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ScienceJournalsWritingfor

ScienceJournals1ContentsChapter1

Introduction:

GeneralRemarksChapter2

Introduction:

TheExperimentalResearchReportChapter3

Introduction:EstablishingaContextChapter4

Introduction:ReviewingPreviousResearchChapter5

Introduction:AdvancingtoPresentResearchContentsChapter1Introduction2ContentsChapter6MethodChapter7MaterialsChapter8ResultsChapter9DiscussionChapter10AbstractContentsChapter6Method3OutlineWhentoWriteEssenceofanArticleWhattoWriteEssentialsofanArticlePreparingtoWriteWritingFormatWritingTipsTheReviewProcessAbstractWritingOutlineWhentoWriteEssence4WhentoWrite?Anarticleisanarticleif:ItmakesacontributionHaveIdiscoveredsomethingnew?HaveIadvancedthestateoftheart?Willpeoplewanttocitemypaper?Avoidthe“thin-section”or“LPU”(LeastPublishableUnit)approach.WhentoWrite?Anarticleisan5TheLeastPublishableUnitSyndrome

(“QuantitynotQuality”)1idea4journalpapers16extendedabstracts64technicalreports“Publicationpyramidofsuccess”AfterD.A.PattersonTheLeastPublishableUnitSyn6WhentoWrite?Anarticleisanarticleif:ItmakesacontributionHaveIdiscoveredsomethingnew?HaveIadvancedthestateoftheart?Willpeoplewanttocitemypaper?Avoidthe“thin-section”or“LPU”approach.Avoidthe“KitchenSink”approach(toobroad).TheresultsaresupportedbysolidevidenceExperimental,Statistical,etc.OtherscanreplicatetheresultsWhentoWrite?Anarticleisan7WhattoWrite?Anarticlemustcontainexplanationsof:ItsimportanceWhyyoushouldreadthis?Needsclearunderstandingandstatementoftheresearchissuesinthefield.ThescientificbasisfortheworkE.g.,followsasconsequenceofexistingtheory,understandingofphysicalprocesses,etc.ResearchmethodologyandexperimentaldesignAnalysisandresultsConclusions(implications)WhattoWrite?Anarticlemust8PreparingtoWrite

(StrategicSuggestions)StudythejournalLookatbackissuesHavearticlesappearedonrelatedtopics?StudyreferencesinrelatedarticlesLookforeditorialstatementsStudylength,format,andotherrequirementsin“InstructionstoAuthors”E.g.,Color?CanIaffordthepagecharges?PreparingtoWrite

(Strategic9WritingFormatGeneralPrinciple:MaketheEditorHappy!!Ifformatisrigidlyspecified,useit!Ifnot,formatshouldfollowfromessenceandessentials:AbstractAclearstatementofproblem,methods,andresultsWritingFormatGeneralPrincipl10WritingFormatGeneralPrinciple:MaketheEditorHappy!Ifformatisrigidlyspecified,conform.Ifnot,shouldfollowfromessenceandessentials:AbstractAclearstatementofproblem,methods,andresultsIntroductionContext:Relationofyourworktoprevious,whyimportant(verification),whatquestionswillbeaddressedTheoretical/ScientificBasisMethodologyResultsConclusionsWritingFormatGeneralPrincipl11WritingTipsGeneralPrinciple:MaketheEditorHappy!!Don’twriteamysterynovelAvoidtheurgetocomplicateWatchlength(toolongortooshort?)UseactivevoiceNo:“ItisseeninTable5”Yes:“Table5shows”Limit“while”and“since”toappropriateuseNo:“Whileothershavefound…”Yes:“Althoughothershavefound…”Qualify“this”whenreferringtoprevioussentencesNo:“Thisaccountsfor…”Yes:“Thisreductioninsoilmoistureaccountsfor…”WritingTipsGeneralPrinciple:12WritingTipsPayattentiontoParagraphStructureTopicsentence

Inselectingageneralapproachforusabilityengineering,wefirstconsideredtheworkofGabbardetal.(1999),whichwasrecommendedbySlocumetal.(2001)aspotentiallyappropriateforabroadrangeofgeovisualizationapplications.Gabbardetal.’sapproachinvolvesfourmajorsteps:ananalysisofpotentialusertaskspriortosoftwaredevelopment,anevaluationofthesoftwarebyusabilityexperts,havingactualusersworkwithabroadrangeofsoftwarefunctions,andacomparativeevaluation…WritingTipsPayattentiontoP13WritingTipsPayattentiontoParagraphStructureTopicsentencePutreferencestofiguresandtablesearlyinparagraphWritingTipsPayattentiontoP14ReferringtoaFigure

Asaresult,wedecidedtoimplementthesix-stepprocessshowninFigure2.Webeganbydevelopingasoftwareprototypelargelybasedonthethirdauthor’sdomainexpertiseinwaterbalancemodelsandclimatology.Becausewefeltthethatresultingsoftwaremightbebiasedtowardthethirdauthor’sinterests,weaskeddomainexpertstoevaluatethesoftwareinstep2.Ourthinkingwasthatthedomainexpertsmightsuggestanumberoftasksthatwehadnotthoughtofimplementing…ReferringtoaFigure Asares15WritingTipsPayattentiontoParagraphStructureTopicsentencePutreferencestofiguresandtablesearlyinparagraphBecarefulhowothers’workischaracterizedUse%-signsintableentries(notincaptions)EffectiveFiguresGraphicelementsAxes(titlesandunits)LongcaptionsarebetterthanlongdescriptionsintextWritingTipsPayattentiontoP16WritingTips

(TacticalSuggestions,Continued)WritingTips

(TacticalSuggest17WritingTips

(TacticalSuggestions,Continued)StepsinManuscriptProduction:Prepare1outlinePrepareParagraphMapPseudo-code:topicsentences,hand-drawnfiguresandcaptions,tableplaceholdersWriteDraftSpellandgrammarcheckReadoutloudRepeat(3)-(5)Showtocolleague(s)Repeat(3)-(5)WritingTips

(TacticalSuggest18WritingTips

(TacticalSuggestions,Continued)WhyGuess?ConsulttheExperts:RobertWeissberg,andSuzanneBuker,WritingUpResearch,PrenticeHall,Inc1990.StrunkandWhite,TheElementsofStyle,4thed.,AllynandBacon,1999Flower,ProblemSolvingStrategiesforWriting,4thed.,Heinle,1997Tufte,VisualDisplayofQuantitativeExplanation,2ndEd.,GraphicsPress,2003(andotherTuftebooks)Otherarticlesastemplatesandexamples

WritingTips

(TacticalSuggest19TheReviewProcessGeneralPrinciple:KeeptheEditorHappy!He/shehasinvestedinyouShowtimeliness&good-faithefforttofollowUnderstandtheEditor’sroleUnderstandtheReviewer’sroleKnowthat:Nearlyallarticlesrequirerevision,andusuallytworeviewcyclesReviewersoftenwanttohelpSomereviewersseemunkindSomereviewersareunkindRegardlessyoucanbenefitTheReviewProcessGeneralPrin20TheReviewProcessDonottakecriticismpersonallyTakecriticismandsuggestionsasasignofinterest(worsecanhappen)DoyourbesttofollowreviewerandeditorsuggestionsIfyoumustdisagree,explainwhy(ventingdoesn’thelp)Assumetheeditorwantstobepartofthenegotiation(seekadvice)DescribechangesmadeinacoverlettertoeditorTheReviewProcessDonottake21Abstract

Abstract22OverviewTheabstractisactuallythe

first

sectionina

report,comingafterthetitleandbeforetheintroduction.Theabstractprovidesthereaderwithabriefpreviewofyourstudybaseoninformationfromtheothersectionsofthereport.Theabstractisoftenthelastpartofthereporttobewritten.OverviewTheabstractisactua23OrderoftypicalelementsincludedinanabstractB=

some

backgroundinformationP=

the

principalactivity

(orpurpose)ofthestudyandits

scopeM=

someinformationaboutthe

methodology

usedinthestudyR=

themostimportant

results

ofthestudyC=

astatementof

conclusion

orrecommendationOrderoftypicalelementsincl24Exercise:Analysis(identifyB,P,M,R,C)Typebehaviorsbychildren,socialcomparison,andstandardsofself-evaluation1TypeAbehavior,anestablishedriskfactorcoronaryheartdisease,ischaracterizedbyextremesofcompetitiveachievementstriving,impatience,hostility,andaggression.

2Aspartofanefforttounderstandtheoriginsofthisbehaviorpattern,thepresentstudyassessedtheimpactofperformancestandardsonthesocialbehaviorofTypeAandTypeBchildren.

3Childrenperformedafive-trialtask.4Halfweregivenanexplicitstandardwithwhichtocomparetheirownperformance;(continue……)Exercise:Analysis(identifyB25halfweregivennostandard.5After5trials,allsubjectswereinformedthattheirtotalscorerepresentedthemiddlescoreofthewholegroupandwereaskedtoselectonescoreforfurthercomparison.6Resultsshowednosignificantdifferencesamonggroupsonthefrequencyofcomparison.

7Incontrast,theresultsdidshowthatregardlessofthepresenceorabsenceofanexplicitstandard,TypeAchildrenchosetoevaluatetheirperformanceagainstthetopscore,whereasTypeBchildrenchosetodosoonlyintheabsenceofanexplicitstandard.

8TheimplicationsoftheseresultsforunderstandingthechildhoodantecedentsofTypeAbehaviorarediscussed.

halfweregivennostandard.526OrderofinformationelementsinreducedabstractsP+M=purposeandmethodofthestudy

R=results

C=conclusionsandrecommendations**optionalOrderofinformationelements27Exercise:Analysis

ThereadabilityofindividualincometaxinstructionbookletsinsouthCarolinaandothersoutheasternstates

1Todeterminetheunderstandabilityofindividualincometaxbooklets,aReadingEasescorewascalculatedforthe1977Federalincometaxreturnform1040andtaxformsofninesoutheasternstates.2TheinstructionbookletsofallstatesexceptVirginiawerefoundtobeatareadinglevelhigherthanthemedianeducationalleveloftheaveragecitizen-taxpayerinthosestates.3TheSouthCarolinabookletwasthreegradelevelsabovethemedianeducationlevelforthestate.

(Continue…)

Exercise:Analysis284TheFederalinstructionbookletwaseasiesttoread,fallingfourgradelevelsbelowthemedianeducationlevelofU.S.citizens.5Ifanequitablestateincometaxsystemistobemaintained,actionsmustbetakentoreducethedisparitybetweenmedianeducationlevelsandthereadabilityofstateincometaxinstructionbooklets.Question:Whichelementsareincludedinsentence1?Whichelementisrepresentedbythemostnumberofsentences?Whichelementisrepresentedbythefinalsentence?Whichelementhasbeeneliminated?4TheFederalinstructionbookl29Exercise:Arrangement

ThedecentralizationofAmericaneconomiclife:anincomeevaluationThisinvestigationprovidesanationalanalysisofthesegrowthpatternsbyexaminingthebehaviorofthreevariables:changeinpercapitaincome,populationdeconcentration,andgrowthineconomicproductivity.TheresultssuggestthatthepresenceorabsenceofuniquesetsofindustryfactorsExercise:ArrangementThedece30

canbeusedtoexplaingrowthvariationinboththecenterandtheperipheryoftheindustrializedregion.C.NationaleconomicanddemographicgrowthpatternsintheUnitedStatesduringthedecadeoftheseventiesshowmarkeddeparturesfromwhathadoccurredinprevioustimes.D.Resultsoftheanalysisshowedthataprocessofdecentralizationoccurred,bestdescribedbycenter-peripheryconcepts.canbeusedtoexplaingr31Exercise:Arrangement

ThedecentralizationofAmericaneconomiclife:anincomeevaluationThisinvestigationprovidesanationalanalysisofthesegrowthpatternsbyexaminingthebehaviorofthreevariables:changeinpercapitaincome,populationdeconcentration,andgrowthineconomicproductivity.Theresultssuggestthatthepresenceorabsenceofuniquesetsofindustryfactorscanbeusedtoexplaingrowthvariationinboththecenterandtheperipheryoftheindustrializedregion.C.NationaleconomicanddemographicgrowthpatternsintheUnitedStatesduringthedecadeoftheseventiesshowmarkeddeparturesfromwhathadoccurredinprevioustimes.D.Resultsoftheanalysisshowedthataprocessofdecentralizationoccurred,bestdescribedbycenter-peripheryconceptsExercise:ArrangementThedece32Abstract:VerbTenseB:Backgroundinformation(presenttense)Example:Oneofthebasicprinciplesofcommunicationisthatthemessageshouldbeunderstoodbytheintendedaudience.P:Principalactivity(pasttense/presentperfecttense)Example:Inthisstudythereadabilityoftaxbookletsfromninestateswasevaluated.Example:Netenergyanalysishavebeencarriedoutforeighttrajectorieswhichconvertenergysourceintoheateddomesticwater.Abstract:VerbTenseB:Backgro33M:Methodology(pasttense)Example:Childrenperformeda5-trialtask.R:Results(pasttense)Example:Olderworkerssurpassedyoungeronesinbothspeedandskilljobs.C:Conclusions(presenttense/tentativeverbs/modalauxiliaries)Example:Theresultssuggestthatthepresenceofuniquesetsofindustryfactorscanbeusedtoexplainvariationineconomicgrowth.Abstract:VerbTenseM:Methodology(pasttense)Abs34Exercise:Fill-inModelstudyofanchoredpavement

1Roadwaysconstructedofconventionalpavement___subjecttodeformationsafterprolongeduse.2Alaboratorymodelstudyofananchoredpavement___carriedout.3Theobjectiveofthestudy___toinvestigateconstructionproblemsandtodevelopspecificationsforafull-scaletest.4Thestudy___1/20-scaleanchoredpavementandconventionalslabsofsimilardimensions.

(continue……)Exercise:Fill-inModelstudyo355Themodeltestresultswere___withresultsfromfinite-elementanalysis.6Thedeformations___lowerfortheanchoredpavementcomparedwiththosefortheconventionalslab,andstressesinthesoil___reducedanddistributedmorewidelybyrigidanchors.7Thesefindingsindicatethatananchoredslab___distinctadvantagesoveraconventionalslab.8TheANSYScomputerprogram___beusedtoanalyzesuchasoil-structuresystem,incorporatingtheenvironmentalandmechanicaleffects.5Themodeltestresultswere_36Integration:WritingUpYourOwnResearchSelectimportantinformationfromeachofthemajorsectionsofyourreport.Donotcopysentencesdirectlyfromthereport.Synthesizetheinformationinyourmajorsectionsintoclear,concisestatements.Yourabstractshouldnotexceed200words.Integration:WritingUpYourO37ChecklistforabstractpartInformationSelectandorderinformationfromprevioussectionsofyourreportcorrespondingtoelementsB,P,M,R,andC.Forreducedabstracts,eliminateBstatementsandcombinestatementscontainingPandMinformation.LanguageUseappropriateverbtense,tentativeverbs,andmodalauxiliaries,dependingonwhichsectionofthereporttheinformationcomesfrom.Checklistforabstractpart38Whatissuccess?NumberofpublishedarticlesNumberofpublishedarticlesinrespectedjournalsAveragenumberofcitationsperarticleRespectofyourcolleaguesWhatissuccess?Numberofpubl39Wearefortunate.Wearethestory-tellersofthescientificage.Ourjobisexplorationandadventure.Wemusttellthestorywell.Wearefortunate.40GoodLuck!GoodLuck!41Writingfor

ScienceJournalsWritingfor

ScienceJournals42ContentsChapter1

Introduction:

GeneralRemarksChapter2

Introduction:

TheExperimentalResearchReportChapter3

Introduction:EstablishingaContextChapter4

Introduction:ReviewingPreviousResearchChapter5

Introduction:AdvancingtoPresentResearchContentsChapter1Introduction43ContentsChapter6MethodChapter7MaterialsChapter8ResultsChapter9DiscussionChapter10AbstractContentsChapter6Method44OutlineWhentoWriteEssenceofanArticleWhattoWriteEssentialsofanArticlePreparingtoWriteWritingFormatWritingTipsTheReviewProcessAbstractWritingOutlineWhentoWriteEssence45WhentoWrite?Anarticleisanarticleif:ItmakesacontributionHaveIdiscoveredsomethingnew?HaveIadvancedthestateoftheart?Willpeoplewanttocitemypaper?Avoidthe“thin-section”or“LPU”(LeastPublishableUnit)approach.WhentoWrite?Anarticleisan46TheLeastPublishableUnitSyndrome

(“QuantitynotQuality”)1idea4journalpapers16extendedabstracts64technicalreports“Publicationpyramidofsuccess”AfterD.A.PattersonTheLeastPublishableUnitSyn47WhentoWrite?Anarticleisanarticleif:ItmakesacontributionHaveIdiscoveredsomethingnew?HaveIadvancedthestateoftheart?Willpeoplewanttocitemypaper?Avoidthe“thin-section”or“LPU”approach.Avoidthe“KitchenSink”approach(toobroad).TheresultsaresupportedbysolidevidenceExperimental,Statistical,etc.OtherscanreplicatetheresultsWhentoWrite?Anarticleisan48WhattoWrite?Anarticlemustcontainexplanationsof:ItsimportanceWhyyoushouldreadthis?Needsclearunderstandingandstatementoftheresearchissuesinthefield.ThescientificbasisfortheworkE.g.,followsasconsequenceofexistingtheory,understandingofphysicalprocesses,etc.ResearchmethodologyandexperimentaldesignAnalysisandresultsConclusions(implications)WhattoWrite?Anarticlemust49PreparingtoWrite

(StrategicSuggestions)StudythejournalLookatbackissuesHavearticlesappearedonrelatedtopics?StudyreferencesinrelatedarticlesLookforeditorialstatementsStudylength,format,andotherrequirementsin“InstructionstoAuthors”E.g.,Color?CanIaffordthepagecharges?PreparingtoWrite

(Strategic50WritingFormatGeneralPrinciple:MaketheEditorHappy!!Ifformatisrigidlyspecified,useit!Ifnot,formatshouldfollowfromessenceandessentials:AbstractAclearstatementofproblem,methods,andresultsWritingFormatGeneralPrincipl51WritingFormatGeneralPrinciple:MaketheEditorHappy!Ifformatisrigidlyspecified,conform.Ifnot,shouldfollowfromessenceandessentials:AbstractAclearstatementofproblem,methods,andresultsIntroductionContext:Relationofyourworktoprevious,whyimportant(verification),whatquestionswillbeaddressedTheoretical/ScientificBasisMethodologyResultsConclusionsWritingFormatGeneralPrincipl52WritingTipsGeneralPrinciple:MaketheEditorHappy!!Don’twriteamysterynovelAvoidtheurgetocomplicateWatchlength(toolongortooshort?)UseactivevoiceNo:“ItisseeninTable5”Yes:“Table5shows”Limit“while”and“since”toappropriateuseNo:“Whileothershavefound…”Yes:“Althoughothershavefound…”Qualify“this”whenreferringtoprevioussentencesNo:“Thisaccountsfor…”Yes:“Thisreductioninsoilmoistureaccountsfor…”WritingTipsGeneralPrinciple:53WritingTipsPayattentiontoParagraphStructureTopicsentence

Inselectingageneralapproachforusabilityengineering,wefirstconsideredtheworkofGabbardetal.(1999),whichwasrecommendedbySlocumetal.(2001)aspotentiallyappropriateforabroadrangeofgeovisualizationapplications.Gabbardetal.’sapproachinvolvesfourmajorsteps:ananalysisofpotentialusertaskspriortosoftwaredevelopment,anevaluationofthesoftwarebyusabilityexperts,havingactualusersworkwithabroadrangeofsoftwarefunctions,andacomparativeevaluation…WritingTipsPayattentiontoP54WritingTipsPayattentiontoParagraphStructureTopicsentencePutreferencestofiguresandtablesearlyinparagraphWritingTipsPayattentiontoP55ReferringtoaFigure

Asaresult,wedecidedtoimplementthesix-stepprocessshowninFigure2.Webeganbydevelopingasoftwareprototypelargelybasedonthethirdauthor’sdomainexpertiseinwaterbalancemodelsandclimatology.Becausewefeltthethatresultingsoftwaremightbebiasedtowardthethirdauthor’sinterests,weaskeddomainexpertstoevaluatethesoftwareinstep2.Ourthinkingwasthatthedomainexpertsmightsuggestanumberoftasksthatwehadnotthoughtofimplementing…ReferringtoaFigure Asares56WritingTipsPayattentiontoParagraphStructureTopicsentencePutreferencestofiguresandtablesearlyinparagraphBecarefulhowothers’workischaracterizedUse%-signsintableentries(notincaptions)EffectiveFiguresGraphicelementsAxes(titlesandunits)LongcaptionsarebetterthanlongdescriptionsintextWritingTipsPayattentiontoP57WritingTips

(TacticalSuggestions,Continued)WritingTips

(TacticalSuggest58WritingTips

(TacticalSuggestions,Continued)StepsinManuscriptProduction:Prepare1outlinePrepareParagraphMapPseudo-code:topicsentences,hand-drawnfiguresandcaptions,tableplaceholdersWriteDraftSpellandgrammarcheckReadoutloudRepeat(3)-(5)Showtocolleague(s)Repeat(3)-(5)WritingTips

(TacticalSuggest59WritingTips

(TacticalSuggestions,Continued)WhyGuess?ConsulttheExperts:RobertWeissberg,andSuzanneBuker,WritingUpResearch,PrenticeHall,Inc1990.StrunkandWhite,TheElementsofStyle,4thed.,AllynandBacon,1999Flower,ProblemSolvingStrategiesforWriting,4thed.,Heinle,1997Tufte,VisualDisplayofQuantitativeExplanation,2ndEd.,GraphicsPress,2003(andotherTuftebooks)Otherarticlesastemplatesandexamples

WritingTips

(TacticalSuggest60TheReviewProcessGeneralPrinciple:KeeptheEditorHappy!He/shehasinvestedinyouShowtimeliness&good-faithefforttofollowUnderstandtheEditor’sroleUnderstandtheReviewer’sroleKnowthat:Nearlyallarticlesrequirerevision,andusuallytworeviewcyclesReviewersoftenwanttohelpSomereviewersseemunkindSomereviewersareunkindRegardlessyoucanbenefitTheReviewProcessGeneralPrin61TheReviewProcessDonottakecriticismpersonallyTakecriticismandsuggestionsasasignofinterest(worsecanhappen)DoyourbesttofollowreviewerandeditorsuggestionsIfyoumustdisagree,explainwhy(ventingdoesn’thelp)Assumetheeditorwantstobepartofthenegotiation(seekadvice)DescribechangesmadeinacoverlettertoeditorTheReviewProcessDonottake62Abstract

Abstract63OverviewTheabstractisactuallythe

first

sectionina

report,comingafterthetitleandbeforetheintroduction.Theabstractprovidesthereaderwithabriefpreviewofyourstudybaseoninformationfromtheothersectionsofthereport.Theabstractisoftenthelastpartofthereporttobewritten.OverviewTheabstractisactua64OrderoftypicalelementsincludedinanabstractB=

some

backgroundinformationP=

the

principalactivity

(orpurpose)ofthestudyandits

scopeM=

someinformationaboutthe

methodology

usedinthestudyR=

themostimportant

results

ofthestudyC=

astatementof

conclusion

orrecommendationOrderoftypicalelementsincl65Exercise:Analysis(identifyB,P,M,R,C)Typebehaviorsbychildren,socialcomparison,andstandardsofself-evaluation1TypeAbehavior,anestablishedriskfactorcoronaryheartdisease,ischaracterizedbyextremesofcompetitiveachievementstriving,impatience,hostility,andaggression.

2Aspartofanefforttounderstandtheoriginsofthisbehaviorpattern,thepresentstudyassessedtheimpactofperformancestandardsonthesocialbehaviorofTypeAandTypeBchildren.

3Childrenperformedafive-trialtask.4Halfweregivenanexplicitstandardwithwhichtocomparetheirownperformance;(continue……)Exercise:Analysis(identifyB66halfweregivennostandard.5After5trials,allsubjectswereinformedthattheirtotalscorerepresentedthemiddlescoreofthewholegroupandwereaskedtoselectonescoreforfurthercomparison.6Resultsshowednosignificantdifferencesamonggroupsonthefrequencyofcomparison.

7Incontrast,theresultsdidshowthatregardlessofthepresenceorabsenceofanexplicitstandard,TypeAchildrenchosetoevaluatetheirperformanceagainstthetopscore,whereasTypeBchildrenchosetodosoonlyintheabsenceofanexplicitstandard.

8TheimplicationsoftheseresultsforunderstandingthechildhoodantecedentsofTypeAbehaviorarediscussed.

halfweregivennostandard.567OrderofinformationelementsinreducedabstractsP+M=purposeandmethodofthestudy

R=results

C=conclusionsandrecommendations**optionalOrderofinformationelements68Exercise:Analysis

ThereadabilityofindividualincometaxinstructionbookletsinsouthCarolinaandothersoutheasternstates

1Todeterminetheunderstandabilityofindividualincometaxbooklets,aReadingEasescorewascalculatedforthe1977Federalincometaxreturnform1040andtaxformsofninesoutheasternstates.2TheinstructionbookletsofallstatesexceptVirginiawerefoundtobeatareadinglevelhigherthanthemedianeducationalleveloftheaveragecitizen-taxpayerinthosestates.3TheSouthCarolinabookletwasthreegradelevelsabovethemedianeducationlevelforthestate.

(Continue…)

Exercise:Analysis694TheFederalinstructionbookletwaseasiesttoread,fallingfourgradelevelsbelowthemedianeducationlevelofU.S.citizens.5Ifanequitablestateincometaxsystemistobemaintained,actionsmustbetakentoreducethedisparitybetweenmedianeducationlevelsandthereadabilityofstateincometaxinstr