KISS - FH V · Andrea Petz - i3s3 - KISS - ICCHP 2002 4 Some Problems 1. Is it possible to ease e.g. an exam question without changing the level of difficulty? 2

KISSKISSKeep it Keep it Short and Simple (?)Short and Simple (?)

Andrea PetzAndrea Petzstudying integratedstudying integrated

University of LinzUniversity of Linz

Andrea Petz - i3s3 - KISS - ICCHP 2002 2

StructureStructure®® Starting Starting PointPoint

®® Problems, Problems, OpinionsOpinions

®® Possible SolutionsPossible Solutions

®® WhyWhy MakeMake itit EasyEasy??

®® HowHow MakeMake itit EasyEasy??

®® Further Further InformationInformation


Starting Starting PointPoint®® Project Project ECDLECDL®® PD PD

–– Target Groups Target Groups 2 and 3 (2 and 3 (DeafDeaf / Hard of / Hard ofHearing; People Hearing; People with with mental mental disabilitiesdisabilities))

–– AimsAims::•• Make Make Syllabus and MQTB Syllabus and MQTB by by „„add onsadd ons““

accessible accessible to to our target groups withoutour target groups withoutchanging the levelchanging the level

•• Produce Produce „„easy easy to to readread““ teaching teaching and andlearning materials learning materials to to support applicantssupport applicantsand and training providers helping themtraining providers helping themgetting the getting the ECDLECDL®®..


Some Some ProblemsProblems1.1. Is it possible Is it possible to to easeease e.g. an e.g. an examexam

question without changing the level question without changing the level ofofdifficultydifficulty??

2.2. What aboutWhat about all all that scientific wordingthat scientific wording,,all all thethe jargonjargon, all , all thosethose elegant elegant phrasesphrasesand and involved sentences we are used involved sentences we are used to?to?

3.3. IsnIsn´́t t it part it part of of the exam the exam to to understandunderstandthe question the question and to and to know what know what to do?to do?

AND:AND:

4.4. Do Do we we reallyreally want want to to adjust the leveladjust the level ––

ddoowwnnwwaarrdd??

ofofmymy


OpinionOpinion

„„IIn n generalgeneral, , I'm very reluctantI'm very reluctantto to acceptaccept a a ‘‘reduced languagereduced language‘‘ - -

but in this connection and with theaspired goals such an approachshould be investigated thoroughly.“

„Unknown Reviewer“


Possible SolutionsPossible Solutions®® Perhaps it is not possible for every exam Perhaps it is not possible for every exam ––

but it is worth but it is worth a a trytry

®® You should always keep You should always keep in in mind who youmind who youare talking are talking // writing for writing for

®® There should be There should be aa focus focus on on fulfilling thefulfilling thetask task –– not not on on advanced rhetorical abilitiesadvanced rhetorical abilities

®® ItIt isis no no downgradingdowngrading, , it is it is an an opening opening to ato anew circle new circle of peopleof people((ExampleExample: R. : R. FeynmanFeynman / St. Hawking). / St. Hawking).


Why make it easyWhy make it easy? I? IAllAll citizens citizens of of the the European Union European Union have have a a

democraticdemocratic right right to to participate participate in in the thesocialsocial and and economiceconomic life of life of the the society in society inwhich theywhich they live. live.

Access toAccess to informationinformation about their society about their society’’sscultureculture,, literature literature,, laws laws,, local local and national and nationalpoliciespolicies and and ethos is ethos is fundamental in order fundamental in ordertoto take part take part in in mainstream mainstream life. life.

Only Only informed citizensinformed citizens can influence or can influence ormonitor the decisions that affect their livesmonitor the decisions that affect their livesand and the livesthe lives of of their families their families..


Why make it easyWhy make it easy? II? IIPresent structures Present structures deny accessdeny access to to informationinformation

to ato a large number large number of people of people with limited with limitedskillsskills in in reading reading,, writing or understanding writing or understanding..

There is There is an an extensive extensive growinggrowing number number ofofpeople people having problems with literacyhaving problems with literacy and andcomprehensioncomprehension::–– people people with learning disabilitywith learning disability and and other disabilitiesother disabilities

((egeg. . DeafDeaf / / hardhard of of hearinghearing))–– people people who receivedwho received a a limitedlimited formal formal educationeducation–– people people with social problemswith social problems–– immigrants whose mother tongue is not the officialimmigrants whose mother tongue is not the official

languagelanguage of of their adopted countrytheir adopted country..


Why make it easyWhy make it easy? III? IIITheThe UnitedUnited Nations Nations callcall on on governments governments to to makemakeallall

–– public information services public information services and and–– Documentation Documentation

accessible foraccessible for different different groups groups of people of people withwithdisabilitiesdisabilities and to and to encourage the encourage the media to media tomake their services make their services easily availableeasily available to to everyoneeveryone

((RuleRule 5) 5)

In In mostmost European European countries countries littlelittle has has been done been done..OrganisationsOrganisations and people such and people such as editors as editors,, writers writers,,teachersteachers and and translators seldom have guidelinestranslators seldom have guidelineson on howhow to to produce texts produce texts and and summaries whichsummaries whichare easyare easy to to read read and and understand understand..


What is What is „„easyeasy““??Definition:Definition:

An An easyeasy-to--to-read document canread document cantherefore be defined as one thattherefore be defined as one thatcontains only the contains only the most importantmost importantinformation writteninformation written and and presentedpresentedinin the the most directmost direct way so way so that the that thelargest possiblelargest possible audience audience ( (partpart of ofan an intended audienceintended audience) ) cancanunderstandunderstand it. it.


How How toto make it easy make it easy??II®® UseUse simple, simple, straightforward language straightforward language

–– Use the simplest wordsUse the simplest words in in the simplest possible the simplest possiblewayway

®® Avoid abstract concepts Avoid abstract concepts and and structuresstructures–– If you haveIf you have to to mention abstract concepts mention abstract concepts,, use use

concrete examples or comparisons which helpconcrete examples or comparisons which helppeople topeople to understand the issue understand the issue..

®® Use short wordsUse short words of of everyday languageeveryday language–– Avoid long words which are difficultAvoid long words which are difficult to to read read and and

toto speak speak.. Use only words which are common Use only words which are common in inthe everyday language used by thethe everyday language used by the people of people ofyour target groupyour target group.. However However,, be careful be careful to to use useadult language when writing for adultadult language when writing for adult people. people.


How How toto make it easy make it easy? II? II®® Use manyUse many personal personal wordswords

–– Address your readersAddress your readers in a in a direct direct and personal and personalform.form.““YouYou have the have the right to... right to...”” is always better than is always better than““Users ofUsers of the service the service have the have the right to... right to...””

®® Use practical examplesUse practical examples–– Practical examples can helpPractical examples can help people to people to

understand abstract conceptsunderstand abstract concepts and to and to relate relateinformation information toto situations situations in in their own lives their own lives

®® Address the readersAddress the readers in a in a respectful respectful form form–– Use adult language when writing for adultsUse adult language when writing for adults..


How How to to make it easymake it easy? III? III®® Use short sentencesUse short sentences®® Cover Cover only one main ideaonly one main idea per per sentencesentence®® UseUse positive positive languagelanguage,,

–– AvoidAvoid negative negative language language and and negationsnegationsas they are likelyas they are likely to to confuseconfuse

®® Use active rather thanUse active rather than passive passive verbsverbs,,–– Make your document as activeMake your document as active and and

interesting as possibleinteresting as possible–– Generally active verbs make your documentGenerally active verbs make your document

more livelymore lively and and less complicate less complicate

®® Do Do not assume previous knowledgenot assume previous knowledge..


How How toto make it easy make it easy??IVIV®® Use words consistentlyUse words consistently

Use the same word for one thingUse the same word for one thing ––even if repeating words affects theeven if repeating words affects the style of style of writingwriting

®® Keep the punctuationKeep the punctuation simple simpleAvoid semicolonsAvoid semicolons,, hyphens hyphens and and commascommas

®® Do Do not use the subjunctive tensenot use the subjunctive tenseTheThe „„uncertain futureuncertain future““ ( (MightMight bebe, , shouldshould do ...) do ...) is isimpreciseimprecise and and confusingconfusing - - Avoid it asAvoid it as far far as possible as possible

®® Be Be careful with figurescareful with figures of of speech speech and and metaphors metaphorsif they are not very commonif they are not very common

People People with learning disability may not know themwith learning disability may not know thembut if they are widely usedbut if they are widely used in in everyday languageeveryday languagethey can makethey can make a a document more colourful document more colourful..


How How toto make it easy make it easy? V? V®®Be Be careful with numberscareful with numbers

–– Use Use manymany andand somesome for large for large // small amounts small amounts–– For a dateFor a date like like 18671867 use use „„a a longlong time time agoago““–– ForFor small numbers small numbers,, always use the always use the numbernumber, , notnot

the wordthe word

®®Do Do not use words from other languagesnot use words from other languages–– ThisThis also also applies applies to to words which are words which are in in

common use but havecommon use but have a a foreign origin foreign origin.. If you If youcannot avoidcannot avoid such a such a wordword, , explain itexplain it

®®Avoid cross referencesAvoid cross references..


How How toto make it easy make it easy? VI? VI®® MentionMention a a contact address for further contact address for furtherinformationinformation,, if possible if possible,,

–– All All addresses should be written asaddresses should be written as on an on anenvelopeenvelope

–– Do Do not writenot write an an address address on on one one lineline

®® Avoid jargonAvoid jargon,, abbreviations abbreviations and and initialsinitials,,–– Professional Professional jargon should never be usedjargon should never be used - - it is it ismeaninglessmeaningless and irrelevant to and irrelevant to most most peoplepeopleoutside special circlesoutside special circles

–– Avoid abbreviations Avoid abbreviations and and use them only if they use them only if theyare knownare known to to your target group your target group ( (ExplanationExplanation))

®® Read Read and and reread your document oftenreread your document often,,–– Best: Best: With the help With the help of of otherother, , affectedaffected, , personspersons..


Thank YouThank Youfor Your Attentionfor Your Attention

Further Information:

http://www.inclusion-europe.orghttp://ecdl-pd.aib.uni-linz.ac.at

[email protected].

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KISS - FH V · Andrea Petz - i3s3 - KISS - ICCHP 2002 4 Some Problems 1. Is it possible to ease e.g. an exam question without changing the level of difficulty? 2