Questioning for Quality Thinking

April S. Dudley

Is Questioning Important?

The types of questions we ask affect the levels of our students’ thinking.

Goals for Today

Compare Bloom’s Taxonomy with the SAT9 classifications.

Examine sample questions at each level.

Create questions for each level.

Share effective questioning and responding techniques.

SAT9 Comprehension Classifications

Initial understanding

Interpretation

Critical analysis

Bloom’s Taxonomy

Knowledge

Comprehension

Application

Analysis

Synthesis

Evaluation

Initial Understanding(Knowledge & Comprehension)

Literal comprehension

Ability to understand directly stated details and relationships

What the author said

Examples of Initial Understanding

Five w’s

How

How much

What does it mean

Describe

Define

Match

Classify

Compare

Which one

Choose

Omit

Rephrase

Summarize

Graph

Outline

Sample Knowledge Questions

Write the formula for _____.

What countries did Napoleon conquer?

Who wrote “Ode to a Grecian Urn?”

State the rule for making these words plural.

Give the definition of _____.

Sample Comprehension Questions

Give your own definition of perseverance.

Give an example of a time when you persevered.

Tell me in your own words what happened in the story.

When we ask too many questions,

they are usually lower level questions.

Interpretation(Application)

Inferential comprehension

Ability to discern ideas beyond the text

Read between the lines

What the author meant

Connection of new information with prior knowledge and experiences

Examples of Interpretation

Predict what would happen if

Infer character traits

Infer the main idea

Infer cause-effect

Form analogies

Make comparisons

Explain

Identify the results of

Tell what would happen

Tell how much change there would be

Samples of Application Questions

If you wished to keep a liquid that was very similar to water from freezing, what might you add to it?

Locate the metaphors in the story.

In what way is our class a democracy? A dictatorship?

Critical Analysis(Analysis, Synthesis, & Evaluation)

AnalysisTake apart or look at something in depth

SynthesisCombine elements into a pattern not

clearly there before

EvaluationPass personal judgment according to some

set of criteria and explain

Examples of Critical Analysis

Distinguish

What assumptions

What conclusions

Fact-Opinion

What relationships

What extraneous statements

Create

DefendComposeDesignPlanPropose an alternativeWhat fallacies appearCriticize

Samples of Analysis Questions

List arguments which would support the position and/or defeat it.

In what ways is Hamlet typical of Shakespeare and in what ways is the play unique?

Which factors do you believe contributed most to Edison’s genius?

Samples of Synthesis Questions

Design your own experiment to demonstrate _____.

Create a hypothesis that would explain _____.

Write a poem or essay expressing your feelings about _____.

Examples of Evaluation Questions

Which poet did you enjoy more? Why?

What do you believe was the person’s most significant contribution? Support your answer.

Write three introductory paragraphs. Star the one you think is best. State your reasons.

Be Prepared for the SAT9!

Two-thirds of the SAT9’s questions come from the highest levels.

Use SAT9 terminology.

Use SAT9 format.

Presentation of Questions

Verbally Plan for these. Ask throughout

lesson.

Written All levels of

questions should be on handouts & tests.

Use SAT9 format.

Strategies to Extend Student Thinking

Call on students randomlyUtilize “think-pair-share”Remember wait time I and IIAsk follow-upsWithhold judgmentAsk for summaryEncourage student questioning

Survey the class

Allow for student calling

Play the devil’s advocate

Ask students to “unpack their thinking”

Use “think-hold-respond”

Ask Questions Appropriately

Ask one question at a time.

Respond with a second question to cue a better response.

Avoid having a few students answer all the questions.

Ask Questions About Different Types of Texts.

Textual Text books

Functional Encyclopedias Menus Schedules Maps Recipes

Recreational Comic books Trade books

Is Questioning Important?

The types of questions we ask affect the levels of our students’ thinking.