Too little space for viewing docs

[profsmucker]

Currently, on a 1920 x 1080 laptop, which will be common pixel dimensions of lots of desktops, too, the UI looks like this:

Issues include:

1. Text is cut off to the right on each document. Assessors cannot be expected to scroll right and left to read. If I zoom out to 80%, then the docs display correctly. Ideas: a) use a smaller font size, but at least 12 point, b) go to a tabbed view for documents, i.e. tabs like in chrome, and then the user can switch between tabs.
2. There is almost no vertical space to read the document. About 50% of the vertical screen is consumed by controls and other stuff that does not need to be so large. Ideas: a) put the "which do you prefer into the top row of buttons! It shouldn't be covering up document text b) turn the progress bar into a tiny display in the top row that simply shows a simple number that is the estimated amount to do or get rid of the progress bar entirely. c) display topic question and background in single line or collapsible widget or fit into top row in small font, or "show topic info button" etc. The assessor does NOT need to have it always visible, but needs to refer back to it. d) With the topic question in the top row as a "show topic info" as a button, then the keyword search can be its own compact row e) doc titles can be put into the doc content at top, and this lets it scroll away rather than take up vertical space f) doc urls can be put into the doc content at top, the content is html even if preformatted.

[profsmucker]

Some design drawings trying to show what I'm talking about:

[profsmucker]

Another way:

[profsmucker]

Charlie does not want tabs. If possible, he'd like a movable slider. No tabs.