Compare all four Thinking Cycle stages
This view is designed for school leaders, curriculum reviewers, and adult decision-makers who need a fast comparison of the lesson architecture across Analyze, Evaluate, Justify, and Reflect.
One comparison card per stage
Stage
ANALYZE
Break the text apart. Find the evidence. Establish what is really there.
Cognitive Operation
Deconstruction of textual elements to establish objective understanding.
Bloom Level
3 (Analysis)
Primary Target
Deconstruct
Lesson Slot
5–15 min
Primary Activity
Guided close reading; teacher models with think-aloud.
Assessment Type
Observation
Cross-Stage Role
Thorough Analyze work directly determines the quality of Evaluate judgments. Analysis is the foundation on which all subsequent reasoning is built.
Stage
EVALUATE
Make a judgment. Apply a standard. Defend it with reason.
Cognitive Operation
Assessment of quality, effectiveness, or morality based on established criteria.
Bloom Level
4 (Evaluation)
Primary Target
Judge
Lesson Slot
15–25 min
Primary Activity
Partner discussion; whole-group accountable talk.
Assessment Type
Partner discussion
Cross-Stage Role
Evaluate is the pivot between comprehension and argument. The criterion named in Stage 2 becomes the logical spine of the Stage 3 justification paragraph.
Stage
JUSTIFY
Make your claim. Cite your evidence. Explain the connection. Show the impact.
Cognitive Operation
Support claims using textual evidence and rigorous logical reasoning.
Bloom Level
5 (Synthesis / Justification)
Primary Target
Construct
Lesson Slot
25–35 min
Primary Activity
Independent written justification (CEIW); quiet signal; offer sentence frame for Emerging learners.
Assessment Type
Written justification
Cross-Stage Role
Justify depends entirely on Stage 1 evidence and Stage 2 judgment. Skipping or abbreviating the earlier stages weakens the final writing.
Stage
REFLECT
Connect. Transform. Take your thinking beyond the text.
Cognitive Operation
Connection of textual themes to personal experience, broader contexts, ethical principles, and the living world.
Bloom Level
6 (Creation / Metacognition)
Primary Target
Transfer
Lesson Slot
35–40 min
Primary Activity
Exit ticket: one reflection prompt; option: ecological reflection prompt (Level 3+).
Assessment Type
Exit ticket
Cross-Stage Role
Reflect is not a cool-down activity. A lesson that ends before Reflect ends at comprehension; the goal of Jurassic English is transformation, not merely understanding.