Includes an index of Key Words and Phrases as well as a Skills Index.

“Themes for Today, Fourth Edition, is a reading skills text intended for beginning English-as-a-second or foreign-language (ESL/EFL) students. The topics in this text are fresh and timely, and the book has a strong global focus. [...]

Themes for Today, Fourth Edition, provides students with essential practice in the types of reading skills they will need in an academic environment. It requires students not only to read text but also to extract basic information from various kinds of charts, graphs, illustrations, and photos. Beginning-level students are rarely exposed to this type of reading material. In addition, they are given the opportunity to speak and write about their own cultures and compare their experiences with those of students from other countries. The text includes real-life activities that give students tasks to complete outside the classroom. These tasks provide students with opportunities to practice reading, writing, speaking, and listening to English in the real world. Thus, all four skills are incorporated into each chapter." (Preface, viii)

CONTENTS: Preface
Introduction
Acknowledgments

Scope & Sequence

UNIT 1: New Experiences

Ch. 1 – Healthy in College

Reading Skills:
Previewing a reading
Scanning for information
Skimming for main idea
Predicting content

Reading Skill Focus:
Using headings to create an outline

Vocabulary Skills:
Understanding meaning from context

Word Forms:
Recognizing the suffix –ful
Identifying word forms: adjectives and nouns

Critical Thinking Skills:
Creating a healthy diet
Deciding on the best diet
Creating a schedule
Comparing schedules
Discussing questions related to the reading

Ch. 2 – Learning a Second Language

Reading Skills:
Previewing a reading
Activating prior knowledge
Scanning for information
Predicting content

Reading Skill Focus:
Creating an outline

Vocabulary Skills:
Understanding meaning from context

Word Forms:
Identifying parts of speech: nouns and verbs

Critical Thinking Skills:
Surveying classmates
Evaluating suggestions
Comparing lists
Categorizing information
Discussing opinions

UNIT 2: Today’s Families

Ch. 3 – A Musical Family

Reading Skills:
Previewing a reading
Using a chart to answer questions
Recalling information
Scanning for information

Reading Skill Focus:
Understanding time order words

Vocabulary Skills:
Understanding meaning from context

Word Forms:
Identifying parts of speech: nouns and verbs

Critical Thinking Skills:
Explaining opinions
Proposing changes
Recalling information
Organizing ideas in a chart
Discussing questions related to the reading

Ch. 4 – The McCaugheys: An Unusual Family

Reading Skills:
Previewing a reading
Using a chart to answer questions
Predicting content
Scanning for information

Reading Skill Focus:
Understanding a bar graph

Word Forms:
Identifying parts of speech: nouns and verbs

Critical Thinking Skills:
Creating a schedule
Discussing opinions
Assessing grocery needs
Preparing a grocery list
Writing questions

UNIT 3: Learning and Memory

Ch. 5 – It’s OK to make mistakes!

Reading Skills:
Previewing a reading
Activating prior knowledge
Understanding questions
Scanning for information

Reading Skill Focus:
Creating a flowchart

Vocabulary Skills:
Understanding meaning from context

Word Forms:
Identifying parts of speech: nouns and verbs

Critical Thinking Skills:
Evaluating learning styles
Considering real-world applications
Explaining preferences
Developing a plan
Identifying problems

Ch. 6 – Super Memory

Reading Skills:
Previewing a reading
Predicting content
Understanding questions
Scanning for information

Reading Skill Focus:
Understanding adverbs

Vocabulary Skills:
Understanding meaning from context

Word Forms:
Identifying parts of speech: adjectives and adverbs

Critical Thinking Skills:
Arguing advantages and disadvantages
Identifying reasons
Recalling memories
Creating a list
Comparing lists
Discussing questions related to the reading

UNIT 4: Big Cities and Small Towns

Ch. 7 – The Best Place to Live

Reading Skills:
Activating prior knowledge
Previewing a reading
Predicting content
Scanning for information
Recalling information
Skimming for main idea

Reading Skill Focus:
Reading a pie chart

Vocabulary Skills:
Understanding meaning from context

Word Forms:
Recognizing the suffix -ness
Identifying parts of speech: adjectives and nouns

Critical Thinking Skills:
Creating a list
Assessing reasons
Explaining opinions
Surveying classmates
Comparing charts
Discussing questions related to the reading

Ch. 8 – The New York City Marathon: A World Race

Reading Skills:
Previewing a reading
Predicting content
Scanning for information
Skimming for main idea

Reading Skill Focus:
Understanding a line graph

Vocabulary Skills:
Understanding meaning from context

Word Forms:
Recognizing the suffix -ment
Identifying parts of speech: verbs and nouns

Critical Thinking Skills:
Recalling and discussing experiences
Comparing advice
Writing a letter
Describing a sporting event
Creating a list
Comparing lists

UNIT 5: Remarkable Researchers

Ch. 9 – Margaret Mead: The World Was Her Home

Reading Skills:
Previewing a reading
Predicting content
Scanning for information
Skimming for main idea

Reading Skill Focus:
Using a timeline

Vocabulary Skills:
Understanding meaning from context

Word Forms:
Recognizing the suffixes -ence and -ance
Identifying parts of speech: verbs and nouns

Critical Thinking Skills:
Describing an important person
Explaining an opinion
Evaluating a description
Planning an interview
Discussing interview results

Ch. 10 – Louis Pasteur: A Modern-Day Scientist

Reading Skills:
Previewing a reading
Activating prior knowledge
Predicting content
Scanning for information

Reading Skill Focus:
Understanding coordinating conjunctions

Vocabulary Skills:
Understanding meaning from context

Word Forms:
Recognizing the suffix -tion
Identifying parts of speech: verbs and nouns

Critical Thinking Skills:
Recalling experiences
Predicting medical advances
Identifying past cures
Creating a list
Comparing lists
Evaluating medical discoveries

UNIT 6: Technology in Our Lives

Ch. 11 – The Cell Phone Debate

Reading Skills:
Previewing a reading
Using a chart to record answers
Predicting content
Scanning for information
Skimming for main idea

Reading Skill Focus:
Understanding a For and Against Chart

Vocabulary Skills:
Understanding meaning from context

Word Forms:
Recognizing the suffix -ment
Identifying parts of speech: verbs and nouns

Critical Thinking Skills:
Considering opposing viewpoints
Arguing an opinion
Categorizing information
Organizing points in a For and Against Chart
Debating opposing viewpoints
Creating a list of rules

Ch. 12 – Clues and Criminal Investigation

Reading Skills:
Previewing a reading
Using a chart to record ideas
Predicting content
Scanning for information
Skimming for main idea

Reading Skill Focus:
Understanding chronological order

Vocabulary Skills:
Understanding meaning from context

Word Forms:
Recognizing the suffix -ful
Identifying parts of speech: nouns and adjectives

Critical Thinking Skills:
Analyzing evidence
Deciding a criminal verdict
Discussing opinions
Illustrating a criminal investigation
Identifying evidence
Creating a list
Comparing lists
Discussing questions related to the reading

Index of Key Words and Phrases

Skills Index

Credits

Notes

For ESL students at a high-beginner level.