Writing New Quiz Questions

Who

Team assignments can be found in Blackboard.  (The same team assignments will be used for the labs later in the semester.)

 

What 

Each team will write original quiz questions.  Submissions will be graded for originality, effectiveness (questions that are not too easy but not too hard for this course level), and accuracy (the specified answer really is correct and other answer choices really are incorrect...but close enough to make guessing the correct answer difficult).  The best questions (from the entire class, not each team) as determined by the instructor will be added to this semester's quizzes and possibly to the quizzes given in future semesters.  The instructor reserves the right to edit the questions before using them.

Questions must be original.  Questions copied from other teams, books, cramster, etc. will be handled according to the Conduct of Students section of the Student Academic Regulations.  The first occurrence of dishonesty will result in zero credit on the assignment and a notification sent to the Vice-Provost for Undergraduate Studies, your academic advisor, and your department chair.  A second occurrence may result in more severe penalties.

It is permissible to modify existing questions, but the source must be referenced as shown in the example below (see "example page 3").

 

When

Teams will email a Word document containing the questions to the instructor by class time on the Tuesday prior to each quiz.

Chapters	Due
1, 2	Aug. 30
3, 4	Sep. 20
6, 8	Oct. 18
9, 10	Nov. 8
11, 12, 5	Dec. 6

 

How Many

Teams will submit one original question per team member for each chapter.  For example, a three-person team will submit three chapter 1 and three chapter 2 questions prior to the first quiz.

 

Question Topics

Questions should be related to the topics covered in the course.  They can be as simple as unit conversions or more complicated concepts (e.g. "Which of the following structures is unstable?") and calculations (similar to the homework).

Bloom's Taxonomy Action Verbs

The following paper contains a checklist for creating good multiple-choice quizzes.  Read the portions of the checklist entitled "Writing the Question" and "Writing the Multiple-Choice Options" if you decide to submit multiple-choice questions.  These guidelines may apply to other question types, as well.

Structured Process for Writing, Revising, and Assessing Multiple-Choice Quizzes

The following article explains the range of questions one could create.  You may or may not find it helpful.  You do not have to categorize your questions as shown in this article. 

Using the revised Bloom’s Taxonomy for the creation of examination questions

 

Question Formatting

The submission must be a Word document (.doc or .docx).  Team-member names must appear on the first page.  If a team member does not help with the submission, leave his/her name out and he/she will not receive credit.

There must only be one question per page.  Format the question according to the guidelines given below related to the question type (multiple-choice, true-false, etc).  It is essential that the question be correctly formatted, because it will be processed with test-creation software.  Question images can be drawn, scanned or photographed and inserted between the question statement and the answer choices.

Following each question, list:

1. the chapter and section from the course textbook (Hibbeler, Structural Analysis, 7e) that the problem relates to.

2. where the correct answer can be found (textbook page number, web site, etc).

3. a worked-out solution, if calculations or derivations are involved.  Solutions do not have to be computer generated.  Instead, handwritten solutions can be scanned or photographed and inserted in the document.  If the solution is too long to fit on the same page as the question, it can be placed on the following page.  Solutions should be legible and detailed enough for a fellow classmate to understand.

example page 1	example page 2	example page 3	etc
To:  Dr. Thomas From:  Joe Miner, Jane Miner, Jack Miner Subject:  chapter 1 & 2 questions Date:  Aug. 29, 2011	1. Who determined the exact speed of light?  a. Albert Einstein *b. Albert Michelson  c. Thomas Edison  d. Guglielmo Marconi   The question is related to:  Hibbeler, Structural Analysis, 7e, chapter 1, section 2 The answer can be found at:  Hibbeler, Structural Analysis, 7e, page 5	Type: MT  2. Match the correct name to the discovery or theory.  a. Michelson-Morely = Speed of light  b. Einstein = Theory of Relativity  c. Marconi = radio waves    The question is related to:  Hibbeler, Structural Analysis, 7e, chapter 1, section 3 The answer can be found at:  Hibbeler, Structural Analysis, 7e, page 13 The question is a modified version of:  Philpot, Mechanics of Materials, 2e, page 27, question 14	3. What is the speed of light in a vacuum cleaner?  *a. 42 b.  infinity c.  0 d. negative infinity e. 3    The question is related to:  Hibbeler, Structural Analysis, 7e, chapter 1, section 3 The question is a modified version of:  Hibbeler, Statics, 9e, page 122, question 8 Solution:

The following question types are acceptable.  Other types may be acceptable, but check with your instructor first.

Multiple Choice  (choose one answer from among several provided)

• Each question must begin with a question number, followed by a period "."
• The question wording must follow the question number.  At least one space should be between the question number and the question wording.
• Each answer must begin with a letter followed by a period "."  
  Hint: Dr. Thomas prefers to offer five choices, with one correct answer and four incorrect (but plausible) answers.
• Correct answers are indicated by placing an asterisk (*) directly in front of the answer choice.  Do not put a space between the asterisk and the answer choice.

Example:

1. Who determined the exact speed of light?  a. Albert Einstein *b. Albert Michelson  c. Thomas Edison  d. Guglielmo Marconi

True/False

• Formatting true-or-false questions is similar to that for multiple-choice questions.
• It is important to note that the "True" answer choice must be listed prior to the "False" answer choice in order for the test-generating software to recognize it as a true-or-false question type.
• Correct answers are designated with an asterisk.  Do not put a space between the asterisk and the answer choice.

Example:

2. Albert Michelson determined the exact speed of light?  *a. True b. False

Multiple Answer  (choose all correct answers from among several provided)

• Formatting questions that have multiple answers is similar to that for multiple-choice questions.  
• Multiple Answers questions are, essentially, multiple choice questions in which more than one correct answer can -- and generally should -- be selected by the student. 
• The primary difference is that the first line of the formatting must begin with "Type: MA".
• Correct answers are designated with an asterisk.  Do not put a space between the asterisk and the answer choice.

Example:

Type: MA  3. Which of the following individuals are credited with determining the exact speed of light? a. Albert Einstein  *b. Albert Michelson  c. Thomas Edison  *d. Edward Williams Morley

Matching  (pair items in one column to items in another column)

• Formatting a matching question is similar to that for multiple-choice questions, but there are some key differences. 
• The first line of formatting must begin with "Type: MT".
• Each answer, which consists of both parts of a correct match, must begin with a letter followed by a period "." 
• The two parts of the match must be separated with an "=" symbol, and there should not be any hard returns or blank lines within either parts of the answer. 
• Spaces before or after the "=" symbol are optional, but it is important that an answer only uses the "=" symbol for the purpose of separating the two parts of the match.

Example:

Type: MT  4. Match the correct name to the discovery or theory.  a. Michelson-Morely = Speed of light  b. Einstein = Theory of Relativity  c. Marconi = radio waves

Ordering  (selecting the correct order of a series of items)

• Ordering questions are formatted by starting the first line with "Type: ORD".
• Each answer, which must be in the correct order, must begin with a letter followed by a period "."

Example:

Type: ORD 5. Put the following presidents in order of service? a. George Washington b. John Adams c. Thomas Jefferson d. James Madison e. James Monroe