What type of assignment encourages the highest level of student thinking after reading a story about choices?

Writing a persuasive letter to the main character encourages the highest level of student thinking after reading a story about choices because it requires students to engage deeply with the character's motivations, decisions, and consequences. This task demands that students analyze the choices made by the character and form opinions based on their understanding of the story. They must articulate their thoughts in a structured format, considering both the perspective of the character and their own viewpoints.

Students must employ critical thinking skills as they weigh the implications of the character's decisions and propose alternative actions. This process not only enhances comprehension but also stimulates creativity, as students must express their arguments compellingly and persuasively, fostering an understanding of empathy and ethical reasoning. Additionally, this type of assignment connects personal insights to the textual material, making the reading experience more impactful and relevant.

Other types of assignments, like summarizing the story, creating a poster, or holding a group discussion, certainly have their benefits but typically require lower levels of cognitive processing. Summarizing focuses on recall and basic understanding, while creating a poster is more about visual representation than deep analysis. Group discussions can facilitate understanding but may lack the individual, reflective input that writing a letter provides. Therefore, the persuasive letter stands out as the task that