Increasing Critical Thinking
POWER VERBSwith
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
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
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
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
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