PROPOSAL FOR AN ALTERNATIVE CLASS ASSIGNMENT

I prepared this course during the spring semester since I knew I would be working for Central Texas College in Hawaii for the summer. When I returned, I learned that the Internet faculty now has an online testing program available. I want to introduce a testing component into future courses.

However, the construction of good objective tests is time consuming and difficult. In discussing this with Dr. Yoder, he suggested that I have my classes help. I think this is a good idea, so I propose that we alternate writing assignments with making multiple choice test items on the reading assignments. The schedule for our course work would look like this:

You will receive grades on the multiple choice tests you construct that will be substituted for the grades on the writing assignments.

At the end of the semester, I will give an exam composed of the items I have received from you. You may chose beforehand whether or not you want this grade to be averaged in with your other grades. However, everyone must take the test. This is important so that I can make an item analysis of the test to improve it for future use.

HOW TO CONSTRUCT MULTIPLE CHOICE TEST ITEMS

Making a good multiple choice test is harder than you may think. The directions for what to do are simple, but the execution is difficult. To help you make good questions, look at these three sources:

Guidelines

Murdoch

Writing

HOW TO FORMAT YOUR WORK

The multiple choice test may be created in the word processing program that you use for other work in this course, either Microsoft Word or WordPerfect. However, the way you format the questions is important. A multiple choice item should look like this:

23. The store owners attitude toward the poor white trash is
a. servile
b. hostile
c. welcoming
d. contemptuous
ans:a

Note that

  • The item is numbered.
  • The distractors are designated alphabetically (You can use either upper or lower case) and are followed by a period.
  • The correct answer is indicated at the end buy the abbreviation "ans" followed by a colon and the letter of the correct answer.

    If you construct questions on different pieces of writing, then the questions on each should be grouped together, and each group should be followed by a descriptor that looks like this:

    category: Angelou

    Here the word "category" is followed by a colon and the name of the author. A reference to the title of the work would also be all right. For example

    category: Grandmother's Victory

    That's all there is to it.

    HOW YOUR MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS WILL BE GRADED

    These are the criteria that will be used to grade your multiple choice test questions:
    1. The stem of the question is clear and unambiguous.
    2. The answer you have designated as correct is in fact correct.
    3. There are at least three distractors which appear plausible.
    4. Parallel structure is maintained in the wording of the distractors.
    5. The question is not trivial but demands specifiic knowledge or serious thought.

      Note that you do not have to make the test items if you do not wish but may continue to submit the writing assignments each week.