Wiederhold, BYU 2009

RAYGOR READABILTY ESTIMATE—In Cold Blood by Truman Capote FirstVintageInternationalEd.

PURPOSE OF THE STRATEGY Devised by Alton Raygor (1977), this readability formula is designed specifically as a measure of sentence complexity and word length for middle/secondary level reading material. Easier to use than formulas like the Fry Readability Graph (1977) which include syllable counts, the formula is an estimate and the following cautions and limitations should be considered: a. Student’s prior knowledge or background experience b. Conceptual load –how complex the concepts are c. Student interest in the material d. Students’ linguistic experience with the syntax e. Students’ maturity level and readiness for the material DIRECTIONS STEP 1 The Raygor is a lot simpler than it seems at first glance. First, count out three 100-word passages, from the beginning, middle, and end of a book. The results of the Raygor will be averaged out over the three passages. A quick count can be conducted on one passage, but is not guaranteed to be as accurate. Do not count numerals unless written out – i.e., do not count “43” but do count, “forty-three” as one word. STEP 2 Count how many sentences you have. If the final sentence is broken within the 100-word limit, estimate that sentence to the nearest tenth. For example, seven (7) words out of a 15-word sentence would round out to .5. STEP 3 Now take the 100-word passage and underline words with six (6) letters or more. Count how many words are in the passage. STEP 4 To plot the results on the graph, find the total number of sentences in your passage on the vertical axis (left column) of the Raygor scale and place a dot on the margin closest to that number. Next, find the number of words having six (6) or more letters and place a dot on the horizontal axis closest to you number. Find the intersection of the two dots on the graph to arrive at your grade level. Remember that grade level is only valid within the “parallel” lines. If your intersection point is outside of the lines your total is invalid for the purpose of this estimate. Example Sentences Words Passage A 6.0 15 Passage B 6.8 19 Passage C 6.4 17 Total 19.2 51 Average 6.4 17 This gives you a readability of about 5th grade.

Wiederhold, BYU 2009

From "The Raygor Readability Estimate: A Quick and Easy Way to Determine Difficulty" by A. L. Raygor. In Reading: Theory. Research and Practice. Twenty-Sixth Yearbook of the National Reading Conference (pp. 259-263) edited by P: D. Pearson. 1977. Clemson. SC: National Reading Conference.

It should be remembered that the Raygor Method is a way to make an educated guess about the reading

level of a particular novel. Capote’s novel “In Cold Blood” provides a perfect example of how the resulting reading level should be balanced with the teacher’s understanding of the content, abilities of the class and different aspects of the novel. Averaging the passages below the novel is placed in a ninth grade reading level; however, based on the first passage below (containing only Capote’s words), the novel would be appropriate for a college student. But because so much of the novel is comprised of quoted passages, the reading level is deemed appropriate (averaged) for the ninth grade; however, due to the mature content and difficult passages I would place the novel in a twelfth grade classroom.

Wiederhold, BYU 2009

Selection from p. 1-100 (3.4 Sentences; 35)

The master of the River Valley Farm, Herbert William Clutter, was forty-

eight years old, and as a result of a recent medical examination for an insurance policy, knew himself to be in first-rate condition. Though he wore rimless glasses and was of but average height, standing just under five feet ten, Mr. Clutter cut a man’s-man figure. His shoulders were broad, his hair had held its dark color, his square-jawed, confident face retained a healthy-hued youthfulness, and his teeth, unstained and strong enough to shatter walnuts, were still intact. He weighed a hundred and fifty-four—the same as he… (p. 6) 15

Selection from p. 101-200 (6.8 Sentences; 25) “Deal me out, baby,” Dick said. “I’m a normal.” And Dick meant what he said. He thought himself as balanced, as sane as anyone—maybe a bit smarter than the average fellow, that’s all. But Perry—there was, in Dick’s opinion, “something wrong” with Little Perry. To say the least. Last spring, when they had celled together at Kansas State Penitentiary, he’d learned most of Perry’s lesser peculiarities: Perry could be “such a kid,” always wetting his bed and crying in his sleep (“Dad, I been looking everywhere, where you been, Dad?”), and often Dick had seen him “sit for hours just … (p. 108) 11 Selection from p. 201-343 (4.4 Sentences; 24)

Perry soon developed his own personal gift for spying out bottles. At first he

merely indicated to the boy the whereabouts of his finds; he thought it too undignified to scurry about collecting them himself. It was all “pretty silly,” just “kid stuff.” Nevertheless, the game generated a treasure-hunt excitement, and presently he, too, succumbed to the fun, the fervor of this quest for refundable empties. Dick, too, but Dick was in dead earnest. Screwy as it seemed, maybe this was a way to make some money—or, at any rate, a few bucks. Lord knows, he and Perry could use … (p. 210) 13

Average (4.9 Sentences; 27.7) resulting in a 9th grade reading level but with

teacher considerations results in a 12th grade reading level.