MOOC Text Readability Tools

Summary

In this video, the speaker guides viewers through the process of analyzing readability scores of a text. Using 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' from an American English website, the speaker demonstrates how to download, clean up, and paste the text into a word processor. They walk through correcting formatting issues and ensuring the text is ready for analysis. The tutorial then covers how to use two different online readability analysis tools, showing step-by-step instructions on how to input the text and interpret the readability scores.

Takeaways

• 😀 The first step in analyzing readability scores is to obtain the text, which can be done by downloading a PDF version from the American English website.
• 😀 It’s recommended to download the text as a PDF rather than copying directly from the browser to avoid formatting issues.
• 😀 After downloading the PDF, you can open it and copy the text into a text editor like Microsoft Word or Pages for better handling.
• 😀 Be aware that copying text from a PDF may result in formatting inconsistencies or missing letters, so you should clean up the text before proceeding.
• 😀 It’s important to ensure that the word count is adequate for readability analysis. A sample of 141 words might not be enough, and more text is required for meaningful analysis.
• 😀 A good sample size for readability analysis is around 576 words, which can be obtained by copying more text from the PDF.
• 😀 Always remove page numbers, author names, or any other irrelevant information that may have been copied from the PDF along with the text.
• 😀 Ensure that incomplete sentences or broken text at the bottom of pages are deleted before analyzing readability scores, as they can skew results.
• 😀 To analyze readability, you can use websites that allow you to paste text and measure readability scores instantly.
• 😀 The first website mentioned allows you to simply paste your text and click a button to measure readability, displaying results directly on the page.
• 😀 Another website provides a different interface where you need to select 'Test by Direct Input,' paste the text, and click 'Calculate Readability' to get the results.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of the video described in the transcript?

The video aims to show viewers how to analyze readability scores of a text by copying, preparing, and evaluating text using readability measurement websites.

Which text is used as the example for readability analysis in the video?

The example text used is 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' from the American English website.

Why do we need to download the PDF instead of copying directly from the browser?

Copying text directly from the browser may cause formatting issues, whereas downloading the PDF ensures a cleaner and more consistent source for copying the text.

Why is copying text directly from a PDF still problematic?

Copying from a PDF can introduce issues such as missing letters, unwanted formatting, and incomplete text, so the copied text must be reviewed and cleaned manually.

Which software programs are recommended for pasting and editing the copied text?

Microsoft Word is suggested for Windows users, and Pages is recommended for Mac users, though any text editor with word count functionality will work.

Why is it important to remove page numbers, author names, and incomplete sentences from the copied text?

These elements introduce irrelevant text and structural inconsistencies that can negatively affect readability score calculations.

How many words are recommended for a proper readability analysis?

Around 576 words are used in the example, and the transcript suggests that the initial sample of 141 words is not enough for accurate readability analysis.

What is the first readability analysis website used in the video?

The name of the website is not explicitly provided, but it is described as a site where users paste text directly and click 'measure readability' to receive instant scores.

What additional steps must be taken to analyze the text on the second readability website?

Users must click 'Test by Direct Input', paste the text, and then select 'Calculate Readability' to generate the scores.

What happens to the text after submission on the second readability website?

The text is deleted from the input box, but the readability scores appear below where the text was previously displayed.

Why is it necessary to review the copied text before analyzing readability?

Reviewing ensures accuracy by correcting formatting issues, removing unnecessary text, and ensuring sentences are complete so that the readability results reflect the actual content.

What step should you perform before processing readability scores if your word processor does not display word count automatically?

You must enable the word count feature manually in your text editor.