In an intermediate-advanced level class, we had students write magazine articles about current events. With the reader-friendliness that magazine articles require, students can read and learn from each other's articles. Believing this may improve the difficult-to-understand essays that are common in intermediate-advanced level students, we analyzed 19 articles, using comments by 75 Japanese students who read them. We found four aspects to reader-friendly essays. One, the use of conjunctions and the cohesiveness of each paragraph that makes multiple paragraphs cohesive. Two, the sequence and method of explanations or statements. Three, the provision of reasons for the explanation or statement. Four, well-devised titles and layouts.
