Thinking and Reading Skills
THE 3 LEVELS OF QUESTIONS YOU NEED TO KNOW APUSH 2015-2016 KELLEHER
Level One Questions
We Know These!
• You can find the answers to
these questions in the
textbook.
• These questions are tied to
the evidence in the class.
• These are bits and pieces of
data-not trivial-but
important pieces of
information you need to
know.
Example of these types of
Questions:
Who used the highly effective
slogan, “Morning in America”,
to separate himself from his
opponent and win reelection
to a second term as president?
A. Bill Clinton
B. Jimmy Carter
C. George Bush
D. Ronald Reagan
The Video
• Morning Again, In America
http://www.history.com/topics/uspresidents/ronald-reagan/videos/morning-inamerica
Explanation
Ronald Reagan
•
•
•
•
•
The video explained why he used
this strategy- a lot of bits and
pieces of data.
These are important pieces of
information.
It also explains why the other
answers were wrong:
Only Clinton and Reagan were
successful in winning a second
term.
George W. Bush won a second
term, his father did not. It also is
important to know subtle
differences (George H.W. Bush vs.
George W. Bush)
KWL
• Follow the K-W-L method
for this level:
• K=Know
• W=Want To Know
• L=Learned What You Have
Learned
• We can find examples of
these types of questions in
the video you just watched.
Level Two Questions
Between the Lines
• These answers are found
“between the lines” or by
inferring.
• We oftentimes deduce or
conclude information from
evidence or reasoning
rather than from explicit
examples
Examples:
• Why do historians consider
this to be one of the greatest
political ad campaigns in
American history?
• Why did Reagan go positive
rather than negative?
• What was the “Romantic
Vision” of the Ad?
• Why was Reagan so
comfortable with “Madison
Avenue” ad people? Why
wasn’t he hesitant?
Level Three Questions
Content
• These questions ask about
broader or more universal
issues, ideas, or concepts.
• Answers must be
“invented” as well as
supported with evidence.
• You must defend your
answers.
Question Example:
• Why are politicians expected
to go negative on their
opponents?
• Why was “Morning In
America” so popular?
• Was the portrayal really the
reality?
• What way was the Ad still
negative?
• Why do people in America like
style over substance?
The “Big Picture” or Essential Question
• This question will guide
your inquiry.
• Point to the heart of the
subject or topic,
especially the
controversies.
• May present “old”
knowledge, ideas, and
beliefs in a new light.
• Are of higher order as in
levels of thinking.
• They call for analysis,
synthesis, and evaluation.
• Are provocative, enticing
and engagingly framed so
as to deepen the interest
in the subject.
• Have answers that must
be invented rather than
found.
Supporting Questions
• They work with the “Essential” Question to provide the
background and guide the study.
• They tend to be more topic and subject specific than
essential questions.
• Strive to uncover the essential question and possible
answers.
• These questions fall into 4 catagories:
• 1.Memory Questions
• 2.Convergent Thinking Questions
• 3. Divergent Thinking Questions
• 4. Evaluative Thinking Questions
Types of Questions Lower Level
Memory Questions
Convergent Thinking Questions
• You can find the answers to
these questions by looking up
the information in a variety of
sources.
• They tend to ask the who,
what, where, and when
questions.
• The thought process involved
while answering these
questions are: naming,
defining, identifying,
designating, or giving yes or no
responses.
• They are Level 1 questions
• They represent the analysis and
integration of information.
• They tend to explain, state
relationships, and make
comparisons and contrasts.
• They use words such as why?,
how?, and in what ways?
• Example: In what ways did the
“Regan Revolution” lead to a new
conservative change in how
people viewed the New Deal?
How did government intervention
change in the 1980s?
Types of Questions Higher level
Divergent Thinking Questions
Evaluative Thinking Questions
• These questions represent
independent thinking.
• You are free to generate your
own ideas or take a new
perspective on a topic.
• The thought process includes
predicting, hypothesizing,
inferring, and reconstructing.
• These questions use such words
as suppose, predict, how might,
if…then, and what are some
possible consequences.
• Example: President Ronald
Reagan was a Democrat up until
the 1960 presidential election,
what if he had stayed a
Democrat?
• These questions are the ones
which deal with judgment,
value, and choice.
• Asking and answering these
questions require one to
evaluate, defend, judge, and
justify.
• These questions use such
words as defend, evaluate,
justify, support your opinion,
or explain your thoughts
about…
• Evaluate Reagans’ assumption
that the problem with
government is government.