Which assignment promotes the highest level of student thinking after reading a short story in class?

The assignment that promotes the highest level of student thinking after reading a short story is writing a persuasive letter to the main character. This task requires students to engage deeply with the text, analyzing the character's motivations, decisions, and the implications of those actions. In crafting a persuasive letter, students must not only understand the character's perspective but also take a stand on an issue that relates to the story, forming coherent arguments to convince the character to adopt a particular course of action or to reflect on their decisions.

This type of assignment encourages critical thinking, as students assess the character's choices and the broader themes of the story while articulating their thoughts clearly and persuasively. They must synthesize information from the text to support their arguments, which fosters higher-order thinking skills such as analysis, evaluation, and creativity.

In contrast, the other assignments, such as creating a visual art piece or summarizing the story, focus more on interpretation or recall rather than on a critical engagement with the material. Even participating in a debate, while it does involve some level of analysis, may not require the same depth of personal engagement and thoughtful persuasion that writing to a character demands. Thus, writing a persuasive letter is uniquely positioned to stimulate the highest level of thinking among students