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11a) How do I write questions? (College Bowl)




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This article is from the College Bowl FAQ, by George Atendido aten0001@tc.umn.edu with numerous contributions by others.

11a) How do I write questions? (College Bowl)

Like anything else, the art of question writing is acquired only by
practicing. Most writers have trouble writing good questions on the first
attempt. However, in time, the process becomes easier and more natural.

The best way to start writing CB questions is to read the writing
guidelines written by the Stanford College Bowl Club. They are the most
comprehensive guidelines to date on the subject. For ACF question
writers, Marc Swisdak, formerly of the Maryland Academic Team, has
compiled an ACF question writing manual. Both manuals are available via
FTP, and are reposted to a.c.c-b regularly.

Then, try writing a few questions.

After writing questions, it's an excellent idea to try them on other
people in your club. This is essential, because it's the best way to get
immediate feedback, and find out what changes should be made.

From Pat Matthews:
"A common complaint of question writers is that they have no "inspiration"--
they have no idea what to write about. My personal method when I've lost
inspiration is first to attack the Sunday edition of the New York _Times_
for questions, then to go to the encyclopedias. I'll pull out 7-8 volumes
at a time and open to random pages, looking for good stuff to write
questions about."

"Another thing I do is that I tend to stockpile questions and then
take questions out of my pile to make packets. That way, if I happen to be
using a good source for a particular category, I'll just write down the
questions and use them later. For example, if I were reading a book on the
Civil War, I'd write down as many Civil War related questions as I could
while reading the book. Then, later on, I'd use these questions in other
packets."

"A method used by one of my former Penn colleagues was to carry a small
assignment pad in his backpack. Then, if he ever heard or read something
that was question-worthy, he'd jot it down on the pad. He now writes for CBI."
[Ed. note: while it's true that this friend wrote freelance for CBI when
I wrote the above, he no longer does.]

Here's a tip from Tom Michael:
"Here is a tip on writing good quality questions on a variety of subjects
quickly. This method requires two "sources" (books, magazines, specialty
publications, encyclopedias, general texts, etc.), one of which should be a
general reference work; and a ten sided die. Dice in a variety of shapes,
including non-platonic solids, are available at hobby, wargame, and
bookstores that sell Dungeons & Dragons or other fantasy games. Using the
die, roll a page number for one of your sources. Find something on that
page suitable for a question. Cross-reference the subject in your general
reference work, and write a question using information from both sources.
Using information from two sources allows you to expand the scope
of the question beyond the first reference, and provides a check on the
accuracy of the information. After you have written several questions in
this manner, sort the questions by subject area. Now "balance" the packet
by writing questions on subject areas you are missing."

"This method helps if you are running out of inspiration for questions, or
simply don't have a lot of time. (Note: I hand out one die to each player
at the second practice every year. Some have found it helps to write
questions; others don't use it.)"

 

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