Multiple regression was used to examine the relationship between the serial position and the rated importance of a proposition in a text and the probability of its appearance in free recall protocols. Eight passages were used in the study--four from a standard social studies textbook and four written for the study. Each passage was divided into propositions, where a proposition was a clause or phrase expressing an idea for the first time in the text. A group of 110 sixth grade students read the passages and rated each proposition for its importance to the passage. Another group of approximately 60 sixth grade students then read and recalled the passages by stating their main ideas. Results showed that both rated importance and position predicted recall. In addition, the quadratic of serial position was a significant predictor indicating a recency effect. Neither the interaction term nor the quadratic of importance was significant, nor was there a significant correlation between importance and the linear or quadratic of position. (FL)