The document discusses characteristics of text that facilitate reading comprehension. It notes that text leveling systems can be subjective and inconsistent. It also states that readers need to feel represented in the literature they are exposed to in order to feel connected. The document seeks to learn more about selecting appropriate texts to help students comprehend what they read and use comprehension strategies effectively. It discusses researching reading comprehension and text selection and includes sources from the university. Various themes that emerged from the research are discussed, including readability, text and language structure, biases, cultural relevance, and engagingness. The document summarizes that an effective text analysis should assess readability, accessibility, engagingness, and cultural relevance.

1. Characteristics of Text that Facilitate Reading Comprehension Katie Lyons READ 5493 – Su2011 Texas Women’s University

2. Text leveling is not consistent across leveling systems and the consistency within a given leveling system can be subjective as perspectives and measuring tools differ. Rationale

3. Teachers are finding that their most fluent readers do not understand what they are reading as a whole; this has turned into a bigger problem as teachers are not teaching and testing accurately for comprehension. Rationale

4. Readers need to be able to see authentic representations of themselves in the literature they are exposed to in order to feel connected to the information and to literacy as a whole (Ebe, 2010; Gray, 2009; Hoffman, Hunt, & Taylor, 2008; Holmes, Powell, & Holmes, 2007; Hughes-Hassell, Barkley, & Koehler, 2009; Wilfong, 2007). Rationale

5. As a new teacher with relatively little experience selecting texts for my students to read, I would like to learn more about making appropriate, effective choices to facilitate my students reading comprehension and use of comprehension strategies. Rationale

6. What characteristics are important to the selection of texts for successful reading comprehension? Research Question

7. I started my research focusing on reading comprehension and text selection as my descriptors when searching through the TWU library education databases. I have also included articles, books and studies that I have received from Dr. Nancy Anderson throughout my graduate coursework at Texas Women’s University. Methodology

8. Themes

9. Readability is a reader’s potential for accuracy with a particular text through analysis of the amount of words/concepts in the text that have not been taught and the number of words per sentence (Dzaldov & Peterson, 2005; Donovan, Smolkin, & Lomax, 2000; Hoffman, Sailors, & Patterson, 2002; Irwin, 1991; Mesmer, 2006; Picher & Fang, 2007; Walpole, Hayes, & Robnolt, 2006). Processability Accessibility Readability &Text Leveling Systems

10. Text structure Language structure analysis, exposure and instruction Reliance on leveling systems Readability & Text Leveling Systems

11. Text and Language Structure Authority & Authenticity Biases Cultural Relevance

12. Gender Age Race/Ethnicity Perceptions Preferences & Engagingness

13. Effective analysis of text should include assessing the readability and accessibility of the text for the reader, the engagingness of the text for the reader and a careful analysis of the text’s cultural relevance. Summary