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

Reasoning with evidence

Uncovering complexity

and going below the

surface

Considering different
viewpoints and
perspectives

Capturing the heart and

forming conclusions

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
Search for evidence to support claims
Check for validity and soundness
Verify sufficiency of detail to support claims
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
Forming a reasoned judgement based on

Questions to Drive Thinking

What do you see and
notice?
How does this fit?

What am I curious about

here?
Whats going on here?
Why do you think so?
What lies beneath the surface
of this?

Whats another angle on this?

Whats at the core or centre

foregoing thinking
of this?
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

Observable Thinking Behaviours

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

Making
connections

Connect new information with

whats known
Identify patterns and perspectives
Identify areas of agreement and

Actions that Demonstrate Deep Thinking

Legal Scholar: Jim Crow Still Exists In America: Laws
that systematically discriminate against blacks cause them
to be labeled as exfelons at a very young age and cost
them their lives.
What does gun violence really cost
Pregnant and No Civil Rights: Abortion has
became very difficult to access and women
are arrested
Satanists Demand Religious Exemption From
Abortion Restrictions, Cite Hobby Lobby
Ruling: Satanists and women can be
exempted from ridiculous abortion
restrictions
no gays allowed- 31 states dont have laws
against discrimination based on sexual
orientation. Gay people can be fired, denied
of service for being gay. Its illegal under
federal law and some country laws, but its
legal in state
Edward Snowden is legally not considered
as a whistle blower.
The articles are on different issues, but all
the authors seem pro- liberty except for the
gun violence one.

Wondering and
asking questions

disagreement between sources

Imagine possible connections and
implications
Relate ideas to emotions and
values

Building
explanations and
interpretations

Create questions to propel further

inquiry
Examine similarities and
differences
Hypothesize and test ideas
Summarize the main idea

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

Identify and reject simplistic

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

African and Hispanic Americans are firsked

significantly more than white americans,
thus the highter arrest rate. Does structural
violence or cultural violence(in this case
racism) contribute to the arrestment rate?

Laws that systematically discriminate against blacks

cause them to be labeled as exfelons at a very young age
and cost them their lives.African and Hispanic
Americans are firsked significantly more than
white americans, thus the highter arrest rate.
Does structural violence or cultural violence(in
this case racism) contribute to the arrestment
rate?
Laws that systematically discriminate against blacks
cause them to be labeled as exfelons at a very young age
and cost them their lives.African and Hispanic
Americans are firsked significantly more than
white americans, thus the highter arrest rate.
Does structural violence or cultural violence(in
this case racism) contribute to the arrestment
rate?
Oreily will argue that black and hispanic
americans lifestyle lead to such

Capturing the
heart and forming
conclusions

Search for deep causes

Capturing the essence of a concept
Forming a reasoned judgement
based on foregoing thinking

Laws that systematically discriminate against blacks

cause them to be labeled as exfelons at a very young
age and cost them their lives.African and Hispanic
Americans are firsked significantly more
than white americans, thus the highter
arrest rate. Does structural violence or
cultural violence(in this case racism)
contribute to the arrestment rate?