Cognitive Levels of Activities of the English Language Textbook Sunrise 12 According to Bloom’s Revised Taxonomy

Abstract

This study is an attempt to analyze and categorize the lower- and higher-order thinking activitiesincluded inSunrise12 EFL textbook in the light of Bloom's Revised Taxonomy. The study also attempted to calculate the percentages and frequencies these activities to find out the extent to which their distribution throughoutSunrise12 textbookis equitable. The findings showed that the total distribution of lower- and higher-order thinking activities, as well as the cognitive domain in both types of thinking is imbalanced. Activities requiring lower-order thinking were more frequent than those requiring higher-order thinking. The former occurred 311 times representing 67.8% of the total number of the employed 459 activities, whereas the latter occurred 148 times representing 32.2%. As a result, it was found that the Sunrise 12 EFL textbook materials emphasize the use of lower-orderthinking skills more than the higher ones. The frequencies and percentages of lower-order thinking skills were as follows: Remembering 118, 25.7%, Understanding 156, 34%, and Applying 37, 8.1%. On the other hand, the frequencies and percentages of higher-order thinking skills were as follows:Analyzing 58, 12.6%; Evaluating 64, 13.9%; and Creating 26, 5.7%. Consequently, the findings indicated that unbalanced distribution among the cognitive levels encompassing both lower- and higher-order thinking skills lead to inequitable participation in both lower- and higher-order thinking activities.