Essays assess critical thinking like the "Why" and "How" questions, which require students to combine factual knowledge with situational analysis to solve problems and arrive at conclusions. For example, an essay question could require a student to explain the potential cascading failures of a backup electrical system based on a single component malfunction.
Essays can measure deep understanding, the ability to demonstrate application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation of related course subject matters. Essays can be used to determine if a student has a true conceptual grasp of the subject matter.
Essays encourage organization and communication: Essays require students to express complex information clearly and logically, which mirrors the need for clear communication in maintenance logs and technical reports.
Essay questions are ideal for assessing higher-order thinking and are an effective way to allow students to demonstrate mastery.
Essays are rarely the most effective or central assessment method for an Aircraft Maintenance Technician (AMT) course. The best evaluation for hands-on, procedural work as in aircraft maintenance, combines multiple methods, including practical demonstrations, oral exams, and objective written tests.
