How do I use key words in Long Answer questions?

Keywords are a great way to show students what you're intending for them to write about in a Long Answer question.

If your students include all or most of the keywords listed, this gives them a sense of accomplishment and lets them know they're on the right track. If they don't include the keywords listed, this helps to show them what to include to better revise their answer.

As these questions are self-marked, the keywords help students to gauge whether they've successfully completed the question and can move on, or if they need to reattempt. 

Adding keywords

When you add a keyword to a Long Answer, this word will be highlighted when a student includes it in their own written answer. If a student does not include a keyword, it won't be highlighted.

When adding a model answer to a Long Answer question component, keywords can be added by clicking the Add keyword button on the right.

Alternatively, add them by highlighting text from the model answer and clicking the + that appears.

After adding a keyword to a Long Answer question, synonyms can be added that are associated with that keyword.

In the Long Answer component, type synonyms in the given space. Alternatively, pasting a list of synonyms separated by commas into the keyword space will also work. This will make the first word the primary keyword and the rest synonyms. 

For example, if you pasted the list happy, joyful, ecstatic into the keyword box, you'd end up with the below.

Optional characters

Adding a * at the end of a word will denote optional characters.

For example, adding compute* as a keyword will also accept words such as computes, computed, computers, etc.

Adding synonyms to keywords

Contextualising keywords

When a keyword requires specific context, brackets can be used. Put the brackets around the keyword you want highlighted. 

For example, including the keyword ((they)) worked will only highlight 'they' when typed before 'worked'.

Punctuation as keywords

If you want to draw attention to punctuation as a keyword, simply add it to whichever keyword it is attached to.

In the example below, this designer wants to draw attention to the comma after 'fed' and the full stop after 'better'. These are the keywords they have included:

Negative keywords

If you want to draw attention to negative keywords, or keywords that are used incorrectly by students, put a - before the keyword. 

In the example below, the negative keyword is -go. The student has used the incorrect 'go' instead of 'went'.