Aligned Expression

[ricia2001]

Hello again. I would like your advice on how I should be formatting the attached page. There are many of this type of thing in the 5th grade book I am working on. I have had a couple different ideas, but really would like to hear your thoughts. I considered:
a) putting the words (Multiply, Divide, Add) in cell 3 as displayed and then in cell 21 align the mathematical expressions as in print. However, having many blank cells between the end of the words and the beginning of the expression would confuse the braille reader. I considered using guide dots on each line. Not sure if that is legal since it is not a table.
b) someone suggested to me that they would braille the words in cell 3, the mathmatical expression in 5, and the following words (parentheses 1st, brackets 2nd, etc) in cell 7.
Thanks in advance for any guidance you can give.
Patty

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[Lindy Walton]

Hi Patty. It's good to come up with a format for this right away, and check to see if you can continue to apply it as the guided practices vary throughout the book.
I have a long answer to your question.

Since we cannot easily apply the usual Nemeth formats to this one, I am going to go out on a limb and suggest a format that reflects some of the new layouts given to us in Braille Formats 2011. I think you will find the result to be easy to read, with the illustration clearly belonging to the itemized problem, and can be confidently applied to similar problems that may be more involved later in the book.

The bigger picture is that, in 1-3 (NC itemized), braille the numbered problem and its conclusion.
In this example, that will be "1. Evaluate {28+[(2x4^2)/8]}. So, {28+[(2x4^2)/8]} = ____."

Interrupt before "So, ..." with the guided practice portion, using the ideas behind displayed material (with indented right margin) and nested lists from BF2011. I think this is what your colleague was suggesting. Like this:
With a blank line before and after the five-step guided practice (BF), put "Write the expression. Find 4^2. Multiply. Divide. Add." each in cell 5;
put each of the five math problems in cell 7;
put the comments in cell 9.
This particular example has no runovers in the guided portion, but I expect you will come across some that do, in which case *all runovers to the displayed portion will go in cell 11 (BF). Ignore the purple lines drawn below the steps.

After a blank line (BF), "So, ..." will go in cell 3--the runover cell for the itemized problem (NC).

I have attached a print rendition of this format, to --hopefully-- clarify what I am suggesting.

Your ideas: Alignment as in print is reserved for problems that need to be solved vertically (spatially). This example does not meet that criterion. Reserve the use of guide dots for tables.
edited by Lindy on 11/28/2012
edited by Lindy on 11/28/2012
edited by NBAStaff on 11/28/2012
edited by Lindy on 11/28/2012

[ricia2001]

Lindy,
Thank you so much for your help and guidance. You explain not only how you think something should be done, but also why. I appreciate that so much since I really like to understand the reasoning behind suggestions, and not just "how to do it". You do a great job and definitely are a great help to us all.
Patty

[ricia2001]

Lindy,
As I just re-read your note, I realized that I do have a question/concern as to margins. As you said, 1-3 (NC itemized) would be for "1. Evaluate ..., and So, ...". Then if we are "using the ideas behind displayed material (with indented right margin) and nested lists from BF2011", shouldn't the left margin for the nested list be cell 5 since the margin for displayed within itemized with no sub-divisions (NC) is 5. Making all potential runovers in cell 11?
Thanks,
Patty

[Lindy Walton]

Patty, I see what you mean and am glad you pointed this out. I got distracted trying to optimize the number of cells available on the line. The displayed format I used here is not the Nemeth Code format, but is borrowed from BF2011, which is why there is a blank line before and after the displayed material. However, BF 9.2.2.f does say that "the adjusted left margin for displayed material in exercises is cell 5." So, YES, please indent the nested list section two more cells to the right: 5-11; 7-11; 9-11. I still would retain the blank lines to set it apart. We may hear some disagreement to this point ...

In a minute I will correct my original reply and the attachment, so those who read this in the future will get the right information. Thanks, Patty!

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