Write essays

Updated 27 Jul 2022

Auto-graded writing assessments require you to respond to an essay question. Your writing is then automatically evaluated and scored. Feedback is also provided to help you improve your writing. The level of feedback depends on the individual activity and the type of essay questions that are included.

  1. Locate and open the activity in one of the following ways:
    • If available, use the course calendar to locate the due date. Click the due date to view a list of items and click the name or select Open from the context menu.
    • Use View all Course Materials to navigate to the appropriate folder or item. Then click the name or select Open from the context menu.
    • Click Assignments and locate the essay's due date on the calendar. Then, click the due date to view a list of items and click the name or select Open from the context menu.

      Do not press the Esc key while your activity or test is opening as the application may still count this as an attempt.

  2. Depending on the activity design, you may be prompted to select the level of feedback and evaluation you want to receive. Options are:
    • By Paragraph: The essay answer area will have separate sections for Introduction, Body and Conclusion. You can get a feedback for each section separately, or for the essay as a whole.
    • Full Essay: The essay answer area will have one section. You can only receive feedback on your essay as a whole.

    Make your selection and click Next.

  3. Depending on the activity design, you may be prompted to select the essay question you want to answer. You only have to answer one question to complete the activity. Make your selection and click Next.
  4. After the activity opens, instructions will appear, you see on or more buttons of instructions to the right. Click the buttons to view the detailed instructions or tips. You can click Back to return to the main list of instructions.
  5. Enter your answer on the right by typing in the available text boxes. Depending on the activity design you will either have on text box, or separate text boxes for Introduction, Body, and Conclusion. To add additional paragraphs to your Body section, click Add Body Paragraph.
  6. After you enter you answer you can click Get Feedback or Get Essay Feedback to have your writing evaluated and scored automatically. You score and comments are displayed in the Feedback window on the right. Click an item to view detailed comments, and click Back to return the main feedback page. (You can also click Instructions to view the instructions again).
  7. You can edit your essay and click to receive updated feedback.
  8. You can click View History to view previous versions of your work in the Feedback History window. Use the Select a version list to select the previous work you want to review.
  9. When you are satisfied with your scores, you can click Finish: Submit for Grading to submit your work to the gradebook.

    You must complete this step so you score appears in your instructor's gradebook.

  10. Click Finish at the confirmation prompt.
    • Click View Summary (if available) to view a one-page summary. Click Return to Activity link to close the Summary page.
    • Click Return to Course to exit the activity and view your course materials.

Click the print icon to print of a writing assessment.