WRITING ESSAY TEST ITEMS

Reporter: Jennelyn M. Gaabon

Why should presidents be limited or not be limited to two

consecutive terms in office? (100 points)

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In class and in your assigned readings, arguments both

for and against giving presidents the opportunity to complete more than two consecutives terms in office

were presented. Take a stand either for or against two consecutives terms in

office. NEXTBACK

Use at least three points made in class or in your readings to

support your position. Both the content and organization of your argument will be considered in

assigning your final grade. Use no more than one page for your

answer. ( 28 points )

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DefinitionEssay item

is a question on a test or examination on a given topic requiring a written analysis or explanation, usually of a specified length.

Essay test measure Higher Level Thinking

Questions that test higher level processes such as

Analysis Synthesis Evaluation Creativity

Form of Essay Test•Restricted Response/ Controlled Response.•Extended Response/Uncontrolled Response.

Restricted Response Extended Response

Restricted Response Essay QuestionsRestricted response usually limits both the content and the response by restricting the scope of the topic to be discussed.Useful for measuring learning outcomes requiring interpretation and application of data in a specific area.

Restricted ResponseList the major political

similarities and differences between U.S participation in the Korean War and in World War II. Limit your answer to

one page. Your score will depend on accuracy,

organization, and brevity.BACK NEXT

Extended Response Essay Questions

Extended response An essay item that allows the student to

determine the length and complexity of response

Extended Response Essay Questionsselect information that they think is pertinent

to organize the answer in accordance with their best judgment

to integrate and evaluate ideas as they think suitable.

no limits

Identify as many as different ways to generate electricity as you can. Give advantages and disadvantages of each and how each might be used to provide the electrical power requirements of a medium sized city. Your response will be graded on its accuracy and your evaluation of how practical each source of electricity would be, if implemented. Your response should be 12-15 pages in length and will be evaluated based on the scoring criteria distributed in class. For maximum credit be sure that your response addresses each of the scoring criteria components.

PROS AND CONS OF ESSAY ITEMS

Emphasize Essential Communication Skills in Complex

Academic Disciplines

Relatively Easy to Construct

Most Effective in Assessing Complex Learning Outcomes

Guessing is Eliminated

Limited sample of Total Instructional Contents

Scores are unreliable

Difficult to Score

Bluffing

SUGGESTIONS FOR WRITING

ESSAY

Have clearly in mind what mental process you want the student to use

before starting to write the question Write the question to clearly and

unambiguously define the task to the student

Start essay questions with words or phrases as compare, contrast, give reasons for, predict and

so on..

A question dealing with a controversial issue should ask for & be evaluated

Establish reasonable time/page limits

Use essay questions with content and objectives that cannot be satisfactorily measured

Avoid using optional items

Be sure each question relates to an instructional objective

SCORING ESSAY QUESTIONS

Write good essay questions

Use several restricted response questions.

Prepare a rubric Cover the names on the

papers before scoring Score each student’s

answer

Scoring External Responses and Higher

level Questions

Content

Organization

Process

Process

Accuracy & Reasonableness

Completeness & Internal Consistency

Originality & Creativity

OPEN-BOOK QUESTIONS AND EXAMS

Dialectical Journals- process involves the art of examining

questions.

From text From Student

Quotation Summary Paraphrase

ReactionPredictionSummarization-

on

Guidelines for planning Essays, Knowledge Organization, and Open Book Questions and

Exams

Clear requirements The questions should represent a valid

sample Complex multiple solutions self-regulated learning. clear directions.