Final answer:
The SMOG approach estimates document readability by counting polysyllabic words in three 10-sentence samples and calculating the square root of this total plus three to indicate the U.S. grade level needed for comprehension.
Step-by-step explanation:
The SMOG approach is a reading level assessment tool that is used to measure the complexity of a document. SMOG stands for Simple Measure of Gobbledygook, and it calculates the reading level by analyzing the number of polysyllabic words used in the text.
To use the SMOG formula, you typically select three 10-sentence samples from the start, middle, and end of a document. Then, you count every word with three or more syllables within these samples, including repetitions of the same word. Next, you calculate the square root of the total number of polysyllabic words and add three to it. This number estimates the U.S. grade level necessary to understand the document.
The SMOG approach does not directly involve teaching methods described in the information provided like circulating unfamiliar words, writing questions in the margins, or color-coded highlighting. Instead, these methods are classroom strategies to help students engage in close-reading practices and prepare for writing formal essays by making initial impressions through informal analysis.