Examples 2.2 | National Center On Universal Design for Learning

UDL Guidelines - Version 2.0: Examples and Resources

Checkpoint 2.2: Clarify syntax and structure

I. Provide Multiple Means of Representation

Language, expressions, and symbols

Key Considerations

How does this help learners meet the goal?
How does this account for the variability of all learners?
Is the syntax and structure clear to all learners?

udlcenter [at] udlcenter [dot] org (Can you think of other examples/resources that illustrate this checkpoint? Tell us!)

Search these examples and resources on Diigo!

Example/Resource	Why UDL?
	Doing What Works: Develop Academic English On this Doing What Works site, understand the research-based recommendation to develop academic English, watch videos on how actual schools are developing academic English, and find a collection of tools and ideas to help you develop academic English in your classroom. Don't miss the great videos! Hear the perspectives of the principal, a teacher, and coaches from Cahuenga Elementary about using standards to develop academic English lessons. Age Group: K-5 Content Area: Literacy Cost: Free Technology Involved: Internet connection to explore site; many of the strategies suggested require no technology.	Why UDL? This site provides excellent examples on how to support the understanding of syntax and structure in the classroom. See also: 2.1: Clarify vocabulary and symbols 2.4: Promote understanding across languages
	Interactives: Elements of a Story This interactive breaks down the important elements of a story. Students go through the series of steps for constructing a story including Setting, Characters, Sequence, Exposition, Conflict, Climax, and Resolution. Age Group: K-5 Content Area: ELA Cost: Free Technology Involved: Internet connection	Why UDL? Elements of a Story is a perfect example of "clarifying structure" becasue it is designed to help students to identify the structural components of storytelling. See also: 3.2: Highlight patterns, critical features, big ideas, and relationships
	WORD AutoSummarize Tool The AutoSummarize feature in MS Word allows you to summarize a document and add visual structure. Age Group: All ages Content Area: All Cost: Free with MS Word Technology Involved: MS Word	Why UDL? The AutoSummarize tool highlights the structural features of a document and is a great way to clarify structure to students. See also: 3.2: Highlight patterns, critical features, big ideas, and relationships
	Simple English Wikipedia Wikipedia's "Simple English" entries scaffold the reader by using straightforward language, by chunking the information, and by providing links for further inquiry. "Simple English" is listed under the Language options. Age Group: All Content Area: All Cost: Free Technology Involved: Internet connection	Why UDL? "Wikipedia Simple English" entries are designed to be accessible to readers who are acquiring the English language. Simple English entries are also beneficial for readers who have limited vocabularies or for readers who are interested in the major features of the entry rather than detailed descriptions. See also: 2.4: Promote understanding across languages
	CAST's UDL Editions UDL Editions take advantage of the flexibility of digital media to reach and engage all learners. Leveled supports and the Texthelp Toolbar balance challenge and support for each learner, ages 10 and up. Select your book to get started! Age Group: Grade 3 and up Content Area: Literacy Cost: Free Technology Involved: Internet connection	Why UDL? The multimedia glossary embedded throughout all of the texts in UDL Editions is a great example of supporting vocabulary and symbols. Click on an underlined word, and read the definition in text, listen to the defintion through text-to-speech, and see visual depictions. See also: 1.3: Offer alternatives for visual information 2.1: Clarify vocabulary and symbols 3.3: Guide information processing, visualization, and manipulation 5.3: Build fluencies with graduated levels of support for practice and performance 8.2: Vary demands and resources to optimize challenge
	Writing Fun by Jenny Eather Students can choose from a variety of "text types" such as persuasive, narrative, information report, response, or poetry. They are then provided with prompts and a text organizer to support them in their writing. Age Group: 3-12 Content Area: Writing Cost: Free Technology Involved: Internet connection	Why UDL? Writing Fun is an excellent example of providing options that clarify syntax and structure. The prompts and text organizers highlight the different structures of different forms of writing. See also: 3.3: Guide information processing, visualization, and manipulation

Example/Resource

Why UDL?

Doing What Works: Develop Academic English

On this Doing What Works site, understand the research-based recommendation to develop academic English, watch videos on how actual schools are developing academic English, and find a collection of tools and ideas to help you develop academic English in your classroom.

Don't miss the great videos! Hear the perspectives of the principal, a teacher, and coaches from Cahuenga Elementary about using standards to develop academic English lessons.

Age Group: K-5
Content Area: Literacy
Cost: Free
Technology Involved: Internet connection to explore site; many of the strategies suggested require no technology.

Why UDL? This site provides excellent examples on how to support the understanding of syntax and structure in the classroom.

2.4: Promote understanding across languages

Girl with an image of Cinerella in the background

Interactives: Elements of a Story

This interactive breaks down the important elements of a story. Students go through the series of steps for constructing a story including Setting, Characters, Sequence, Exposition, Conflict, Climax, and Resolution.

Age Group: K-5
Content Area: ELA
Cost: Free
Technology Involved: Internet connection

Why UDL? Elements of a Story is a perfect example of "clarifying structure" becasue it is designed to help students to identify the structural components of storytelling.

WORD AutoSummarize Tool

The AutoSummarize feature in MS Word allows you to summarize a document and add visual structure.

Age Group: All ages
Content Area: All
Cost: Free with MS Word
Technology Involved: MS Word

Why UDL? The AutoSummarize tool highlights the structural features of a document and is a great way to clarify structure to students.

Simple English Wikipedia

Wikipedia's "Simple English" entries scaffold the reader by using straightforward language, by chunking the information, and by providing links for further inquiry. "Simple English" is listed under the Language options.

Age Group: All
Content Area: All
Cost: Free
Technology Involved: Internet connection

Why UDL? "Wikipedia Simple English" entries are designed to be accessible to readers who are acquiring the English language. Simple English entries are also beneficial for readers who have limited vocabularies or for readers who are interested in the major features of the entry rather than detailed descriptions.

CAST's UDL Editions

UDL Editions take advantage of the flexibility of digital media to reach and engage all learners. Leveled supports and the Texthelp Toolbar balance challenge and support for each learner, ages 10 and up. Select your book to get started!

Age Group: Grade 3 and up
Content Area: Literacy
Cost: Free
Technology Involved: Internet connection

Why UDL? The multimedia glossary embedded throughout all of the texts in UDL Editions is a great example of supporting vocabulary and symbols. Click on an underlined word, and read the definition in text, listen to the defintion through text-to-speech, and see visual depictions.

2.1: Clarify vocabulary and symbols

3.3: Guide information processing, visualization, and manipulation

5.3: Build fluencies with graduated levels of support for practice and performance

8.2: Vary demands and resources to optimize challenge

Writing Fun by Jenny Eather

Students can choose from a variety of "text types" such as persuasive, narrative, information report, response, or poetry. They are then provided with prompts and a text organizer to support them in their writing.

Age Group: 3-12
Content Area: Writing
Cost: Free
Technology Involved: Internet connection

Why UDL? Writing Fun is an excellent example of providing options that clarify syntax and structure. The prompts and text organizers highlight the different structures of different forms of writing.

Implementation