General Textbook Readability Checklist
This checklist is designed to be used with expository texts only.
ADAPTED FROM: http://www.indiana.edu/~l517/readability.htm
In the blank before each item, indicate Y for "Yes,” S for "Sort of" or "to Some extent," N
for "No" or Ñ for "does not apply."
UNDERSTANDABILITY (TOTAL=________________) (RATING KEY: Y=2, S=1, N or Ñ=0)
1. _____ The assumptions about students' vocabulary knowledge are appropriate.
2. _____ The assumptions about students' prior knowledge are appropriate.
3. _____ The assumptions about students' general experiential background are appropriate.
4. _____ New concepts are explicitly linked to the students' prior knowledge or to their experiential
background.
5. _____ The text introduces abstract concepts by accompanying them with many concrete examples.
6. _____ The text introduces new concepts one at a time, with a sufficient number of examples for each
one.
7. _____ Definitions are understandable and at a lower level of abstraction than the concept being
defined.
8. _____The text avoids irrelevant details.
9. _____The text explicitly states important complex relationships (e.g., causality and conditionality) rather
than always expecting the reader to infer them from the context?
10. _____Is the text appropriate according to a readability formula? (USE ANY AVERAGE FROM READABILITY FORMULA)
11. _____I can support the content information from the text by directing students to the examples in the
text, and I will be able to extended the lesson from those examples.
USABILITY (TOTAL=________________) (RATING KEY: Y=2, S=1, N or Ñ=0)
1. _____ The title clearly defines the contents of the text.
2. _____ The text includes headings and subheadings.
3. _____ If the text includes headings and subheadings, it is easy to differentiate between them. (For
example, the font style of headings vs. subheadings is different enough that a reader would not mistake
a subheading under the first heading to instead be a second heading.)
4. _____ If the text includes headings and subheadings, they provide assistance in breaking the text into
relevant parts.
5. _____ Technical terms and/or specialized vocabulary stand out from the rest of the text (e.g., they are in
a different font or are they listed in the margins of the page).
6. _____ An adequate context is provided to allow students to determine the meanings of technical terms
and/or specialized vocabulary.
7. _____ Any and all charts, graphs, pictures, and/or illustrations appear on the same or opposite page as
the text reference to them. In other words, you do not have to turn a page in order to find a chart, graph,
picture and/or illustration that the reading refers you to.
8. _____ Any graphs and charts are easy to read and are supportive of the textual material.
9. _____ Any illustrations and picture are of high quality, are appropriate to the level of students, and are
supportive of the textual material.
10. _____ The print size of the text is appropriate to the level of student readers.
11. _____ Concepts are spaced appropriately through the text, rather than being too many in too short a
space.
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General Textbook Readability Checklist
INTERESTABILITY (TOTAL=________________) (RATING KEY: Y=2, S=1, N or Ñ=0)
1. _____ Chapter titles, headings, and subheadings are interesting and capture the reader's attention.
2. _____ The writing style of the text is particularly interesting (e.g., the author uses colorful language
and/or humor).
3. _____ The layout and overall appearance of pages is interesting and captures the reader's attention
4. _____ Color is used to make the text more appealing.
5. _____ The text provides positive and motivating models for both sexes as well as for other racial, ethnic,
and socioeconomic groups.
6. _____I am interested in using the text with my students.
7. _____The text will help students generate interest as they relate experiences and develop visual and
sensory images?
8. _____Does the text illustrate or describe how the content can and will be used in the future?
9. _____Does the action or illustrations in the text realistically portray the content under study?
10. _____Are the activities motivating? Will most students want to continue pursuing the topic?
11. _____Each chapter displays a motivating content element for students to read about or explore.
TOTAL SCORE: Count all SUB-TOTALS for understandability +usability + interest=__________.
SUMMARY RATING: Find the sum for each section using the RATING KEY as a guide)
Circle one choice for each item. (RATING KEY: Y=2, S=1, N or Ñ=0)
1. The text rates highest in understandability / usability / interest.
2. The text rates lowest in understandability / usability / interest.
STATEMENTS OF STRENGTHS (BASED ON RESULTS)
STATEMENTS OF CHALLENGES (BASED ON RESULTS)
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