Thinking Moves:

Essential Steps in Developing Deep Understanding

Thinking Moves
Observing closely and
describing whats there
Making connections

Wondering and asking

questions
Building explanations
and interpretations

Observable Thinking Behaviours

Notice parts and features
Take detailed notes to record observations
Describe parts and features in detail
Connect new information with whats
known
Identify patterns and perspectives
Identify areas of agreement and
disagreement between sources
Imagine possible connections and
implications
Relate ideas to emotions and values
Create questions to propel further inquiry
Examine similarities and differences
Hypothesize and test ideas
Apply theories to explain phenomenon

Reasoning with evidence Search for evidence to support claims

Check for validity and soundness
Verify sufficiency of detail to support claims
Uncovering complexity
and going below the
surface

Considering different
viewpoints and
perspectives

Capturing the heart and

Identify and reject simplistic explanations

Search for alternative evidence and
explanations
Examine all parts of issues to explore
complexity
Search for deep causes
Search for alternative explanations
Evaluate the evidence of opposing
perspectives
Self-assess and revise own arguments in
light of alternative explanations and
evidence
Capturing the essence of a concept

Questions to Drive Thinking

What do you see and notice?
What are the facts here?
How does this fit?
How does this relate to other
concepts, or what I already
know?
What am I curious about
here?
Why does ____?
Whats similar and different
here?
How can I explain ________?
Are these claims logical and
supported by convincing
evidence?
What lies beneath the surface
of this?

Whats another angle on this?

How might someone argue
against this or see it
differently?

forming conclusions

Whats at the core or centre

of this?
Whats the Big Idea here?
NOTE: Thinking for Deep Understanding is NOT a linear processit is recursive! There are
logical steps, but they usually need to be repeated multiple times, often in different orders, to
really dig down deep into complex concepts. Thinking for Deep Understanding is rarely easy
and orderly; its usually difficult and messy at first, which is all the more reason to develop
detailed, organized notes.

Thinking Moves
Observing closely
and describing
whats there

Forming a reasoned judgement based on

foregoing thinking

Observable Thinking Behaviours

Notice parts and features
Take detailed notes to record
observations
Describe parts and features in
detail

Actions that Demonstrate Deep Thinking

Factions have a Role to Play:explains ways
of how parties are divided
Flood of Money in U.S. Election Is a Scandal
Waiting to Happen: explains how money
manipulates the outcomes of elections.
Social Liberals are Destroying America: The
author thinks that liberal ideologies will
cause long term harm to America
Up in Arms: Explains how America is
divided in various nations and what
different values are shared among nations.

Making
connections

Connect new information with

whats known
Identify patterns and perspectives

The division of America into various nations

might be the cause of factionalism in
parties. Money will largely determine which
faction wins.

Identify areas of agreement and

disagreement between sources
Wondering and
asking questions

Imagine possible connections and

implications
Relate ideas to emotions and

The division of America into various nations

might be the cause of factionalism in
parties. The faction with more monetary
support will win elections.

values
Create questions to propel further
inquiry

Building
explanations and
interpretations

Examine similarities and

differences

America is mostly liberal. If most interest

groups support social conservative
candidates, will it change the results of
election. What is the extent of control that
special interest group have on politics.
They are not really talking about the same
thing

Hypothesize and test ideas

Summarize the main idea

Reasoning with
evidence

Search for evidence to support

claims
Check for validity and soundness

The evidence and arguments made in

Social Liberals are destroying America are
invalid and unsound.
The other sources seem to be sound

Verify sufficiency of detail to

support claims

Uncovering
complexity and
going below the
surface

Identify and reject simplistic

explanations
Search for alternative evidence and
explanations
Examine all parts of issues to
explore complexity
Search for deep causes

According to the Patterson text, America is

founded on a desire to protect elites
economic interests. The constitution in
particular supports such claim. Bribery is
not new to the modern era. The relation
between rich special interest groups and
politicians has been a tradition.

Considering
different
viewpoints and
perspectives

Capturing the
heart and forming
conclusions

Search for alternative explanations

Evaluate the evidence of opposing
perspectives
Self-assess and revise own
arguments in light of alternative
viewpoints
Capturing the essence of a concept
Forming a reasoned judgement
based on foregoing thinking

A LOT of people believe that Social

Liberalism is not destroying America. In
fact, it is making the world a better place.
I agree with this alternative viewpoint

The division of America into various nations

might be the cause of factionalism in
parties. Money will largely determine which
faction wins. More socially conservative
nations will support more social
conservative candidates.