Implementing Plain Language Guidelines in Student Documents

Type of Presentation

Individual paper/presentation (20 minute presentation)

Target Audience

Higher Education

Presenter Information

Katie Derthick, University of Washington
Natasha Jones

Location

Room 211

Abstract

See presentation description.

Presentation Description

Research on Plain Language (PL) has shown that readers have improved comprehension and higher preference levels for documents written in PL. The intended purpose of PL guidelines is to eliminate legalese in public policy and governmental documents. Our study will specifically examine the effects of implementing PL guidelines for headings (statement format, question format) and personal pronouns (present, absent) in financial aid documents on students’ comprehension and perception. The results will have implications for teachers and instructors who create documents that are used by students, promoting students’ ability to access and use relevant information. In addition, this examination of the effects of PL will encourage instructors and other knowledge-workers to focus on using PL guidelines and standards in the documents the design for students, which in turn, may encourage students to do the same in the documents that they create.

Keywords

Information literacy, Plain language, Comprehension, Legalase

Publication Type and Release Option

Presentation (Open Access)

Recommended Citation

Derthick, Katie and Jones, Natasha, "Implementing Plain Language Guidelines in Student Documents" (2009). Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy. 8.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gaintlit/2009/2009/8