Text classification and text gradation are important for language teachers. Profiling and readability studies examine textual and linguistic features that determine text difficulty. Arabic, as an under-resourced language, suffers from a lack of such studies which results in material developers and textbook writers relying on their intuitions and…

Three short articles about large type transcribing are provided for braille transcribers and teachers of the visually handicapped. The first article explains section IV-B-2 of the National Braille Association Manual for Large Type Transcribing. The second article presents the results of a survey on the kinds of typewriters, types of…

Designed for braille transcribers and teachers of the visually handicapped, this document consists of two short articles about textbook format braille. The first article describes some recurring print format problems and suggested solutions for dealing with them. Topics include special page numbering systems, the use of tab indexes, the preferred…

Designed for braille transcribers and teachers of the visually handicapped, this document presents two articles about textbook braille. The first article presents information on the various methods available for transcribing tables--the stairstep method, the keying method, and the linear method. The second article provides further discussion of…

Designed for braille transcribers and teachers of the visually handicapped, this document consists of three short articles about literary braille. The first article discusses the changes in the official literary braille code which became effective on October 1, 1980. The second article describes problems commonly encountered by students and…

Examines aspects of the introductory psychology textbook market through a publishing house survey. Aspects covered are the current and future number of introductory texts, fewer textbook publishers, custom publishing, changing content, and computer technologies. Discusses the results of the publishers' responses and provides statistical tables of…

Simplification of reading materials for lower-level English for special purposes (ESP) instruction may make texts comprehensible, but it may not make them much different from texts written 50 years ago. What will make them different is their authenticity, an approach characteristic of ESP, even at the lowest levels. However, authenticity is often…

Summarized is a report by Jane Burnette titled "Adapting Instructional Materials for Mainstreamed Students," which describes federally sponsored projects to develop publishable supplements and adaptations of popular textbooks for use with mainstreamed handicapped students. The modifications were made to elementary curricula in science…

Studies the editing process involving gender-related editorial decisions in the development of instructional materials for elementary art education. Explores sociolinguistic theory and concepts supporting the use of unbiased language. Provides examples of text revision, including rationale behind editorial choices. (KM)