The document defines 'hot questions' as critical thinking prompts that require analysis, evaluation, or synthesis of information. Effective hot questions are thought-provoking, open-ended, and clear, and can lead to a variety of responses. Examples of different types of questions are provided to illustrate how to foster discussion and engage participants in deeper conversation.

1. WHAT is a HOT Question?
• HOT = Higher OrderThinking
• A questions where you would:
• ANALYZE information
• JUDGE positions or opinions on a topic
• CREATE new concepts or ideas on a topic

2. What makes a GOOD HOT Question???
• Thought - Provoking:
• Questions should spark many responses and generate interest
by causing the listener to think critically (judge) and/or creatively
about the topic.
• Open-ended:
• Effective discussion questions always lead to multiple answers
because they call for different perspectives.
• Clear:
• Participants should understand right away what the questioner
is asking. Keep your questions short with simple language, even
when the ideas are complex.

3. Example:
Who do you think is the most influential hip-hop
artist and why?

4. Thumbs up,Thumbs Down:
Is the following an example of a HOT question?
How do you think Miley Cyrus felt when she
didn’t win the music award at theVMAs?

5. Thumbs up,Thumbs Down:
Is the following an example of a HOT question?
When did Leonardo
DiCaprio star in The
Great Gatsby?

6. Thumbs up,Thumbs down:
Is the following an example of a HOT question?
What is Lady Gaga’s real name?

7. Thumbs up,Thumbs down:
Is the following an example of a HOT question?
What do you think is going to happen
to Justin Beiber’s music career since
he’s decided to make a comeback?

8. ANALYSIS Questions
• Analyze – to separate a whole into parts and determine their relationships
• Examples:
• What do you think about Spongebob and Patrick’s friendship?
• Can you compare and contrast Spongebob and Patrick?
• What can you infer about Squidward from the way that he treats
Spongebob?
• Why do you think Spongebob and Patrick are such good friends?

9. Evaluation Questions
• To make judgments based on set standards or prior knowledge/opinions.
• Examples:
• Which food is more important, nutritionally, pizza or spaghetti?
• Can you defend your position on eating pizza for breakfast?
• Why is breakfast important?
• How would you feel if grocery stores stopped selling cereal?

10. Synthesis (Creating) Questions
• Combining ideas or concepts to create new ones.
• Example:
• Can you imagine what the world would be like without Netflix?
• What could you design to help people decide what they should watch on
Netflix?
• What is your theory on why Americans watch so much television?

11. How to use the text to ask questions:
• Theme
• Themes are often very broad and are a great way to open up a dialogue about
your personal opinions.
• Example: InTaylor Swift’s song, “Bad Blood”, she sings about a grudge she has
against someone. Is there ever a good reason to hold a grudge?
• Characters
• You can focus in on a specific character or characters to explore themes and ideas
• Example: Imagine what the show Spongebob would be like if Spongebob
behaved like Squidward.
• Quotes:
• Quotes can be a useful way to focus the conversation on a specific idea
• Example: In the song, “Bad Blood”,Taylor Swift says “Band-aids don’t fix bullet
holes.”What do you think this line means?

12. Determine whether the following are analysis,
evaluation, or synthesis questions:
• How are Harry Potter andVoldemort similar? How are they different?
• Do you think that Justin Beiber is an influential pop artist in America?
• What do you think the world would be like if the internet was never
invented?
• Why do you think that Miley Cyrus is so popular?