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Essay Question Type

Students write longer free-response answers that are manually graded by instructors.

Basic Syntax

[essay]

Note: No answer field—these are always manually graded.

Options

rows

Height of the text area in lines (default: 5).

[essay]
rows = 10;  // Larger box for longer responses

richtext

  • true — Allow rich text formatting (bold, italics, lists, etc.)
  • false (default) — Plain text only
[essay]
richtext = true;
rows = 8;

wordlimit

Maximum number of words allowed.

[essay]
wordlimit = 500;
rows = 10;
richtext = true;

Examples

Short-Answer Essay

Explain the differences between photosynthesis and cellular respiration in 2–3 sentences.

[essay]
rows = 5;
richtext = false;

Full Essay with Formatting

Write a 500-word essay on the causes of the French Revolution. Your essay should include:
- At least three major causes
- Supporting historical evidence
- A conclusion explaining their interconnection

[essay]
wordlimit = 500;
rows = 15;
richtext = true;

Problem-Solving Show Work

Solve the following system of equations. Show all your work and justify each step.

`{2x + y = 5, x - y = 1}`

[essay]
rows = 10;
richtext = true;

Reflection Prompt

Reflect on what you learned in this unit. What was most challenging? How will you apply this knowledge?

[essay]
rows = 8;
richtext = false;

Grading

Instructors grade essay responses manually:

  1. Open the assessment in the gradebook
  2. Navigate to the essay question
  3. Enter a score and optional feedback comments
  4. Save

Score Entry: - If the assessment uses a point scale, enter points earned - If using a rubric, select the appropriate rubric level

Tips

  • Provide clear rubrics: Define what constitutes "excellent," "good," "fair," "poor" before assigning
  • Use prompts with clear expectations: Students do better when they know what you're looking for
  • Consider peer review: Debate having students peer-review essays before instructor grading
  • Set word limits thoughtfully: Encourages conciseness but shouldn't be punitive for longer, thoughtful responses
  • Enable rich text for complex assignments: Allows students to format code, equations, lists, etc.

Manual Grading Workflow

  1. Student submits essay
  2. Question appears as "Not graded" in gradebook
  3. Instructor opens submission
  4. Instructor reads essay, enters score and comments
  5. Student sees feedback and final grade

See Also