Depth of Knowledge (DOK)

Depth of Knowledge splits reading tasks into four different levels. The levels
go from simple to more complex.
DOK 1: Recall/Reproduce
DOK 1 includes remembering and understanding basic facts and ideas from a
text. DOK-1 tasks include:
● Identify the topic
● Identify characters or people
● Identify the setting
● Retell the events
● Identify main ideas
● Locate examples in a text
● Summarize a text
DOK-2: Apply Knowledge
DOK 2 involves two-step mental processes. Students may need to combine
information from two texts. DOK-2 tasks include:
● Explain cause and effect
● Identify a pattern
● Compare and contrast two or more things
● Identify the structure or organization
● Follow a multi-step process
● Predict a logical ending
● Categorize objects or ideas

DOK-3: Strategic Thinking
Strategic thinking includes more complex reasoning. Readers must break
information down and form new connections. DOK 3 tasks include:
● Solve new or unfamiliar problems
● Understand information that is not stated directly
● Make inferences and draw conclusions
● Offer a critique or criticism
● Analyze an author’s role, purpose, and choices
● Develop an argument and find evidence to support it
DOK-4: Extended Thinking DOK-4 is usually reserved for independent
work. It involves long-term, self-designed projects.

which one of these words can describe a DOK-4, extended thinking task?

a: assess
b: prove
c: list
d: compare

1 answer

The word that best describes a DOK-4, extended thinking task is a: assess.

DOK-4 tasks involve independent work that requires long-term planning and critical thinking, which aligns with the idea of assessing ideas, processes, or projects thoroughly. The other options (prove, list, compare) generally relate more to lower levels of thinking and do not encapsulate the complexity or self-direction typically associated with DOK-4 tasks.