Appendix A – READABILITY COMPUTATIONS
Topic 1a: Never Give Up (Song)
If you’re not feeling at your best today
Never Give up (2x)
Whether it’s a sport or a game you play
Never Give up (2x)
If you’re not feeling at your best today
Never Give up (2x)
Boys and girls always remember
Work real hard and never surrender
Some things are easy, some things are
hard
But if you give it your best, you’ll go real
far
If you’re feeling down
Don’t cry and quit
Just try much harder and go for it
When you have a bad feeling in your gut
Just take a deep breath and never give up!
HIS: 13 (pronouns/names) x3.635
8 (personal sentences) x .314
43.745 + 2.512 = 46.257 / very interesting
Topic 1b: Takloo, The Little Salt Seller (story)
Takloo was a little boy from Anjarle, a small village in the far, far west of India.
Anjarle was colorful. It had many trees.
The people there were different shades of brown: dark and light brown. And there were even those
who were very, very light brown.
Takloo was a naughty boy who loved his
dog Moti very much.
When Takloo was born, his father, mother
and Moti were very happy and the whole
village sang songs and danced. Even Moti
danced on two of his four feet.
Takloo’s family had very little money.
They were a happy family
HIS: (18 pronouns/names) x 3.635 =65.43/
very interesting but not so dramatic
Topic 2a: “I am Malala” (autobiography)
I was born in Mingora, Pakistan on July 12, 1997.
My father was a teacher. He ran a girls’ school in our village.
I loved school. But everything changed when the Taliban took control of our town in Swat Valley.
They said girls could no longer go to school.
In January 2008 when I was just 11 years old, I said goodbye to my classmates. I did not know if I
will see them again.
I spoke out and I wanted all girls like me to go to school. This made the Taliban angry.
In October 2012, on my way home
HIS: 24 pronouns/names x 3.635 =87. 24/ very dramatic
0 personal sentences
Topic 2b: Ryan’s Story
One day in January 1998, I was sitting
in my Grade One classroom. My
teacher, Mrs. Prest, explained that
people were sick and some were even
dying because they didn’t have clean
water. She told us that some people
walked for hours in Africa and
sometimes it was just to get dirty
water.
So, I went home and begged my mom
and dad to help. After a few days, they
told me I could do extra chores to earn
the $70 I thought would build a well. I
thought that’s all it would take to solve
the world’s water problem. I worked
for four months to earn my first $70.
Then I learned that it was actually
going to cost $2,000 to build a well in
a place like Uganda. I also learned that
the problem was way bigger than I
realized.
HIS:
No. of personal words: 18 x 3.635
No. of personal sentences: 0 x .314
65.43 + 0 = 65.43 (very interesting but not so dramatic)
Topic 3a: The Empty Pot
A long time ago, a boy named Chen lived in China with his mother.
The emperor of China was an old man who did not have children. The emperor made a plan
to choose the next emperor.
He said to his people, “I will give a flower seed to every child.
In a year, come back with your pots.” Chen planted his seed in a small pot.
He gave it water. Days went by.
The seed did not grow. Chen moved the seed to a bigger pot.
Weeks went by.
The seed did not grow.
Chen gave the seed fresh water from a well.
Months went by.
The seed did not grow. Chen let his pet cricket sing to the pot.
A year went by.
The seed did not grow.
HIS:
No. of personal
words: 22 x 3.635
No. of personal
sentences: 1 x .314
79.97 + .315 =
80.29 (very
interesting, but not
so dramatic)
Topic 3b: The Emperor’s New Clothes
There once was an Emperor who loved nothing better than wearing fancy new clothes. Three
times a day he would change into a brand new royal outfit. Many Emperors spend their days
talking to advisers and fixing problems of the land. Not this one! He was too busy sending
out his servants to find the next great
outfit to wear.
One day two strangers came to town.
They said they were weavers. They
said the cloth they wove was the finest
anyone would ever see. But in fact,
they were not weavers – they were
crooks.
These fake weavers said their cloth
was more beautiful than any other
cloth BUT it could not be seen by just
anyone. Only people who were smart
and the most excellent could actually
see the magic cloth. People who were
not smart and not excellent – well,
they would see nothing at all.
HIS: Sample Words: 118
PA=Number of personal words:
23x3.635
PB=Number of personal sentences:
1x.314
83.605 (PA) + .314(PB)= 83.919/very dramatic
Topic 4a: The Woodcutter and the Axe
Long ago, there lived a woodcutter in a
small village. He was sincere in his work
and very honest. Every day, he set out into
the nearby forest to cut trees. He brought
the woods back into the village and sold
them out to a merchant and earn his money.
He earned just about enough to make a
living, but he was satisfied with his simple
living.
One day, while cutting a tree near a river,
his axe slipped out of his hand and fell into
the river. The river was so deep, he cannot
get it. He only had one axe which is now
gone.
HIS: 14 (personal words) x 3.635= 50.89
0 (personal sentences) x .314= 0
50.89 + 0 = 50.89/very interesting
Topic 4b: The Diligent Farmer
Gnarled are the farmer's hands
Calloused from his toil...
Diligently sowing seed
In the cultivated soil.
Drought and floods come
And test his endurance,
But he practices patience
And continues with assurance.
Sometimes he's exhausted
But his work is not in vain...
He knows that perseverance
Will soon result in gain.
Let's emulate the farmer
Pressing on come what may...
Seeds we sow in God's soil
Will abound on harvest day!
HIS: 7 (personal words) x 3.635= 25.445
0 (personal sentences) x .314= 0
24. 445 + 0= 25.445/slightly interesting
Topic 5a: A Thirsty sparrow
Once there was a glass of water and five very thirsty birds. Hawk was the first to drink, and the
water receded. Hornbill was the second to drink, and the water in the glass receded. Egret was
the third to drink, and the water in the glass receded. Rail was the fourth to drink, but there was
a very little water left in the glass. Sparrow is small, his bill is short. The glass is tall with very
little water left inside it. How can Sparrow drink water from the glass?
At first, Sparrow got a chair and tried to drink water from the glass.
HIS: 9 (personal words) x 3.635= 32.715
1 (personal sentence) x .314= .314
32.715 + .314= 33.029/very interesting
Topic 5b: Robert the Bruce and
the Spider
When Bruce, King of Scotland,
was getting the worst
Of the war he was waging with
Edward the First;
When most of his friends had been
captured or slain,
And the sky of Scotland looked
very like rain;
When he spent his days hiding in
bushes and trees,
Getting thorns in his fingers and
cuts on his knees,
And when nothing could lighten
the gloom he was feeling –
He lay in a cave and looked at the
ceiling.
He stared at the ceiling with
thoughts that were black,
Till a spidery spider came out of a
crack,
A spidery spider all bulging with
thread,
HIS: 15 (personal words) x 3.635= 54.525
0 (personal sentences) x .314= 0
54.525 + 0= 54.525 / very interesting
Topic 6a: The Man who Made Flowers Bloom
Once upon a time, there lived an old man and his wife.
Because they did not have any
children they gave their love to
their dog called Shiro.
One day Shiro was digging in the
fields.
"Woof woof, woof woof" Shiro
barked as he dug.
You want me to dig here eh？. Ok,
I will start digging"
After digging a while what do you
think he found?
"Wow, this is amazing!"
Out from the ground came a bag
bursting with gold coins, some
large and some small.
But a greedy old man from the next
house had heard all of this.
HIS: Sample Words: 129
PA=Number of personal words:
17x3.635
PB=Number of personal sentences:
7x.314
HIS:
61.79 (PA) + 1.884 (PB) = 63.674/VERY INTERESTING BUT NOT SO DRAMATIC
Topic 6b: The Honest Man
Once upon a time there lived a young man
named Ali who never told a lie. Everyone had
heard of Ali, even those who lived in villages
and cities far from his. This talent of his was
unusual. Most people lied, at least once in a
while. Some people told whopping tales, and
some people simply told white lies. But Ali
swore that he had never once told a lie.
When the king learned of Ali's boast, he
wished to see him, of course. He ordered his
servants to bring Ali to the palace. "It is
impossible that there is a man who has never
lied," the king said.
When Ali appeared before him, the king
looked him up and down, and he saw only an
ordinary man. He had no star upon his
forehead. He did not have a faraway look in
his eyes. He did not appear to be particularly
special in any way. After the king had studied
him thoroughly, he said, "Is it true what they
say about you?"
HIS Computation: Sample Words: 109
PA=Number of personal words: 26x3.635
PB=Number of personal sentences: 1x.314
94.51 (PA) + .314 (PB) = 94.824/Very dramatic
Topic 7a: A Homeless boy
A passerby took a photo of Daniel Cabrera as he was studying under the McDonald’s store
lights. This photo has been shared online many times and it became an inspiration for many.
Daniel’s story touched the hearts of many people. He is eager to study hard and become a
police officer in the future. McDonald’s has given Daniel a scholarship to help with his
education. He also received school supplies from other people. His mother is very thankful to
everyone.
Daniel is now in grade school. He will continue to show persistence and determination to
reach his dreams.
HIS: 65.43 (Very interesting but not so dramatic)
Topic 7b: A UP graduate from the Aeta community
Norman King is an Aeta. He graduated from the
University of the Philippines. He is from a poor
family.
King loves his community. He and his father helped
the Aetas. They fought for their land. His
grandfather fought for their land too.
King feels sad. Some members of their tribe only
helped themselves. His culture and identity are
important to him. He wants to be a lawyer. He
wants to help the Aetas. He wants to fight for their
lands. He said, “I want to be a leader of our people.”
HIS (33.29) Very interesting
Topic 8a: A Crafty Escape
Dressing up as someone else can be fun. Now imagine that your life depends on how well
you play that part. Years ago, the Crafts did just that. They pretended to be different people to
escape from slavery in the South.
William and Ellen Craft were black Americans born into slavery. William was born in 1824
and lived in Macon, Georgia. His family was owned by a man who liked to gamble. When
the man lost a bet, he got money to pay it by selling his slaves.
William was sold when he was sixteen years old. He was a
Personal words: 20 x. 3.6635 = 73.27
Personal sentences: 1 x .314 = 0.314
HIS: 73.27 + 0.314 = 73.584/ Very interesting, but not so dramatic
Topic 8b: ‘Humans of New York’ features inspiring story of Filipino soon-to-be teacher
"I think I've already learned a special skill that teachers have to keep their personal problems
out of the classroom."
This is what 20-year-old John Patrick "JP"
Villanueva said to sum up how inspiring his
outlook is in life regardless of how unfair life
could be.
JP recently graduated from the Universidad
de Manila with the degree of Bachelor of
Secondary Education Major in Social
Science. He was optimistic all along, saying,
"My goal ever since I experienced this kind of
hardship is I am going to graduate no matter
what."
It all started when JP's father was
Personal words: 27 x. 3.6635 = 98.9145
Personal sentences: 2 x .314 = 0.628
HIS: 98.9145 + 0.628 = 99.5425/ Very
dramatic
