Four Point Reading and Writing 2: Advanced EAP

The Four Point series is designed for English language learners whose primary goal is to succeed in an academic setting.The series covers the four academic skills of reading, writing, listening, and speaking while providing reinforcement and systematic recycling of key vocabulary and further exposure to grammar issues. In order to participate in academic settings, ELLs need focused activities to develop and then maintain their use of vocabulary and grammar. Each book in the series focuses heavily on vocabulary in particular, highlighting between 125-150 key vocabulary items including individual words, compound words, phrasal verbs, short phrases, idioms, metaphors, collocations, and longer set lexical phrases.

Each unit in Reading-Writing 2, Advanced, includes two reading passages on the same topic within a field of academic study: Language, Sociology, Physiology, Geology, Economics, and Environmental Science. The exercises accompanying the readings are meant to strengthen a range of reading and writing skills like comprehending details, developing vocabulary, paraphrasing, summarizing, and synthesizing information. Students will read longer, more difficult readings on interesting academic topics that represent an array of classroom interests, and they will write both short and long assignments that can be organized around more traditional writing templates. By addressing the breadth and depth of reading and writing tasks required in academic settings instead of only reading for pleasure or writing for research projects, this volume truly prepares ELLs for the type of reading they will find in their course books and for the writing assignments they will receive in class. Interactive vocabulary activities are provided on the book's companion website.

Lawrence J. Zwier is Assistant Director of the English Language Center at Michigan State University.