DISADVANTAGES

OF THE ESSAY
ITEM

Difficult to Score
Scores are unreliable
Limited sample of total
instructional content
Bluffing

SCORING ESSAY
QUESTIONS

 Well-Written
items
enhance
scoring ease and reliability.

essay

Ex. 1. Some economists recommend massive tax cuts as

a means of controlling inflation. Identify at least two
assumptions on which such position is based, and
indicate the effect that violating each assumption might
have on inflation. Limit your response to one-half page.
Organize your answer according to the criteria discussed
in class. Spelling, punctuation, and grammar will be
counted in your grade. (8 points)

Ex. 2. What effect would massive tax cuts have

on inflation? (100 points)

Ways to avoid scoring problems:

1. Write good essay questions
2. Use several restricted-response
questions.
3. Prepare a rubric (i.e., scoring plan
or scheme)

 Essay scoring criteria or

rubrics
Tuckman (1975)
3 components in scoring high-level essay items
Content
Organization
Process

Scoring extended-response and

higher level.
CRITERIA
1. Accuracy/Reasonableness
2. Completeness/Internal
Consistency
3. Originality/Creativity

GENERAL ESSAY SCORING SUGGESTIONS

1. Write good essay items.
2. Use mostly restricted-response rather than extended-response items,
for in-classroom assessments.
3. Use a predetermined scoring scheme.
4. Use the scoring scheme consistently
5. Remove or cover the names on the papers before beginning scoring.
6. Score each students answer to the same question before going on to
the next answer.
7. Try to keep scores for previous items hidden when scoring subsequent
items.
8. Try to reevaluate your papers before returning them.