"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: FINDING THE IDEAL JOB Reading 1: Finding the Ideal Job -- Reading 2: The Ideal Job Inference: Inferring the author's opinion Note-Taking: Taking margin notes on main ideas Reading: Predicting content from visuals Grammar: Descriptive and possessive adjectives Revise: Adding supporting sentences Final Writing Task: A descriptive paragraph Video: An offbeat job Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know -- Checkpoint 1 -- Checkpoint 2 -- Unit Achievement Test Unit Project: Conduct an interview and write a paragraph about it

Unit 2: CREATIVE THINKING Reading 1: Can We Teach Creative Thinking -- Reading 2: Tips for Success in College: How to be Creative Inference: Inferring connections between statements and examples Note-Taking: Listing details in notes Reading: Recognizing the meaning of we, us, and our Grammar: Simple past Revise: Using visuals to support writing Final Writing Task: A complete paragraph Video: Creativity Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know -- Checkpoint 1 -- Checkpoint 2 -- Unit Achievement Test Unit Project: Create a tourism guide for unusual activities in students' town or a town they know

Unit 3: MAKING MONEY Reading 1: Making Money -- Reading 2: I Did It Myself Inference: Inferring future situations Note-Taking: Taking notes using a timeline Reading: Identifying the sequence of events Grammar: Comparative adjectives Revise: Giving explanations Final Writing Task: A well organized paragraph Video: Money Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know -- Checkpoint 1 -- Checkpoint 2 -- Unit Achievement Test Unit Project: Create a chart comparing currency from different countries

Unit 4: SUBWAY ETIQUETTE Reading 1: A Civilized Suggestion -- Reading 2: Riding the Subway in Japan Inference: Inferring the author's attitude Note-Taking: Taking notes using an organizational chart Reading: Identifying the main elements in a story Grammar: Imperative sentences Revise: Using parallel structure Final Writing Task: A blog post Video: Etiquette Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know -- Checkpoint 1 -- Checkpoint 2 -- Unit Achievement Test Unit Project: Make a list of rules of etiquette for a country of choice

Unit 5: SENSORY PERCEPTION Reading 1: Is Blue Always Blue? -- Reading 2: The Dress that Almost Broke the Internet Inference: Inferring abstract ideas from examples Note-Taking: Taking notes using abbreviations and symbols Reading: Scanning for information Grammar: Linking verbs Revise: Using descriptive adjectives Final Writing Task: A personal experience paragraph Video: Color Psychology Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know -- Checkpoint 1 -- Checkpoint 2 -- Unit Achievement Test Unit Project: Write a comparison paragraph about how your sensory perception on something differs from a classmate's

Unit 6: THE HEART OF A HERO Reading 1: What Is a Hero? -- Reading 2: Book Review: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Inference: Inferring meaning from metaphors Note-Taking: Creating an outline to take notes Reading: Recognizing the use of present tense in a story about the past Grammar: Time clauses in the present tense Revise: Adding explanations and examples Final Written Task: A one paragraph story Video: Heroes Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know -- Checkpoint 1 -- Checkpoint 2 -- Unit Achievement Test Unit Project: Write a paragraph about a real life hero

Unit 7: WHAT'S YOUR MEDICINE Reading 1: Leeches -- Reading 2: Gross Medicine Inference: Inferring judgements Note-Taking: Taking double entry notes Reading: Visualizing while reading Grammar: Adverbs of manner Revise: Time order words in a narrative Final Writing Task: A narrative paragraph Video: Health problems Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know -- Checkpoint 1 -- Checkpoint 2 -- Unit Achievement Test Unit Project: Write a summary paragraph about a traditional method of curing an illness

Unit 8: ENDANGERED CULTURES Reading 1: Will Indigenous Cultures Survive? -- Reading 2: Touring Penan Country Inference: Inferring the author's attitude Note-Taking: Taking notes using a mind map Reading: Identifying the purpose of quoted speech Grammar: Will and be going to Revise: Concluding sentences Final Writing Task: A prediction paragraph Video: Endangered cultures Assessments: Pre-Unit Diagnostic: Check What You Know -- Checkpoint 1 -- Checkpoint 2 -- Unit Achievement Test Unit Project: Follow a format to write a status report about an endangered culture or people