Writing Learning Objectives for Different Learning Domains

One of the starting points in developing effective learning objectives is to identify a learning domain (or the level of thinking required). Based on Benjamin Bloom's Taxonomy of Learning Domains, here are some examples of phrases that might follow the stem of an instructional objective, grouped in six categories according to the levels of thinking they require.

Knowledge (repeating from memory): identify five key provisions of the Clean Air Act; summarize basic components of an oral presentation to a court.
Comprehension (demonstrating understanding of terms and concepts): explain the vertical structure and hierarchy of the court systems in both the federal and state governments; describe the difference between binding and persuasive authority.
Application (applying learned information to solve a problem): apply the appropriate use of predictive (objective) and persuasive legal writing; calculate the possible formulation of the legal issue(s) by an opposing party.
Analysis (breaking things down into their elements, formulating theoretical explanations or mathematical or logical models for observed phenomena): derive a common doctrine and policy from a series of primary source authorities; explain clearly a complex series of rules, including the relationship between the rules and between subparts of a rule; classify primary and secondary legal authority and understand the functions and appropriate use of each.
Synthesis (creating something, combining elements in novel ways): formulate an appropriate analytical approach for issues of fact, issues of law, and mixed questions of law and fact; design a process to interpret a series of primary source authorities and extract from them their common doctrine and policy
Evaluation (choosing from among alternatives and justifying the choice using specified criteria): determine the legal issue(s) in the problem cases assigned, and anticipate the possible formulation of the legal issue(s) by an opposing party; optimize the use of predictive (objective) and persuasive legal writing

The six given categories are the levels of Bloom's Taxonomy of Educational Objectives. The last three categories--synthesis, analysis, and evaluation--are often referred to as Bloom's higher level thinking skills.

Bloom, B. S., Engelhart, M. D., Furst, E. J., Hill, W. H., & Krathwohl, D. R.,(1956) Taxonomy of educational objectives: the classification of educational goals; Handbook I: Cognitive Domain New York, Longmans, Green.