What does "retelling" assess in comprehension evaluations?

Retelling is a strategy used in comprehension evaluations that focuses on students' understanding of a story's main events and details. When students retell a story, they are required to recall and summarize the content, demonstrating not only their ability to recall specific events but also their grasp of the overall narrative structure. This process encourages them to think critically about the sequence of events, the motivations of characters, and the key themes presented in the text.

By engaging in retelling, students synthesize information and express their understanding in their own words, which reflects their ability to comprehend and interact with the material on a deeper level. This skill is crucial, as it lays the foundation for more advanced reading comprehension and analytical skills necessary for interpreting literature and other complex texts. The focus on main events and details sets retelling apart from assessments of other areas, such as mathematical problem-solving, character names, settings, or creative writing skills, which evaluate different competencies.