Trial Program Guide

ACCU-READING
Skill levels 3 - 8

Trial version: VOCABULARY (Level 1)

Complete Program: 3 sets, 2 levels per set 
Set A: MAIN IDEA, VOCABULARY (Levels 1 and 2)
Set B: SEQUENCE, FACTUAL RECALL (Levels 3 and 4)
Set C: INFERENCE, DRAWING CONCLUSIONS (Levels 5 and 6)

Windows or MS-DOS (VGA display)

Accu-Reading improves the comprehension skills of students in reading 
levels 3 - 8. Each lesson focuses on one skill within six ranges of 
difficulty. In addition, a crossword puzzle encourages the student to
think about word and idea relationships. The presentation of the material 
also makes the program effective for ESL students and older students who 
need remedial help. 

Each lesson is self-directing and self-correcting. The computer gives an 
explanation specifically for each incorrect answer. The program evaluates 
performance after each round. The student who does poorly is directed to a 
lower range for remediation. The student who does well is directed to a 
higher range for further skill development. Students are rewarded by graphics 
in each round.

OVERVIEW

The program contains the following reading skill categories:

Main Idea       Factual Recall
Vocabulary      Inference
Sequence        Drawing Conclusions

Each category contains 72 selections and provides practice on one skill 
at each of reading levels 3 to 8. There are 12 questions in each level, 
or range, from which selections are randomly chosen for each round.

When students first use the program, they enter their name. The teacher 
may ask students to enter a class code; this is optional. If the students 
have passed a level in the main program, at a subsequent session they are 
directed to the appropriate skill level.

DIAGNOSTIC TEST

A one-time diagnostic (placement) test for each category determines the 
range at which the student enters the level. Each diagnostic test consists 
of multiple-choice questions that gradually get harder as the student gets
more and more correct answers. The program is configured so that the 
student is placed at the range at which s/he gets one answer wrong. This
may be changed with the ASCII file, config.dat on each level. The first
line indicates the number of questions the student needs to get correct,
and the second line indicates the maximum number of questions per level the
student will receive.

MAIN PRACTICE PROGRAM

A round consists of randomly chosen selections. The format used in this 
program allows the selection, the question, and multiple-choice answers to 
remain on screen at the same time so the student can refer to the text 
when choosing an answer. Whenever a student answers incorrectly, s/he is 
given an explanation of the reason that answer is incorrect and is asked 
to try again. 

If the student does well, s/he is given four words or phrases
and is asked to choose the two that best describe what the text is about.
The student must get both choices correct. If one is correct, s/he is told
one choice is correct and is asked to try again. This exercise is designed
to help the student identify the main idea and see the difference between a
main idea and a supporting detail. Many students may be unfamiliar with this
type of comprehension question. It may take a couple of rounds before they
master the technique.

For the sudent who successully completes the round, there is a crossword 
puzzle to sharpen vocabulary and thinking skills. 

At the end of each round, the computer gives the percentage of right
answers. The number of questions in a round varies from a minimum of four
to a maximum of eight. The student who does well needs less help and
therefore gets fewer selections.

If the student gets 70 percent or more correct, s/he has the option of 
repeating the range or going on to the next range. If the student scores 
less than 70 percent, s/he may choose to repeat the range or go to a lower
range. If the student gets the first four answers correct, the computer 
immediately advances him/her to the next range. The round will end when 
the student can no longer achieve a passing score of 70 percent because of 
the number of wrong answers already accumulated.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Set A, MAIN IDEA: Students read a variety of selections and answer 
questions that test such reading skills as identifying the main idea,
recognizing irrelevant sentences, and locating the topic sentence.

Example: Student reads, "People have always thought that owls were very
wise. This is probably because of the serious look on the owl's face and
in its stern eyes. Actually, for a bird its size, the owl has a tiny 
brain. What is the main idea of this paragraph?" Student chooses the main 
idea from: "Owls are not as wise as many people think," "Owls have a 
serious look on their faces," and "Owls have small brains."

Set A, VOCABULARY: Students are given words and asked to select the
correct meaning from among several choices. Words appear in context, and
incorrect response messages show students how they may have mistaken the
meaning of a word.

Example: Student reads, "Prairie dogs live in the grassy REGIONS of the 
Great Plains. REGIONS are:" Student chooses from: "areas," "climates,"
and "seasons."

Set B, SEQUENCE: Students are given selections based on time order (e.g.,
for events) or order of steps (e.g., in directions). Questions require 
that students decide what would come first, second, third, or last, or ask 
students to find the proper place for a particular step in directions for
doing or making something.

Example: Student reads, "After the heavy rain, water ran down the 
mountainside into a stream. The stream flowed into a river, which emptied
into the ocean. Where was the water RIGHT BEFORE it flowed into the river?"
Student chooses from: "in a stream," "in the ocean," and "running down the
mountainside."

Set B, FACTUAL RECALL: Students read a variety of selections and answer
questions based on the details provided.

Example: Student reads, "Among the earliest dinosaurs were the relatively 
small coelurosaurs. These dinosaurs had long delicate limb bones, many of
which were hollow, birdlike feet, and long slender necks. Coelurosaurs 
walked on their hind legs and ran on their toes; they used their long tails 
to balance their bodies. What physical feature of the coelurosaur resembled 
a bird's?" Student chooses from: "feet," "tail," or "neck."

Set C, INFERENCE: Students are given a variety of selections. From the 
content they must draw inferences about situations, events, people, objects,
feelings, etc.

Example: Student reads, "A fly landed on some thin and sticky threads. It
tried to move but it was stuck. Then it saw a spider crawling toward it. 
Where was the fly?" Student chooses from: "in the spider's web," "on 
flypaper," or "in a sewing kit."

Set C, DRAWING CONCLUSIONS: Students read and analyze a variety of passages
and make a reasoned deduction based on information given.

Example: Student reads, "Texas is home to many wildflowers. The bluebonnet 
is the state flower. Wildflowers provide a show of color from spring to 
fall. They do not have to be planted. They do not have to be watered. Some 
grow in the very poorest of soils. Other wildflowers grow where there is 
little rainfall. Wildflowers are an American treasure. This story suggests 
that wildflowers" "add beauty to our country," "are weeds," "serve no 
purpose," or "are harmful."


RECORD MANAGEMENT 

To see student records, run RECORD from the directory, or press [CONTROL]T
while at the title screen.

The default directory for the windows trial version is:
     c:\MAVDEMO\ACCU-WD\RECORD.EXE

The trial version saves records for only two students. A third name will
automatically replace the first name entered. (The single user School 
version saves records for as many students as disk space allows. The 
Network version saves records for 1,000 students.)

The records can go to the screen or the printer. You may see the records 
of the entire class, or choose an individual student's scores. If you 
choose to look at the scores of the entire class, you may have them 
displayed in alphabetical order or from highest to lowest.

Use the following keys to make your selections:

ALT: Allows you to choose items in the Top Menu: (1) Order (2) View 
(3) Select (4) Print (5) Delete (6) Exit. In each of the first three 
options, you will have the choice of selecting records from the Pull 
Down Menu by name, date, skills mastered, or class code.

TAB: Changes the category of information that is displayed in a fixed 
cycle, e.g., from students' names to last dates played, to highest 
mastered skill levels, to class codes, to a student's entire record
and then back again to the students' names.

ENTER: Selects or deselects any piece of information on which the cursor
is placed. Selected items can be viewed, printed, or deleted as a group. 
They appear on the screen highlighted in red.

Screen Layout:  Instructions are placed in color boxes at the bottom of 
the screen. The number appearing at the end of the last line of 
instructions on the screen indicates the position of the cursor in the 
total number of records. Just before this number is a description of what 
information is being displayed, e.g., name, date, etc.

Moving the Cursor: To move the cursor use the arrow keys. To see preceding 
screens, use the Page Up key. To go to following screens, use the Page 
Down key. To go to the beginning of a list, press the Home key. To get to 
the end of a list, press the End key.

To See Records: All information may be viewed on the screen or printed 
out. To clear previously selected records, choose Select from the Top 
Menu and Deselect from the Pull Down Menu. Note that your viewing 
selections are cleared each time the program is restarted or the computer
is turned off. 

Examples

1. To print out the records of one class, follow these directions:

     Top Menu    Pull Down Menu     Other Keys     Remarks/Actions

ALT   Select          Class         Cursor keys    Find the beginning of 
						   the class
				    
				    ENTER          Mark the beginning of 
						   the class

				    Cursor keys    Find the end of the 
						   class
				    
				    ENTER          Mark the end of the 
						   class

ALT   View            Selected                     Now only that class is 
						   displayed. (Repeating 
						   this step would restore 
						   screen as it was.)

ALT   Order           Name                         Class now alphabetized

ALT   Print           Selected                     Printing is optional. 
						   Information can be 
						   viewed on the screen.

2. To print the highest (or lowest) skill level, follow the steps 
above, replacing Class, from the Pull Down Menu, with Mastered.

3. To see the records of all students in a range on the screen, choose 
View from the Top Menu and choose Entire from the Pull Down Menu.

4.  To see the records of an individual student on the screen, place 
the cursor on the name of the student whose records you want to view, 
and press TAB to change the information displayed.

Record Management Error Fix:  If the program runs but does not keep 
student records properly, access the RECORD program and delete all 
records.

copyright 1994-1997 Merit Audio Visual
all rights reserved GTDR

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

We hope you enjoy previewing ACCU-READING. The complete six-level School 
version of the program contains the following:

1. Six diagnostic tests and 36 developmental reading lessons for (1) Main 
Idea, (2) Vocabulary, (3) Sequence, (4) Factual Recall, (5) Inference, 
(6) Drawing Conclusions

2. Record management for as many students as disk space allows

3. A program guide that contains teaching suggestions

Merit offers a full range of educational software for writing, reading, 
grammar, vocabulary, ESL, and math. Merit also offers networking for 
Novell and other LAN, and licensing. School or Institutional Purchase 
Orders accepted.

We will be happy to answer any questions you might have.

MERIT AUDIO VISUAL

(800) 753-6488    (212) 675-8567    FAX: (212) 675-8607

Call us Monday through Friday between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM Eastern 
Time. Or write MERIT AUDIO VISUAL, 132 W. 21 Street, New York, NY 10011 
for free software catalog.

This program is produced by a member of the Association of Shareware 
Professionals (ASP). ASP wants to make sure that the shareware principle 
works for you.  If you are unable to resolve a shareware-related problem 
with an ASP member by contacting the member directly, ASP may be able to 
help.  The ASP Ombudsman can help you resolve a dispute or problem with 
an ASP member, but does not provide technical support for members' 
products.  Please write to the ASP Ombudsman at 545 Grover Road, Muskegon, 
MI 49442-9427 USA, FAX 616-788-2765 or send a Compuserve message via 
CompuServe Mail to ASP Ombudsman 70007,3536.





