Bloom’s Critical Thinking Questioning Strategies

Lower Level Thinking Skills

• Level 1-Knowledge-exhibits previously learned material by recalling facts, terms basic concepts and answers.
• Key Words: who, what, why, when, omit, where, which, choose, find, how, define, label, show, spell, list, match, name relate, tell, recall, and select

• Level 2-Comprehension-demonstrating understanding of facts and ideas by organizing, comparing, translating, interpreting, giving descriptions and stating main ideas.
• Key Words: compare, contrast, demonstrate, dewscribe, interpret, explain, extend, illustrate, infer, outline, relate, rephrase, translate, summarize, show, and classify

• Level 3-Application-solving problems by applying acquired knowledge, facts, techniques and rules in a different way.
• Key Words: apply, build, choose, construct, demonstrate, develop, draw, experiment with, illustrate, interview, make use of, model, organize, plan, select, solve, utilize

Higher Level Thinking Skills

• Level 4-Analysis-examining and breaking information into parts by identifying motives or causes, making inferences and finding evidence to support generalizations.
• Key Words: analyze, catergorize, classify, compare, contrast, discover, divide, examine, group, inspect, sequence, simplify, distinguish, distinction, relationships, function, assume, conclude
• Sample Questions:
• How is_____related to….?
• Why do you think,,,,?What motive is there….?
• What conclusions can you draw…?
• How would you classify….?
• How would you categorize….?
• What evidence can you find….?
• What is the relationshiop between…?
• Can you make a distinction between…?
• What ideas justify….?

• Level 5-Synthesis-compiling information together in a different way by combining elements in a new pattern or proposing alternative solutions.
• Key Words; combine, compile, compose, construct, create, design, develop, formulate, imagine, invent, make up, originate, plan, propose, solve, solution, suppose, discuss, modify, change, improve, adapt, minimize, maximize, delete, elaborate, improve
• Sample Questions
• What changes would you make to solve…?
• How would you improve…?
• What would happen if,..?
• How could you change the plot…?
• What could be done to minimize/maximize…?
• What way would you design…?Can you elaborate on the reason…?
• Can you propose analternative…?
• How would you adapt____to create a different?
• What could be combined to improve…?
• Suppose you could _____what would you do….?
• Can you think of an original way for the…..?

• Level 6-Evaluation- presenting and defending opinions by making judgments about information, validity of ideas or quality of work based on a set of criteria.
• Key Words: award, choose, defend determine, evaluate, judge, justify, measure, compare, mark rate, recommend, rule on, select, appraise, prioritize, support, prove, disprove, assess, influence, value
• Sample Questions:
• Do you agree with the actions…?with the outcomes…?
• What is your opinion of….?
• Can you assess the value or importance of…?
• Would it be better if…?
• Why did they (the character) choose….?
• What would you recommend….?
• What data was used to make the conclusion…?
• How would you rate the…?
• What would you cite to defend the actions…?
• How would you evaluate….?
• What choice would you have made…? How would you prioritize….?
• What judgment would you make about….?
• Based on what you know, how would you explain….?
• What information would you use to support the view…?