Which approach can best help students engage with different perspectives in a text?

Facilitating debates on conflicting viewpoints is a highly effective approach for engaging students with different perspectives in a text. This method encourages critical thinking, allows students to articulate and defend their own views while considering opposing arguments, and deepens their understanding of the material. Through debates, students are not just passively receiving information; they are actively engaging with differing perspectives, which fosters a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of the text.

This interactive format also encourages collaboration and communication among peers, promoting respectful discourse and enhancing their ability to see issues from multiple angles. As students argue for and against various interpretations or positions, they are likely to encounter complex ideas, thereby increasing their analytical skills and empathy toward differing opinions.

In contrast, summarizing key points, writing reflections on their preferences, or creating poster presentations focus more on individual comprehension or expression rather than on interaction with diverse viewpoints. While these activities have their merits, they do not necessarily provide the same level of engagement with competing perspectives that a debate promotes.