Arthur Costa’s Model of
Intellectual Functioning in Three Levels from Developing Minds: A
Resource Book for Teaching Thinking
Level One: Defining What is the definition of “lunar eclipse?”
Describing (definition)
Identifying
Listing How can we express the equation
Naming 2x(4-5y)+3y-26 in three ways? (list)
Observing
Reciting Which states seceded from the Union to form
Scanning the Confederacy? (identification)
How does The Road Not Taken (Frost) begin?
(recitation)
Level Two: Analyzing In Native Son, how does bigger Thomas’ violence
Comparing against his gang members reveal a deeply-rooted
Contrasting insecurity and fear of people? (analysis)
Grouping
Inferring In The Bet (Chekov), how do the lawyer and the
Sequencing banker differ in their attitudes toward capital
Synthesizing punishment? (contrast)
How does the term “manifest destiny” capture the
essence of western expansion in the United States?
(synthesis)
If the moon is full Aug. 17, July 18, and June 19,
when will it be full in April? (inference)
Level Three: Applying a Principle Using the principle of communicative property,
Evaluating how can we find out the number of apple trees in
Hypothesizing an orchard having 15 rows, 5 trees each?
Imagining (application)
Judging
Predicting Which characters in Great Expectations suffered the
Speculating most? (judgment)
In The Catcher in the Rye, how might Phoebe, years
later, describe Holden to her children?
(speculation)
The importance of inquiry method cannot be overstated. Skillful questioning by teachers and tutors empowers students to have mastery of their own learning. The converse, giving answers, breeds dependence on the teacher or tutor and is, therefore, detrimental to the students.