EXAMPLE Table of Specifications for a Unit Test (Cells can be cleared to create your own, including different item

types and point

values. You can also add or delete rows.)
Outcomes to Assess
Content Standard

Objectives

SWBAT

Item Types (with Item numbers)

Multiple Choice
(1pt each)

True/False
(2 pts each)

Short Answer
(5 pts each)

Matching
(0.5 pts
each)

TOTAL
POINTS

1, 3, 7

11, 17, 18

21

30, 31, 32,

33

16

2, 4, 5

14, 16, 19, 20

22

27, 28, 29

17.5

6, 8, 9, 10

12, 13, 15

23

24, 25, 26

16.5

10

20

15

50

SWBAT

SWBAT

SWBAT

SWBAT

TOTAL POINTS

EXAMPLE Table of Specifications for a Performance Task (Cells can be cleared to create your own. You can also add rows.)
Standards

Objectives

Task Prompts

Assessment Criteria (rubric)

Reading 3.0: Read and respond to

historically or culturally significant
works of literature and conduct indepth analyses of recurring themes.
Reading 3.2: Analyze how the theme
or meaning of a selection represents a
view or comment on life, using
textual evidence to support the claim.

SWBAT:
Draw conclusions about literature
through textual analysis.
Respond in writing to recurring
themes
Use examples and quotes from the
text to support their viewpoint on
themes in the literature.

Pick one recurring theme from The

House on Mango Street. What do you
think Cisneros is trying to
communicate through this personal
narrative? Write a 4 paragraph essay
on this question and use textual
evidence to support your thesis.

Ideas: Essay is focused and uses

interesting, original details. Thesis is
clear, convincing, and fresh. Supporting
details are accurate and relevant.
Quotations are carefully selected,
thought-provoking, and support thesis.
Essay analyzes literature and shows
thorough understanding of the text.

Writing 1.3: Structure ideas and

arguments in a sustained, persuasive,
and sophisticated way and support
them with precise and relevant
examples.

SWBAT:
Write an introduction that includes a
hook, thesis, and background
information.
Write organized body paragraphs
containing textual support.
Write an effective conclusion.
Write transitions to connect ideas.

Your introduction should include a

hook, thesis, and background
information about the novel or
novelist. Details within each
paragraph should support the main
idea of each paragraph, and these
main ideas should contribute to your
thesis. The conclusion should restate
your thesis and provide insight into
the novel. Transitions should be used
to connect ideas between paragraphs.
Writing1.9: Revise text to highlight
SWBAT:
Check over and revise your work, or
individual voice, improve sentence
Use appropriate and effective words ask for feedback from the teacher or
variety and style, and enhance
peers. Make sure to use your own
in writing.
subtlety of meaning and tone in ways Vary sentence length and
words in describing your
that are consistent with the purpose,
interpretation of the novel. Vary your
complexity.
audience, and genre.
sentence structures and pick words
Write in a formal essay tone
that capture your ideas precisely.
avoiding casual and slang
Write for an academic audience, so
expressions.
avoid casual or slang expressions.
Conventions 1.1: Demonstrate control SWBAT:
Pay attention to grammar, and use
of grammar, diction, and paragraph
Write complete sentences with little- correct spelling and punctuation.
and sentence structure and an
Make sure that you are using your
no grammatical errors.
understanding of English usage.
words correctly. Use the MLA format
Produce legible work that shows
Conventions 1.2: Produce legible
in citing references from the text or
accurate spelling and correct
work that shows accurate spelling and punctuation and capitalization.
other texts.
correct punctuation and capitalization. Use MLA format.
Conventions 1.3: Reflect appropriate
manuscript requirements in writing

Organization: Strong organization

highlights key ideas. Introduction is
engaging and provides a clear direction.
Details and commentary are closely
linked to the thesis. Body paragraphs
are organized and contain a strong
balance between concrete details and
commentary. Transitions link ideas
together smoothly and naturally.
Conclusion is thought-provoking and
reinforces important ideas.
Style: Well-chosen words convey the
message in a precise way, adding new
levels of understanding. Word choice is
explicit and vivid, and phrasing is
memorable and readable. Sentences are
specific, strong, and vary in complexity
and length. Words are not wasted.
Writing is fluid and strong.
Conventions: Essay is essentially free
from grammar, punctuation, and spelling
errors. Errors are so few and minor they
are easily overlooked. Essay is
presented in the correct format.