A Community of Readers: A Thematic Approach to Reading

Focused on interesting, contemporary themes, A COMMUNITY OF READERS presents college-level reading skills through readings from textbooks and from authors who write about real-life issues relevant to students. A COMMUNITY OF READERS, the second of two books in the Alexander reading series, offers guided, detailed instruction on all steps in the reading and learning process: reading, discussing and reflecting, writing, and critical thinking. The authors use a unique system to teach the reading process called PRO (Prepare to Read, Read Actively and Reflect, and Organize to Learn), which gives students a concrete learning process to follow. Each chapter introduces a key reading skill (e.g., identifying main ideas, building vocabulary, understanding inferences) and focuses on one theme. This thematic organization helps students develop schema while improving their reading skills. The Sixth Edition maintains the focus on student participation in the classroom community and covers basic to high level reading skills including examining fact and opinion, understanding bias, and thinking critically.

Dr. Roberta Alexander is Professor Emeritus at San Diego City College. She has taught Reading, Composition, Literature, Chicano Studies, and Black Studies as well as English as a Second Language courses for the San Diego Community College District since 1974. Formerly the Department Chair of English, Chair of Chairs, and Academic Senate President, she now focuses on teaching and writing. She is the author of a series of college reading textbooks. Dr. Alexander earned her BA in Spanish Literature from University of California, Berkeley and her PhD in Comparative Literature from University of California, San Diego.

Jan Jarrell is the ESOL coordinator at San Diego City College. She has taught English as a Second Language, Reading, and Composition courses in both the credit and noncredit divisions of the San Diego City College District since 1989. She has held a number of leadership positions including Department Chair and Interim Associate Dean in the noncredit division, and Basic Skills Coordinator.