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There's More to the Question Than the Question Mark
Life is filled
with questions. Some are easy to answer. What's for lunch? Are you staying after
school? Some questions make us uncomfortable. Why are you mad at
me? Some questions require
that we search for information that might help us
to make a good decision. Should I go to summer
school? Your research
projects should have an interesting, challenging question with many
smaller
questions that lead to your solution or answer. Here
are six different types of questions.
Knowledge
Questions If you find the information, you have answered the
question. Sometimes these are called "thin" questions because there is only one correct
answer.
| who, what,
where, when, name, define, list the steps |
Who was the first man to land on the moon?
Name one active
volcano.
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Comprehension
Questions These cannot be answered
just with a statement of facts. The answer requires that you show that
you understand or comprehend by explaining, summarizing, comparing, contrasting, giving
reasons or causes.
| describe,
discuss, in what ways, outline, give an example, summarize, identify |
In
what ways are rainforests and deciduous forests alike?
Summarize the
Declaration of Independence. |
Application
Questions You must apply
knowledge to a new or unfamiliar situation or problem.
| imagine,
suppose, predict, how might, what would happen, illustrate |
Predict
what would happen if Quebec seceded from Canada. |
Analysis Questions
You must find the most
important parts of the information that you have.
| analyze,
identify, what evidence, what motive |
What
makes West Hartford unique? |
Synthesis
Questions You
must
combine ideas to create an original solution.
| create,
construct, plan, propose, hypothesize, imagine, solve, propose an
alternative |
Create
a program of study for a new middle school. |
Evaluation
Questions You must support a
decision based on evidence from your research or on a moral or ethical belief.
Take a stand and defend your position. There are no right or wrong answers but there must be a
reasonable interpretation of facts.
| defend,
rank, grade, justify, what outcome, what is your opinion of, what
solution |
Defend
the cloning of humans.
Justify keeping animals in zoos.
What is your
opinion of school dress codes? |
These
question types are based on Bloom's Taxonomy and inspired by the work of
Edith J. S. Doherty PhD.
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