Readability

1. Readability

2. Step 1: • Select a sample of a 100-word passage in your essay. Exclude proper nouns and numbers. • Draw a bracket around the passage.

3. Step 2: • Countthe number of sentences in the 100-word passage, estimating the fraction of the last sentence to the nearest 1/10th. Write this number down next to the passage.

4. Step 3: • Count the number of syllables in the 100-word passage. Write this number down next to the passage.

5. Step 4- • Now, identify the reading level of the100 word passage by plotting a dot where the two numbers meet in the graph. Write this grade level next to the passage.

6. Step 5: Looking at your entire essay now, do the following: • Underline the sentences with fewer words (under 20 words). • Circle the pronouns that begin sentences such as “I” , “she”, “he”, “they”, “it”, “your”, “her/his”, “my”, “the/this/these/those”, etc… • Are there sentences that can be combined? Place parentheses around these. In most cases these sentences can benefit from a revision. However, there are sentences that are purposeful when extremely short and abrupt. For example, read the following sentence: Cancer research studies show that 1/8 woman will be diagnosed with breast cancer every year. My mother is one of those eight.” Notice that the second sentence is only seven words long; however, it makes an enormous impact because it is so short. There is no need to revise impactful sentences like these.