KEY FEATURES:

1. Focus on the basics.

While the book emphasizes reading, it does not neglect reading skills work. There are six chapters on key reading skills: vocabulary in context, main ideas, supporting details, transitions, inferences, and summarizing and outlining.

2. Promotion of the habit of reading.

A final section, "Making Reading a Habit," gives students practical suggestions on how to make reading a part of everyday life. It also provides an annotated list of specific books to read, many of which are in the mini-library available at no charge to schools adopting at least 100 copies of Keys to Better College Reading.

3. Frequent practice and feedback.

There are numerous practices as well as two mastery tests for each of the six reading skills. In addition, there are ten reading comprehension questions for each of the forty readings in the book; the thirty-four readings in Parts II and III also contain four discussion questions and either a summarizing or an outlining activity. Students can get immediate feedback on the practice exercises in Part I by turning to the limited answer key at the back of the book. This limited answer key increases the active role that students take in their own learning; they are likely to use it in an honest and positive way if they know they will be tested on the many activities and selections for which answers are not provided. The answers to the mastery tests in Part I and the readings in Parts II and III are in the Instructor's Manual; they can be easily copied and passed out at the teacher's discretion.

4. High interest level.

The readings in the book have been chosen not only for the appropriateness of their reading level but also for their truly compelling content. They should engage teachers and students alike.

5. Integration of skills.

Students do more than learn the skills individually in Part I. They also learn to apply the skills together through the reading selections that close the chapters in Part I and the readings in Parts II and III. They become effective readers and thinkers through a good deal of practice in applying a combination of skills.

6. Helpful supplements.

A combined Instructor's Manual and Test Bank includes suggestions for teaching the course, a model syllabus, a complete answer key, suggested answers to the discussion questions, and readability levels for the reading selections. The test bank contains two additional mastery tests for each of the six skills and four additional combined-skills tests—all on letter-sized sheets so they can be copied easily for use with students. This supplement is available at no charge to instructors adopting the text in quantities of 20 or more. In addition, a free mini-library of twenty paperbacks will be sent to schools adopting the text in quantities of 100; an additional mini-library set will be sent for each additional 100 copies adopted.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

If an entry is underlined, click on it to see sample pages from that chapter.

Preface to the Instructor

Introduction: Becoming a Better Reader

PART I: Key Comprehension Skills

Chapter 1: Vocabulary in Context

Two mastery tests

End-of-chapter reading: "One Less Sucker Lives" Jeanne R. Smith

Chapter 2: Main Ideas

Two mastery tests

End-of-chapter reading: "American Family Life: The Changing Picture" Donna Barron

Chapter 3: Supporting Details

Two mastery tests

End-of-chapter reading: "Winning the Job Interview Game" Marcia Prentergast

Chapter 4: Transitions

Two mastery tests

End-of-chapter reading: "Two Worlds" Jim Yoshida, with Bill Hosokawa

Chapter 5: Inferences

Two mastery tests

End-of-chapter reading: "A Friend on the Line" Jennings Michael Burch

Chapter 6: Summarizing and Outlining

Two mastery tests

End-of-chapter reading: "Let's Go Shopping" Anita Rab

PART II: Intermediate Readings

Level A Readings

1 The Monsters in My Head Frank Langella

2 A Small Victory Steve Lopez

3 A Father's Story Clark DeLeon

4 A Suicide at Twelve—Why, Steve? Richard E. Meyer

5 Do It Better! Ben Carson, with Cecil Murphey

Level B Readings

6 Tickets to Nowhere Andy Rooney

7 Giving Emotional Support Kim Wilkes

8 Chicken Gizzards James A. Perkins

9 From Nonreading to Reading Stacy Kelly Abbott

10 Television Changed My Family Forever Linda Ellerbee

Level C Readings

11 Hard Times for the Town of the Dead Gail Saffron

12 The Role of Reading in My Life Grant Berry

13 Old Before Her Time Katherine Barrett

14 Days of Discovery Helen Keller

15 Homeless Bound Roy Rowan

Level D Readings

16 A Love Affair with Books Bernadete Piassa

17 Coping with Nervousness Rudolph F. Verderber

18 The Price of Hate: Thoughts on Covering a KKK Rally Rachel L. Jones

19 The Art of Flying Solo Jean Seligmann

20 A Drunken Ride, A Tragic Aftermath Theresa Conroy and Christine M. Johnson

Level E Readings

21 The Strange, True Story of Dracula Richard M. Robinson

22 Dealing with Colds Cathie Cush

23 Good People Don't Make Headlines Claude Lewis

24 Keys to College Success Sheila Akers

25 The Battle for My Body Richard Rhodes

PART III: Longer Readings

1 Why Me? Sammy Davis, Jr.

2 Mister Rogers Jeanne Marie Laskas

3 I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Maya Angelou

4 Taking Charge of My Life

5 Alicia: My Story Alicia Appleman-Jurman

6 Watchers Dean Koontz

7 Candle in the Wind: The Ryan White Story Beth Johnson

8 "Murder" He Says M. E. Kerr

9 Dangerous Parties Paul Keegan

PART IV: Making Reading a Habit

1 Steps to Regular Reading

2 A List of Interesting Books