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 ClintonB. Jimmy CarterC. George BushD. Ronald Reagan

The Video

http://www.history.com/topics/us-presidents/ronald-reagan/videos/morning-in-america

• Morning Again, In America

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• 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

Convergent Thinking 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• 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?

Evaluative Thinking Questions• 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.