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Text Complexity

Text Complexity. Doug Fisher www.fisherandfrey.com. Assessing Texts. Quantitative measures Qualitative values Task and Reader considerations. Levels of Meaning and Purpose. Density and complexity Figurative language Purpose. Levels of Meaning and Purpose.

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Text Complexity

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  1. Text Complexity Doug Fisher www.fisherandfrey.com

  2. Assessing Texts • Quantitative measures • Qualitative values • Task and Reader considerations

  3. Levels of Meaning and Purpose • Density and complexity • Figurative language • Purpose

  4. Levels of Meaning and Purpose Is it about talking animals, or the USSR? Is it entertainment, or political satire? Is it straightforward, or ambiguous? 1370L Grades 11-12

  5. Author’s Purpose • Allegory for tolerance • Mirrored events of early Civil Rights movement (1961) “Now, the Star-Belly SneetchesHad bellies with stars.The Plain-Belly SneetchesHad none upon thars. Those stars weren’t so big. They were really so smallYou might think such a thing wouldn’t matter at all..” But, because they had stars, all the Star-Belly SneetchesWould brag, ‘We’re the best kind of Sneetch on the beaches.’With their snoots in the air, they would sniff and they’d snort‘We’ll have nothing to do with the Plain-Belly sort!’And whenever they met some, when they were out walking,They’d hike right on past them without even talking.” 530L Grades 2-3

  6. Complex themes • Relationship between love and pain • Masculinity • Loyalty and war 730L Grades 2-3

  7. Structure • Genre • Organization • Narration • Text features and graphics

  8. Structure Changes in narration, point of view Changes in font signal narration changes Complex themes 560L Grades 2-3

  9. Structure • Stream of consciousness narration • Unreliable narrators • Nonlinear structure • Time shifts written in italics 870L (grades 4-5)

  10. Language Conventions • Standard English and variations • Register

  11. Language Conventions Non-standard English usage “Out in the hottest, dustiest part of town is an orphanage run by a female person nasty enough to scare night into day. She goes by the name of Mrs. Sump, though I doubt there ever was a Mr. Sump on accounta she looks like somethin’ the cat drug in and the dog wouldn’t eat.” (Stanley, 1996, p. 2) AD 660L (Adult-directed)

  12. British slang circa 1982 “The doorbell went. I put the blind back to how it was, checked I'd left no other traces of my incursion, slipped out, and flew downstairs to see who it was. The last six steps I took in one death-defying bound. Moron, grinny-zitty as ever. His bumfluff's getting thicker, mind. "You'll never guess what!" "What?” "You know the lake in the woods?" "What about it?" "It's only"--Moron checked that we weren't being overheard--"gone and froze solid! Half the kids in the village're there, right now. Ace doss or what?" ATOS 4.4 Grades 2-3 Bumfluff- light facial hair (“peach fuzz”) Ace doss-easy and fun

  13. Knowledge Demands • Background knowledge • Prior knowledge • Cultural knowledge • Vocabulary

  14. Knowledge Demands Domain-specific vocabulary (radioactive, acidity, procedure, vaccination) Background knowledge (diseases, safety risks, scientific experimentation) 1100L Grades 6-8

  15. Cultural Knowledge Demands • Buddhist philosophy • Search for spiritual enlightenment • Eightfold Path to Nirvana 1010L Grades 6-8

  16. AD 840L (Adult-directed) Vocabulary Demands Gibbons, G. (1996). Recycle! A handbook for kids.New York; Little, Brown.

  17. Types of Vocabulary • Tier 1/General • Commonplace; learned from interactions with texts and people • Tier 2/Specialized • Change meaning with context (“polysemic”) • Tier 3/Technical • Specific to the discipline

  18. Density and Complexity • More and more garbage! Every daypeople throw more trash away. As the world population increases, more people throw trash away. Garbage trucks come to pick it up, but where does all this trash go? • Blue = Tier 1 vocabulary Gibbons, G. (1996). Recycle! A handbook for kids.New York; Little, Brown.

  19. Density and Complexity • More and more garbage! Every daypeoplethrow more trash away. As the world population increases, more people throw trash away. Garbage trucks come to pick it up, but where does all this trash go? • Blue = Tier 1 vocabulary • Green = Tier 2 vocabulary Gibbons, G. (1996). Recycle! A handbook for kids.New York; Little, Brown.

  20. Density and Complexity • More and more garbage! Every daypeoplethrow more trash away. As the worldpopulationincreases, more people throw trash away. Garbage truckscome to pick it up, but where does all this trash go? • Blue = Tier 1 vocabulary • Green = Tier 2 vocabulary • Red = Tier 3 vocabulary Gibbons, G. (1996). Recycle! A handbook for kids.New York; Little, Brown.

  21. Qualitatively analyze the text you selected using the rubric. Summarize the factors that make the text complex

  22. It’s not enough to have complex text in the room. Students need to read and discuss complex text.

  23. Collaborative Conversations

  24. Talk occurs on grade level topics, texts, and issues.

  25. K-2 Expectations • Following the rules of discussion • Moving from participation to turn taking • Sustaining discussion through questioning • Adult support

  26. 3-5 Expectations • Preparation for discussion • Yielding and gaining the floor • Posing and responding to questions • From explaining own ideas to explaining the ideas of others

  27. 6-8 Expectations • Using evidence to probe and reflect • Collegial discussions include goals and deadlines • Questions connect ideas from several speakers • Acknowledge new information

  28. 9-10 Expectations • Use prepared research in discussion • Voting, consensus, and decision making • Ensure hearing full range of opinions or options • Summarizeand synthesize points of disagreement

  29. 11-12 Expectations • Civil, democratic discussions • Questions probe reasoning and evidence • Resolving contradictions • Determine what additional info is needed

  30. Eisenhower’s Message to the Troops June 6, 1944 Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of the Allied Expeditionary Force! You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade, toward which we have striven these many months. The eyes of the world are upon you. The hopes and prayers of liberty-loving people everywhere march with you. In company with our brave Allies and brothers-in-arms on other Fronts, you will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world. Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped and battle hardened. He will fight savagely. But this is the year 1944! Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41. The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeats, in open battle, man-to-man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground. Our Home Fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war, and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men. The tide has turned! The free men of the world are marching together to Victory! I have full confidence in your courage and devotion to duty and skill in battle. We will accept nothing less than full Victory! Good luck! And let us beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.  SIGNED: Dwight D. Eisenhower

  31. CreatingText-Dependent Questions

  32. Creating Text-Dependent Questions

  33. CreatingText Dependent Questions

  34. Eisenhower’s “In Case of Failure” Letter "Our landings in the Cherbourg-Havre area have failed to gain a satisfactory foothold and I have withdrawn the troops. My decision to attack at this time and place was based upon the best information available. The troops, the air and the Navy did all that Bravery and devotion to duty could do. If any blame or fault attaches to the attempt it is mine alone.”

  35. www.fisherandfrey.com

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