"NorthStar, Fourth 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: GREEN SPACES Reading 1: Welcome to the High Line -- Reading 2: Milan's Vertical Forest Inference: Inferring information Note-Taking: Taking notes with underlining and highlighting Reading: Identifying the topic of a reading Grammar: The simple present of be and have Revise: Connecting ideas with and or but Final Writing Task: Sentences Video: Tiny homes Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know -- Checkpoint 1 -- Checkpoint 2 -- Unit Achievement Test Unit Project: Describe a special place

Unit 2: ART FOR EVERYONE Reading 1: Art for Everyone -- Reading 2: Looking at Haring's Art Inference: Inferring opinions Note-Taking: Taking notes with numbers Reading: Reading numbers Grammar: The simple past of be and have Revise: Using commas Final Writing Task: A biography paragraph Video: Art Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know -- Checkpoint 1 -- Checkpoint 2 -- Unit Achievement Test Unit Project: Write about a piece of Keith Haring's art and present it to the class

Unit 3: WHAT'S IT WORTH TO YOU? Reading 1: My Secret -- Reading 2: Be a Smart Collector Inference: Inferring outcomes Note-Taking: Listing main ideas in notes Reading: Identifying suggestions Grammar: Simple present Revise: Writing supporting sentences Final Writing Task: A descriptive paragraph Video: A stolen wedding dress Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know -- Checkpoint 1 -- Checkpoint 2 -- Unit Achievement Test Unit Project: Write about an antique or collectible

Unit 4: OPEN FOR BUSINESS Reading 1: The Debate Space: Mom & Pop Vs. Big Box -- Reading 2: E-Business Magazine Profiles: Etsy.com Inference: Inferring tone Note-Taking: Taking notes on examples Reading: Using context clues to understand word meaning Grammar: There is/there are Revise: Using adjectives in descriptions Final Writing Task: A descriptive paragraph Video: Selling hot dogs Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know -- Checkpoint 1 -- Checkpoint 2 -- Unit Achievement Test Unit Project: Write an ad to sell a product or a service

Unit 5: WHAT ARE YOU AFRAID OF? Reading 1: Help! I'm scared! -- Reading 2: Other Phobias Inference: Inferring the author's meaning Note-Taking: Taking notes on definitions Reading: Identifying cause and effect Grammar: Can, may, might, and will Revise: Adding supporting detail Final Writing Task: Suggestions Video: Weird phobias Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know -- Checkpoint 1 -- Checkpoint 2 -- Unit Achievement Test Unit Project: Write about a phobia

Unit 6: WHAT AN ADVENTURE! Reading 1: Lindbergh Did It! -- Reading 2: Crash Landing on the Hudson River Inference: Making inferences about people Note-Taking: Taking notes with a timeline Reading: Separating fact from opinion Grammar: The simple past Revise: Using time order words Final Written Task: A narrative paragraph Video: A heroic pilot Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know -- Checkpoint 1 -- Checkpoint 2 -- Unit Achievement Test Unit Project: Write about a famous person

Unit 7: WHAT NUMBER ARE YOU? Reading 1: Timing is Everything -- Reading 2: Case Study: The Koh Family Inference: Inferring comparisons Note-Taking: Taking notes with a tree diagram Reading: Recognizing and understanding pronoun reference Grammar: Comparative adjectives Revise: Connecting words Final Writing Task: A comparison paragraph Video: Birth order and your health Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know -- Checkpoint 1 -- Checkpoint 2 -- Unit Achievement Test Unit Project: Write about a famous family and compare two members of the family

Unit 8: TOO YOUNG TO GO PRO?
Reading 1: Ready Ronnie? -- Reading 2: Evan Taschen: Young Basketball Star says "No" to the Pros
Inference: Inferring priorities Note-Taking: Taking notes with an outline Reading: Identifying the conclusion Grammar: Very, too, and enough Revise: Writing a concluding sentence Final Writing Task: An opinion paragraph Video: Sports for non-jocks Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know -- Checkpoint 1 -- Checkpoint 2 -- Unit Achievement Test Unit Project: Make a timeline of life events of a professional athlete