Getting Started with Respondus Formatting
Created by Distance Education and eLearning
Before You Start
When authoring a Word Document for importing questions into Respondus, it is recommended to perform the following:
• Turn off automatic numbering and enter question numbers manually. For instructions, please check out the instructions provided by Microsoft.
• Each question must begin with a question number, followed by a period “.”, followed by a single space, followed by the question wording.
• Each answer should be placed on its own line.
• Note: See specific details and formatting examples below for each question type.
Formatting a Multiple-Choice Question (Single Correct Answer)
A multiple-choice question can be formatted by typing the question number and question text. Below the question text, place each answer choice on its own line. The answer choices must begin with a letter (a-t), followed by a period, followed a space, followed by the answer wording. To indicate a correct answer choice, place an asterisk (*) in front of the correct answer choice. Do not put any spaces between the asterisk (*) and the correct answer choice.
Example:
1. Which of the following is typically a more common cause of death at fire scenes?
*a. carbon monoxide b. combustion c. hydrocarbons d. flaming
Formatting a Multiple-Choice Question (Multiple Correct Answers)
To indicate that this is a multiple-choice question with multiple correct answers, start the first line of formatting with “Type: MA”. The rest of the formatting for this question type is similar to the one above with a single correct answer except: to indicate the correct answer choices, place an asterisk (*) in front of each correct answer choice. Do not put any spaces between the asterisk (*) and the correct answer choices.
Getting Started with Respondus Formatting
Created by Distance Education and eLearning Example:
Type: MA
1.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
Formatting a True/False Question
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 “.” and the question wording.
Note: The "True" (or "T") answer choice must be listed prior to the "False" (or "F"). (If "False"
appears first in the list, the question will be imported as a "multiple choice" question).
Correct answers must by indicated by an Asterix (*) in front of the answer choice-Do not put space between the Asterix and the answer choice.
Example:
2. Albert Michelson determined the exact speed of light?
*a. T b. F
Providing Feedback for Multiple-Choice and True/False Questions
If you would like to provide feedback to your students on a Multiple-Choice Question (whether it has a single answer or multiple answers) or True/False, the formatting is the same.
Things to consider:
• Place the tilde "~" symbol in front of the feedback for a correct answer.
• Place @ symbol in front of the feedback for incorrect answers.
Getting Started with Respondus Formatting
Created by Distance Education and eLearning
• Include at least one space to the right of the ~ and @ symbols and the text you want displayed for the feedback.
• Feedback must appear before the answer choices.
Examples:
Feedback for MC-Q (with single/multiple correct answers
Feedback for True or False
Type: MA
1. Which of the following individuals are credited with determining the exact speed of light?
~ Yes. Albert Michelson and Edward Williams Morley collaborated on a series of
experiments that eventually led to the exact determination of the speed of light.
@ No. Albert Michelson and Edward Williams Morley collaborated on a series of
experiments that eventually led to the exact determination of the speed of light.
a. Albert Einstein
*b. Albert Michelson c. Thomas Edison
*d. Edward Williams Morley
1. Albert Michelson determined exact speed of light.
~ Correct. Albert Michelson won the Nobel Prize for Physics for determining the exact speed of light.
@ Incorrect. Albert Michelson determined the exact speed of light and won the 1907 Nobel Prize for Physics for his efforts.
*a. True b. False
Formatting a Fill in the blank Question (Single Blank)
To indicate that this is a fill in the blank question, start the first line of formatting with “Type:
F”. 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 question wording. Respondus allows only one correct answer per question, but it does permit you to enter multiple forms of that answer. For this reason, an asterisk (*) is not required to identify the correct answer. However, you must include all acceptable forms of the correct response.
Getting Started with Respondus Formatting
Created by Distance Education and eLearning Example:
Type: F
5. Who is known as the "father of television"?
a. Zworykin
b. Vladimir Zworykin
c. Vladimir Kosma Zworykin
Formatting a Fill in the blank Question (Multiple Blanks)
To indicate that this is a multiple fill in the blank question, start the first line of formatting with
“Type: FMB”. The rest of the formatting for this question type is similar to Fill in the Blank (Single Blank) question except question wording must contain the words to be filled in provided in [square brackets]. The wording can include up to 10 [words] to be filled in, each of which can have up to 20 correct answers.
Example:
Type: FMB
1.A [rose] by any other [name] would smell as [sweet].
OR
Type: FMB
1. A [rose, red flower] by any other [name] would smell as [sweet, good].
Providing Feedback for Fill in the Blank Questions
If you would like to provide feedback to your students on a Fill in the Blank question with multiple blanks, the formatting is the same.
Things to consider:
• Place the tilde "~" symbol in front of the feedback for a correct answer.
• Place @ symbol in front of the feedback for incorrect answers.
Getting Started with Respondus Formatting
Created by Distance Education and eLearning
• Include at least one space to the right of the ~ and @ symbols and the text you want displayed for the feedback.
• Feedback must appear after the answer choices.
Example:
Type: FMB
1.A [rose] by any other [name] would smell as [sweet].
~ Correct. Well done.
@ Incorrect. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.
OR
Type: FMB
1.A [rose, red flower] by any other [name] would smell as [sweet, good].
~ Correct. Well done.
@ Incorrect. A rose by any other name would smell as sweet – or – A red flower by any other name would smell as good.
Formatting a Matching Question
To indicate that this is a Matching Question, formatting must begin with "Type: MT", followed by the question number, and the question wording. Each answer (which consists of both parts of a correct match) must begin with a letter (a-t) followed by a period "." The two parts of the match must be on the same line and be separated by an "=" symbol.
Note: 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
Getting Started with Respondus Formatting
Created by Distance Education and eLearning c. Marconi = radio waves
Formatting an Essay Question
To indicate that this is an Essay Question, formatting must begin with "Type: E". This is followed by the question number, and the question wording.
Note: Answers to essay questions will have to be manually graded by the instructor in Canvas.
Example:
Type: E
6. How is the Michelson-Morley experiment related to Albert Einstein's theory of relativity?
Important Note for formatting question(s) with an Image, Table and/or Equations
• When inserting images and tables in your questions, please make sure to insert them on a second line after the question wording and before the answer choices.
• Equations can be included in the question wording or as answer choices.
• In both scenarios, please make sure to have them inserted into your word file and Respondus should be able to read them automatically. However, if you do need insert images and/or equations after importing the questions into Respondus, you can use the Media Editor and the Equation Editor functions within Respondus.
• Please access the following Respondus Video tutorial to see how you can use the Media and the Equation Editor(s).
Creating and Formatting Questions with Respondus 4.0 (Duration: 4:36, Media Editor and Equation Editor information starts at 1:59).