The Essay Question is the only question type that must be manually graded by the instructor.


1. Click on the three horizontal lines beside the word Menu in your Moodle Course


Menu button



2. In The Administration Block, click Question Bank.


Administration Block, Question Bank



3. Select the desired Category for the new question.


Question Bank, select a category



4. Click the Create A New Question button.


Create a new question



5. Select Essay  and click the Add button.


Essay


Add



6. Enter a Question Name. Students will not see this name.


Question Name textbox



7. Enter the Question Text. Students will see this text. It should contain the main body of the question that students will answer. 


Do not paste text from a Microsoft Word document without pasting it as Plain Text. Pasting as plain text can be accomplished by:

  • typing SHIFT+CTRL+V in either Chrome or Firefox on a PC

  • typing SHIFT+OPTION+CMD+V in either Chrome or Firefox on a Mac

  • Right-clicking and selecting Paste as Plain text in Chrome on a PC or Mac


Images can also be added into the Question Text, if needed.


Question text textbox



8. Leave the Default Points at 1.


Default points is 1



9. Enter any General Feedback that students would receive regardless of getting the question correct or incorrect.


General Feedback textbox



10. Use the options under the Response Format heading, select the parameters for student submissions to this question:

  • Response format: choose if students can type in their responses.

  • Require text: decide if students must enter text or if it is optional.

  • Input box side: choose the size of the text box for student responses; the textbox will re-size if students enter more text.

  • Allow attachments: decide if students can upload files as a response to this question.

  • Require attachments: if attachments are allowed, they may be required as well.

  • Accept file types: if desired, specify the file type accepted (.pdf, .docx, etc.)


Response options include: Response format, require text, input box size, allow attachments, require attachments, and accepted file types.



11. Use the Response Template to add pre-populated test to the student response text box.


Response Template textbox



12. In the Grader Information area, enter any information that only graders (Instructors or Teaching Assistants) should see to help increase grading efficiency.


Grader Information textbox



13. When done editing the question, click the Save Changes button. Questions can ALWAYS be updated as needed.


Save Changes



Return to Add Questions to Question Bank to learn how to create or import questions into the Question Bank.


Otherwise, return to the Quiz main resource page for more information on other topics.