Costa’s 3 Levels of Questions Introduction and Practice

Levels Questions- Warm Up Discussion Throughout your school day, the teachers ask lots of questions, and the students answer them. Why is it important for students to also learn to ask good questions? At your table group, or with a partner: “Students should learn how to ask questions because ______________________.”

“Knowledge is having the right answer “Knowledge is having the right answer. Intelligence is asking the right question.” -Source Unknown

Learning Target I can identify and write Level 1, 2, & 3 questions about what I read.

Levels of Questioning Level 3: Penthouse Level 2: Ground Floor Level 1: Basement

Level 1: What are Level 1 Questions? Level 1: Basement What are Level 1 Questions? The answer can be found directly in the source material (text, lecture, film, etc.) Only related to what’s in the source material – not issues beyond. Asks for facts- no arguing, no agreeing or disagreeing Less critical thinking – more recall/ remembering

Level 1: define observe describe recite name note identify list Level 1: Basement Words you might see: define observe describe name identify recite note list

Level 1 Possible Questions: What is…? How is…? Where is…? When did ___ happen? How did _______? Why did…? How would you describe…? When did…? Can you recall…? How would you show…? Can you select…? Who were the main...? Can you list three…? Which one…? Who was…?

If we were studying Goldilocks and the Three Bears, a Level 1 Question would be: What did Goldilocks do in the Bears’ house? What other Level 1 questions can you think of?

Level 2: What are Level 2 Questions? Include background knowledge AND Level 2: Ground Floor What are Level 2 Questions? Include background knowledge AND clues from the source material. Answer is more of an INFERENCE, or an educated guess based on the Level 1 information you have. You probably can’t put your finger on the answer in the text or source material... ...but the clues to answer the question are in the text.

Level 2: Words you might see/hear: Compare Apply Distinguish between… Level 2: Ground Floor Words you might see/hear: Compare Apply Infer Analyze Contrast Distinguish between… Classify Solve Determine Explain

Level 2 Possible Questions: How is __ similar to ___? What can we infer from….? How would you categorize…? What is the purpose of….? How would you classify….? What conclusions can you draw about…? Why do you think…? How is __ related to __? Predict what would happen if… What will happen when… Can you prove that… Explain why/how… Why did the author include…? Why did the character…? Describe in your own words what ____ means. How would you summarize…? Compare/contrast ____ to_____. How are ____ and ____ different? What was the author’s purpose when… What’s the main theme or message of… Analyze why…

For Goldilocks and the Three Bears, a Level 2 Question would be: How did the Bears feel when they came home and saw Goldilocks sleeping in Baby Bear’s bed? What other Level 2 questions can you think of?

Level 3: What are Level 3 Questions? Open-ended; multiple answers Level 3: Penthouse What are Level 3 Questions? Open-ended; multiple answers Asks So What? Why does this matter? Based largely on background knowledge; we have to interpret, create, or evaluate Big-picture, philosophical questions Connect to the world beyond the source material

Level 3: Conclude Judge Evaluate Generalize Imagine If/then Estimate Level 3: Penthouse Words you might see/hear: Conclude Judge Evaluate Imagine Estimate Create Generalize If/then Interpret Justify Criticize

Level 3 Possible Questions: Would it be better if…? What choice would you have made…? Do you agree with…? How would you prove…? What judgment would you make about…? If you were there, would you…? How would you solve this problem in your own life? What do you think will happen to… How could you determine…? What would you recommend…? Based on what you know, how would you explain…? Was/Is it fair when…? Describe the events that might occur if… What would the world be like if…? Predict how you/he/she would…

For Goldilocks and the Three Bears, a Level 3 Question would be: Should Goldilocks be punished for breaking into the Bears’ house? Is it ever okay to break into someone’s house when they’re not home? What other Level 3 questions can you think of?

Use your notes and handouts to write a Level 1, 2 and 3 question for the following image: Caption: Father and son (1949 vs 2009)

Use your notes and handouts to write a Level 1, 2 and 3 question for the following image: Caption: A Russian soldier playing an abandoned piano in Chechnya in 1994

Now practice with a passage: It was almost December, and Jonas was beginning to get frightened. No. Wrong word, Jonas thought. Frightened meant that deep, sickening feeling of something terrible about to happen. Frightened was the way he had felt a year ago when an unidentified aircraft had overflown the community twice. He had seen it both times. Squinting toward the sky, he had seen the sleek jet, almost a blur at its high speed, go past, and a second later heard the blast of sound that followed. Then, one more time, a moment later, from the opposite direction, the same plane. First paragraph pf “The Giver” by Lois Lowry

Exit Quiz Without looking at your notes or handouts, describe the three levels of questions in your own words.