Writing DOK Assessments for Middle School Language Arts

1
Writing DOK Assessments for Middle School
Language Arts

• Stacy Baudoin
• Curriculum Coordinator
• Pearl River Central School District

2
Familiarize yourself with the language arts
competencies and objectives for your grade level

• Competency 1
• The student will use word recognition and
  vocabulary (word meaning) skills to communicate.
• Competency 2
• The student will apply strategies and skills to
  comprehend, respond to, interpret, or evaluate a
  variety of texts of increasing length,
  difficulty, and complexity.
• Competency 3
• The student will express, communicate, or
  evaluate ideas effectively.
• Competency 4
• The student will use Standard English to
  communicate.

3
Pay attention to DOK levels for each objective

• 1e. The student will apply and use synonyms,
  antonyms, and homonyms. (DOK 1)
• 2c. The student will recognize or generate a
  summary or paraphrase of the events or ideas in
  text, citing text-based evidence. (DOK 2)
• 3b. The student will compose descriptive texts
  using specific details and vivid language. (DOK
  3)
• 4a. The student will apply Standard English
  grammar to compose or edit. (DOK 1)

4
DOK Levels and Objectives

• At least 50 of the test items on the MCT2 will
  match the Depth of Knowledge level assigned to
  the objectives for each competency. That means
  50 could be on a level below that level.
• The DOK level assigned to each objective is
  called the ceiling. The ceiling is the highest
  level an objective can be assessed. The questions
  at a lower level are called enabler questions.

5
Use the Language Arts Test Item Specifications as
a model

• Example Item
• 1A. Select the word below that does NOT
  represent a compound word.
• Careful
• Cardboard
• Cartwheel
• Carport

6
Use other available resources

• Test Ready
• Buckle Down
• MCT Coach
• Textbooks
• Supplemental materials
• Internet

Look for assessment items at different DOK
Levels.
7
How to find the DOK Level of a test item?

• Read through it and ask yourself
• Is the question involving recall? (DOK 1)
• Is it asking the student to apply a skill? (DOK
  2)
• Is the student required to justify the answer in
  some way? (DOK 3)

8
How to write reading questions?

• Competency 1
• The student will use word recognition and
  vocabulary (word meaning) skills to communicate.
• Competency 2
• The student will apply strategies and skills to
  comprehend, respond to, interpret, or evaluate a
  variety of texts of increasing length,
  difficulty, and complexity.

9
Competency 1

• Roots and affixes
• Vocabulary words
• Synonyms, antonyms, and homonyms
• Context clues
• Figurative language
• Reference materials
• Formal and informal language

10
Competency 1 Sample Question

• In paragraph 19, which phrase helps the reader
  know what the word makeshift means?   
• A more than enough food
• B built from whatever they can find
• C protect them from the weather
• D our home is still standing
• Grade 6
• 1d, DOK 2

11
Competency 1 Sample Question

• In the article, the governor of California speaks
  of Ellie's "ingenuity and dedication." As used in
  the article, the word "ingenuity" means  
• A)  cleverness
• B)  fame
• C)  stubbornness
• D)  gratitude
• Grade 8
• 1d, DOK 2

12
Competency 1 Sample Question

• In paragraph 4, the author uses figurative
  language to describe Carmens
• A difficulty expressing his feelings
• B apology for calling so late
• C confusion about his divorce
• D refusal to accept responsibility
• Grade 8
• 1e, DOK 3

13
Competency 1 Sample Question

• Read these lines from the poem.
• Treetops deploy a haze of / cherry bloom for
  roots,
• What does the word deploy mean?
• A spread
• B hide
• C ruin Grade 6
• D grow 1d, DOK 2

14
Competency 1 Sample Question

• What is the purpose of the metaphors used
• throughout the poem?
• A to explain the many uses of water
• B to help the reader visualize certain ideas
• C to avoid the need for characters
• D to show the reader that water is a symbol of
• Grade 6
• 1e, DOK 2

15
Competency 1 Sample Question

• Read this excerpt from Document C.
• I, _______________________________, the parent or
  legal guardian of ________ _______________________
  , hereby give permission for my child to
  participate as a youth volunteer with the Animal
  Shelter of Sacramento County. I authorize Animal
  Shelter staff to seek immediate medical treatment
  in case of an accident by using the emergency
  contact information below.
• The phrase give permission and the word authorize
  suggest that the parent or legal guardian is able
  
• A to serve as an adult volunteer.
• B to give first aid to an injured youth.
• C to work as a kennel aide.
• D to grant power to others. Grade 6
• 1d, DOK 2

16
Competency 1 Sample Question

• The phrase as fast as the wind in paragraph
• 7 is an example of
• A metaphor.
• B simile.
• C personification.
• D symbolism.

17
Competency 2

• Text features and structures
• Parts of a book
• Genres
• Main ideas, supporting details, topic sentences,
  sequence, flashback, cause and effect, connect
  with prior knowledge, predict outcomes
• Summarize
• Story elements, literary devices, sound devices,
  authors purpose
• Fact and opinion and tools of persuasion

18
Competency 2 Sample Question

• The conflict of the story begins when
• A Grandfather speaks to Father again
• B Father disagrees with Grandfather
• C Thi Liên's sandals are swept away
• D the ray of sunlight breaks through the clouds
  Grade 6
• 2d, DOK 2

19
Competency 2 Sample Question

• Which of these conclusions about Douglas's book
  can the reader draw from this article?   
• A The booked convinced President Truman to help
  save the Everglades.
• B The book described her meeting with President
  Clinton.
• C The book has sold more than two million copies
  since it was published.
• D The book helped people appreciate the
  Everglades. Grade 6
• 2b, DOK 2

20
Competency 2 Sample Question

• Both the selection and the interview were written
  to 
• A. persuade readers to buy Wegmans work
• B. tell readers why Fay Ray is such a popular dog
  model
• C. explain Wegmans work to the reader
• D. provide readers with examples of animals in
  art
• Grade 6
• 2d, DOK 2

21
Competency 2 Sample Question

• What is the main purpose of the illustration in
  Rock Bridge?
• A. to enhance the readers enjoyment
• B. to clarify information in the text
• C. to persuade the reader
• D. to share a point of view different from the
  text Grade 8
• 2a, DOK 2

22
Competency 2 Sample Question

• What is the tone of paragraph 3?
• A. Jealous
• B. Bored
• C. Admiring
• D. Joyful
• Grade 7
• 2d, DOK 2

23
Competency 2 Sample Question

• The purpose of using boldfaced print in the
  article is to help make
• A. the article organized and easy to follow.
• B. the article seem more important.
• C. these words take up less space.
• D. these words easy to understand.
  Grade 7
• 2a, DOK 2

24
Competency 2 Sample Question

• Read both passages and answer the questions
  below.
• In both selections, use of the first-person point
  of view allows the authors to 
• A. share each narrators inner thoughts and
  feelings
• B. concentrate on creating unusual characters
• C. focus on the most important facts
• D. describe each storys setting in vivid detail
• Grade 7
• 2d, DOK 3

25
Competency 2 Sample Question

• How does the poet create a sense of activity in
  the poem?
• A She compares the bridge to an eye.
• B She avoids introducing too many characters
• in the poem.
• C She uses strong, descriptive words. D She keeps
  the length of each line fairly short.
• Grade 6
• 2d, DOK 2

26
How to write language questions?

• Competency 3
• The student will express, communicate, or
  evaluate ideas effectively.
• Competency 4
• The student will use Standard English to
  communicate.

27
Competency 3

• The writing process
• Vivid language and sensory details
• Compose effective narrative, informational, and
  persuasive texts
• Compose research papers using multiple sources

28
Competency 3 Sample Question

• Look at the outline of information from the
  selection.
• I. Wegmans background in art
• A. Attended art school
• B . Became a painter
• C. ______________
• II. Wegmans use of dogs in his art
• A. Videotaped and photographed by Man Ray
• B. Dressed up Fay Ray and photographed her
• C. Used Fay Rays puppies as models
• What information belongs on the blank line?
• A Grew up in Massachusetts
• B Remained dogless for three years
• C Won praise for his work with Man Ray
• D Became interested in videos and photography
  Grade 6
• 3a, DOK 3

29
Competency 3 Sample Question

• Betsys English teacher has asked the class to
  write a personal narrative. Betsy doesn't know
  what to write about. Which of these would best
  help her?
• Brainstorming for ideas
• Reading her best friend's story
• Making an outline
• Going to the library to do research
  Grade 8
• 3A, DOK 3

30
Competency 3 Sample Question

• Which transition word or phrase could BEST be
  added to the beginning of sentence 6?
• A. Afterward,
• B. Finally,
• C. In fact,
• D. In comparison,
• Grade 7
• 3d, DOK 2

31
Competency 3 Sample Question

• In which book would readers probably find the
  most information about Colorado as it was during
  the time period described in the passage?
• A. Cronin, Thomas E., and R. D. Loevy. Colorado
  Politics and Government. Nebraska U of Nebraska
  P, 1993.
• B. Crum, Sally. People of the Red Earth American
  Indians of Colorado. New Mexico Ancient City,
  1996.
• C. Noel, Thomas J., et al. Historical Atlas of
  Colorado. Reprint. Oklahoma U of Oklahoma P,
  1993.
• D. Ubbelohde, Carl, Maxine Benson, and Duane A.
  Smith. A Colorado History. Colorado Pruett,
  1995.
• Grade 8
• 3f, DOK 3

32
Competency 3 Sample Question

• Read this sentence from the fifth paragraph of
  the passage.
• Poetic inspiration did not hit, it slam-dunked,
  this matronly English teacher from back East.
• In this sentence, the writer uses a comparison to
  basketball in order to show that Katherine Lee
  Bates was
• A. excited by sports.
• B. overpowered by the view.
• C. suddenly successful as a poet.
• D. extremely enthusiastic about poetry.
  Grade 8
• 1e, DOK 2

33
Competency 3 Sample Question

• Later, after my papers were delivered, I went to
  the bike store. I checked the price tag on a
  shiny green bike. It was exactly like the one my
  brother had shown me in his bike magazine, but
  the price was higher. The store bike was 229.00.
  That was 25.00 more than the same bike in the
  magazine. I checked the price tag, sighed softly,
  and turned to head home.
• Which phrase in the paragraph is redundant?
• A. the price was more
• B. I checked the price tag
• C. my brother had shown me
• D. after my papers were delivered
• Grade 6
• 3a, DOK 3

34
Competency 3 Sample Question

• What is the BEST way to revise sentence 4?
• A. The groom, who was wearing a blue flight suit,
  he was floating 240 miles above Earth on the
  International Space Station.
• B. The groom wearing a blue flight suit, he was
  floating 240 miles above Earth on the
  International Space Station.
• C. The groom was wearing a blue flight suit.
  Floating 240 miles above Earth on the
  International Space Station.
• D. The groom was wearing a blue flight suit and
  floating 240 miles above Earth on the
  International Space Station.
• Grade 7
• 3a, DOK 2

35
Competency 3 Sample Question

• This story is organized by 
• A. comparing a familys life in an apartment with
  its life in a house
• B. describing a series of events that fulfills a
  family dream
• C. discussing what each member of a family thinks
  about building a home
• D. providing examples of how people lived in 1925
  Grade 7
• 3d, DOK 3

36
Competency 4

• Apply Standard English grammar and mechanics to
  compose
• Apply Standard English grammar and mechanics to
  edit
• Apply knowledge of varied sentence structures

37
Competency 4 Sample Question

• How can sentences 1 and 2 best be joined?
• Waiting impatiently, Betsy shivered in the cool
  night air, Betsy was waiting as her twin sister
  Maya adjusted the telescope lens.
• Betsy, shivering in the cool night air, waited
  impatiently, waiting as her twin sister Maya
  adjusted the telescope lens.
• Shivering in the cool night air, Betsy waited
  impatiently as her twin sister Maya adjusted the
  telescope lens.
• Shivering in the cool night air, Betsy waited
  impatiently, she was waiting as her twin sister
  Maya adjusted the telescope lens.
• Grade 8
• 4c, DOK 2

38
Competency 4 Sample Question

• How is sentence 5 best written?
• But ever since Maya had gotten the telescope for
  her birthday two months ago, she wasn't
  interested in anything else.
• But Maya had gotten the telescope ever since her
  birthday two months ago and wasn't interested in
  anything else.
• But ever since two months ago Maya had gotten the
  telescope for her birthday, not interested in
  anything else.
• But Maya had gotten the telescope for her
  birthday two months ago, she wasn't interested in
  anything else ever since.
• Grade 7
• 4c, DOK 2

39
Competency 4 Sample Question

• In the following sentence, how is the amazingest
  thing correctly written?
• It was the amazingest thing Betsy has ever seen.
• A. the more amazing thing
• B. the most amazingest thing
• C. the most amazing thing
• D. As it is Grade 6
• 4a, DOK 1

40
Competency 4 Sample Question

• 1The freshman class holds a carwash each fall to
  raise money. 2They usually raise over 1,000.
  3About half the money that is raised is used for
  class events, such as dances. 4The remainder of
  the money going to local charities.
• Choose the correct way to write Sentence 4.
• The remainder of the money go to local charities.
• The remainder of the money goes to local
  charities.
• The remainder of the money are going to local
  charities.
• Correct as it is.
• Grade 8
• 4a, DOK 1

41
Competency 4 Sample Question

• Read this sentence.
• No parent is ever completely able to protect
  their son or daughter from every unpleasant event
  in life.
• Choose the correct way to write the underlined
  word.
• A. his
• B. him or her
• C. his or her
• D. Correct as it is.
• Grade 7
• 4a, DOK 1

42
Competency 4 Sample Question

• What change, if any, should be made in sentence
  2?
• A Change tradition to traditional
• B Insert a comma after gown
• C Change surrounded to surounded
• D Make no change
• Grade 7
• 4a, DOK 1

43
Competency 4 Sample Question

• Read this sentence.
• Diagrams that show how to make origami pieces are
  easily availible, not only in books, but also
  from online sources.
• Which underlined word is spelled incorrectly?
• A Diagrams
• B easily
• C availible Grade 6
• D sources 4b, DOK 1

44
Is labeling the parts of speech required on the
MCT2?

• Labeling parts of speech is not an objective
• Understanding how the parts of speech work to
  empower effective communication is a part of the
  framework
• Students who understand what effect the placement
  of a word has on meaning also can understand the
  effect of using modifiers correctly
• One aspect of the added rigor in the framework
  means that students do not merely need to know
  the rules
• rigor also suggests that students need to
  understand that rules affect the message they
  communicate when they write

45
Notice the wording of the objectives

• Grades 6, 7, and 8
• 4a The student will apply Standard English
  grammar to compose or edit.
• 4b The student will apply Standard English
  mechanics to compose or edit.
• The objectives state use or apply not
  identify.

46
District Tests

• A pretest for a nine weeks will test all
  objectives that will be taught in that nine
  weeks.
• A 4 ½ week test will test all of the objectives
  taught from the beginning of the nine weeks until
  that mid point.
• An exam will be similar to the pretest in that it
  tests the same objectives however, it will not
  use the same questions.

47
Creating District Tests

• When creating a district pretest, look for
  questions that are at the DOK level of the
  objective. Include some enabler questions that
  are at a lower DOK level.
• Place the competency number, objective letter and
  DOK level next to each test item.
• Choose the word from the list that does not
  belong. 1E, DOK 1
• Which of the following sentences correctly uses
  the word leaves according to this dictionary
  entry? 1H, DOK 1
• These tests should be similar in length to the
  MCT2.
• Be sure to use the test language similar to the
  sample questions.

48
Test Vocabulary-Grade 6

• informed
• proposals
• undergo
• homonyms
• illustrate
• metaphor
• reflects
• appropriate
• unfamiliar
• refer
• storyline
• figurative language
• accurately

• interprets
• persuasive
• order of importance
• cause and effect
• supports
• advertisement
• sources
• tense
• complex sentence
• compound sentence
• compound subject
• compound predicate

tactics slogan excerpts speeches approach effectiv
ely descriptive flow narrative provides
additional vivid words informational
text methods chronological order comparison and
contrast
49
Test Vocabulary-Grade 7
persuade models sentence structure compound
sentence complex sentence compound- complex
sentence figurative language

• prefix
• suffix
• infer
• reveals
• negative
• attitude
• synonym
• intended
• excerpt
• illustrate
• simile
• metaphor
• personification
• hyperbole

• persuasive detail
• repetition
• endorsement
• slanted words
• organization
• sentence fluency
• vivid
• descriptive details
• incorporate
• narrative
• reluctant
• effective
• comparison/contrast
• advertising

idiom appropriate complaint text
structure develop infer narrator justifies order
of events passage situational irony persuasion pur
pose accurately evaluates
50
Test Vocabulary-Grade 8

• infer
• possesses
• qualities
• appropriate
• boldface type
• passage
• literary device
• exaggeration
• sarcasm
• imagery
• irony
• sound device
• graphic organizer

• parallel structure
• demonstrates
• compound sentence
• complex sentence
• compound-complex sentence

effective narrative text chronological
order elaboration consistent informative
paragraph qualities advertisement appropriate pers
uasive detail accurate participial phrase
51
Resources

• Test Item Specifications
• http//www.mde.k12.ms.us/ACAD/osa/itemspecs
• Practice Tests
• http//www.mde.k12.ms.us/ACAD/osa/practicetests/
• Sample Assessments http//www.tea.state.tx.us/st
  udent.assessment/resources/release/
• http//www.kde.state.ky.us/KDE/InstructionalReso
  urces/CurriculumDocumentsandResources/Released
  TestItems/
• http//www.cde.state.co.us/cdeassess/released_it
  ems.html
• http//www.cde.ca.gov/ta/
• http//dpi.wi.gov/oea/wkce.html
• http//cjhweb.rockdale.k12.ga.us/2006_crct_practi
  ce_tests.htm
• http//www.charliefrench.com/engframe.htm
• http//okaloosa,k12.fl.us/bobsikes/Standardizedte
  stpractice.htm