Strategic Reading is a three-level series designed to develop reading, vocabulary-building, and critical-thinking skills. The Student's Book contains 16 thematic units with a selection of engaging topics that motivate learners to relate the reading to their own experiences. Three inviting reading passages in each unit, all adapted from authentic sources, allow students to explore the theme in depth. The original sources expose learners to a wide range of writing styles. Preview pages in every unit introduce new vocabulary and ask thought-provoking questions. There are also pre-reading activities that stimulate students' interest in the unit theme. Vocabulary-building activities improve students' ability to deal with unfamiliar words, and recycle key vocabulary with challenging exercises and puzzles.
Jack Croft Richards is an applied linguist from New Zealand, specializing in second and foreign language education, teacher training, and materials design. He has written numerous articles and books. Most of his books and articles are in the field of second language teaching and have been translated into many different languages. He was appointed full professor in the Department of English as a Second Language at the University of Hawaii in 1981.