Cloze


 * THE CLOZE PROCEDURE**


 * Purpose of the Strategy: **

Originated by Taylor (1953), a Cloze passage contains systematically deleted words. The Cloze procedure is used to (1) determine what students already know about a given topic and (2) to assess the suitability of a new text for students by testing their prior knowledge and language competence as they attempt to fill in the deletions. This can also be done after reading a section, or learning content is covered as a check for understanding. A cloze passage is a reading strategy the incrases comprehension.

Select a passage of approximately 250 words from a text that students have not previously read. Leave a lead-in of about 25 words. For middle/high school students, underline every fifth (5th) word until you have arrived at a total of 50 words. These words constitute the missing words that the student must supply. Leave the sentences after the 50th deletion intact.
 * STEP 1: SELECTION **

Type the 250 word selection in a double-spaced format. Leave a blank for every underlined word. Make certain that all the blanks are the same length (8-10 spaces = ). Create an answer key of the exact replacement for the 50 missing words.
 * STEP 2: CONSTRUCTION **

Give your students written directions. Emphasize the fact that this is not a timed test, but a way for you to determine their background knowledge of the topic. Explain that they are to first read the entire passage and then attempt to fill each blank with a word that they think the author might have used. Allow them to take as long as they need to complete the task.
 * STEP 3: ADMINISTRATION **

If a GRADE must be given, do so on completion of activity, not the correct answers. To SCORE the Cloze passage, count only exact replacements. Do not count synonyms as correct. Do not penalize spelling errors. The raw score is the number of words that are correct. Double this number to find the percentage. I.e., If there are 35 correct replacements, 35 x 2 = 70%.
 * STEP 4: SCORING **

Cloze Scores: A. Constructing a Cloze Test 1. Select passage. From the content textbook select a passage of approximately three hundred words of continuous text. The passage should be representative of the reading level of the entire __class__. The __material must not have___ been previously read by _ __students. Complete paragraphs should__ _ be used. 2. Identify words to be deleted. Approximately __25 words__ be left intact as __lead-in to the selection.__ underline every fifth word 50 words have been. These words will comprise _ __missing words to be___ by the students. Words _ __after the fiftieth deletion__ _ be left intact. 3. Prepare _ __stencil. Type the selection__ _ a stencil, double-space format, blanks for words previously___. Care should be taken__ _ make all blanks of _ __length.__ B. Administering the Cloze Test Duplicate the test_ distribute one mimeographed copy _ __each student. Emphasize the__ _ oral directions to your __.__ __1. Supply one word__ _ each blank. 2. Encourage guessing, _ __students should attempt to__ _ all blanks. 3. Misspellings will _ __scored as correct as__ _ as they are recognizable. 4. _ __cloze test will not__ _ timed. 5. Before beginning, silently through the entire test. _ __will then read it__ _ to you before you ___.__ C. Scoring the Cloze Test Determine each student's raw _ in the following manner: 1. only exact replacements as ___. Synonyms are incorrect.__ __2. Misspellings__ _ the only exception to above rule. Do not the student for spelling. 3. Inappropriate word endings are. 4. The raw score will the number of correct _ __for each student.__ D. Classifying Student Performance __It__ _ generally been found that _ __who score between 40__ _ 60 percent would benefit _ __use of the textbook.__ __ scoring at this level are said to be performing at their instructional reading level. The textbook might be too difficult for those students scoring below 40 percent. It may be too easy for those scoring above 60 percent.
 * Material is too easy || Independent Level || 60% and above ||
 * Material is about right || Instructional Level || 40-60% ||
 * Material is too difficult || Frustration Level || under 40% ||
 * A RECIPE FOR CLOZE TESTING **

Additional Links [|How to make a cloze passage]