What is the primary purpose of asking a student to retell a story?

The primary purpose of asking a student to retell a story is to measure the student's level of comprehension. When a student retells a story, they demonstrate their understanding of the plot, characters, setting, and main ideas. This process allows educators to assess how well the student has grasped the material, including their ability to recall key details and concepts.

Retelling requires students to synthesize information and express it in their own words, which is a direct indicator of how well they comprehend what they have read. It involves higher-order thinking skills, such as summarizing and interpreting, which provide insight into the student's cognitive processing of the text. Therefore, it serves as an effective tool for evaluating comprehension and guiding future instruction based on the student's needs.