Readability Index Analysis on the Level at Which Students Write: A Case Study of Bolgatanga Polytechnic

Galaa Eric; Cletus Ganaa; Charles Daarta Nanglakong

Authors

Galaa Eric Master of Arts (Teaching Communicative Skills)
Cletus Ganaa Bolgatanga Polytechnic, Box 767 Bolgatanga Upper East Region, Bolga–Ghana
Charles Daarta Nanglakong Department of Liberal Studies, Bolgatanga Polytechnic, Box 767 Bolgatanga Upper East Region Bolga-Ghana

Keywords:

writing level, polytechnic, academic age, Gunning fog and readability, low grades

Abstract

This piece investigated into the academic age level at which Bolgatanga Polytechnic students write using the Gunning Fog Analysis formula. Purposive sampling was used to sample 232 essays collected from eight out of eleven departments in the Polytechnic. These essays were carefully analysed using the Gunning Fog Readability Index to determine the level at which these students write in their various departments. Independent sample t-test was deployed to compare the writing level across the categories of essays. The results show that students write way below their academic age and also, one needs to attain 11 years of the school system of Ghana before one can write such essays that is Senior High School form two. The findings also indicated that, on the average, students score low grades due to the level at which they write their academic essays and this adversely affects their academic performance.

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