Content Frame

NorthStar
Second Edition

Reading and Writing, Basic/Low Intermediate

Unit 1	Unit 2	Unit 3	Unit 4	Unit 5
Unit 6	Unit 7	Unit 8	Unit 9	Unit 10

Unit 1: Finding the Ideal Job
Theme: Work Reading One: Finding the Ideal Job (A review of a job hunter's manual) Reading Two: The Ideal Job (A newspaper report)
Critical Thinking Skills	Interpret a cartoon Recognize personal attitudes and preferences Classify information Evaluate information according to criteria set forth in a text Infer information not explicit in the text Hypothesize another's point of view
Reading Tasks	Read a bar graph Make predictions Read for main ideas Scan for details Relate personal experience to the text Connect concepts between two texts
Writing Tasks	Construct complete sentences Edit incomplete or incorrect sentences Compose a paragraph response Develop interview questions Summarize an interview Edit and evaluate a classmate's summary
Vocabulary	Word definitions Synonyms Vocabulary classification
Grammar	Descriptive and possessive adjectives

Unit 2: Country Life vs. City Life
Theme: The Country and the City Reading One: The Farming Life for Me (A letter to the editor) Reading Two: Leaving the Farm (A newspaper report)
Critical Thinking Skills	Compare family histories Interpret statistics Infer information not explicit in the text Support answers with information from the text Hypothesize another's point of view Classify information Evaluate advantages and disadvantages Compare and contrast city and country life
Reading Tasks	Make predictions Identify main ideas Identify supporting information Locate passages in the text Scan for details React to the reading with personal opinions Synthesize information from two texts
Writing Tasks	Write a paragraph with a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a concluding sentence Develop topic sentences Arrange a logical paragraph Write a personal letter Write a narrative account in simple past Compose interview questions Edit and evaluate a classmate's paragraph
Vocabulary	Word definitions Context clues Multiple definitions
Grammar	Simple past tense

Unit 3: Making Money
Theme: Money Reading One: Making Money (A magazine article) Reading Two: I Made It Myself (A counterfeiter's account)
Critical Thinking Skills	Identify personal values and assumptions Infer word meaning from context Infer information not explicit in text Support answers with information from the text Draw logical conclusions Compare and contrast types of money and types of counterfeiters
Reading Tasks	Make predictions Identify main ideas Search for and locate details Relate previous knowledge to information in the text Understand pronouns Synthesize information from two texts
Writing Tasks	Connect and contrast ideas with transitions words Arrange a logical paragraph Write a report using transition words Write sentences of comparison Write a paragraph response Write a business letter Edit and evaluate a classmate's business letter
Vocabulary	Context clues Developing word definitions Antonyms
Grammar	Comparative forms of adjectives

Unit 4: Save the Elephants
Theme: Animals Reading One: Save the Elephants (A fundraising appeal) Reading Two: Save a Logger—Eat an Owl (A letter to the editor)
Critical Thinking Skills	Classify information Recognize personal assumptions and values Infer word meaning from context Identify cause and effect Support personal opinions with information from the text
Reading Tasks	Make predictions Identify main ideas Scan for information Identify the purpose and audience of a text Identify connecting themes between two texts Research an endangered animal
Writing Tasks	Write a cause and effect paragraph Write a personal and a business letter Form correct questions Summarize research in a persuasive letter Edit and evaluate classmates' persuasive letter
Vocabulary	Word definitions Context clues Vocabulary classification
Grammar	wh- questions in the simple present tense

Unit 5: "Netiquette"
Theme: Network Etiquette Reading One: "Netiquette" Do's and Don'ts (An excerpt from an online newsletter) Reading Two: Dear Debbie (A newspaper advice column)
Critical Thinking Skills	Interpret a cartoon Interpret a bar graph Compare personal use of e-mail Infer word meaning from context Evaluate situations according to criteria set forth in a text Identify the advantages and disadvantages of e-mail
Reading Tasks	Make predictions Summarize a text Identify supporting ideas in a text Connect concepts between two texts Research e-mail etiquette
Writing Tasks	Practice correct use of punctuation Edit punctuation usage in a passage Write a letter of advice Compose an e-mail reply Write a paragraph response Summarize research in a paragraph Edit and evaluate a classmate's summary
Vocabulary	Word definitions Context clues Prefixes
Grammar	Verbs plus gerunds and infinitives

Unit 6: Women's Work?
Theme: Male and Female Roles Reading One: Housework (A poem) Reading Two: Good-bye to (Some) Housework (A magazine article)
Critical Thinking Skills	Compare past and current family roles Identify point of view in a text Support personal opinion with reasoning Compare past and current gender roles in American families Infer information not explicit in the text Analyze use of rhyme in a poem
Reading Tasks	Make predictions Read a chart Identify main ideas Locate details in the text Summarize main ideas Synthesize information from two texts Read a questionnaire
Writing Tasks	Compose a rhyming stanza Identify rhyming words Write sentences and questions using adverbs of frequency Compose a questionnaire Write a report on survey results
Vocabulary	Context clues Appropriate word usage Vocabulary classification
Grammar	Adverbs and expressions of frequency

Unit 7: Organic Produce: Is It Worth the Price?
Theme: Food Reading One: Organic Produce vs. Regular Produce (A newspaper advice column) Reading Two: What's in Our Food? (Food labels)
Critical Thinking Skills	Establish criteria for choosing produce Evaluate and classify information Infer word meaning from context Hypothesize another's point of view Draw conclusions Deliberate a case using information from the readings Compare and contrast types of produce
Reading Tasks	Read pricing labels Make predictions Identify main ideas Scan for details Relate personal values to information in a text Synthesize information in two texts Read a recipe
Writing Tasks	Analyze content, tone and intended audience of texts Write a memo Write a persuasive letter Write a recipe Write an explanation Write a produce shopping guide
Vocabulary	Context clues Vocabulary classification Word association
Grammar	Count and non-count nouns

Unit 8: "I'll take the train, thanks."
Theme: Travel Reading One: The Climate Train (A magazine article) Reading Two: On the Road with John Madden (A newspaper report)
Critical Thinking Skills	Evaluate best method of travel Infer word meaning from context Infer information not explicit in the text Hypothesize another's point of view Interpret people's motivations and values Correlate specific examples to broad categories
Reading Tasks	Read a map Make predictions Identify main ideas Scan for information in the text Link information from two texts using a graphic organizer Relate life experiences to texts
Writing Tasks	Connect sentences with and and but Write paragraph responses Take notes for research Write report summarizing data Edit and evaluate a classmate's report
Vocabulary	Synonyms Word definitions Context clues
Grammar	Can and could

Unit 9: The Winter Blues
Theme: Health and Illness Reading One: Seasonal Affective Disorder (An excerpt from a medical guide) Reading Two: A SAD Woman in Alaska (A case study)
Critical Thinking Skills	Interpret a picture Compare and contrast definitions Infer word meaning from context Classify information from the text Identify advantages and disadvantages of treatments Draw conclusions Deliberate cases using information from the readings
Reading Tasks	Make predictions Identify main ideas Summarize information in a text using a graphic organizer Read a chart Relate the text to personal experience Research medical depression
Writing Tasks	Report a conversation using direct speech Edit punctuation in a passage with direct speech Compose an e-mail Write statements of advice Write a paragraph response Write an informational brochure on depression Edit and evaluate a classmate's brochure
Vocabulary	Editing words for meaning Context clues
Grammar	Should and shouldn't

Unit 10: Endangered Cultures
Theme: Endangered Cultures Reading One: Will Indigenous Cultures Survive? (A magazine article) Reading Two: The Penan (An excerpt from a travelogue)
Critical Thinking Skills	Compare and contrast two images Support inferences with information from a text Contrast different cultural points of view Classify information in a text Hypothesize the future of cultures using information from the readings
Reading Tasks	Read a map Make predictions Identify main ideas Locate supporting details in a text Draw examples from one text to support broad themes in another Research an endangered culture
Writing Tasks	Supply examples to support general statements Form varied questions Write a paragraph response Take notes for research Write a report using research Edit and evaluate a classmate's report
Vocabulary	Paraphrase word meaning Context clues Appropriate word usage
Grammar	Expressing predictions and future plans with the simple future, be going to, and the present progressive