Readability Formulas

Today, Monday, Nov. 10th (on the last day where the results from our surveys are coming in), we are preparing for our final unit: Readability. At the beginning of today's lesson, you will sign up for a presentation topic (list below). If you missed this class, you will be assigned a topic. A missed presentation on the due date means a failing grade for the assignment, which is a major component of the Readability Unit. There will not be any make-up opportunities, since we follow a tight time frame. (Unless you make a contract for an incomplete (INC), anyway.)

All presentations will be due the day after the Thanksgiving vacations (Monday, Dec. 1st). We'll hold one after the other, each one lasting max. 5 min., in the final week of class (Dec. 1, 3). Homework for Dec. 5th (the last day of class) will be to assess the readability of your Research Essay which you have received back by then according to one readability formula of your choice from our handbook (and presentations).
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For homework, you have all commented on the Fry Graph. Today, we are going to apply it.

Your homework (blog post) had to contain at least 100 words. Copy and paste it into a Word document. Proceed according to the instructions:

1) Count the number of sentences in your 100 words sample. (If you had less than 100 words, add more. If you had more, just stop after having counted up to 100, and delete the rest.) Estimate the length of your last sentence, even if incomplete, to the nearest 1/10.

2) Count the number of syllables in your 100 words sample. (Tip: It's easier when you put stress marks over them, like we did on the board when dealing with limericks!!!)

3) Make a table as seen in the instructions. Draw this table on the handout I give you, because you will receive points for it, and I will collect it at the end of today's lesson!

For your second 100-words sample, and your third one, just take any blog response or summary you've written so far. Copy and paste the text in a Word document, count your words and delete all that are over 100. Then, proceed as above. Fill in the table.

4) Total your numbers, and average them. (A little bit of math ;-)). You can use the Microsoft calculator ;-)

5) Make a dot on the graph I distributed in class where your personal readability lies. Write your name on the handout with your graph and your table, and submit it to your teacher for grading (I'm not grading the height of your readability, only the fact that you participated and understood the procedure!) There are no make-ups for this assignment.

6) Every student will sign up for a topic from our readability handout, and present a poster to the class (ca. 5 min. presentation) starting after the Thanksgiving vacations. You will either present an introduction, an overview, or a formula to the class. Those who present the formulas have to go into detail and give examples, so that students can choose and apply this formula later. You can also browse the Internet for additional info/pics about your topic. The first two topics and topic 11 + 14 will be done by a pair of students, since they contain more pages. Share them fairly! Preview: When I have graded and returned your final research essays after Thanksgiving, you are going to calculate our own readability. You can choose any readability formula that is explained in detail in our readability handout that you have in your email (and on the website; click on the first link, "Principles of Readability," to open the pdf file). You don't need to use the Fry Graph, but you can.

Instructions for Presentation:

1. You need to make a handout with a short overview for the whole class, which you can email to all peers (and me) to save paper. I'll email out an attendance list to everybody, so you'll have all emails. You can also make hard copies.

2. You can either write on the board, use the Smartboard, or present a big poster (ask me for paper and Sharpies). You don't need to do a ppt.

3. Your presentation should introduce your topic (if you have a formula, people should understand how it works).

4. Don't go over 5 minutes.





Topics:

1. Intro, pp. 1-10
Name: Emily Muren (assigned)
Name: Sharon Espina (assigned)


2. Classic Readability Formulas, pp. 13-19
Name: Raquel Maxey
Name: Donald Dinkins


3. Flesch, pp. 20-22
Name: Ken Stoner


4. Dale & Chall, pp. 22-23
Name: Brian Harris


5. Gunning, pp. 24-25
Name: Sarah Klingler


6. New Readability Studies & Community of Scholars, pp. 25-26
Name: Melisa Ogle


7. Cloze Test, pp. 27-28
Name: Jen Gulley


8. Readability, Prior Knowledge, Interest, Motivation, pp. 28-30
Name: Heather Mormino


9. Performance, Efficiency, Content, pp. 30-34
Name: Alex Rude


10. Leveling, pp. 35-37
Name: Leah West


11. Producing & Transforming Text, pp. 37-42
Name: Laura Treat
Name: Maddison Green


12. New Readability Formulas, pp. 43-45
Name: Ashley Epps


13. SMOG, FORECAST, ARI, pp. 47-50
Name: Jacob Talbert


14. Formula Application, Legislation, & Use, pp. 55-57
Name: Marissa Freese (assigned)