The Analyzing or Analysis level (Bloom’s Taxonomy) reflects the ability to break a whole into parts, to understand how the parts relate to one another or are organized; and additionally, to be able to see motives, causes, and understand inferences.
At this level, thinking is more abstract. We often see this when our children begin to notice patterns, question motives, or take things apart to see how they work (the watch is never the same afterward).
There are a variety of ways to encourage application. In verb form:
- Compare.
- Contrast.
- Dissect.
- Classify.
- Categorize.
- Debate.
- Examine.
- Correlate.
- Prioritize.
- Simplify.
- Outline.
- Diagram.
- Experiment.
Here are a variety of activities you can use for the Analyzing or Analysis level:
- Explain the causes that led to a historical event.
- Examine the motives of a character from a book you read.
- Simplify a scientific principle for a younger audience.
- Diagram a complicated sentence from a book on your current reading list.
- Categorize the subject matter of each verse in one of the chapters of Proverbs under headings you choose.
- Compare two books you have read where the main idea or theme is similar.
- Choose a side in an issue currently in the news, make a sound case for your side, and debate the issue with someone taking the other side of the issue.
- Prioritize the steps to solving a multi-step math problem.
- Contrast an artist’s works point by point with another artist who employs a similar style (i.e., Impressionism or abstract).
- Take apart a 3D puzzle to see how it was constructed.
The Natural Application
You’re pretty sure you have an inventor on your hands. He loves to take things apart. Now, if only he had permission … and could get them back together again!
When allowed the time to spend with a favorite interest, many young people will naturally begin the process of pulling things apart to see how they were put together — whether that is a work of art, a device, a paragraph, a historical event, or a current issue.
Now that you have determined your child’s interest, provided him with books on his favorite subject, asked him to tell you about his subject in his own words, and watched him apply what he has learned, it is time to have him delve deeper into his interest.
Provide him the time to deconstruct. Have him look at the whole and find the parts. How are they organized? Depending on the subject matter, he can dissect, simplify (retell for a younger audience), outline, diagram, experiment, or in some other way analyze his interest to determine the parts that make up the whole. What makes it work?
Up next: Evaluating
Additional Resources
Cause and Effect Graphic Organizer
Helpful printable at ReadWriteThink to analyze the causes of an event.
Trading Card Creator
Use the “fictional person” topic in this interactive at ReadWriteThink to examine the motives of a character.
Diagramming Sentences
A refresher for those who need it.
Compare and Contrast Map
Interactive at ReadWriteThink for comparing two books or contrasting two artists’ works.
14 Forms of Writing for the Older Student: Outlines
Everything you need to know.
Enjoy the complete series:
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