Creating and Grading Essay Questions

Essay questions are not automatically graded by the computer based testing system. These questions require the instructor to manually enter a point value or pass/no pass grade within the Blackboard gradebook.

If you want to create secure essay questions or C-Tests within Blackboard, you will need to download and install Respondus onto your desktop.

If you are installing Respondus outside of an ACC networked computer, you can request a copy of Respondus by sending an email to: jholzkne@austincc.edu. Give your name and mailing address and a CD of the software will be sent you.

Note: Secure, computer based C-Tests are currently ONLY available to English instructors teaching a Distance Learning Comp I or Comp II course.

To create essay questions within Respondus, do the following:

1. After you have installed Respondus on your desktop, open Respondus.
2. Select Create, and type the name and description of the Respondus file you want to create.
3. From the Edit tab, select Essay/Short Answer
4. Type a title for the question and the question wording. If there is feedback for the question, type that as well.
5. Assign a point value for the question.
6. Select Insert into List or Add to End of List
7. Type your question wording.
8. Repeat steps 5 thru 8 for each of your essay questions.
9. After you have created your essay questions, establish settings for the exam.
10. Note: Prior to uploading an exam to Blackboard, it is recommended for an instructor to create a content area (folder) within Bb where all the secure computer based exams will be kept. To do this:
    1. Log into your Blackboard account
    2. If you have not already done so, it is recommended that you create a button within your Blackboard course content area called Exams. For more information on how to add a new course content area, go to:
       http://irt.austincc.edu/blackboard/respondus/BbContentArea.html.
11. Publish the exam to Bb. If you have not uploaded to Bb before, you will need to establish a profile or connection to Bb.

Learn more about creating secure computer based tests.

Learn more about how to deliver secure computer based C-tests within Blackboard.

Grading Essay Questions within Blackbaord

1. Log in to your Blackboard course.
2. Select your course (if more than one)
3. Click on Control Panel
4. Click on Gradebook to view the results. The students who took a secure test, should be listed in the gradebook. The title of the secure exam will be listed along the top column heading.
   
5. For essay questions, you will need to grade those questions manually before issuing a total score for the exam. If additional grading is needed, there will be a "|" mark in place of a numeric value within the gradebook column for that exam. Click on this mark and then select View to examine the essay answer(s) submitted by the student.
   
   
   
   
   
6. Enter the point values for the essay questions and complete the grading process. The revised total point value will be displayed in the gradebook.
   

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