Assessment Design and
Framework

Field 020: English Language Arts

The assessment design below describes general assessment information. The framework that follows is a detailed outline that explains the knowledge and skills that this assessment measures.

Assessment Design

Format Computer-based test (CBT) and online-proctored test
Number of Questions 150 multiple-choice questions
Time* 180 minutes
Passing Score 220

*Does not include 15-minute tutorial

Framework

Pie chart of approximate test weighting outlined in the table below.

Domain Range of Competencies Approximate Percentage of Assessment Score
I Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, and Reading Various Text Forms 0001–0004 23%
II Analyzing and Interpreting Literature 0005–0008 23%
III English Language Conventions, Composition, Writing Process, and Research 0009–0011 19%
IV Modes of Writing 0012–0015 23%
V Oral and Visual Communication 0016–0017 12%
Domain I–Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, and Reading Various Text Forms

0001 Understand strategies for developing vocabulary knowledge and reading comprehension.

Includes:

  1. Use knowledge of syntactic rules and word structure and contextual analysis skills to help identify word meanings.
  2. Determine the denotative and connotative meanings of words and phrases, including the meanings of homonyms, synonyms, and antonyms.
  3. Relate words and phrases that are derivatives and borrowings to their origins in other languages.
  4. Recognize the historical, social, cultural, regional, and technological influences that have helped shape the English language.
  5. Connect unfamiliar words and phrases with familiar words, phrases, concepts, and experiences.
  6. Recognize an appropriate reading strategy to use for a particular text and purpose.
  7. Recognize appropriate research-based reading comprehension strategies to use before, during, and after reading.

0002 Understand strategies for reading informational texts.

Includes:

  1. Recognize the characteristics of various types of informational texts, such as essays, news articles, foundational U.S. documents of historical and literary significance, as well as historical, scientific, technical, or economic accounts (including digital sources) written for a broad audience.
  2. Use knowledge of the organizational features and structure of an informational text to help enhance comprehension of the text.
  3. Identify the main idea, purpose, and intended audience of an informational text.
  4. Distinguish between general statements and specific details presented in an informational text.
  5. Assess the relevance, importance, and sufficiency of evidence, examples, and reasons provided to explain a concept or process presented in an informational text.
  6. Assess the credibility, objectivity, and reliability of various sources used in an informational text.
  7. Recognize an accurate summary of an informational text.
  8. Interpret graphic features used in informational texts, such as tables, graphs, and charts.

0003 Understand strategies for reading persuasive texts.

Includes:

  1. Recognize the characteristics of various types of persuasive texts, such as editorials, propaganda, and advertisements.
  2. Use knowledge of the organizational features and structure of a persuasive text to help enhance comprehension of the text.
  3. Identify the central idea(s), author's point of view and purpose, and intended audience of a persuasive text.
  4. Distinguish between facts and opinions presented in a persuasive text.
  5. Assess the relevance, importance, and sufficiency of evidence, examples, and reasons provided to support an argument presented in a persuasive text.
  6. Assess the credibility, objectivity, and reliability of various sources used in a persuasive text.
  7. Analyze the use of rhetorical devices and techniques in a persuasive text, such as repetition, exaggeration, and logical, emotional, and ethical appeals.
  8. Interpret graphic features used in persuasive texts, such as photographs and illustrations.

0004 Understand strategies for reading technical and functional texts.

Includes:

  1. Recognize the characteristics of various types of technical texts, such as warranties and contracts, and various types of functional texts, such as timetables and application forms.
  2. Use information presented in technical texts to gain knowledge and develop skills, such as learning and exercising consumers' and citizens' rights.
  3. Use information presented in functional texts to confirm facts and perform tasks, such as planning travel or applying for a job.
  4. Interpret graphic features used in technical texts, such as flowcharts and schematics, and in functional texts, such as keys/legends and diagrams.
Domain II–Analyzing and Interpreting Literature

0005 Understand strategies for analyzing and interpreting various forms of literary nonfiction, fiction, and drama.

Includes:

  1. Recognize the characteristics of various subgenres of literary nonfiction, such as personal essays, memoirs, and autobiography; fiction, such as historical fiction, science fiction, and realistic fiction; and drama, such as tragedy, comedy, and farce.
  2. Analyze the use of rhetorical, dramatic, and literary devices and techniques, such as analogy, soliloquy, and foreshadowing, in a work of literary prose.
  3. Analyze the use of point of view, tone, voice, and mood in a work of literary prose.
  4. Analyze the use of structural elements, such as denouement and flashback, in a work of literary prose.
  5. Analyze the impact of specific word choices on meaning and tone in a work of literary prose.
  6. Analyze plot, setting, and characterization in a work of literary prose.
  7. Interpret central ideas or themes in a work of literary prose.

0006 Understand strategies for analyzing and interpreting various forms of poetry.

Includes:

  1. Recognize the characteristics of various forms of poetry, such as the epic, ode, sonnet, ballad, lyrical poems, and free verse poems.
  2. Analyze the use of poetic devices, such as allusion, paradox, symbolism, imagery, and irony, in a work of poetry.
  3. Analyze the use of figures of speech, such as simile, metaphor, personification, and metonymy, in a work of poetry.
  4. Analyze the use of point of view, tone, voice, and mood in a work of poetry.
  5. Analyze the use of stanzaic and metrical structures and verse forms, such as the quatrain, iambic pentameter, and free verse, in a work of poetry.
  6. Analyze the use of formal rhyme schemes and sound devices, such as alliteration and assonance, in a work of poetry.
  7. Interpret central ideas or themes in a work of poetry.

0007 Understand the major characteristics of American literature and literatures from around the world.

Includes:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of major genres and styles of literatures from around the world.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of the formal, stylistic, and thematic characteristics of major works and writers of American literature and literatures from around the world.
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of the formal, stylistic, and thematic characteristics of major movements and periods in American literature and literatures from around the world.
  4. Demonstrate knowledge of the formal, stylistic, and thematic characteristics of major literary genres and works from diverse oral traditions.

0008 Understand the major historical, social, cultural, and political aspects of American literature and literatures from around the world.

Includes:

  1. Analyze in literary works references to major historical events and to major social, cultural, and political movements and institutions that have influenced the development of literatures from around the world.
  2. Analyze in literary works the expression of diverse values, attitudes, and ideas of peoples from various regional, ethnic, and cultural groups.
  3. Analyze how writers from diverse cultural backgrounds and various historical periods have commented on major historical events and influenced public opinion about and understanding of major social, cultural, and political issues through their literary works.
  4. Analyze how diverse social, cultural, and political issues, such as issues relating to age, gender, ethnicity, and human rights, are explored in classical and contemporary works of American, British, and world literatures.
Domain III–English Language Conventions, Composition, Writing Process, and Research

0009 Understand the conventions of Standard American English and the elements of effective composition.

Includes:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of the conventions of spelling and capitalization to use when developing text.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of the conventions of punctuation to use when developing text.
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of appropriate word usage and grammatical sentence structure to use when developing text.
  4. Recognize methods of developing an introduction to a text that draws a reader's attention, specifies a topic, and provides a thesis.
  5. Recognize methods of developing the body of a text that presents, emphasizes, links, and contrasts ideas in a clear, concise, and coherent manner.
  6. Recognize methods of developing a conclusion to a text that provides a summary or resolution, suggests a course of action, or offers a personal commentary.

0010 Understand the writing process.

Includes:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of the appropriate form of writing to use for a particular purpose and audience.
  2. Recognize methods of generating and organizing ideas for writing.
  3. Recognize methods of drafting text to show logical development of a central idea or concept through the use of relevant supporting details.
  4. Recognize methods of revising text to eliminate wordiness, redundancy, distracting details, and extraneous information.
  5. Recognize methods of revising text to generate interest and clarify meaning, such as varying sentence length and structure, maintaining parallelism, and using appropriate and varied transitions.
  6. Recognize methods of proofreading and preparing text for publication.

0011 Understand the elements of effective and appropriate research.

Includes:

  1. Recognize methods of selecting and refining a topic for research.
  2. Recognize methods of composing specific, open-ended questions for a research topic.
  3. Recognize methods of identifying and locating multiple and various print and digital sources of information for a research topic.
  4. Recognize methods of assessing the credibility, objectivity, and reliability of sources of information.
  5. Recognize methods of gathering and organizing relevant information from multiple authoritative print and digital sources, assessing the usefulness of each source in answering a research question, and synthesizing information from various sources.
  6. Recognize methods of paraphrasing, summarizing, and quoting information from sources appropriately and of selectively integrating a paraphrase, summary, or quotation effectively into a text while maintaining the flow of ideas.
  7. Recognize methods of citing or acknowledging sources of information appropriately in a text.
Domain IV–Modes of Writing

0012 Understand strategies for narrative writing.

Includes:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of the forms and purposes of narrative writing, such as describing an event or relating a personal experience.
  2. Recognize methods of selecting and limiting a subject for narrative writing.
  3. Recognize methods of selecting an effective organizational approach to use in narrative writing, such as chronological order, flashback, or in medias res.
  4. Recognize methods of selecting effective and appropriate sensory details and using specific nouns and strong verbs to convey precisely the unique aspects of a subject.
  5. Recognize methods of selecting an appropriate style, tone, and voice and appropriate diction to use in narrative writing for a particular purpose and audience.

0013 Understand strategies for writing informative and explanatory texts.

Includes:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of the forms and purposes for writing informative and explanatory texts, such as explaining a factual subject, providing or requesting information, or interacting socially or professionally.
  2. Recognize methods of selecting and limiting a subject for writing an informative or explanatory text.
  3. Recognize methods of formulating a specific question to address through expository writing and of developing a thesis statement that provides a focus for writing.
  4. Recognize methods of selecting an effective organizational approach to use in writing an informative or explanatory text, such as cause-and-effect, problem-and-solution, or chronological order, as well as for including formatting, graphics, and multimedia to aid comprehension.
  5. Recognize methods of developing a topic thoroughly by selecting significant and relevant facts, extended definitions, concrete details, quotations, or examples appropriate to the audience's knowledge of the topic.
  6. Recognize methods of developing expository writing that is direct, simple, and succinct.

0014 Understand strategies for writing arguments.

Includes:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of the forms and purposes of persuasive writing, such as stating an opinion or influencing beliefs.
  2. Recognize methods of establishing a clear position or controlling idea in persuasive writing.
  3. Recognize methods of selecting an effective organizational approach to use in persuasive writing, such as logical order or order of importance.
  4. Recognize methods of developing an argument fairly and thoroughly by supplying relevant evidence.
  5. Recognize methods of effectively anticipating and addressing possible counterarguments, as well as the audience's knowledge level, concerns, values, and possible biases.
  6. Recognize methods of establishing and maintaining a formal style, diction, and tone.

0015 Understand strategies for analytical writing.

Includes:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of the forms and purposes of analytical writing, such as interpreting a literary work or works.
  2. Recognize methods of formulating a specific question to address through analytical writing and of developing a thesis statement that makes a significant claim or conveys a purpose for writing.
  3. Recognize methods of selecting an effective organizational approach to use in analytical writing, such as order of increasing complexity or comparison and contrast.
  4. Recognize methods of developing a cogent analysis of a literary work, such as incorporating specific words and phrases from a literary work to support a claim made in analytical writing.
  5. Relate characters, themes, and points of view from one literary work to characters, themes, and points of view from other literary works.
Domain V–Oral and Visual Communication

0016 Understand strategies for effective listening and speaking and for participating in group discussions.

Includes:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of the characteristics and purposes of various types of listening and barriers to listening effectively.
  2. Demonstrate knowledge of the social norms and conventions involved in interpersonal communication and how these are influenced by factors such as self-concept, cultural or socioeconomic background, age, and gender.
  3. Recognize methods of participating actively in conversations and group discussions, such as restating, clarifying, and using nonverbal cues.
  4. Recognize methods of incorporating effective and appropriate language styles, rhetorical devices, and vocal techniques into speeches on various topics and for various purposes, audiences, and occasions.

0017 Understand strategies for effective viewing and presenting and for analyzing various media.

Includes:

  1. Analyze messages, meanings, biases, and themes conveyed through visual images in various media and in various combinations of media.
  2. Examine how elements of visual images used in various media can be manipulated to change personal behavior and influence public opinion.
  3. Examine how personal experience and prior knowledge can affect an individual's interpretation of visual images in various media.
  4. Recognize methods of establishing a clear purpose for a presentation and of organizing and modifying a presentation to correspond to the characteristics of a particular audience.
  5. Recognize methods of incorporating effective and appropriate visual images or aids into a presentation and of using effective and appropriate technologies and media to give a presentation.
  6. Demonstrate knowledge of legal, ethical, copyright, and source citation issues related to viewing and presenting media.