SPS Score
Scoring Pattern
SPS = (SSI x 0.5) + (LPI x 0.5)→combined sermonic measure (0-5 scale)
Definition
The Sermonic-Preachy Score — the final composite measure that combines SSI and LPI in equal proportion. The formula is: SPS = (SSI x 0.5) + (LPI x 0.5). The SPS gives equal weight to structural preachiness (how the text is organized) and lexical preachiness (what words the text uses), producing a balanced 0-5 score that is then mapped to one of five interpretation bands. The SPS is designed to be holistic: a text can score high by being structurally sermonic with moderate vocabulary, lexically sermonic with moderate structure, or both.
Examples
Example 1
SSI 3.5 + LPI 2.8 = SPS 3.15 → Highly Sermonic. The text combines strong structural preaching with moderately heavy sermonic vocabulary.
A Highly Sermonic SPS where the SSI leads — the text is more structurally preachy than lexically preachy, suggesting strong organizational patterns with somewhat restrained word choice.
Example 2
SSI 1.2 + LPI 1.0 = SPS 1.10 → Mildly Advisory. Light prescriptive patterns in both structure and vocabulary.
A Mildly Advisory SPS at the boundary between neutral and advisory — the text has traces of prescriptive tone without sustained sermonic patterns.
Example 3
SSI 4.5 + LPI 4.2 = SPS 4.35 → Full Pulpit Mode. Maximum sermonic intensity in both structure and vocabulary.
A Full Pulpit Mode SPS where both components score very high — the text is a full sermon at every level, from organization to word choice.
AI Detection Note
The SPS provides a useful diagnostic for AI detection beyond its primary function. AI text clusters in the SPS 1.0-2.5 range — mildly to moderately preachy. Human text spans the full 0-5 range. A very low SPS (below 0.5) or very high SPS (above 3.5) is more likely human than AI. AI's tendency toward moderate, balanced, advisory prose keeps its SPS in the middle of the scale.
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