Democratic and Republican parties.

Better: Compare the current policies of the Democratic and Republican parties with regard to the role of government in private business. Support your statements with examples when possible. (Your answer should be confined to two pages. It will be evaluated in terms of the appropriateness of the facts and examples presented and the skill with which it is organized.)

Indicate an approximate time limit for each question

Now that we have essay questions how do we score them?

Scoring Essay QuestionsTips to rememberUse clear specifications of scoring criteriaInform students of scoring criteriaUse an initial review to find anchor responses for comparisonUse descriptive rather than judgmental scores or levels (writing is clear and thoughts are complete vs. excellent)

Scoring for Restricted Response Essay QuestionsIn most instances, the teacher should write an example of an expected responseFor example, if the student is asked to describe three factors that contributed to the start of the EDSA people power, the teacher would construct a list of acceptable reasons and give the student 1 point for each of up to three reasons given from the list

Scoring for Extended-Response Essay QuestionsAnalytic Scoring RubricsConsist of a rubric broken down into key dimensions that will be evaluatedEnables teacher to focus on one characteristic of a response at a timeProvides maximum feedback for students

Holistic Scoring RubricsYield a single overall score taking into account the entire responseCan be used to grade essays more quicklyDoes not provide as much specific feedback as analytic rubricShould not consist of scores alone, but rather contain scores accompanied by statements of the characteristics of the response

Suggestions for Scoring Essay QuestionsPrepare an outline of the expected answer in advance and use a clear scoring rubricUse the scoring rubric that is most appropriateDecide how to handle factors that are irrelevant to the learning outcomes being measured

Evaluate all responses to one question before going on to the next oneWhen possible, evaluate answers without looking at the students nameIf especially important decisions are to be based on the results, obtain two or more independent ratings