Often imitated but never equaled, the Ten Steps Reading Series remains the best-selling series of reading textbooks on the developmental college market. Ten Steps to Advancing College Reading Skills is a high level reading text suitable for advanced developmental classes or as a second semester alternative to classes using Ten Steps to Improving College Reading Skills.
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Focus on the basics. The book is designed to explain, in a clear, step-by-step way, the essential elements of each skill. Many examples are provided to ensure that students understand each point. In general, the focus is on teaching the skills—not just on explaining them and not just on testing them.
Frequent practice and feedback. Because abundant practice and careful feedback are essential to learning, this book includes numerous activities. Students can get immediate feedback on the practice exercises in Part One by turning to the limited answer key at the back of the book. The answers to the review and mastery tests in Part One, the reading questions in Part Two, and the relationships and combined-skills tests in Part Three are in the Instructor’s Edition and the Instructor's Manual.
High interest level. Dull and unvaried readings and exercises work against learning. Students need to experience genuine interest and enjoyment in what they read. Teachers as well should be able to take pleasure in the selections, for their own good feeling about them can carry over favorably into class work. The readings in the book, then, have been chosen not only for the appropriateness of their reading level but also for their compelling content. They should engage students and teachers alike.
Ease of use. The logical sequence in each chapter—from explanation to example to practice to review tests to mastery tests—helps make the skills easy to teach. The book’s organization into distinct parts also makes for ease of use. Within a single class, for instance, instructors can work on a particular skill in Part One, review another skill with one or more mastery tests, and provide variety by having students read one of the selections in Part Two. The limited answer key at the back of the book also makes for versatility: the teacher can assign parts of some chapters for self-teaching. Finally, the mastery tests—each on its own tear-out page—and the combined-skills tests make it a simple matter for a teacher to test and evaluate student progress.
Integration of skills. Students do more than learn the skills individually in Part One. They also learn to apply the skills together through the reading selections in Parts One and Two as well as the combined-skills tests in Part Three. They become effective readers and thinkers through repeated practice in applying a combination of skills.
Thinking activities. Thinking activities—in the form of outlining, mapping, and summarizing—are a distinctive feature of the book. In addition, four discussion questions at the end of each reading selection encourage student reflection, as do the writing activities that are provided for each selection.
Available electronic resources. This text can be purchased with Ten Steps Plus, a subscription-based collection of digital materials including interactive exercises, mastery tests, assessments, bonus readings, instructional videos, eBooks* of the entire Ten Steps Series, and more than 100 Townsend Library titles. Click here to learn more about subscription options, including discounted digital/textbook bundles.
*eBooks are not included with Ten Steps Plus LE (Limited Edition).
Efficacy Report. Results from a study that examined the impact of the Townsend Press Ten Steps Series on students' reading skills in higher education developmental reading courses are available (full report, short report). This study was conducted by an independent research firm.
• Enhanced Visuals. Because so many students today are visual learners, numerous cartoons and other graphics have been added to help introduce or illustrate points made in the book.
• Clarity and Friendliness. Exceptional clarity has always been a hallmark of John Langan’s books—in the step-by-step explanations for each skill, in the logically sequenced materials, and even in the care given to the questions and answer choices in the activities. Countless numbers of teachers have praised the friendly and helpful tone of John Langan’s books—a tone that never condescends to students. This revised book is no exception. In addition, the human content of the paragraphs and longer selections will definitely appeal to you and your students.
• Fresh Materials. The book includes seven new high-interest readings, a new set of relationship tests, and five added combined skills tests. In addition, practice materials and illustrations have been freshened throughout.
• Integrated Online Resources. Through the use of TP's acclaimed Learning Center, Ten Steps to Advancing College Reading Skills, 6/e, features powerful online components to enhance learning, including:
1 Web-based instructional videos. The Learning Center hosts hands-on video lessons which provide students with introductions to each of the ten chapters in Part One. To see one of these videos, go to www.townsendpress.net.
2 Online practice exercises and mastery tests. Each chapter of the book is supported by additional practice exercises and online versions of the book's mastery tests. These materials can be used to reinforce skills taught in the chapter or to assess students' learning.
3 Helpful PowerPoint files. A comprehensive collection of PowerPoint files covering the book's ten key chapters is available for immediate downloading.
4 Downloadable supplements. Electronic (PDF) versions of the instructor's manual and test bank can be downloaded directly from the Learning Center. These files give you the resources you need whenever and wherever you are—24 hours a day.
5 Integrated eBooks. Complete eBooks of the instructor's edition of this and all Ten Steps books are available in the Learning Center.
6 Class management controls. The Learning Center allows you to control which assignments and tests your students can access. It also allows you to create unique assignments for each class you teach, track students' progress, and simplify grading. To learn more, e-mail cs@townsendpress.com or visit the Learning Center now at www.townsendpress.net.
• Superior Price and Service. No competing publisher matches the prices of TP books. Our goal has always been to provide the highest possible quality at the lowest possible price. If you have ever e-mailed or called us, you know we respond to you right away. And orders, including desk copy requests, are typically shipped out on the same day that we receive them. We pride ourselves on prompt, personal service that no competitor can match.
Preface: To the Instructor
INTRODUCTION
1 How to Become a Better Reader and Thinker
2 Some Quick Study Tips
3 The Power of Reading
PART ONE
Ten Steps to Advancing College Reading Skills
1 Vocabulary in Context
Reading: All Washed Up? Sara Hansen
Mastery Tests
2 Main Ideas
Reading: How Dual-Earner Couples Cope Diane E. Papalia and Sally Wendkos Olds
Mastery Tests
3 Supporting Details
Reading: Now More Than Ever: Community Colleges Daniel Wister
Mastery Tests
4 Implied Main Ideas
Reading: Forget What You Know about Good Study Habits Benedict Carey
Mastery Tests
5 Relationships I
Reading: Soft Addictions Tim Bashard
Mastery Tests
6 Relationships II
Reading: The Influence of the Self-Fulfilling Prophecy Ronald B. Adler and Neil Towne
Mastery Tests
7 Inferences
Reading: He Was First John Kellmayer
Mastery Tests
8 Purpose and Tone
Reading: What Causes Hearing Loss Jane E. Brody
Mastery Tests
9 Argument
Reading: Obedience: Milgram's Controversial Studies Mary M. Gergen and others
Mastery Tests
10 Critical Reading
Reading: Managing Conflicts in Relationships Rudolph F. Verderber
Mastery Tests
PART TWO
Ten Reading Selections1 The Professor Is a Dropout Beth Johnson
2 Taming the Anger Monster Anne Davidson
3 Young and Isolated Jennifer M. Silva
4 My Father's Hands Calvin R. Worthington
5 Motivation and Needs Virginia Quinn
6 Effects of the Automobile James M. Henslin
7 Two Main Forms of Scientific Inquiry Neil A. Campbell, and others
8 Bad Managers Michael W. Drafke and Stan Kossen
9 Better, More Affordable Colleges Start Online L. Rafael Reif
10 Into the Light Tanya SavoryPART THREE
Relationships and Combined-Skills Tests1. Relationships Tests
2. Combined Skill Tests
PART FOUR
For Further Study1. More about Summarizing and Outlining
2. Additional Tests on Fact and Opinion
3. Three Additional Readings
4. Understanding Bias
5. Writing Assignments
Appendixes
Pronunciation Guide
Limited Answer Key
Print Supplement
Like all Ten Steps texts, this edition features an annotated Instructor’s Edition, which is identical to the student book except that it provides answers to all the practices and tests. In addition, the Instructor's Edition includes useful hints for teachers as well instructive annotation to help scaffold lessons. No other book on the market has such detailed and helpful annotations.
Digital Supplements
1. A downloadable Instructor’s Manual and Test Bank includes suggestions for teaching, a model syllabus, and readability levels for the text and the reading selections. The test bank contains four additional mastery tests for each of the skills chapters in Part I—all on letter-sized sheets so they can be copied easily for use with students. This resource is available to all instructors in the Learning Center.
2. Downloadable PowerPoint presentations have been crafted to teach key skills and concepts directly to students. These PowerPoints are available free to instructors in the Learning Center.
3. Ten Steps Plus is a powerful subscription-based collection of digital resources for your college reading or college readiness program. Based on the acclaimed pedagogy of the Ten Steps Series, Ten Steps Plus is a digital suite of exercises, mastery tests, assessments, and instructional videos; a Skills Bank; a Readings Bank; and eBooks* of the entire Ten Steps Series and more than 100 Townsend Library titles. Note: Students must have a paid subscription to access Ten Steps Plus materials. Click here to learn more about subscription options, including discounted digital/textbook bundles.
* eBooks are not included with Ten Steps Plus LE (Limited Edition).
To Obtain Supplements
Print supplements can be obtained quickly by calling Townsend Press (1-800-772-6410), by sending a fax on school letterhead to 1-800-225-8894, or by e-mailing Customer Service at cs@townsendpress.com. Digital supplements are free to educators with a valid instructor account in the Learning Center. Get yours here.