ESL 252 High-Intermediate Reading
Updated 8/29/2017
To print the textlist, scroll to the bottom and click on "Printable Version".
|
READING TEXTS |
COMMENTS |
|
Title: Reading for Today 4: Concepts, 4th ed. Author: Smith, Lorraine and Nancy Nici Mare ISBN-13: 9781305579996 Publisher: National Geographic Learning/ Heinle Cengage Learning, 2017 |
Good academic readings from various disciplines but no fiction or opinion pieces. Start out short but get progressively longer. Per Gretch Himes, the readings are interesting but difficult. Have to be discussed in detail in class for the students to really understand them. Exercises include reading comprehension, analysis, vocabulary in context, organization (graphic organizers, outlines), word forms, dictionary skills. Has a summary writing section but doesn'' teach strategies. No answer key in the student book. Instructor can order Audio CD and Assessment CD-ROM. |
|
Title: Reading Explorer 4, 2nd ed. Author: MacIntyre ISBN-13: 978-1-285-84692-7 Publisher: Heinle ELT, 2015. |
Per Pati Carobus and Andrea Lee, an excellent book. The diverse and current topics, phenomenal pictures, and great online supplemental activities make this a fun and engaging book for students. However, need to supplement with more comprehension questions, summary writing, connotative meaning. |
|
Title: Impressions 2 Author: Benz, Cheryl and Steven Benz ISBN-13: 9780618410279 Publisher: Heinle ELT, 2000. |
|
|
Title: Inside Reading 2, 2nd ed. Author: Zwier, Lawrence J. ISBN-13: 978-0-19-441628-3 Publisher: Oxford, 2012. |
Very good academic reading book, AWL based, teaches most skills in the course outline but not using context clues to guess meaning. Very good exercises on outlining and annotating readings. Can be a bit challenging for students. |
|
Title: Longman Academic Reading Series 3 Author: Miller, Judy L. and Robert F. Cohen ISBN-13: 978-0-13-276059-1 Publisher: Pearson, 2014. |
Mostly nonfiction readings from a variety of academic disciplines, some fiction. Begin a bit easy but get progressively more difficult. Teaches most skills in the course outline, as well as annotating, critical thinking, and synthesizing readings but need to supplement summary writing, longer readings toward the end. Very good academic book, based on AWL. Teachers manual (includes answer keys and quizzes) available online. |
|
Title: Q: Skills for Success 4 Reading & Writing Author: Norloff, Charl, Debra Daise, and Paul Carne ISBN-13: 978-0-19-475625-9 Publisher: Oxford University Press, 2011 |
|
NOVELS/EXTRA READINGS |
COMMENTS |
|
Title: Dragon’s Gate Author: Yep, Laurence ISBN-13: 978-0064404891 |
In the 1800's, a young man in China gets in trouble with the local authorities and joins his father in America. There they face the many challenges of racism and deadly working conditions while building the railroad through the Sierras Nevadas. This book is accessible and captivating. --Gretchen Himes |
|
Title: Great American Stories 2 Author: Draper, C.G. ISBN-13: 978-0130619419 |
|
|
Title: Of Mice and Men Author: Steinbeck, John ISBN-13: 978-0142000670 Title: The ESL Reader’s Companion Guide to Of Mice and Men Author: Butler, Linda ISBN-13: 978-0070094277 |
|
|
Title: The Pearl Author: Steinbeck, John ISBN-13: 978-0142000694 |
|
|
Title: The Giver Author: Lowry, Lois ISBN-13: 978-0385732550 |
My students really enjoyed this book and had fun comparing the societies. Moreover, they enjoyed trying to justify what they thought would happen after the ending of the novel. --Michelle Marchiano |
|
Title: Out of the Dust Author: Hesse, Karen ISBN-13: 978-0590371254 |
|
|
Title: Shadow of the Dragon Author: Garland, Sherry ISBN-13: 978-0152735326 |
A young Vietnamese immigrant tries to figure out his identity as he deals with love, gangs and family issues. This book is suspenseful and easy to relate to for students. --Gretchen Himes |
|
Title: 20th Century Short Stories Author: McConochie, Jean ISBN-13: 978-0838448502 |
|
|
Title: The Diary of a Young Girl Author: Frank, Anne ISBN-13: 978-0307594006 |
|
|
Title: Funny in Farsi Author: Dumas, Firoozeh ISBN-13:978-0812968378 |
|
|
Title: Reaching Out Author: Francisco Jimenez ISBN-13: 978-0547250304 |
A sequel to Breaking Through and The Circuit. |
REMOVED:
Active Skills for Reading 4 – too short
American Perspectives – too easy
Choice Readings – too simple
College Vocab 3 – vocab only; not a primary text
For Your Information 4 – too short
Making Connections 3 - way too dense for an 11-week course, challenging readings
More Reading Power 3 - not enough long reading passages, doesn't teach enough reading comprehension, too much focus on skills based on very short reading passages
Mosaic 1 Reading – not AWL focused
Northstar 4 Reading and Writing – not enough readings
Reading for a Reason – not long enough
Reading Matters 3 – Dry
Rethinking America 2 - last revised in 1999 , information too outdated
Steps to Academic Reading 5 – not AWL
Tapestry Reading Book 3 – had other better choices
World Class Readings 3 – not challenging enough