Describes two software routines developed for authors of Navy training materials. SCAT (Systems for Computer Automated Typesetting) automatically composes and formats text, merging it with stored graphics, while CRES (Computer Readability Editing System) aids in writing readable text at the desired level. A six-item bibliography and eight…

Monitors several measures of progress toward a breakthrough improvement in computer manuals. Reports observations from a benchmark study of the state of the art in computer manuals, both paper and online. Suggests additional areas for improvement. (RS)

Gives a case history of how one writing group devised a way to deal with the problem of author-created noun strings and long, indecipherable unit modifiers, satisfying both internal and external clients. Describes the development of an in-house usage guide. (PRA)

Contained in this report is a description of the technical assistance and training phase of the Document Design Project, a program funded by the National Institute of Education and intended to address and correct the readability problems posed by public documents. The first section of the report provides background material on the assistance and…

Discusses the method used for rewriting a piece of technical text to improve readability, compares several readability measures of the revised text, and notes difficulties encountered in the study. (CHC)

Effective communication depends on several ingredients including an appropriate readability level and thorough analysis of the audience. Readability levels and audience analysis are discussed, with implications for researchers and other technical personnel. (MLW)

The readability of technical writing, and technical manuals in particular, especially for second language readers, can be noticeably improved by pairing Theme with Given and Rheme with New. This allows for faster processing of text and easier access to the "method of development" of the text. Typical Theme-Rheme patterns are described, and the…

The accomplishments of a team of writers, designers, and education specialists commissioned by the National Institute of Education (NIE) to suggest solutions to the problems that public documents often pose for readers are summarized in this report. Following an overview, the report offers a section on the history and rationale of the Document…

Four activities of the Document Design Project (DDP) in its first year of operation are described in this report. The activities described are: (1) dissemination of information about the project; (2) creation of information services, including a library of more than 450 items; (3) development of a three-day course on document simplification, which…

Noting that medical consent forms traditionally have been so full of medical and legal jargon that they have been impossible for even the educated layperson to understand, this paper presents a model for revising medical consent forms to make them more comprehensible. After describing the model, the paper explains each step involved in using it,…

These conference proceedings contain the following 23 presentations: "Development of a Communication Skill Model Using Interpretive Structural Modeling" (Karen S. Nantz and Linda Gammill); "The Coincidence of Needs: An Inventional Model for Audience Analysis" (Gina Burchard); "A Computer Algorithm for Measuring Readability" (Terry D. Lundgren);…

This "Writers' Handbook" was prepared in response to the many requests for "a book that tells how to write textbooks and other educational materials for schools." These requests have come from educators of other countries as well as from the United States. The authors believe that the handbook holds valuable information and suggestions for heads…