6 ms·
Key points you make here. I have to wonder how much of it is due to just lazy habits, e.g., when major newspapers are written to a 6th-grade reading level, it'
by toss1 5y ago
Key points you make here.
I have to wonder how much of it is due to just lazy habits, e.g., when major newspapers are written to a 6th-grade reading level, it's pretty easy to slide into skimming habits.
OTOH, once the texts get seriously detailed, even when well-written, logic ability and skills come to the fore - if you cannot simultaneously hold in your head each the multiple concepts being described, as well as the logical relations being described, you'll have a really hard time understanding the interactions between those concepts.
Research to sort out the difference would be really interesting to see. If it is a lot of just bad skimming habits, seems easy to cure. But fundamental limitations in logical abilities and skills are much harder to address.
- Broken_Hippo 5y agoI'm personally in favor of keeping news at a somewhat low reading level. Yes, I want folks to be literate, but I also want news to be available to as many people as possible. Having local news at a lower reading level means that younger people can understand the news. Immigrants and others that are learning the language of the area truly benefit. Easy to read news is more easily understood when folks don't have as much mental stamina, too. Besides, advertisements surely are going to keep to simply language so that more folks understand them. So will various other players. Might as well be sure to give factual things too.
- toss1 5y agoAgree, even if it is predominantly lazy get-the-gist reading habits that makes the difference, I don't think the solution would be to crank up the reading level of everything (and you laid out here a great set of reasons!). Those of us that want more complex material can find it.