Introduction Bloom's Taxonomy Thesis Evidence Practice

Analysis and Synthesis

Understanding How We Think and Build Knowledge

Critical Thinking!
Connecting Ideas!
So What?
I. Introduction: What Does It Mean to Know Something?

What does it mean to know something? How would you explain the process of thinking? In the 1950s, educational theorist Benjamin Bloom proposed that human cognition, thinking and knowing, could be classified by six categories. Hierarchically arranged in order of complexity, these steps were: knowledge, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis, and judgment.

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  • Understand Bloom's Taxonomy of cognitive processes
  • Differentiate between analysis and synthesis
  • Develop strong thesis statements for analytical writing
  • Effectively integrate evidence using the quote sandwich method
  • Apply these skills to text wrestling analysis

Key Takeaway

Analysis involves breaking down complex materials or concepts into constituent parts to understand their structure and meaning. Synthesis involves combining elements to form a coherent or functional whole, or reorganizing elements into a new pattern or structure.

LEGO® Analogy:

Consider taking apart a LEGO castle as an act of analysis. You study each block intently, even those parts that you can't see when the castle is fully constructed. In the process of synthesis, you bring together certain blocks from the castle to instead build something else—a racecar. By unpacking and interpreting each part, you're able to build a new whole.
II. Bloom's Taxonomy: Understanding Cognitive Processes

Since Bloom's original model, the taxonomy has been revised, with changes including action verbs instead of nouns, different synonyms for some categories, and some versions that place "creating" above "evaluating." Most importantly, some versions are reshaped into a circle rather than a hierarchy.

Bloom's Taxonomy Visualizer

Explore the different levels of cognitive processes in Bloom's Taxonomy:

Create
Evaluate
Analyze
Apply
Understand
Remember

Click on a level to learn more about it.

What do these changes signify?

The evolution of Bloom's Taxonomy reflects our growing understanding that cognitive processes are not always hierarchical and linear. The circular models suggest these processes are interconnected and often happen simultaneously or iteratively rather than in a strict sequence.

Key Takeaway

Analysis and synthesis work in tandem as cognitive tools. In text wrestling, you analyze the constituent parts of a text and then synthesize your findings to build new insights about the whole text.

III. Crafting Your Thesis: The "So What?"

A thesis statement is a central, unifying insight that drives your analysis or argument. In a typical college essay, this insight should be articulated in one to three sentences, placed within the introductory paragraph or section.

Thesis Statement Builder

Use the T3 (Thesis + 3 Points) strategy to build a strong thesis statement:

Your thesis statement will appear here...

Thesis Statement Examples:

T3 Thesis: "In 'A Wind from the North,' Bill Capossere conveys the loneliness of an isolated lifestyle using the motif of snow, the repeated phrase 'five or six days' (104), and the symbol of his uncle's car."

O/P (Occasion/Position) Thesis: "As our society moves from individualism to isolationism, Bill Capossere's 'A Wind from the North' is a salient example of a life lived alone. Using recurring images and phrases, Capossere conveys the loneliness of his uncle leading up to his death."
Try It: Develop a Nuanced Position

Take this common argument and develop a nuanced position:

"Standardized testing should be eliminated from college admissions."

Key Takeaway

Your thesis is the spine of your essay. Everything in your essay should connect back to and support this central claim. A strong thesis goes beyond summary to present an arguable interpretation that needs to be proven with evidence.

IV. Using Evidence: The Quote Sandwich Method

In a text wrestling essay, you're engaging in a process similar to the LEGO analogy. You'll encounter a text and unpack it attentively, looking closely at each piece of language, its arrangement, its signification, and then use it to build an insightful, critical insight about the original text.

Quote Sandwich Builder

Build effective evidence integration using the quote sandwich method:

Your paragraph with integrated evidence will appear here...

Example of Quote Sandwich:

The recurring imagery of snow creates a tone of frostiness and demonstrates the passage of time. Snow brings to mind connotations of wintery cold, quiet, and death as a "sky of utter clarity and simplicity" lingers over his uncle's home and "it [begins] once more to snow" (Capossere 104). Throughout his essay, Capossere returns frequently to weather imagery, but snow especially, to play on associations the reader has. In this line, snow sets the tone by wrapping itself in with "clarity," a state of mind. Even though the narrator still seems ambivalent about his uncle, this clarity suggests that he is reflecting with a new and somber understanding.

Key Takeaway

The appropriate ratio of evidence (their writing) to exposition (your writing) will vary, but you should spend at least as many words unpacking a quote as that quote contains. Don't just drop quotes in your paper—sandwich them between your introduction and analysis.

V. Practice & Application

Now it's time to apply what you've learned about analysis and synthesis. These exercises will help you practice close reading and developing nuanced interpretations.

Exercise 1: Close Reading Graphic Organizer Choose a text and map its elements:
  1. Identify patterns of repetition in words, phrases, or images
  2. Note symbols and what they might represent
  3. Identify references to other texts or cultural elements
  4. Note what surprises you or seems unusual
  5. Consider analytical lenses (race, gender, class, etc.)

Text Selection:

Exercise 2: Full Text Wrestling Analysis Develop a complete analytical essay:

Use this framework to build your argument step-by-step:

  1. Topic: Identify your text
  2. Close Reading: Summarize your observations
  3. Thesis: Develop your central claim
  4. Evidence: Support with textual evidence
  5. Analysis: Explain how evidence supports thesis
  6. Conclusion: Summarize your contribution

Self-Assessment Checklist:

Key Takeaway

Effective analysis is a skill developed through practice. Each text you wrestle with makes you a more thoughtful reader and writer. Remember that analysis involves both breaking down (analysis) and building up (synthesis) to create new understandings.