1. Costa’s Levels of Inquiry: Engaging Students in the Inquiry Process
Briana Blake

2. Use Your Brain…
Think about the story of Cinderella. Talk it out with those around you and be able to tell me the story.

3. Level I: Recall
The answer is in the text, fully and clearly expressed, leaving nothing implied. (Explicit. Fact.)
Example:
-What were Cinderella's slippers made out of?
- How did Cinderella get to the ball?
Adapted by Briana Blake

4. Level II: Analysis and Inference
Inference focuses on what is implied. Analysis asks how/why and necessitates reading between the lines and discovering the hidden meaning. The answer is found by creating logical conclusions based on information in the text, even though the answer may not be directly expressed in the passage.
Why does Cinderella's stepmother care whether or not she goes to the ball?
Why did everything turn back the way it was except the glass slipper?
Why don't the step sisters like Cinderella?
Adapted by Briana Blake

5. Level III: Synthesis
Answers are found by going beyond the text and inquiring into the value, importance and application of the information presented – often universal ideas or themes.
Does a woman's happiness and salvation always lie with a man?
What does it mean to live happily ever after?
Does good always overcome evil?
Adapted by Briana Blake

6. Application
In your group, discuss one of the following fairy tales/stories:
*Little Red Riding Hood
*The Three Little Pigs
*Snow White
*Beauty and The Beast
*Goldilocks and the Three Bears
*Other…
Write two Level I questions.
Write two Level II questions.
Write two Level III questions.
Adapted by Briana Blake

7. Implementing Costa’s Levels of Inquiry in the Classroom
Journal Assignments
Implementing Costa’s Levels of Inquiry in the Classroom
Created by Briana Blake

8. Journal Assignment Read the assigned passage
Indicate, through the creation of an MLA citation (see Works Cited section in your handbook), what passage you have read.
Create TWO level one questions
Create ONE level two question.

9. Journal Assignment
Underline or highlight a passage of your text that stands out to you.
Create a level two or three question that would use the underlined passage as textual evidence.

10. Journal Assignment Read the assigned passage
Indicate, through the creation of an MLA citation (see Works Cited section in your handbook), what passage you have read.
Create ONE level two question.
Create ONE level three question.

11. Journal Assignment
Create a short answer response answering ONE of your questions.
Make sure to use EVIDENCE from the text to back up your response!

12. Journal Assignment Pass your questions to the classmate on your right.
Choose one of your neighbor’s questions to answer.
Copy your neighbor’s question onto a blank sheet of notebook paper. (Pass their notebook back to them!)
Answer the question on your notebook paper.
Make sure that you write a multi-sentence response AND use EVIDENCE from the text in your response.

13. Journal Assignment Write one level one question.
Write two level two questions.
Write two level three questions.
DO NOT write them in this order.
Pass your questions to your partner.
Label your partner’s questions as “Level 1, Level II, or Level III.”
Did your partner have all the appropriate question types? Discuss.

14. Journal Assignment Read the assigned passage
Underline a statement or sentence that stands out to you.
Now, write a level two or three question that could be answered using the portion you underlined as evidence.
Write your answer to your own question.

15. Journal Assignment Read the assigned passage
Underline a statement or sentence that stands out to you.
Now, write a level two or three question that could be answered using the portion you underlined as evidence.
Pass your question to your partner.
Answer the question you were handed by your partner – be sure you use evidence!

16. Journal Assignment Read the assigned text
Create a two level two questions regarding the text.
Pass your question to the table partner at your right.
When you receive the questions from your partner, choose which one you would like to answer.
Begin “Round Robin Writing Activity.”
When everyone at your cluster is complete, quietly raise your hand.