A Blooming Table

6 Steps to “Critical Thinking”

Benjamin Bloom theorized that there are 6 levels of thinking.

6. Synthesis

5. Evaluation

4. Analysis

3. Application

2. Comprehension

1. Knowledge

Level 1, KNOWLEDGE

Level 1- KNOWLEDGE(easy)

Identify- to recognize ( Who is the main character?)

Define- to explain the meaning of…(What is the definition of________?)

List- series of #’s, words, or phrases…(List the main characters.)

Describe- to tell or write about something…( Describe the setting.)

Match- to pair up… (Match the word with its antonym.)

Level 2- COMPREHENSION(takes a little work)

Understanding- to get the meaning of. (What is the main idea?)

Interpreting- to understand or construe in a particular way. (Interpret the moral of the story.)

Summarize- to sum up all the info in your own words. ( Summarize Act 2, Scene 1 of “Anne Frank.”)

Paraphrase- when you summarize an article in your own words. Paraphrasing prevents plagiarism. (Paraphrase lines 2-6 in “The Raven.”)

Level 2- COMPREHENSION cont.

Translate- to decipher the meaning of language. ( Translate “hola”.)

Predict- to think ahead in the story and explain what you think will happen.

Illustrate- to make clear and explain by pictures, graphics, or stories. (Illustrate the passage as a comic strip.)

Level 3, APPLICATION(a little harder)

Apply- putting forth effort and putting to use or operationConnect- to link to a story….(Connect with a characters

situation and explain his or her actions.)Solving- to find the answer to…(1 + 1 x 3= ?)Dramatize- to show or express in a dramatic way…(the

Anne Frank story was dramatized….I could ask you to: Dramatize an Edgar Allan Poe story.)

Interview- to meet people and ask questions….(If you could meet Hitler, write 3 questions that you would ask him in an interview.

Level 4, ANALYSIS(8th grade level)

Organizing- to put into working order. (Organize the information from least to greatest.)

Categorize- put into order by classificationCompare- to show ONLY similarities.Contrast- to show ONLY differences.Distinguish- telling apart or recognizing differences.

( Distinguish between France and Germany)Sequence- put into an order of succession…

(patterns). (Sequence the main events.)

Level 4, ANALYSIS, cont.Classify- arrange in groups. ( Classify each

animal.)Infer- find out by process of reasoning from

something known or assumed. (Infer the meaning of the word “______” as used in the sentence.)

Conclude- the end. (Draw conclusions about a story.)

Level 5, Evaluation(8th grade level)

Defend- to guard against; back up your answer. (Defend the author’s Point of View.)

Prioritize- to put one thing ahead of another depending on order of importance. (Decide which information is most accurate.)

Decide- to make up one’s mind. (Decide which answer is most accurate.)

Critique- Making a judgment. (Critique a piece of art.)Value- real worth of something….or….what’s really

important to you.

Level 5, EVALUATION, cont.Assess-to examine critically and estimate the

value of your knowledge. Discriminate- to make or see a difference.

(How did Hitler discriminate against Jews?)

Support- to back up with detailed information. (Support your answer with details from the story.)

Level 6, SYNTHESIS(8th grade and above)

Synthesis- to make something. (Compose, Invent, Create, Design, Build, Construct)

Plan- way of making or doing something that has been worked out before hand.

Hypothesize- to make an educated guess.Generalize- put into one summed up

statement. ( Generalize Hitler’s Point of View on the Jews.)