How to prepare texts for a cloze procedure

Cloze texts are specially prepared reading passages that have certain words taken out and replaced by underlined blank spaces. They are used with the cloze procedure. Each space indicates that the reader should supply the missing word. They use the context provided by the passage to supply the appropriate words.

Here are some guidelines to follow to prepare texts for a cloze procedure:

• Choose texts that provide a lot of clues and supporting information to aid word identification.
• Use cloze tests along with other kinds of tests for reading comprehension. Don not rely exclusively on cloze tests.

• Test the text with a fluent reader before using it.

• Use texts at an appropriate reading level for each learner.

1. Leave all the words in the first 2-3 sentences of the text to let the readers get well into the passage.
2. Then delete certain words.

   You can choose whether to delete words from a cloze text randomly or selectively. Selective deletions have proven to have greater instructional effect than random deletions. (Jongsma, 1980:22)

   • Random deletions

     Delete words at regular intervals, such as every 5th or 7th word, regardless of what kind of words they are.

   • Selective deletions

     Select certain categories of words to delete.

3. Replace each deleted word with an underlined blank space.
4. Do not delete proper nouns unless there are enough clues in the text to help learners make an appropriate selection.

Here is an example of a text with every seventh word deleted (random deletions):

Bob was in such a rush to get to work Friday morning that he slammed his hand in the car door. Almost at once, his hand started to turn black and blue. He picked up an old cloth _____ was on the floor of his _____ and wrapped it quickly around his _____. He saw that his thumb was _____. It was bleeding so badly that _____ cloth was soon red. Bob felt _____ if he were going to faint.

Here are some other examples of cloze texts:

• Cloze texts

• Jongsma 1980
• Laubach Literacy Action 1994

• Task module: How to prepare texts for a cloze procedure
• In task module: Using a cloze procedure
• In task module: Developing literacy skills, by Martha A. Lane (contributor), Delle P. Matthews (contributor), Leah B. Walter (contributor), Glenys Waters (contributor), Anne Klaassens (editor), and Trudy K. Stewart (editor, contributor)
• In task module: Teaching people to read and write, by Carole P. Spaeth (compiler)
• In task module: Implementing a literacy program, by Carole P. Spaeth (compiler)
• In modular book: Implement a literacy program, by Carole P. Spaeth (compiler) and Leah B. Walter (compiler)
• In bookshelf: Literacy

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 4.0, published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 1999. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 8 December 1998

© 1999 SIL International