Presents a readability formula suitable for passages from 40 to 99 words (provided they contain at least 3 sentences). (RS)

This article examines the appropriateness of current publications with respect to teaching handicapped adolescents about Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. Twelve publications were analyzed using the Fleusch Readability Formula, and none were found appropriate for handicapped adolescents. A new brochure was designed from these findings,…

Rescales DRP-Difficulty (Degrees of Reading Power) into grade equivalent (GE) units using the estimated difficulty level values obtained from the Rauding Scale. Finds the revised scale is accurate to within one graded level for lower grade materials and to within two grade levels for upper grade materials. (MM)

Waukesha County Technical College (Wisconsin) received the Governmental Financial Officers Association "Popular Annual Financial Reporting Award" in 1993 and became the first educational entity to do so. Popular annual financial reporting is an effective way for schools to present reader-friendly reports that stress graphics and…

Discusses nonfiction series for young adults; presents results of a survey of librarians who evaluated various series; presents criteria for evaluating nonfiction series, including readability, organization, format, timeliness, and length; and considers characteristics of the top 10 series, including marketing and audience. (LRW)

Examines effects on recall and comprehension of a passage from a fourth-grade textbook and versions revised for greater coherence or to exhibit voice. Finds that, immediately after reading, the voiced coherent passage held significant advantage over all other passages in both recall and comprehension. Finds similar, though statistically…

Print material at an advanced reading level was revised for low literate individuals and given to a treatment group randomly chosen from 295 participants. Revisions had an insignificant effect on knowledge. It was recommended that materials for low-literate audiences be developed from scratch and not revised from existing material. (SK)

Two experiments with 188 college students investigated the facilitative effect of typographical signals such as underlining, headings, or other devices to help readers identify specific points. Results do not support a general facilitative effect of typographical signals but suggest that use of signals depends on the reader's strategic processing.…

Presents an alternative performance-based assessment of reading comprehension and readability called the "Opin" procedure, a macroclosure procedure in which sentence endings instead of single words are deleted. Notes that readers' responses are rated on a continuum from low to high proximity with the author's intentions. (RS)

Calls for new textbooks to teach Russian literature. Complains of inappropriate wording for young people, officious and boring content, and a lack of humanistic themes in existing textbooks. Suggests that a text be compiled from among the best literary and critical articles to develop in students a love and understanding of literature. (DK)

Researchers examined whether there were differences in the way elementary history textbook and trade book passages were structured. Analyses of text structure in topic-similar passages from both types of books indicated trade books were more comprehensible than history textbooks by being better structured and more coherent. (SM)

Describes an approach, called "Questioning the Author," that is targeted toward getting young readers to engage with their textbooks--to really consider ideas deeply. Notes that the approach attempts to actualize the presence of an author, understand the author as a fallible transmitter of ideas, and transform author's ideas into readers' ideas.…

Discusses Biblical narratives for children and suggests criteria to use for assessing Bible story books. Twelve examples of good books are described, including picture books as well as stories for older children. Features that are discussed include illustrations, use of color, readability, and racial assumptions. (LRW)

Offers an overview of "people first language," language which aims to create a positive view of people with disabilities in place of insensitive portrayals that stereotype and discriminate. Presents results of a readability analysis of such language, and suggests ways such terminology can be integrated into middle and high schools. (SR)

Describes the FORECAST readability formula for adults working with job materials, which was developed in the early 1970s. Suggests that it is a better measure of who wants and needs basic skills than the International Adult Literacy Survey. (JOW)