Criterion

Grade: 5/4/3/2/1

Comments (5 being the highest grade and 1 the lowest)

Originality

4

This book enables the student to develop their reading and writing skills in a uniquely presented way. All of the skills practised and knowledge acquired, (including grammar and vocabulary) throughout the Unit, are then used to fulfil the ultimate writing task.  A strong emphasis is placed on developing critical thinking skills, and this is promoted through the correlation and compounding of the texts and associated authentic tasks provided. The Study Skills section at the end of each Unit, provided by Stella Cottrell, also serves to focus the student regarding the study skills necessary to meet academic requirements and expectations.

Practicality

3

The Skillful Reading & Writing Student’s Book 3 is accompanied by a Teacher’s Book and a Digibook (available to both the teacher and student.)

• The Teacher’s Book is accompanied by online access to the Digibook. This is accessed through a unique code in the back of the Teacher’s book. Teacher registration lasts for 3 years!

• Students also have free access to the Skillful Reading & Writing Digibook, accessed online. A unique code is provided in the back of every student’s book. Student registration lasts for 18 months.
• Registration for both the Teacher’s and Student’s Digibook is a straightforward and simple process.
• The Digibook contains exactly the same information as the hard copy enabling the student to use it in the classroom. The format is uncomplicated and easy to use.
• The Customer Service Team at Macmillan Education are most helpful, in the event that login difficulties are experienced.
• This book has been classified as B2 within the CEFR (Common European Framework).

Presentation

4

The Student’s book contains 10 Units.

• The topics used in the Skillful Reading & Writing 3 Student’s Book, are parallel to the Skillful Listening & Speaking 3 Student’s Book.
• Each Unit begins with a discussion to orientate students to the topic. This takes the form of three questions and is accompanied by a large colourful photograph. The aims for the Unit are communicated clearly and concisely, and displayed in a small box on the same page.
• Each Unit within the Student’s book contains two readings: A ‘Global’ reading, and a ‘Close’ reading. The Global reading is slightly shorter in length and orientates the student to the general issues relating to the topic, whilst the Close reading provides an in-depth look at a related-topical issue. The Close reading also provides opportunity for greater critical analysis.

• A variety of macro and micro reading strategies are promoted across the two reading texts presented.
• Prior to the initial reading, there is a ‘Vocabulary preview’. This exercise acknowledges vocabulary to be used across both of the reading texts.
• Three Academic keywords are presented with each reading text.
• There are 5 opportunities for discussion integrated around the two reading texts.
• A strong emphasis is placed on developing critical thinking skills.
• The Writing section consists of two components: Developing the ‘Writing skill’, followed by the ‘Writing Task’.
• A grammar component is included in the section, ‘Developing the Writing Skill’. This is presented in a ‘grammar box’.
• On each ‘Writing Task’ page, there is a box which outlines the Audience, Context and Purpose of/for the writing.
• At the end of each Unit, an aspect relating to Study Skills is presented by Stella Cottrell. These may take the form of an information sheet or contain points for discussion. Examples of topics include: Am I a smart reader? Plagiarism, Strategies for writing timed essays, Selecting and Evaluating online sources and Developing a Portfolio.
• At the back of the Student’s book there is a page displaying Functional language and a Writing Task Peer Review Checklist.

The Teacher’s Book

• The Teacher’s Book contains a ‘visual walkthrough’ of both the Student’s Book and Digibook (for Teachers and Students).
• Exam tips, Extension Activities and notes on Cultural Awareness are provided throughout.
• The Teacher’s Book contains structured, photocopiable feedback sheets for each Unit assignment.
• An answer Key is provided in the Teacher’s Book.

Overall rating

4

Other comments

STRENGTHS:

The Student’s Book

The topics provided enable the student to engage with academically-related ideas in a very accessible way. Each Unit topic is considered from the aspect of two different academic disciplines. For example, Identity -Psychology and Sociology; Movement - Zoology and Biology; and Sound-Literary Studies and Science.

The topics bridge aspects of common knowledge to more complex ideas.

The topics are mirrored between the Skillful Reading & Writing and Skillful Listening and Speaking, although the content provided relating to the topic is different.

Information provided on Form and Function also correlates to the grammar points outlined in the corresponding parallel Skillful Listening and Speaking Unit.

Authentic academic tasks and outcomes are simulated. For example, students are asked to write a summary of one of the readings in the Unit and then include this in a short paragraph which they are to write in answer to a question.

The tasks are coherently linked, being inter-related and cross-referenced, throughout the Unit.

The student’s interest is actively maintained in the topic through interspersed discussions and promotion of critical thinking.

Critical thinking skills are strongly promoted throughout each of the Units.

The final writing task is connected to the readings within the same Unit.

The Writing Task Peer Review Checklist also encourages the student to review and revise work carried out in the Unit through ‘noticing’ specific aspects such as the grammar and vocabulary being used.

Writing for different purposes and audiences is both acknowledged and promoted.       

The Study Skills section at the end of each Unit, provided by Stella Cottrell, is informative, instructional and uses scenarios to promote discussion.

The Student’s Digibook

The Student’s Digibook can be annotated for classroom use. 

Using their Digibook, students can work offline, following their initial connection.

Extra activities are provided throughout the Digibook, in accordance with the exercises given. These can be accessed through an interactive icon, and can be utilised following the completion of the exercise.  Alternatively, they can also be found in the Skillful Practice area of the Digibook.

Extra video activities and productive tasks are also provided in connection with the Unit topics. Although, worksheets are not provided with the videos. (These are only available through the Teacher’s Digibook.)

The Mark book provides a visually clear and simple way of enabling the students to evaluate their progress across the 10 Units. It is presented in a table format which is broken down into each of the 7 Unit components, allowing the students to identify specific areas for improvement.

The Teacher’s Book & Digibook

Teacher’s Book

The different sections are clearly defined and the relevant information accessible.

The Teacher’s Digibook:

Extra videos are provided on the Teacher’s Digibook, with worksheets. These can be used to orientate to the topic, as a bridge between the two readings, or developed further as required.

The Digibook could be used to set and mark homework.

The Mark book enables the teacher to monitor the student’s progress.

Additional tests are provided, in both editable and non-editable formats. These can be used for either formative or summative purposes. They can also serve to act as placement tests.

WEAKNESSES:  

Student’s Book

Reading texts are not always factual even though being presented in a biographical way.

The content within the exercises is not always relevant to the topic being considered.

There is no additional grammar reference section provided to either support or extend the grammatical input.

Digibook:

The time taken to resolve online difficulties may be excessive. Once contacted, an instant automatic reply is sent by Macmillan’s Customer Service team signifying a ticket number. However, the length of time then taken to resolve the difficulty may vary, including up to and beyond the hour.

The Digibook videos are not directly connected to or an extension of the work carried out in the associated Unit. Although they are topically related, consideration would need to be given as to how they could be used effectively within the context of the Unit.

Minimal tasks are assigned to the extra video recordings to be found in the Digibook. These do not include a pre-listening vocabulary exercise.

On which courses do you envisage being able to use this material?

Foundation (Year 0) Pre-Undergraduate degree programmes.

Preparatory Academic English programmes for students seeking to improve their English language reading and writing skills for either undergraduate or postgraduate study.

It is unlikely that this book would provide sufficient challenge for Pre-sessional students, either in terms of language level or task requirements. The writing tasks may also be insufficient for Pre-sessional course requirements.

Other comments This course book introduces the student to the practical skills needed to be able to read for academic purposes. It provides exposure to vocabulary from the academic word list in ‘bite sized chunks’ and encourages students both to ‘notice’ and use the vocabulary and grammar presented, in context. It strongly promotes critical thinking skills through discussion and questions addressing the texts, including comparison of the texts themselves. All of the exercises within a Unit are inter-connected and culminate in the writing task. The writing skill is developed using a process approach and provides the student with an initial insight into writing for academic purposes.

Each Unit could be split into three teaching sessions: Reading 1, Reading 2 and Writing (Skill and Task).

Proportionally, greater emphasis is placed upon developing the reading skill. However, all of the tasks associated with the readings act as preparation for the final writing task.

The final writing task takes a process approach and the length of the writing task required varies from one or two paragraphs to a short essay.

The Study Skills section can be considered as a separate item, as it is not related to the Unit.

The Teacher’s and Student’s Digibook is easy to use.

Whilst this course book carries a B2 classification realistically it provides a challenge for lower intermediate students (IELTS 5.0) and would be suitable for use on a foundational or similar academic preparatory course.

The topics and sections on Form and Function in Skillful Reading and Writing 3, reflect those in Skillful Listening and Speaking 3.