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Assessing L2 reading texts at the intermediate level: An approximate replication of Crossley, Louwerse, McCarthy & McNamara (2007)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2008

Scott A. Crossley  and
Danielle S. McNamara
Scott A. Crossley
Affiliation:
Mississippi State University, USAscrossley@mail.psyc.memphis.edu
Danielle S. McNamara
Affiliation:
University of Memphis, USAd.mcnamara@mail.psyc.memphis.edu
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Abstract

This paper follows up on the work of Crossley, Louwerse, McCarthy & McNamara (2007), who conducted an exploratory study of the linguistic differences of simplified and authentic texts found in beginner level English as a Second Language (ESL) textbooks using the computational tool Coh-Metrix. The purpose of this study is to provide a more comprehensive study of second language (L2) reading texts than that provided by Crossley et al. (2007) by investigating the differences between the linguistic structures of a larger and more selective corpus of intermediate reading texts. This study is important because advocates of both approaches to ESL text construction cite linguistic features, syntax, and discourse structures as essential elements of text readability, but only the Crossley et al. (2007) study has measured the differences between these text types and their implications for L2 learners. This research replicates the methods of the earlier study. The findings of this study provide a more thorough understanding of the linguistic features that construct simplified and authentic texts. This work will enable material developers, publishers, and reading researchers to more accurately judge the values of simplified and authentic L2 texts as well as improve measures for matching readers to text.

Type
Replication Studies
Information
Language Teaching , Volume 41 , Issue 3 , July 2008 , pp. 409 - 429
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2008

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