Implement Text Response Question

Use this skill when creating questions where students:

• Analyze static content (text, diagrams, images) and explain their thinking
• Provide open-ended text responses without complex interactions
• Reflect on scenarios presented via text or static visuals

Note: For questions where students watch a video and respond, use implement-video-question instead.

When to Use This Pattern

Perfect for:

• "Explain your thinking" questions with minimal interaction
• Analysis of static diagrams, images, or scenarios
• Open-ended written responses to text-based prompts
• Reflection questions without video content

Not suitable for:

• Video-based questions → use implement-video-question
• Questions with interactive controls → use other question-type skills
• Multiple choice → use implement-multiple-choice-question
• Table completion → use implement-table-question

Components Required

Copy these from

.claude/skills/question-types/snippets/

:

Required

• cards/standard-card.js

  →

  createStandardCard()

• cards/explanation-card.js

  →

  createExplanationCard()

Optional

• cards/video-accordion.js

  →

  createVideoAccordion()

  - For optional help videos (not primary content)

• svg-basics.js

  → For rendering static diagrams

Quick Start

1. Review the pattern guide: PATTERN.md
2. Use cards directly - No specific snippet needed, just combine

   createStandardCard()

   and

   createExplanationCard()

3. For video-based questions - Use implement-video-question instead

Key Implementation Decisions

1. Content type - Static image, diagram, or text scenario? (Not video - use implement-video-question for that)
2. Number of responses - Single textarea or multiple questions?
3. State structure - One field per text response
4. Required length - Minimum characters? Word count?

State Shape

function createDefaultState() {
  return {
    response1: "",
    response2: "",  // If multiple questions
    explanation: ""
  };
}

Core Pattern (Text/Diagram + Reflection)

function buildLayout(d3, containerSelector) {
  const container = d3.select(containerSelector);
  container.html("").style("padding", "20px").style("overflow", "auto");

  // Intro card with scenario
  const introCard = createStandardCard(d3, container, {
    size: "large",
    title: "Analyze the Scenario"
  });
  introCard.append("p").text("Read the scenario below and answer the question.");

  // Add static content (text scenario, diagram, image)
  introCard.append("p")
    .style("background", "#f3f4f6")
    .style("padding", "15px")
    .style("border-radius", "8px")
    .text("Maria is planning a party. She needs to buy cups and plates...");

  // Response card
  createExplanationCard(d3, container, {
    prompt: "Explain your reasoning for Maria's best choice.",
    placeholder: "Type your answer here...",
    value: chartState.explanation,
    onChange: (value) => {
      chartState.explanation = value;
      sendChartState();
    },
    locked: interactivityLocked
  });
}

Core Pattern (Static Content + Analysis)

function buildLayout(d3, containerSelector) {
  const container = d3.select(containerSelector);
  container.html("").style("padding", "20px").style("overflow", "auto");

  // Display static content (diagram, scenario)
  const contentCard = createStandardCard(d3, container, {
    size: "large",
    title: "Analyze the Diagram"
  });

  // Add SVG or image
  const svg = contentCard.append("svg")
    .attr("width", 400)
    .attr("height", 300);
  // ... render diagram ...

  // Text response
  createExplanationCard(d3, container, {
    prompt: "Explain what the diagram shows about the relationship.",
    value: chartState.explanation,
    onChange: (value) => {
      chartState.explanation = value;
      sendChartState();
    },
    locked: interactivityLocked,
    rows: 6  // Larger textarea for detailed responses
  });
}

Note on Video Questions

This question type is for text/diagram-based responses only.

If your question includes a video as the primary instructional content, use implement-video-question instead.

Use Text Response	Use Video Question
Static text scenario	Video is primary content
Diagram analysis	Watch and reflect
Image analysis	Video-based instruction
No video content	Video + written response

Common Variations

Multiple Text Responses

function createDefaultState() {
  return {
    answer1: "",
    answer2: "",
    answer3: ""
  };
}

// Render multiple explanation cards
questions.forEach((q, i) => {
  createExplanationCard(d3, container, {
    prompt: `${i + 1}. ${q.text}`,
    value: chartState[`answer${i + 1}`],
    onChange: (value) => {
      chartState[`answer${i + 1}`] = value;
      sendChartState();
    },
    locked: interactivityLocked
  });
});

With Character/Word Count

const textarea = container.append("textarea");
const counter = container.append("div")
  .style("text-align", "right")
  .style("color", "#6b7280")
  .style("font-size", "14px");

textarea.on("input", function() {
  const length = this.value.length;
  counter.text(`${length} characters`);
  chartState.response = this.value;
  sendChartState();
});

Numbered Questions in Cards

QUESTIONS.forEach((question, index) => {
  const qCard = createStandardCard(d3, container, {
    size: "medium",
    title: `Question ${index + 1}`
  });

  qCard.append("p").text(question.prompt);

  qCard.append("textarea")
    .attr("rows", 4)
    .style("width", "100%")
    .property("value", chartState[`q${index + 1}`])
    .on("input", function() {
      chartState[`q${index + 1}`] = this.value;
      sendChartState();
    });
});

Implementation Checklist

• Created

  createDefaultState()

  with response fields
• Added intro content (video, image, or text scenario)
• Created explanation card(s) for text responses
• Implemented

  onChange

  handlers to update state
• Added clear prompts for each response
• Implemented

  setInteractivity()

  to disable textareas when locked
• Implemented

  applyInitialState()

  to restore text values
• Tested state restoration
• Tested locking/unlocking
• Verified all text is preserved

Tips

1. Clear prompts - Tell students exactly what to explain
2. Adequate space - Use

   rows

   attribute to provide enough textarea height
3. Placeholder text - Give examples of what to write
4. Auto-save - State updates on every input (already handled by onChange)
5. Scroll support - Ensure container has

   overflow: auto

Static Diagram Integration

Using SVG for static diagrams:

const diagramCard = createStandardCard(d3, container, {
  size: "large",
  title: "Study the Diagram"
});

const svg = diagramCard.append("svg")
  .attr("width", 400)
  .attr("height", 300);

// Add diagram elements
svg.append("rect")
  .attr("x", 50)
  .attr("y", 50)
  .attr("width", 100)
  .attr("height", 100)
  .attr("fill", "#3b82f6");

svg.append("text")
  .attr("x", 100)
  .attr("y", 180)
  .text("Area = 100 sq units");

Related Skills

• implement-video-question - For video-based questions
• implement-multiple-choice-question - For selection + explanation
• create-d3-question - Parent workflow skill

Additional Resources

• PATTERN.md - Detailed pattern guide
• ../snippets/cards/explanation-card.js - Explanation card component
• ../snippets/cards/standard-card.js - Standard card component
• ../snippets/svg-basics.js - SVG diagram helpers