"Building on the success of the previous editions, Northstar, Third Edition continues to engage and motivate students with new and updated contemporary topics delivered through a seamless integration of print and online components.

What is special about the new edition?

Blended approach with MyEnglishLab.

Online activities offer support and expansion, fully blending the student book with MyEnglishLab for extra practice, ongoing assessment, and instant feedback.

New and updated themes and topics.

Presented in a variety of genres--including literature and lectures--and in authentic reading and listening selections, the content challenges and engages students intellectually.

Explicit skills instruction.

The inclusion of 2-3 explicit language skills in every unit allows students to build their language proficiency.

New and revised assessments tied to learning outcomes.

Online assessments allow teachers to track students' progress mastery of material and skills.

A new design with thought provoking images.

A compelling graphic look makes the content and activities come alive." (Book Cover)

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

Unit 1: Prodigies - Genius: Nature or Nurture?
Reading 1: A Genius Explains Reading 2: 10,000 Hours to mastery

READING Make and confirm predictions
Identify the main idea of each paragraph in a reading
Identify and categorize details and examples
Scan a text to locate specific information
Distinguish voice in quotations

WRITING Identify and write the topic sentence controlling idea of a summary paragraph
Distinguish between sentence fragments and complete sentences
Use strategies to correct sentence fragments
Edit and revise writing for content, language, and conventions
Task: Write a summary paragraph

INFERENCE Infer the writer's assumptions

VOCABULARY Infer word meaning from context
Recognize and use word forms (nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs)

GRAMMAR Identify and categorize a range of modal and semi-modal verbs VIDEO: Small Wonders (ABC News) ASSESSMENTS: Check What You Know, Checkpoints 1 and 2, Unit 1 Achievement Test

Unit 2: Overcoming obstacles - Facing Life's Obstacles
Reading 1: The Education of Frank McCourt Reading 2: Marla Runyan

READING Make and confirm predictions
Identify the main ideas in a reading
Construct chronology from a reading
Identify different types of supporting details
Scan a text to locate specific information
Recognize the use of synonyms and antonyms to reinforce word meaning

WRITING:
Write a comparison paragraph
Identify and write topic sentences, supporting sentences, and a concluding sentence in a paragraph
Recognize inappropriate supporting ideas within a text Edit and revise writing for content, language, and conventions Task: Write a biographical paragraph

INFERENCE Infer the meaning of idioms and expressions from context

VOCABULARY Infer word meaning from context
Identify synonyms
Classify words
Analyze relationships between words

GRAMMAR Recognize and use gerunds and infinitives VIDEO: A Child's Voice (ABC News) ASSESSMENTS: Check What You Know, Checkpoints 1 and 2, Unit 2 Achievement Test

Unit 3: Medicine - Making Medical Decisions
Reading 1: Genetic Testing and Disease: Would you want to know? Reading 2: Norman Cousins's Laughter Therapy

READING Make and confirm predictions
Demonstrate understanding of and use a timeline to sequence events
Identify and categorize the main ideas in a reading
Identify different types of supporting details
Scan a text to locate specific information

WRITING Organize ideas using a tree map and other organizers
Identify the introduction, body, and conclusion of an opinion essay
Identify the parts of an effective introduction
Write a comparison-and-contrast paragraph
Edit and revise writing for content, language, and conventions
Task: Write and opinion essay

INFERENCE Infer the degree of support

VOCABULARY Infer word meaning from context Analyze relationships between words (similar and different meanings)

GRAMMAR Recognize and use past unreal conditionals VIDEO: A Sleep Clinic (Video Activity) ASSESSMENTS: Check What You Know, Checkpoints 1 and 2, Unit 3 Achievement Test

Unit 4: Animal Intelligence - Instinct or Intellect?
Reading 1: Extreme Perception and Animal Intelligence Reading 2: How smart are animals?

READING Make and confirm predictions
Identify the main ideas in a reading
Identify the different types of supporting details
Scan a text to locate specific information Recognize the role of quoted speech

WRITING Organize ideas using Wh- questions
Summarize sources and data
Paraphrase details from text
Edit and revise writing for content, language, and conventions
Task: Write a summary in journalistic style

INFERENCE Infer writer's meaning and identify hedging language

VOCABULARY Infer word meaning from context
Identify synonyms
Analyze relationships between words (similar and different meaning)
Recognize Latin and Greek word roots

GRAMMAR Recognize and use identifying adjective clauses VIDEO: Talk to the Animals (ABC News) ASSESSMENTS: Check What You Know, Checkpoints 1 and 2, Unit 4 Achievement Test

Unit 5: Longevity - Too Much of a Good Thing?
Reading 1: Death Do Us Part Reading 2: Toward Immortality: The Social Burden of Longer Lives

READING Make and confirm predictions
Identify the main ideas in a reading
Identify different types of supporting details
Scan a text to locate specific information
Analyze titles and headings to improve comprehension

WRITING Organize ideas using a cause-and-effect diagram
Use an idea web to relate different topics to a central theme
Recognize and use figurative language to add depth to writing
Write and opinion paragraph
Edit and revise writing for content, language, and conventions
Task: Write a descriptive essay

INFERENCE Infer characters' attitudes and feelings

VOCABULARY: Infer word meaning from context
Recognize connotations and implied meanings
Recognize and use common adjective suffixes

GRAMMAR Distinguish between and use the simple past, present perfect, and present perfect continuous verb tenses VIDEO: Living Longer (ABC News) ASSESSMENTS: Check What You Know, Checkpoints 1 and 2, Unit 5 Achievement Test

Unit 6: Generosity - Making a Difference
Reading 1: Justin Lebo Reading 2: Some Take the Time Gladly and Problems with Mandatory Volunteering

READING Make and confirm predictions
Identify the main ideas in a reading
Identify different types of supporting details, examples and reasons
Scan a text to locate specific information
Recognize persuasive language

WRITING Organize ideas for an argument using a chart
Identify and organize positions, arguments, and counterarguments
Identify and write effective introductions, thesis statements, and conclusions Write an opinion letter supported with examples from a text
Edit and revise writing for content, language, and conventions
Task. Write a persuasive essay

INFERENCE Infer the meaning of people's reactions

VOCABULARY Infer word meaning from context
Analyze relationships between words (similar and different meanings)
Recognize and use word forms (nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs)
Infer meaning of phrasal verbs

GRAMMAR Recognize and use concessions to support an opinion while recognizing counterarguments VIDEO: Local Teen Awarded for Making Difference (NBC News)
ASSESSMENTS: Check What You Know, Checkpoints 1 and 2, Unit 6 Achievement Test

Unit 7: Education - The Empty Classroom
Reading 1: Teaching to the World from Central New Jersey Reading 2: The Fun They Had

READING Make and confirm predictions
Identify the main ideas in a reading
Identify different types of supporting details
Scan a text to locate specific information
Follow chronological sequence of a timeline
Recognize the speaker in direct speech

WRITING Organize ideas using a chart
Recognize various types of organization in a comparison-and-contrast essay
Identify and use subordinators and transitions to introduce points of comparison or contrast
Edit and revise writing for content, language, and conventions
Task: Write a comparison-and-contrast essay

INFERENCE Infer the writer's degree of concern about the topic

VOCABULARY Infer word meaning from context
Recognize and use word forms (nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs)

GRAMMAR Distinguish between and use direct and indirect speech VIDEO: Homework Holiday (ABC NEWS) ASSESSMENTS: Check What You Know, Checkpoints 1 and 2, Unit 7 Achievement Test

Unit 8: Technology - Managing Your Smartphone
Reading 1: Addicted to Your Smartphone? Here's What to Do
Reading 2: Unplugging Wired Kids: A Vacation from Technology and Social Media

READING Make and confirm predictions
Identify the main ideas in a reading
Identify different types of supporting details
Scan a text to locate specific information
Identify referents for the pronoun it
Identify and categorize problems and solutions from a text

WRITING Write summary statements
Organize ideas using a flowchart
Use subordinators, prepositional phrases, and transitions to clearly signal cause-and-effect relationships
Edit and revise writing for content, language, and conventions
Task: Write a cause-and-effect essay

INFERENCE Infer meaning of writer's appeal to authority with experts' quotes

VOCABULARY Infer word meaning from context
Understand implied meaning and degrees of intensity

GRAMMAR Recognize and use common phrasal verbs VIDEO: Kids and Video Games (NBC NEWS) ASSESSMENTS: Check What You Know, Checkpoints 1 and 2, Unit 8 Achievement Test