Source: https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-literacy-in-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified/3-1-2-scientific-texts

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# Scientific Texts

CPD: Literacy in Science for Teachers (by Amanda Fleck), topic 3.1.2

## Readability of Scientific Texts

The readability of science texts is generally high. This is due to the frequency of polysyllabic words and complex sentence structure.

### Flesch Kincaid

![Flesch Kincaid](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-04/7be444ff-b72f-41c8-bbf4-e4c46873061e/shutterstock_246116167.jpg)

- An example of a readability test is the **Flesch Kincaid** reading ease test. 
- It uses a formula to calculate the readability of a text. 
- The lower the number, the harder the text.

### Checking for readability stats

![Checking for readability stats](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-08/459a2801-295b-41b3-991f-dbe870731ba3/information-words-.jpg)

- You can check the readability of any text using the readability statistics option on Microsoft Word.
- Copy text from a source into a word document:
 - → go to review → press spelling and grammar → select options → select show readability statistics → complete the spell check as normal  → a pop-up window will show the Flesch Kincaid reading ease.

### Examples

![Examples](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2018-12/ba3eab6c-29f7-4238-b256-729e14fee915/girl-book-school-.jpg)

- A typical page from a biology topic in a KS3 textbook will have: 
 - Around 900 words and 3000 characters.
 - FK readability of 71.1, i.e easily understood by 13- to 15-year-old students.
- A glossary of keywords for a Y7 biology topic on reproduction will have:
 - Around 500 words, 4000 characters, 6 paragraphs and 56 sentences.
 - FK readability of 63, i.e. understood by 15- to 17-year-old students, bu fairly difficult to read.

### Strategies for shared reading

![Strategies for shared reading](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-04/e7150b03-c303-412d-85a9-696bd3de1192/iraq-school-children-girls-learn-read-write-.jpg)

- Shared reading can be used to model how to successfully read scientific texts. 
 - Text is on a slide/visualiser and students and teacher look at it together.
 - Teacher gives an overview of the text and techniques used.
 - Specialist vocabulary is taught before reading and is highlighted in the text.
 - Teacher reads the text aloud, encouraging students to follow. 
 - Features of the text are highlighted and annotated by teachers and students (e.g. type, purpose, audience, voice, language).

### Flesch Kincaid reading ease scale

![Flesch Kincaid reading ease scale](https://image-v2.cdn.app.senecalearning.com/2019-08/668c7c49-3b5b-45d4-9918-91cd72b137ee/Untitled%20drawing%20(2).jpg)

## Test yourself on Scientific Texts

- Five texts are analysed with the Flesch Kincaid reading ease test. Which of the following scores represents the hardest to read text?
- Five texts are analysed with the Flesch Kincaid reading ease test. Which of the following scores represents the easiest to read text?

[Practise this topic for free](https://app.senecalearning.com/classroom/course/28e73a94-15be-44ba-b967-d3fb671c12fc/section/c8923fd4-8cff-496f-9590-721958c8dd77/session)

- Previous topic: [3.1.1 Reading in Science](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-literacy-in-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified/3-1-1-reading-in-science.md)
- Next topic: [4.1.1 Writing in Science](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-literacy-in-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified/4-1-1-writing-in-science.md)

## CPD: Literacy in Science for Teachers (by Amanda Fleck) contents

### 1 Why Literacy Matters in Science Education?
- 1.1 Why Literacy Matters in Science Education?
  - [1.1.1 Why Literacy Matters in Science Education?](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-literacy-in-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified/1-1-1-why-literacy-matters-in-science-education.md)

### 2 The Language of Science
- 2.1 The Language of Science
  - [2.1.1 Scientific Vocabulary](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-literacy-in-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified/2-1-1-scientific-vocabulary.md)
  - [2.1.2 Word Tiers](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-literacy-in-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified/2-1-2-word-tiers.md)

### 3 Reading in Science
- 3.1 Reading in Science
  - [3.1.1 Reading in Science](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-literacy-in-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified/3-1-1-reading-in-science.md)
  - [3.1.2 Scientific Texts](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-literacy-in-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified/3-1-2-scientific-texts.md)

### 4 Writing in Science
- 4.1 Writing in Science
  - [4.1.1 Writing in Science](https://senecalearning.com/en-gb/revision-notes/teacher-cpd/cpd-literacy-in-science-for-teachers-seneca-certified/4-1-1-writing-in-science.md)