Essay examination consists of questions to which the students

respond in one or more sentences to a specific question or problem.

Essays are generally scholarly pieces of writing written from an author's

personal point of view, but the definition is vague, overlapping with those of an article, a pamphlet and a

short story.

An essay test permits direct assessment of the attainment

of numerous goals and objectives. In contrast with the

objective test item types, an essay test demands less

construction time per fixed unit of student time but a

significant increase in labor and time for scoring.

General Types of Essay Items

1.EXTENDED RESPONSE ESSAY ITEM is one that allows for an in-depth sampling of a

student's knowledge, thinking processes, and problem-solving behavior relative to a specific topic.

2.RESTRICTED RESPONSE ESSAY ITEM is one where the examine is required to

provide limited response based on a specified criterion for answering the question.

CLASSIFICATION OF ESSAY EXAMINATION OR QUESTION

ACCORDING TO BREVITY OF RESPONSE

1. SIMPLE RECALL QUESTION This type of question demands a response, a sentence or two, to a

question which usually begins with what, who, where and when.

2. SHORT-ANSWER QUESTION The answer to the question may be a statement, a phrase or a

sentence. The question usually begins with define, identify, list down, find, or state.

3. DISCUSSION TYPE This type usually asks a question starting with explain., describe,

interpret, compare, contrast, outline and the like.

Learning Outcomes Measured Effectively With Essay Items

Essay questions are designed to provide the students the opportunity to answer questions in their own words.

They can be used in assessing the student's skills in analyzing, synthesizing, evaluating, thinking logically, solving problems, and hypothesizing.

1. Explain cause-effect relationships2. Describe application of principles3. Present relevant arguments4. Formulate tenable hypotheses5. State necessary assumptions6. Describe the limitations of data7. Explain methods and procedures8. Produce, organize, and express ideas9. Integrate learning in different areas10. Create original forms11. Evaluate the worth of ideas

SPECIFIC TYPES OF ESSAY QUESTIONS

I. RECALL A. SIMPLE RECALL What is the chemical formula for sodium

bicarbonate? Who wrote the novel, "The Last of the Mohicans?“

B. SELECTIVE RECALL - in which a basis for evaluation or judgment is suggested. Who among the Greek philosophers affected your

thinking as a student Which method of recycling is the most

appropriate to use at home?

II. UNDERSTANDINGA. Comparison of two phenomena on a single

designated basis. Compare the 19th century and present day

Filipino writers with respect to their involvement in societal affairs.

B. Comparison of two phenomena in general Compare the Philippine Revolution of 1896

with that of People's Power Revolution of 1986.

C. EXPLANATION OF THE USE OR EXACT MEANING OF A PHRASE OR STATEMENT. The legal system of the Mesopotamians was

anchored on the principle of an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. What does this principle mean?

D. SUMMARY OF A TEXT OR SOME PORTION OF IT What is the central idea of communism as an

economic system?

E. STATEMENT OF AN ARTIST'S PURPOSE IN THE SELECTION OR ORGANIZATION OF MATERIAL Why did Hemingway describe in detail the episode in

which Gordon, lying wounded, engages the oncoming enemy?

III. APPLICATION.

A. CAUSES OR EFFECTS Why did Fascism prevail in Germany and Italy but not

in Great Britain and France? Why does frequent dependence on penicillin for

treatment of minor ailment result in its reduced effectiveness against major invasion of body tissues by infectious bacteria?

B. ANALYSIS Why was Hamlet torn by conflicting desires? Why was the Propaganda Movement a succesful

failure?

C. Statement of a Relationship1. A researcher reported that teaching styles correlates

with student achievement at about 0.75. What does this correlation mean?

D. Illustrations or examples of principles1. Identify three examples of the uses of the hammer in a

typical Filipino home.E. Application of rules or principles in specified situations1. Would you weigh more or less on the moon? Why or

why not?F. Reorganization of facts1. Some radical Filipino historians assert that the

Filipino revolution against Spain was a revolution from the top not from below.

2. Using the same observation, what other conclusion is possible?

IV. JUDGMENTA. DECISION FOR OR AGAINST

Should members of the Communist Party of the Philippines be allowed to teach in colleges and universities? Why or why not?

Nature is more influential than the environment in shaping an individual’s personality. Prove or disaprove in this statement.

B. DISCUSSION Trace the events that lead to the downfall of the dictatorial

regime of Ferdinand Marcos

C. CRITICISM OF THE ADEQUACY, CORRECTNESS OR RELEVANCE OF A STATEMENT

Former President Joseph Estrada was convicted for the case of plunder by the Sandiganbayan. Comment on the adequacy of the evidence used by the said tribunal in reaching a decision on the case filed against the former chief executive of the country.

D. FORMULATION OF NEW QUESTIONS

What should be the focus of researches in education to explain the incidence of failure among students with high intelligence quotient?

What questions should parents ask their children in order to determine the reasons why they join fraternities and sororities?

1. EVALUATING RECALL

Name the 5 departments in the Philippines which have had the greatest influence on the economic development of the country.

2. CLASSIFICATION

To what class does human being belong in the animal kingdom?

3. OUTLINE

Outline the rules for constructing multiple-choice test.

4. STATEMENT OF AIM

State the rules in constructing matching type of test.

5. NEW METHOD OR PROCEDURE

Suggest a plan for improving the truth or falsity of the contention that abolition of NCEE is a good policy in education.

EXAMPLE OF ESSAY QUESTIONS BASED ON BLOOM'S TAXONOMY OF COGNITIVE OBJECTIVES

A. KNOWLEDGE Explain how Egypt came to be called the gift of the Nile.

B. COMPREHENSION What is meant when a person says, "I had just crossed

the bridge?“C. APPLICATION

Give at least three examples of how the law of supply operates in our economy today.

D. ANALYSIS Explain the causes and effects of the People's Power

Revolution on the political and social E. SYNTHESIS

Describe the origin and significance of the celebration of Christmas the world over.

GUIDELINES FOR CONSTRUCTING, EVALUATING AND USING ESSAY TESTS

Consider the following suggestions for constructing, evaluating and using essay tests:

Limit the problem that the question posses so that it will have a clear or definite meaning to most students.

Use simple words which will convey clear meaning to the students.

Prepare enough questions to sample the material of the subject area broadly, within a reasonable time limit.

Use the essay question for purposes it best serves, like organization, handling complicated ideas and writing.

Prepare questions in which require considerable thought, but which can be answered in relatively few words.

Determine in advance how much weight will be accorded each of the various elements expected in a complete answer.

Without knowledge of students' names, score each question for all students.

Require all students to answer all questions on the test.

Write questions about material immediately relevant to the subject.

Study past questions to determine how students performed.

Make gross judgments of the relative excellence of answers as a first step in grading.

Word a question as simple as possible in order to make the task clear.

Do not judge papers on the basis of external factors unless they have been clearly stipulated.

Do not make a generalized estimate of an entire paper's worth.

Do not construct a test consisting of only one question.

ADVANTAGES OF AN ESSAY EXAMINATION

1. Easy to construct2. Economical 3. Trains the core of organizing, expressing,

and reasoning power.4. Minimize guessing.5. Develops critical thinking.6. Minimizes cheating and memorizing.7. Develops good study habits.

DISADVANTAGES OF AN ESSAY EXAMINATION

1. Low validity2. Low reliability3. Low usability4. Encourages bluffing5. Difficult to correct or score6. Disadvantage for student with poor

penmanship