ESL 262 Low-Advanced Reading
Updated 3/12/2019
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READING TEXTS |
COMMENTS |
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Title: Focus on Vocabulary 2: Mastering the Academic Word List, 2nd ed. Author: Diane Schmitt and Norbert Schmitt ISBN-13: 978-0-13137617-5 Publisher: Pearson, 2011. |
This excellent text can be used as a reading text with an AWL focus. Each unit includes a reading from college texts, reading comprehension, a reading strategy, vocabulary exercises (including meaning, parts of speech and collocations) and discussion. Vocabulary is recycled throughout. Includes dictionary strategies at end of every four chapters. Text is too long for 12-week quarter as usual, but recommend your diligent students to complete the book and they will have learned all 570 word families in the AWL. Must supplement with paraphrasing and summary writing skills. |
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Title: Inside Reading 3, 2nd ed. Author: Rubin, Bruce ISBN-10: 978-0-19-441629-0 Publisher: Oxford, 2012. |
Similar to Focus on Vocabulary, this excellent book is based on AWL. Each unit includes 2 academic readings (students find them interesting but very challenging), short reading comprehension, a reading strategy, and vocabulary exercises. Vocabulary is recycled throughout. Must supplement with more paraphrasing and summary writing skills. |
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Title: Longman Academic Reading Series 4 Authors: Cohen, Robert F. and Judy L. Miller ISBN-13: 978-0-13-276061-4 Publisher: Pearson, 2014. |
Another excellent reading book based on AWL. The readings are from a variety of sources and genres, and the book teaches all the reading and vocabulary building skills required by the course outline, plus critical thinking, synthesizing, and some grammar. However, summarizing skills need to be supplemented. The only drawback is that the readings are quite short. |
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Title: Topics for Today 5 (Reading for Today Series), 4th ed. Author: Smith, Lorraine C. and Nancy Nici and Mare ISBN-13: 978-1-111-03304-0 Publisher: Heinle Cengage Learning, 2011. |
Has appropriate readings but no opinion pieces. Each chapter has 2 readings that offer different perspectives on a given topic. Good reading analysis exercises. Must supplement summarizing skills. Vocabulary selection also is not always the best. Does include some words from the AWL but not many vocabulary building exercises |
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Title: Reading Explorer 5, 2nd ed. Author: Douglas, Nancy and David Bohlke ISBN-13: 978-1-285-84704-7 Publisher: National Geographic Learning/Cengage Learning |
The readings seem quite engaging (based social and physical sciences), the reading
level and the length of the articles are appropriate. Each unit contains exercises
for reading comprehension, reading skills and vocabulary practice (vocab in context).
It teaches some reading strategies, e.g. skimming, scanning, predicting, using graphic
organizers. The photos are stunning. On the other hand, all the readings are nonfiction
articles, has no opinion pieces. Does not teach summarizing, paraphrasing, annotating
or outlining. The vocabulary exercises are always the same (vocab in context), do
not teach how to determine appropriate definition from the dictionary, connotative
meanings, synonyms, roots/affixes (just a little). Not based on AWL. |
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Title: Advanced Reading Power Author: Mikulecky, Beatrice S. and Linda Jeffries ISBN-13: 9780131990272 Publisher: Pearson Longman |
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Title: Q: Skills for Success 5 Reading & Writing Author: Caplan, Nigel A. and Scott Roy Douglas and ISBN-13: 978-0-19-475642-6 Publisher: Oxford University Press, |
An excellent book with great reading comprehension exercises. Readings may be a bit challenging for students. |
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NOVELS |
COMMENTS |
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Title: The Book of Unknown Americans Author: Cristina Henriquez ISBN: 978-0-345-80640-6 Publisher: Vintage Contemporaries, 2014 |
Highly recommended by Iva Tracey. |
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Title: Like Water for Chocolate Author: Esquivel, Laura Title: A Companion Text for Like Water for Chocolate Author: Giannotti, Janet Marie ISBN-13: 9780472085965 Publisher: University of Michigan Press |
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Title: The Hunger Games Author: Suzanne Collins |
A popular young adults novel. Highly recommended by Linda Yee |
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Title: Farewell to Manzanar Author: Houston, Jeanne Wakatsuki and James D. Houston |
A classic nonfiction about the Japanese Internment during WWII. |
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Title: Flowers for Algernon Author: Keyes, Daniel |
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Title: A Thousand Pieces of Gold Author: McCunn, Ruthanne Lum |
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Title: Nectar in a Sieve Author: Markandaya, Kamala |
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Title: I Heard the Owl Call My Name Author: Craven, Margaret |
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Title: To Destroy You is No Loss Author: Criddle, JoAn |
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Title: Two Years in the Melting Pot Author: Liu, Zongren |
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Title: Rebecca Author: du Maurier, Daphne |
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Title: Ghostway Author: Hillerman, Tony |
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Title: Botchan Author: Soseki, Nastume |
REMOVED:
Inside Reading 4 - too difficult, moved to 272
Rethinking America 3 - too old, content too outdated
Northstar 5 R/W – not enough on reading
For Your Information 4 – too simple
Mosaic Reading 2 – too simple, not enough vocab practice
Quest 3 R/W – not enough on reading
New Password 5 – too simple
Making Connections Intermediate - simple sentences, not complex enough