Readability Formulas

WebQuest

Introduction: The readability formulas are calculations based on the words and sentences in a specified reading passage. The calculations denote the reading level that the passage is written. These formulas do not take into account any of the students’ knowledge of the subject area or the interest in the topic.

The Task: To complete the webquest and calculate the readability level on a reading passage or reading material.

Procedures: 1. Complete the Readability WebQuest. 2. Read the instructions and information on Readability Formulas in the Collections Booklet. 3. Calculate Fry’s Readability on a passage from a reading material that you think students would read from in your classes. You do not need to turn in the calculations or the actual reading passage, just write the information the sheet in the Collection Booklet that is labeled Readability Levels. 4. Calculate Raygor’s Readability level and also write that information on the Readability Levels sheet in the Collection Booklet. 5. Calculate the SMOG Level and write it on the Readability Level Sheet in the Collections Handbook. 6. Put the Readability Levels Sheet in your portfolio.

Resources: http://www.gopdg.com/plainlanguage/readability.html

http://www.stc.org/confproceed/1994/PDFs/PG225227.PDF

http://kathyschrock.net/fry/fry.html

http://uuhsc.utah.edu/pated/authors/readability.html

http://www.renlearn.com/ar/ReadabilityBrochure.pdf

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/octnews/oc030602.html

Conclusion: Readability levels can help teachers in 2 ways. The first is to make teachers aware of the reading level of the text or reading material, and the second is to help teachers write on a level that their students are able to read. Although readability levels do not consider the readers’ abilities, it is a reliable way to evaluate the approximate reading level of the reading material.