Consider the following assessment question: ‘What are the ways in which people…
2023
Consider the following assessment question:
‘What are the ways in which people can participate in a democracy?’ Following are some answers that you get from students.
Which answer reflects the student’s understanding of the question and his/her ability to give a comprehensive ‘to-the-point’ answer?
- A.
‘Some key elements that influence the working of a democratic government are—people’s participation, resolution of conflict and commitment to equality and justice.’
- B.
‘Voting, dharna, rallies, social movements.’
- C.
‘By voting in elections.’
- D.
‘In a democracy, people participate by voting in elections. All governments are elected for fixed periods. In India this period is five years.’
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: B
Concept
A written response to an open-ended assessment question is judged comprehensive and to-the-point when it (a) directly addresses what the question asks, (b) covers more than one relevant point rather than just one, and (c) does not add information the question did not ask for. Teachers compare student answers of similar length against these three criteria — relevance, coverage, and conciseness.
Application
Student's answer | What it addresses |
|---|---|
Elements said to influence how a democratic government functions — participation, resolution of conflict, and commitment to equality and justice | Describes features of democratic governance rather than naming ways citizens act; does not directly answer what the question asks |
Voting, dharna, rallies, social movements | Names four distinct citizen actions, directly addressing the question and covering more than one participation method |
By voting in elections | Names one citizen action; does not cover more than one method |
Voting in elections, followed by a note that elected governments in India serve a fixed five-year term | Opens with a participation method, then adds a fact about government term length, which the question did not ask for |
Cross-check
Weighing all three criteria together — direct relevance, coverage of more than one method, and staying on the point asked — only the response naming voting, dharna, rallies, and social movements satisfies every criterion, which is why it best shows the student's comprehensive, to-the-point understanding of the question.