Bloom's Taxonomy outlines six levels of learning: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and evaluation. Each level builds on the previous ones as thinking becomes more complex. The levels progress from basic recall or recognition of facts, concepts and ideas to more complex and abstract mental levels including evaluating, analyzing and creating new ideas or products.

1. Thinking
with Bloom’s
Taxonomy
Language Arts
Evaluation
Synthesis
Analysis
Application
Comprehension
Knowledge
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2. Level 1: Knowledge
Exhibit memory of previously-learned material by
recalling facts, terms, basic concepts and answers.
(Recognizing or recalling literal information.)
Key Words:
Questions:
What is…?
How is…?
Where is…?
When did ______ happen?
How did ______ happen?
How would you explain…?
Why did…?
When did…?
Can you select…?
How would you show…?
Who were the main…?
Can you list the three…?
Which one…?
Who was…?
How would you describe…?
1. Who is the main character?
2. Who is the author?
3. State two things that happened in the story.
4. List two other books by this author.
Level 1: Knowledge
who what why when omit where
which choose find how define label
show spell list match name relate
recall tell select arrange duplicate memorize
recognize repeat
Evaluation
Synthesis
Analysis
Application
Comprehension
Knowledge

3. Level 2: Comprehension
Demonstrate understanding of facts and ideas
by organizing, translating, interpreting, giving
descriptions and stating main ideas. (Construct
meaning from text.)
Key Words:
Questions:
How would you classify the type of…?
How would you compare…? Contrast…?
Will you state or interpret in your own words…?
How would you rephrase the meaning…?
What facts or ideas show…?
What is the main idea…?
Which statements support…?
Can you explain what is happening…?
What is meant…?
What can you say about…?
Which is the best answer…?
How would you summarize…?
What did ______ look like?
What kind of character was…?
Why did…?
1. List two words to describe the main character.
2. Describe the character’s actions.
3. State something that happened in the beginning, middle and the
end of the story.
4. Retell the story in your own words.
5. Find two other words that mean the same as ______.
6. Write a summary of the story.
Level 2: Comprehension
compare contrast interpret explain extend illustrate
infer outline relate rephrase translate summarize
show classify describe discuss restate paraphrase
review demonstrate
Evaluation
Synthesis
Analysis
Application
Comprehension
Knowledge

4. Level 3: Application
Solve problems to new situations by applying
acquired knowledge, facts, techniques and rules
in a different way. (Applying text content to a new
situation.)
Key Words:
Questions:
How would you use…?
What examples can you find…?
How would you solve ______ using what you’ve learned…?
How would you organize ______ to show…?
How would you show your understanding of…?
What approach would you use to…?
How would you apply what you learned to develop…?
What other way would you plan to…?
What would result if…?
Can you make use of the facts to…?
What elements would you choose to change…?
What facts would you select to show…?
What questions would you ask in an interview with…?
How is ______ an example of ______…?
How is ______ related to ______…?
Why is ______ significant?
Can you organize ______ to show ______…?
How could ______…?
1. Create a timeline to show ______.
2. Write a letter to the main character.
3. Illustrate the turning point or climax of the story.
4. Demonstrate how the main character ______.
5. Act out one scene or event.
6. Draw an illustration relating to the main events.
7. Select music to play in the background as you read one scene.
8. Create a poster that tells about the author.
apply build choose construct develop interview
make use of organize plan select solve
utilize model identify dramatize illustrate practice
demonstrate experiment with
Level 3: Application
Evaluation
Synthesis
Analysis
Application
Comprehension
Knowledge

5. Level 4: Analysis
Examine and break information into parts by
identifying motives or causes. Make inferences and
find evidence to support generalizations. (Breaking
down ideas into their parts to show how they are
related.)
Key Words:
Questions:
What are the parts or features of…?
How is ______ related to…?
Why do you think…?
What is the theme…?
What motive is there…?
Can you list the parts…?
What inference can you make…?
What conclusions can you draw…?
How would you classify…?
How would you categorize…?
Can you identify the different parts…?
What evidence can you find…?
What is the relationship between…?
Can you make a distinction between…?
What is the function of…?
What ideas justify…?
What is the structure of…?
What steps did…?
How does ______ compare or contrast with ______?
1. Name two characters/events/versions.
2. Could this really happen? What in the print supports that?
3. Compare the main character with yourself.
4. Compare the setting to modern times; how would things be
different?
5. How would you solve the problem in the story differently?
6. The main character or topic is like (n) ______ because ______.
7. Identify which parts are real or fantasy, fact or opinion.
8. What is the main idea? What is the message implied by the story?
9. Select music that symbolizes the main character to play as you read
one scene.
10. On a concept map, illustrate the character’s reaction and
relationships.
11. What other books have similar messages/themes?
12. Use a Venn diagram to compare this author’s style to the style of
your favorite author.
analyze categorize classify motive compare contrast
discover distinction dissect divide examine inspect
conclusion simplify survey list theme function
motive question inference test for appraise distinguish
relationships take part in assumption differentiate
Level 4: Analysis
Evaluation
Synthesis
Analysis
Application
Comprehension
Knowledge

6. Level 5: Synthesis
Compile information together in a different way by
combining elements in a new pattern or proposing
alternative solutions. (Combining different ideas to
create an original artwork.)
Key Words:
Questions:
What changes would you make to solve…?
How would you improve…?
What would happen if…?
Can you elaborate on the reason…?
Can you propose an alternative…?
Can you invent…?
How would you adapt ______ to create a different…?
How could you change(modify) the plot (plan)…?
What could be done to minimize (maximize)…?
What way would you design…?
What could be combined to improve (change)…?
Suppose you could ______ what would you do…?
How would you test…?
Can you formulate a theory for…?
Can you predict the outcome if…?
How would you estimate the results for…?
What facts can you compile…?
Can you construct a model that would change…?
Can you think of an original way for the…?
What solutions would you suggest for…?
If you were…?
1. Predict what might happen if ______?
2. Add yourself to the original story or historical time, and write about
your role.
3. Create a new character or new event, and dramatize how it
influences the original story.
4. Create a news setting and time for the story that better suits the
character’s needs.
5. Create a museum exhibit that incorporates the most significant
events in the book.
6. Write a sequel to the book that reveals how the character matures.
7. Draw symbols for the main idea and events of the story which reveal
the most significant attributes.
8. Make a collage using symbols for characters and events in the story
that reveal the most significant attributes.
9. Create a board game based on the most significant characters and
events in the book.
10. Transform the text to perform as a choral reading or readers theater.
11. Create a rap that relates the main event sand ends with the theme of
the book.
12. Create an award for this book, and explain the award’s significance.
build choose combine compile compose construct
create design develop estimate formulate imagine
invent make up originate plan predict propose
solve test solution suppose discuss modify
change original improve adapt minimize delete
maximize theorize elaborate improve happen change
assemble organize write
Level 5: Synthesis
Evaluation
Synthesis
Analysis
Application
Comprehension
Knowledge

7. Level 6: Evaluation
Present and defend opinions by making judgments
about information, validity and ideas or quality
of work on a set of criteria. (Judging value or
effectiveness, based on some criteria or standards.)
Key Words:
Questions:
Do you agree with the actions…? With the outcomes…?
What is your opinion of…?
How would you prove…? Disprove…?
Can you assess the value or importance of…?
Would it be better if…?
Why did they (the characters) choose…?
What would you recommend…?
How would you rate the…?
What would you cite to defend the actions…?
How would you evaluate…?
How would you determine…?
What choice would you have made…?
What would you select…?
How would you prioritize…?
What judgment would you make about…?
Based on what you know, how would you explain…?
What information would you use to support the view…?
How would you justify…?
Why was it better that…?
How would you prioritize the facts…?
How would you compare the ideas…? People…?
How effective was…?
What is the most important…?
How would you decide about…?
1. Write a review of this book for your local newspaper, evaluating the
book’s appropriateness and appeal for ______ aged readers.
2. Judge the character according to your life standards.
3. Did the main character make the right decision? Justify your
answer.
4. Would the outcome be plausible in a different time? Defend your
view.
5. After reading the story, assess the values that were modeled and
determine what relationship those values have to your own life.
6. Is the theme relevant for today’s youth? Defend your position.
7. Which character was most important to the story? Explain the
criteria you used and defend your decision.
8. You are an agent for the author. Convince a publisher to buy this
book.
9. Debate whether or not this book will be valued as a classic by future
generations.
10. This book is going to be made into a movie. Because of budget
limitations, one character’s role has to be eliminated. Defend which
character can be deleted without significantly altering the story.
aware choose conclude criticize decide defend
dispute judge justify measure compare mark
rate select agree appraise opinion interpret
explain criteria prove disprove assess perceive
value estimate deduct evaluate argue recommend
rule on prioritize support influence determine importance
Level 6: Evaluation
Evaluation
Synthesis
Analysis
Application
Comprehension
Knowledge