Text Leveling System

D.W. Thinks Big

RDQ:	304	Max Word/Sent	24	Total Words	574		Diff Words	232
Lex	550	Ave Word/.Sent	4	Hi Freq occurs	307	53.5%	Hi freq	91	39.2%
AR	2.2	Long Sentences	0.8	Low Freq occurs	15	2.6%	Low freq	10	4.3%

"You're too little" said Arthur. "And besides the ring
bearer is always a boy. Everyone knows that."
"Be careful with my ring!" called Mother.
"At least I'd be able to keep the ring on the pillow!" said D.W.]]
"Let's get a picture of Arthur in his new suit" said Father.
"Fix his tie first" said Mother. "And put on your dress
D.W. or we'll be late."]]
"Why can't I be the flower girl?" asked D.W.
"I can walk slowly. I know how to hold my dress out
and take tiny steps."]]
"Cousin Cora is the flower girl" said Mother.
"She's older" said Father.
"She's my age" said Arthur.]]
"Why does Arthur get to sit in the front seat?" asked D.W.
on the way to the wedding.
"I have a very important job" said Arthur. "They can't get 
married without the ring."
"That's true" said Father. "But try not to be nervous."
"Maybe Cousin Cora will get nervous too" said D.W.
"Then I can be the flower girl."]]
But Cousin Cora wasn't nervous at all.
And she had on pink nail polish. And shoes with bows.
"See my new dress?" said Cora. "It's great for swirling."
"I have a new purse" said D.W.
'With thirty-one pennies inside."]]
But Cora wasn't listening.
She was too busy twirling and swirling.
"I'm so excited!" said Cora.]]
D.W. went to find Aunt Lucy. She was very busy.
"Next time you get married can I help?" asked D.W.
But with everyone talking Aunt Lucy couldn't hear D.W.]]
Finally D.W. just sat down and watched everyone
else get ready.
"Are you lost little girl?" asked the photographer.
"I'm not little and I'm not lost!" said D.W.]]
"Hurry up D.W." said Mother
"The wedding is about to begin."
"Good luck Arthur" said Father.
"Don't forget to smile" said Grandma Thora.]]
The music began.
Cora started down the aisle holding her dress out and
taking tiny steps.
"Why is everyone crying?" asked D.W. "Are they sad?"
"No" said Mother. "They're crying because they're
so happy."]]
Arthur walked down the aisle after cora.
He remembered to smile.
But when he stopped to wave to D.W. the pillow tipped...
and the ring fell!]]
Arthur tried to catch it but the ring began to roll - faster
and faster down the aisle ...
right into a heating vent.]]
"Now everyone really has something to cry about!" said D.W.
"Relax" said Uncle Shelly. "I'll get it."
He opened the vent and looked in.
"It's a long way down!" he grunted. "I can't quite reach it."
"Let me try" said Arthur.]]
In he went.
"Your new suit!" cried Mother.
"Help!" cried Arthur. "I'm stuck!"
After they pulled Arthur out Cora offered to try.
"I think we need someone smaller" said Uncle Shelly.]]
"I'm small enough" said D.W. "Hold my feed."
Down she went.
Thump! Clank! Clonk!]]
And up she came.
"I found it!" she called.
Everyone cheered.]]
The music began again.
This time it was D.W. who walked down the aisle.
Slowly taking very tiny steps and careful to hold her dress 
out she carried the ring.
She only stopped to let the photographer take her picture.]]
Finally she reached the bride and groom.
"Thanks D.W.!" whispered Aunt Lucy. "We couldn't have
done it without you."
"I may be little" said D.W. "but sometimes I can be
a big help!"]]

Subjective Criteria

Illustrations: Some support

Dialog: Multiple speakers

Dialog: Broken dialogue

Vocabulary: Few decoding/definition issues

Language: Few descriptive words

Sentences: Multiple phrases

Text structure: Blend of written/oral

Concept: Fanciful

Features

Simple Plot

Topic

Weddings

Helping

*Family & Friends

*Holidays, Events, Cele

Low Frequency Words

aisle	bearer	clonk	grunted	heating
photographer	purse	swirling	thora	twirling