5.4.2.

1 Types of Essay

Restricted Essay
It is also referred to as short focused response. Examples are asking students to "write
an example," "list three reasons" or "compare and contrast two techniques:"
Non-restricted /Extended Essay
Extended responses can be much longer and complex than short responses, but
students are encouraged to remain focused and organized.

Guidelines for the Formulation and Scoring of Essay Test

Rule 1: Phrase the direction in such a way that students are guided on the key
concepts to be included. Specify how the students should respond.
Example
Using details and information from the article (Hundred Islands), summarize the main
points of the article. For a complete and correct response, consider these points:
-its history (10 pts)
-its interesting features (10 pts)
-why it is a landmark (5 pts)
Non-example
Using details and information from the article (Hundred Islands) summarize the main
points of the article.

Rule 2: Inform the students on the criteria to be used for grading their essays.
This rule allows the students to focus on relevant and substantive materials
rather than on peripheral, and unnecessary facts and bits of information.

Example: Write an essay on the topic: "Plant Photosynthesis" using the keywords
indicated. You will be graded according to the following criteria:
(a) coherence,
(b) accuracy of statements,
(c) use of keywords,
(d)clarity and
(e) extra points for innovative presentation of ideas.
Rule 3: Put a time limit on the essay test.
Rule 4: Decide on your essay grading system prior to getting the essays of your
students.
Rule 5: Evaluate all of the students' answers to one question before proceeding
to the next question.
Scoring or grading essay tests question by question, rather than student by student,
makes it possible to maintain a more uniform standard for judging the answers to each
question. This procedure also helps offset the halo effect in grading. When all of the
answers on one paper are read together, the grader's impression of the paper as a
whole is apt to influence the grades he assigns to the individual answers. Grading
question by question, of course, prevents the formation of this overall impression of a
student's paper. Each answer is more apt to be judged on its own merits when it is read
and compared with other answers to the same question, than when it is read and
compared with other answers by the same student.

Rule 6: Evaluate answers to essay questions without knowing the identity of the
writer.
This is another attempt to control personal bias during scoring. Answers to essay
questions should be evaluated in terms of what is written, not in terms of what is known
about the writers from other contacts with them. The best way to prevent our prior
knowledge from influencing our judgment is to evaluate each answer without knowing
the identity of the writer. This can be done by having the students write their names on
the back of the paper or by using code numbers in place of names.

Rule 7: Whenever possible, have two or more persons grade each answer.
The best way to check on the reliability of the scoring of essay answers is to obtain two
or more independent judgments. Although this may not be a feasible practice for routine
classroom testing, it might be done periodically with a fellow teacher (one who is equally
competent in the area). Obtaining two or more independent ratings becomes especially
vital where the results are to be used for important and irreversible decisions, such as in
the selection of students for further training or for special awards. Here the pooled
ratings of several competent persons may be needed to attain level of reliability that is
commensurate with the significance of the decision being made.
Some teachers use the cumulative criteria i.e. adding the weights given to each
criterion, as basis for grading while others use the reverse. In the latter method, each
student begins with a score of 100. Points are then deducted every time a teacher
encounters a mistake or when a criterion is missed by the student in his essay.

Rule 8: Do not provide optional questions. It is difficult to construct questions of

equal difficulty and so teacher cannot have valid comparison of students'
achievement.
Rule 9: Provide information about the value/weight of the question and how it will
be scored.
Rule 10: Emphasize higher level thinking skills.

Example:
Scientists have found that oceans can influence the temperature of nearby landmasses.
Coastal landmasses tend to have more moderate temperatures in summer and winter
than inland landmasses of the same latitude.
Non Example:
Considering the influence of ocean temperatures, explain why inland temperatures vary
in summer and winter to a greater degree than coastal temperatures. List three coastal
land masses.