As teachers we tend to ask questions in the "knowledge" category 80% to 90% of the time. These questions are not bad, but using them all the time is. Try to utilize higher order level of questions. These questions require much more "brain power" and a more extensive and elaborate answer. Below are the six question categories as defined by Bloom.
KNOWLEDGE
remembering
memorizing
recognizing
recalling identification
recalling information
who, what, when, where, how ...?
describe
COMPREHENSION
interpreting
translating from one medium to another
describing in one's own words
organization and selection of facts and ideas
retell...
APPLICATION
problem solving
applying information to produce some result
use of facts, rules and principles
how is ... an example of ...?
how is ... related to ...?
why is ... significant?
ANALYSIS
subdividing something to show how it is put together
finding the underlying structure of a communication
identifying motives
separation of a whole into component parts
what are the parts or features of ...?
classify ... according to ...
outline/diagram ...
how does ... compare/contrast with ...?
what evidence can you list for ...?
SYNTHESIS
creating a unique, original product that may be in verbal form or may be a physical object
combination of ideas to form a new whole
what would you predict/infer from ...?
what ideas can you add to ...?
how would you create/design a new ...?
what might happen if you combined ...?
what solutions would you suggest for ...?
EVALUATION
making value decisions about issues
resolving controversies or differences of opinion
development of opinions, judgements or decisions
do you agree that ...?
what do you think about ...?
what is the most important ...?
place the following in order of priority ...
how would you decide about ...?
what criteria would you use to assess ...?
