Costa’s Levels of Costa’s Levels of QuestionsQuestions

Survey of LiteratureSurvey of Literature

Ms. WuMs. Wu

September 5, 2008September 5, 2008

Asking Questions…Asking Questions…

Asking critical questions leads to Asking critical questions leads to

critical thinking which leads to critical critical thinking which leads to critical

writing.writing.

What then does a critical question look What then does a critical question look

like?like?

Costa’s Three LevelsCosta’s Three Levels

Level 1Level 1 Critical thinkingCritical thinking Level 2Level 2 More critical thinkingMore critical thinking Level 3Level 3 Most critical thinkingMost critical thinking

Level 1 QuestionsLevel 1 Questions

DefineDefine• What is a scholar?What is a scholar?

DescribeDescribe• What does your backpack look like?What does your backpack look like?

IdentifyIdentify• Where is the heart located in a frog?Where is the heart located in a frog?

ListList• What are the elements needed in What are the elements needed in

photosynthesis?photosynthesis?

Level 1 ContinuedLevel 1 Continued

NameName• Name the reproductive system of a flower.Name the reproductive system of a flower.

ObserveObserve• What happens when you add miracle grow to a What happens when you add miracle grow to a

plant?plant? ReciteRecite

• Recite the Gettysburg Address.Recite the Gettysburg Address. ScanScan

• Input all the sales data from the day into a Input all the sales data from the day into a database.database.

Level 2 QuestionsLevel 2 Questions

AnalyzeAnalyze• E.g. Analyze the speech’s rhetorical E.g. Analyze the speech’s rhetorical

strategies.strategies. Compare and ContrastCompare and Contrast

• E.g. Compare and contrast yourself to E.g. Compare and contrast yourself to an ideal student.an ideal student.

GroupGroup• E.g. Group these questions into Costa’s E.g. Group these questions into Costa’s

three levels.three levels.

Level 2 Questions Cont’dLevel 2 Questions Cont’d

InferInfer• E.g. What can we infer about the American E.g. What can we infer about the American

public given our obsession with celebrity news?public given our obsession with celebrity news? SequenceSequence

• E.g. Write a recipe detailing the steps in baking E.g. Write a recipe detailing the steps in baking a German chocolate.a German chocolate.

SynthesizeSynthesize• E.g. Given all that you have learned about E.g. Given all that you have learned about

writing so far, write a manual telling future writing so far, write a manual telling future students how to write an effective essay.students how to write an effective essay.

Level 3 QuestionsLevel 3 Questions ApplyApply

• E.g. Applying the principles of martial arts, how you can E.g. Applying the principles of martial arts, how you can resolve miscommunication issues? resolve miscommunication issues?

EvaluateEvaluate• E.g. Evaluate Jones’s argument that violent media is E.g. Evaluate Jones’s argument that violent media is

good for kids.good for kids. HypothesizeHypothesize

• E.g. What would happen to the taste of watermelon if E.g. What would happen to the taste of watermelon if you added salt instead of sugar?you added salt instead of sugar?

ImagineImagine• 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’dLevel 3 Questions Cont’d JudgeJudge

• E.g. Who is running a more effective political E.g. Who is running a more effective political campaign right now? McCain or Obama? campaign right now? McCain or Obama? Why?Why?

PredictPredict• E.g. Will Governor Sarah Palin increase or E.g. Will Governor Sarah Palin increase or

decrease McCain’s popularity given all the buzz decrease McCain’s popularity given all the buzz around her right now? Explain why.around her right now? Explain why.

SpeculateSpeculate • E.g. If the Democrats win the White House, E.g. If the Democrats win the White House,

what will be the first policy issue Obama will what will be the first policy issue Obama will push through Congress and how effective will it push through Congress and how effective will it be?be?

Classify!Classify!

Classify the questions you wrote Classify the questions you wrote regarding the EQ’s into Costa’s regarding the EQ’s into Costa’s Levels 1, 2, or 3. Levels 1, 2, or 3.

Explain Explain why why you placed it at that you placed it at that particular level.particular level.

Create!Create!

Now create your own questions about Now create your own questions about

FUY Unit 1’s Essential Questions. FUY Unit 1’s Essential Questions. Get them approved by Ms. Wu.Get them approved by Ms. Wu.

1 Level 1 Question1 Level 1 Question

2 Level 2 Questions2 Level 2 Questions

3 Level 3 Questions3 Level 3 Questions

Total = 5 questionsTotal = 5 questions