Essay answer type (Simple Editor)

The essay answer type is used for students to respond with free-form text, whether for short answers or longer essays. You can use the Simple Editor to create or edit this answer type for an item part question.

ClosedStudent view of an essay question

Question asks students to "Write a paragraph describing how the ideas in this chapter affect your perspectives on your own life and human civilization."

ClosedAnswer box for an essay answer (Simple Editor view)

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ClosedCreate an item with essay answer type

You can use the essay answer type to create:

To create an essay answer:

  1. Click the Item Library tab.
  2. Click Create New Item on the right to open the Simple Editor in a new window.
  3. Scroll down to the Answer box forthe part . Click the dropdown menu next to Answer Type (on the right) and select essay. (The default is multiple choice.)
  4. Click OK in response to the message that if you change the answer type, some of the solution content may be lost and you will not be able to undo the change.
  5. In the Answer box, enter the information below.
  6. To save your edits, click ""Save (from the top toolbar) or the Save & Preview link (top right). Do NOT press Ctrl+S (Windows) or Command-S (Mac OS).
ClosedSet the number of rows for answer

Enter the number of rows that students can use to write their essay or short answer.

Closed[Optional] Correct answer

Enter a correct answer for students to view if they request the answer.

The Correct Answer box for essays only accepts plain text, including alphanumeric and other symbols available from the keyboard. For this reason, the editing toolbar and menus that normally appears for text boxes in the Simple Editor is not provided.

ClosedEdit essay answers

You can make the following edits to the essay answer type:

To edit essay answers:

  1. Open the Simple Editor so that the item you want to edit appears in the Edit Item window.
  2. Navigate to the Answer box for the essay question you want to edit.
  3. [Optional] Change the length of the answer box: Enter a different value in the box after "Set the number of rows in the student answer field."

  4. [Optional] Edit the correct answer that students see: Select the text to edit and enter new text.

    Since you can only enter plain text from your keyboard, the editing toolbar and menus that normally appear for text boxes in the Simple Editor is not provided.

  5. [Optional] Edit the follow-up text: Select follow-up text and enter new text.
  6. To save your edits, click ""Save (from the top toolbar) or the Save & Preview link (top right). Do NOT press Ctrl+S (Windows) or Command-S (Mac OS).

See also:

Edit item elements

Answer types you can use in the Simple Editor

Specify chapter and section for items you create or edit

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