Short Answer Questions

The original version of each question is followed by the problems with it and a possible corrected version. Note that there are many ways in which each question might be corrected. The corrections here are not necessarily the best or most creative. See what you can come up with!

1. Benjamin Franklin was a _________________.

Problems:

1. There is not a clear meaningful problem. What do you want to know?

2. A large range of answers is possible. Answers like statesman, inventor (though not grammatically consistent, man, Bostonian, and even womanizer must be accepted.

3. Not formed as a direct question.

Possible Correction:

1. What pseudonym did Benjamin Franklin use to write his first published letters to a newspaper?

2. The full name of the man who invented the telegraph is

_____________ ___ ___ ______________.

Problems:

1. Not formed as a direct question.

2. Doesn't necessarily focus on key words or ideas - are both middle initials necessary?

3. The blanks provide extraneous clues.

Possible Correction:

2. What is the full name of the man who invented the telegraph?

Note: If you frame the question this way, you must accept Samuel Morse, Samuel F.B. Morse, and perhaps some variations.

3. Complete the following section of the preamble of the U.S. Constitution.

"We the (1)______ of the United States, in order to form a more (2)_______ (3)_____, establish (4)_______, insure domestic (5)___________, provide for the common (6)_______, promote the general (7)_______, and secure the blessings of (8)_______ to ourselves and our posterity, do (9)______ and (10)_________ this Constitution for the United States of America.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

Problems:

1. Not formed as a direct question.

2. Are all of these key words and ideas?

3. This is definitely a "Swiss cheese" question.

4. There are certainly excessive blanks here.

Possible Correction:

The beginning of the Preamble is significantly different from the beginning of the Articles of Confederation. What are the first three words of the Preamble?

The next step is to practice writing your own short answer items. Continue with the subject matter you chose earlier. What objective might be conducive to some short answer questions? Create two short answer questions on that content. Compare your items with the guidelines to make sure that you have created quality questions.

When you have finished writing your short answer items, click Next below to learn about writing good essay questions.