SEMINAR ON

ESSAY TYPE
QUESTION

SUBMITTED TO SUBMITTED BY
MISS MAMTA GIRIRAJ SHARMA
LECTURER MSC.NSG 1ST YEAR
 ESSAY TYPE QUESTION

INTRODUCTION

Essay tests were in use earlier than 2300BC. Until the turn of the 20 th century,
essay test were only the form of written examinations. Essay tests refer to any
written tests that require an examination to write a sentence, a paragraph or longer
passages and that demands a subjective judgment, about its quality and
completeness when it scored. The essay type tests or examination are most familiar
and widely used. The length of the required responses may vary from one sentence
to a lengthy composition requiring a day or more to complete in a comprehensive
examination for some type of professional certification. For e.g., dissertation of
M.Sc. Nursing or Ph.D thesis.

DEFINITIONS
1. An essay test presents one or more question or other tasks that require
extended written responses from the person being tested.
Robert LE and David AF
2. An essay test is a test containing question requiring the students to respond
in writing. Essay types emphasize recall rather than recognition of the
correct alternative. Essay tests may require extended responses.
Gilbert Sax, 1989
3. An essay item is an item that requires the student to structure a rather long
written response upto several paragraphs.
William wiersema, 1990

USES OF ESSAY QUESTION

 Essay question in the freedom of response.
 Students are free to select, relate and present ideas in their own words.
 Should be primarily used to measure those learning outcomes concerned
with the abilities to select, organize, integrate, relate and evaluate ideas that
require the freedom of response and originality provided by essay questions.
 Knowledge of factual information.

PRINCIPLES FOR PREPARING ESSAY TYPE TEST

 Do not give too many lengthy questions.
 Avoid phrases e.g. discuss briefly.
 Questions should be well structured with specific purpose or topic at a time.
  Words should be simple, clear, unambiguous and carefully selected.
 Do not allow too many choices.
 According to the level of students, difficult and complexity items have to be
selected.
 The desired outcome of the area tested should be set up as a basis for
grading.

FORMS OF ESSAY QUESTIONS

Essay questions can be conveniently classified two types
1. Restricted response
2. Extended response
1. Restricted response question
The restricted response question usually limits both the content and the
response.
The content is usually restricted by the topic to be discussed.
Limitations on the form of response are generally indicated in the questions.
Example
 State the main difference between guidance and counseling.
Another way of restricting responses in essay tests is to base the
question on specific problem. For this purpose introductory material
has to given.
2. Extended response questions
It allow pupils to select any factual information that they think is pertinent,
to organize the answer accordance with their best judgment and to integrate
and evaluate ideas as they deem to appropriate. More freedom for learners to
provide answer.

ADVANTAGE
1. It measures complex learning outcomes.
2. It emphasis on the integration and application of thinking and problem
solving skill.
3. It is a device for improving writing skills.
4. It is ease of construction.

DISADVANTAGE
1. Lack objectivity.
2. Unreliability of the scoring.
3. Essay question is the amount of time required for scoring the answer.
4. Provide little useful feedback.
 5. Subjectivity of scoring.
6. Mood of examiners.

SUGGESTIONS FOR CONSTRUCTING ESSAY QUESTION

a. Comparing
Describe the similarities and differences between…………….
b. Relating cause and effect
What are major causes of……………………….
c. Justifying
Which of the following alternative would you favour and why?
d. Summarizing
State the main points included in………………………
e. Classifying
Group the following items according to………………
f. Creating
List as many ways as you can think of for………………….
g. Evaluation
Describe the strength and weakness of the following…………….

REFERENCES
 Bhaskar Nima, Text Book of Nursing Education, First Edition 2013,
Published By- Emmess Medical Publishers;
Page No:-
 Gupta Sanjay, A Textbook of Nursing Education, First Edition 2016,
Published By – Kumar Publishing House;
Page No:-