Increasing Critical Thinking

POWER VERBSwith

Remembering Level

identify - name

All the information I know

What the question asks

What matches

list - itemize or give in order

1. ________

2. ________

3. ________

4. ________

5. ________

define - give the meaning

word

Definition (in own words)

characteristics

examples non-examples

Frayer Model

describe - tell everything you know; give details and examples

or

looks sounds feels smells tastes

trace - give events or steps in order

1. ______2. ______3 ______4 ______5 ______

or

Other Remembering Level Verbs

• Tell• Write• Find• State• Name

• Label• Recall• Match• Draw• Select

Understanding Level

summarize - tell the main points or ideas

details andexamples

big ideas

explain - tell all about

What I think Why I think that Example

discuss - tell about in detail What I think Why I think that Example

infer – read between the lines; make an educated guess

Evidence(details or examples)

What it means

Why it means that

predict - forecast; tell what will come next

Evidence(details or examples)

What will come next

Why it will come next

interpret – tell about the meaning or significance

What is important

Reasons why it is important

Other Understanding Level Verbs

• Outline• Distinguish• Restate

• Convert• Demonstrate• Paraphrase

Applying Level

classify – to arrange or organize into groups according to attributes

Group Attributes

construct - build or create by putting together parts or

information

apply - to put to use

Other Applying Level Verbs

• Solve• Illustrate• Examine• Manipulate

• Choose • Apply• Produce• Calculate

Analyzing Level

analyze -break apart

Generalization or Conclusion

Reason 1 Reason 2 Reason 3

compare -tell about similarities and differences

Venn Diagram similarities

item 2

item 2item 1

item 1 differences with regard to. . .

or

Other Analyzing Level Verbs

• Distinguish• Examine• Investigate

• Explain• Differentiate• Categorize

Evaluating Level

criticize - give good and bad points

Good Points Bad Points

support - give examples, details, or reasons

I. General StatementA. Example/detail/reasonB. Example/detail/reasonC. Example/detail/reason

II. General StatementA. Example/detail/reasonB. Example/detail/reason

C. Example/detail/reason

III. General StatementA. Example/detail/reasonB. Example/detail/reasonC. Example/detail/reason

or

General Statement

Example/detail/reason

Concept

Example/detail/reason

Example/detail/reason

1 2

3 4

evaluate -judge; rate

Good Points Bad Points Overall Rating

justify - prove; give evidence or facts

Generalization or Conclusion

Facts

Other Evaluating Level Verbs

• Judge• Select• Decide• Debate• Defend

• Verify• Argue• Assess• Determine

Creating Level

formulate -make up; create; construct

All the information I know

How it could be put together in a new way

design -make up; create; construct according to a plan

All the information I know

How it could be put together in a new way

Other Creating Level Verbs

• Create• Invent• Compose• Plan• Imagine

• Construct• Design• Devise• Propose• Combine