- Answering short answer questions vs. making hierarchical summaries or maps 
- Found no statistically significant differences in reading comprehension
- Used free-recall measure but found no statistically significant effects 

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

- Comparison 1: summaries vs. making/answering questions
- Comparison 2: answering questions vs. taking notes
- Comparison 3: summarizing vs. taking notes
- Comparison 4: answer questions vs. essay writing 
- Comparison 5: taking notes vs. extended writing
- Comparison 6: summarizing vs. extended writing 
- Note: not enough studies fit the criteria for comparisons 5 and 6

Comparing effects of different writing activities on reading comprehension: A meta-analysis - Results

Hebert, M., Simpson, A., & Graham, S. (2013). Comparing effects of different writing activities on reading comprehension: A meta-analysis. Reading and Writing, 26(1), 111-138. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11145-012-9386-3 

Comparing effects of different writing activities on reading comprehension: A meta-analysis

- Students that created or answered questions focused on detailed information rather than big picture themes 
- Found no statistically significant differences between the two tasks on reading comprehension outcomes
- Free-recall measure showed that summary writing was more effective than answering or creating questions 

Comparing effects of different writing activities on reading comprehension: A meta-analysis - Comparison 1 Results

Comparing effects of different writing activities on reading comprehension: A meta-analysis - Comparison 2 Results

- 4 writing summaries tasks: 3-line summaries for each text, paraphrasing every paragraph of each text, paraphrasing a summary of each text, or writing a general summary of each text 
- 4 note-taking tasks: main idea of each paragraph, take notes for each paragraph, outline of main ideas and supporting details, graphic organizer for each text 
- No statistically significant differences on reading comprehension

Comparing effects of different writing activities on reading comprehension: A meta-analysis - Comparison 3 Results

- Extended writing assignments could be writing an analytical, application, or descriptive essay using supporting details from texts
- No statistically significant differences on reading comprehension
- With free-recall measure where students write everything they remember from the texts, statistically significant and large effects for essay writing were found

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