Cognitive Structures
Ways to Organize Information for More Effectively Understanding and Remembering
| Knowledge Structures and Critical Thinking Skills | Questions for Review and Key Words Found in Essay Questions | Ways to Organize Ideas Visually |
|---|---|---|
|
Knowledge: Recalling facts or observation; description |
Who, what, when, where, why? Key words: define, identify, label, list, locate, name, describe steps, process, or sequence. |
List, definition, formula, illustration, diagram, map, plans, table, graph, chart, timeline, or flowchart. |
| Comprehension: Providing evidence of understanding by describing and/or clarifying concepts, events, or relationships between ideas. |
Why, how? |
Summary, example, analogy, web, tree, classification table, feature analysis grid, graph, matrix, index, outline. |
|
Application: Demonstrating use for information, concepts, or techniques. |
If...then? What is...? How would you apply...? Key words: demonstrate, apply. |
Describe procedure or process using: algorithm, chronology, flow chart, plan, procedure, action chart, cycle chart, parts-function table. |
| Analysis: Examining in detail, identifying motives or causes, making inferences, finding evidence to support generalizations, decision making. | Why...? What can you conclude…? What evidence can you find to support...? Key words: select, propose, sort, analyze, compare/contrast, explain, identify, prove, categorize, deduct, substantiate. |
Break down into parts: Venn diagram, flow chart, fishbone diagram, troubleshooting chart, decision tree, parts-function table, stage table. |
|
Synthesis: Solving problems, making predictions and/or producing original representations, decision making. |
Can you give an example of...? How will we solve...? What will happen...? How can we improve...? Key words: interpret, predict, hypothesize, .apply. |
Troubleshooting chart, line graph, cycles, Venn diagram, illustration, decision tree. |
|
Evaluation: Giving opinions about issues, judging the validity of ideas, judging the quality of art and other products; justifying opinions and ideas. |
Do you agree...? Do you believe...? What is your opinion...? Do you think...? Why? Would it be better if...? Which...did you like? Why? |
Grid, rating chart, table. |
Adapted from: Reading for Success, by Raymond F. Morgan, Mark A. Forget and Joseph C. Antinarella. Cincinatti: South-Western, 1996. Technical Communication by Rebecca E. Burnett, Wordsworth Publishing, 1990
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