Costa’s Levels of Questions Survey of Literature Ms. Wu September 5, 2008

Asking Questions… Asking critical questions leads to critical thinking which leads to critical writing. What then does a critical question look like?

Costa’s Three Levels Level 1Critical thinking Level 1Critical thinking Level 2More critical thinking Level 2More critical thinking Level 3Most critical thinking Level 3Most critical thinking

Level 1 Questions Define Define What is a scholar?What is a scholar? Describe Describe What does your backpack look like?What does your backpack look like? Identify Identify Where is the heart located in a frog?Where is the heart located in a frog? List List What are the elements needed in photosynthesis?What are the elements needed in photosynthesis?

Level 1 Continued Name Name Name the reproductive system of a flower.Name the reproductive system of a flower. Observe Observe What happens when you add miracle grow to a plant?What happens when you add miracle grow to a plant? Recite Recite Recite the Gettysburg Address.Recite the Gettysburg Address. Scan Scan Input all the sales data from the day into a database.Input all the sales data from the day into a database.

Level 2 Questions Analyze Analyze E.g. Analyze the speech’s rhetorical strategies.E.g. Analyze the speech’s rhetorical strategies. Compare and Contrast Compare and Contrast E.g. Compare and contrast yourself to an ideal student.E.g. Compare and contrast yourself to an ideal student. Group Group E.g. Group these questions into Costa’s three levels.E.g. Group these questions into Costa’s three levels.

Level 2 Questions Cont’d Infer Infer E.g. What can we infer about the American public given our obsession with celebrity news?E.g. What can we infer about the American public given our obsession with celebrity news? Sequence Sequence E.g. Write a recipe detailing the steps in baking a German chocolate.E.g. Write a recipe detailing the steps in baking a German chocolate. Synthesize Synthesize E.g. Given all that you have learned about writing so far, write a manual telling future students how to write an effective essay.E.g. Given all that you have learned about writing so far, write a manual telling future students how to write an effective essay.

Level 3 Questions Apply Apply E.g. Applying the principles of martial arts, how you can resolve miscommunication issues?E.g. Applying the principles of martial arts, how you can resolve miscommunication issues? Evaluate Evaluate E.g. Evaluate Jones’s argument that violent media is good for kids.E.g. Evaluate Jones’s argument that violent media is good for kids. Hypothesize Hypothesize E.g. What would happen to the taste of watermelon if you added salt instead of sugar?E.g. What would happen to the taste of watermelon if you added salt instead of sugar? Imagine Imagine E.g. Imagine there’s no heaven/it’s easy if you try…E.g. Imagine there’s no heaven/it’s easy if you try…

Level 3 Questions Cont’d Judge Judge E.g. Who is running a more effective political campaign right now? McCain or Obama? Why?E.g. Who is running a more effective political campaign right now? McCain or Obama? Why? Predict Predict E.g. Will Governor Sarah Palin increase or decrease McCain’s popularity given all the buzz around her right now? Explain why.E.g. Will Governor Sarah Palin increase or decrease McCain’s popularity given all the buzz around her right now? Explain why. Speculate Speculate E.g. If the Democrats win the White House, what will be the first policy issue Obama will push through Congress and how effective will it be?E.g. If the Democrats win the White House, what will be the first policy issue Obama will push through Congress and how effective will it be?

Classify! Classify the questions you wrote regarding the EQ’s into Costa’s Levels 1, 2, or 3. Classify the questions you wrote regarding the EQ’s into Costa’s Levels 1, 2, or 3. Explain why you placed it at that particular level. Explain why you placed it at that particular level.

Create! Now create your own questions about Now create your own questions about FUY Unit 1’s Essential Questions. Get them approved by Ms. Wu. Get them approved by Ms. Wu. 1 Level 1 Question 2 Level 2 Questions 3 Level 3 Questions Total = 5 questions