For upper-level developmental courses, this reader features 50 compelling selections reflecting a broad mix of sources, including magazines, newspapers, books, the Associated Press and the work of authors such as Christy Haubegger, Dave Barry, Caroline Huang and William Raspberry. After the introductory chapter on the reading process and essential reading skills, students focus on selections of varying lengths. Longer readings allow students to apply new skills and strategies to material similar to what they will encounter in other college courses. The Instructor's Resource Manual features exercises that instructors can use to reinforce each of the five essential reading skills taught in the textbook, as well as a test bank with a pool of questions that can be used to create quizzes or exams. A chapter entitled America at Work helps students learn more about joining the workforce after college, including different career choices and the importance of effective business communication. The first chapter outlines the reading process and five essential reading strategies: how to find the main idea of a selection, identify supporting details, determine the author's purpose, establish the organizational pattern, and make inferences. All reading selections are followed by questions that require students to apply each of these five reading strategies.