What Makes This Text Complex?

Text: Thank You Maam Author: Langston Hughes

1. Quantitative Measure
Go to http://www.lexile.com/ and enter the title of your read aloud text in the Quick Book
Search in the upper right of home page. Most texts will have a Lexile, measure in this
database. For more information on other valid quantitative measures, click here.

Lexile Score: 920

Use this chart for quick reference:

2-3 band
420-820L
4-5 band
740-1010L
6-8 band
925-1185L
9-10 band
1050-1335L
11-CCR band
1185-1385L

2. Qualitative Features
Consider the four dimensions of text complexity below. For each dimension, note some
examples from the text that make it more or less complex. For more information on these 4
dimensions, click here.
Meaning/Purpose: Students will be
able to develop a basic understanding of
the story. However, the themes in the
story are complex and will take multiple
readings. The themes are seen across
the entire text.

Structure: No graphic support,

characters are complex. Students must
analyze character choices to see
patterns. No clear point of view. Text
structure is chronological.

d
Language: Sentences have a simple
structure and the language is explicit
and easy to understand. Some
figurative language phrases.

Knowledge Demands: Experience of a

poor child in a poor neighborhood
may not be familiar.

3. Reader and Task Considerations

Q: What will challenge my students most in this text? What supports can I provide?
Students will be challenged the most by the character complexity. The teacher must guide students
to see patterns in the text and how the character changes over the course of the story.
Q: How will this text help my students build knowledge about the world?
Students can learn about integrity, trustworthiness, fairness, and honesty. They can also see how
their actions may influence others.