Essay type questions
If I give an essay type question to my class, I feel like I will have a hard time grading them. I think the course helped me in realizing that I need to set specific parameters and goals to get the proper results. Im still a little apprehensive about administering this kind of test. Is any one else?
Hi John - thanks to your post to the forum. I really liked your suggestion about how to approach an essay question. Thanks for sharing!
Best Wishes - Susan
I find essay tests the best format when grading intro to literature. there are no concrete or definitive answers, but primarily the students' understanding of the work based on their experienecs and sensibilities. i encourage them to approach the essay as a way of explaining a work to a peer who has also read the work but doesn't understand it well enough and is looking for some insight from the essayist.
Hi Tim -For essay questions the grading rubric should also be specific.
I agree. Try to be as specific as possible, not vague.
Exactly Dan - and this is what makes the assessment"valid".
I think that the message here is that in any form of testing you must first decide what knowlegde or skill you wish to test, than you can decide what kind of testing to use.
Hi Michael - Make sure to set up a rubric that addresses what points you expect your students to make in their essay. No question though - essay questions are tougher to grade.
