"NorthStar, Fifth Edition is an integrated-skills English course that empowers adult and young adult English language learners to achieve their academic and personal goals. Current and thought-provoking topics promote language development and critical thinking skills.

Building on the success of previous editions, this new fifth edition engages and motivates students with new and updated content.

What is new in the fifth edition?
New and updated content with a new theme keeps students motivated.
The new design and imagery bring the activities to life.
Learning outcomes are created using the Global Scale of English (GSE) so students can track their progress more easily.
Every unit offers note-taking practice and writing skill development.
Scaffolded critical thinking activities are clearly marked to help students develop their academic skills.
Academic Word List words are highlighted to help students identify essential vocabulary.
New and updated activities in MyEnglishLab provide additional practice online.
ExamView Test Generator allows teachers to customize assessments.
Students can complete activities, listen to audio, and watch video on the go with the Pearson Practice English App." (Book Cover)

SCOPE AND SEQUENCE

Unit 1 A TEST OF ENDURANCE
Listening 1: Ultrarunner Jay Batchen -- Listening 2: Sports Psychology
Inference: Inferring implied meaning from context
Note-Taking: Taking notes on main ideas
Listening: Recognizing and understanding signal words
Grammar: Reflexive and reciprocal pronouns
Pronunciation: Pronouncing expressions with other
Speaking: Asking for and expressing opinions
Final Speaking Task: Group discussion: creating an aphorism
Video: A professional BMX biker
Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know; Checkpoint 1; Checkpoint 2; Unit Achievement Test
Unit Project: Research a sport, find a relevant picture, and share the information with the class.

Unit 2 AVOIDING IDENTITY THEFT Listening 1: Lily's Story -- Listening 2: Public Service Announcements
Inference: Inferring emotion from intonation
Note-Taking: Taking notes with lists
Listening: Recognizing rhetorical questions
Grammar: Modals of advice
Pronunciation: Recognizing and pronouncing compound nouns
Speaking: Keeping a conversation going
Final Speaking Task: Role-play: identity theft
Video: Identity theft
Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know; Checkpoint 1; Checkpoint 2; Unit Achievement Test
Unit Project: Choose a topic related to either types of identity theft of methods for stealing information. Then research the topic or interview a victim of identity theft, and share the information with the class.

Unit 3 WHY EXPLORE SPACE?
Listening 1: The Space Junk Problem -- Listening 2: The View from Space
Inference: Inferring factual information from context
Note-Taking: Taking notes with abbreviations
Listening: Recognizing and understanding pronoun references
Grammar: Present perfect and simple past
Pronunciation: Pronouncing -ed endings Speaking: Using eye contact in a presentation

Final Speaking Task: Oral presentation: pros and cons of space exploration
Video: Space Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know; Checkpoint 1; Checkpoint 2; Unit Achievement Test
Unit Project: Research a space project, including its goals and plans to achieve those goals, and present the information to the class.

Unit 4 WORDS THAT PERSUADE
Listening 1: Corporate Euphemisms -- Listening 2: House Hunting
Inference: Inferring a speaker's purpose
Note-Taking: Taking notes with columns
Listening: Recognizing and understanding speaker emphasis
Grammar: Superlative adjectives
Pronunciation: Highlighting important information and word stress
Speaking: Using appropriate volume and pacing in a presentation
Final Speaking Task: Oral presentation: create and perform ads
Video: Language
Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know; Checkpoint 1; Checkpoint 2; Unit Achievement Test
Unit Project: Analyze advertisements to understand the persuasive techniques used to sell products.

Unit 5 FOLLOW YOUR PASSION
Listening 1: Changing Career Paths -- Listening 2: Finding Your Passion
Inference: Inferring feelings from context
Note-Taking: Taking notes on details
Listening: Recognizing and understanding reduced speech
Grammar: Gerunds
Pronunciation: Using thought groups
Speaking: Using an introduction in a presentation
Final Speaking Task: Oral presentation: my personal strengths, interests, and work preferences
Video: Careers
Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know; Checkpoint 1; Checkpoint 2; Unit Achievement Test
Unit Project: Interview a person about his/her current job, research to find more about the job, write a summary of the interview, and present all relevant findings to the class.

Unit 6 CULTURE AND COMMERCE
Listening 1: Tourist Attraction or Human Zoo? -- Listening 2: Town Hall Meeting in Cape Cod
Inference: Inferring opinion from word choice
Note-Taking: Taking notes with an outline Listening: Recognizing and understanding opinions

Grammar: will and if clauses
Pronunciation: Pronouncing the vowel /o/
Speaking: Making suggestions
Final Speaking Task:
Video:
Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know; Checkpoint 1; Checkpoint 2; Unit Achievement Test
Unit Project:

Unit 7 RESTORATIVE JUSTICE
Listening 1: What is Restorative Justice? -- Listening 2: Derek and Marcus
Inference:
Note-Taking:
Listening:
Grammar:
Pronunciation:
Speaking:
Final Speaking Task:
Video:
Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know; Checkpoint 1; Checkpoint 2; Unit Achievement Test
Unit Project:

Unit 8 REDUCING YOUR CARBON FOOTPRINT
Listening 1: Living Small -- Listening 2: A Call to Action
Inference: Inferring contrast from context
Note-Taking: Using symbols to take notes
Listening: Identifying repetition to emphasize a point
Grammar: Modals of necessity
Pronunciation: Using final intonation
Speaking: Interrupting politely and holding the floor
Final Speaking Task: Academic discussion: climate change data
Video: Family living
Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know; Checkpoint 1; Checkpoint 2; Unit Achievement Test
Unit Project: Research a service or technology that reduces carbon emissions, and share the findings in a small group or with the class.