Breaking Through: College Reading, 12th edition

For courses in introductory reading (6 to 9th grade level).

The comprehensive guide to reading, understanding and retaining college-level material

Breaking Through, the lower-level book in the Smith/Morris 2-book series, motivates readers and equips them with the skills necessary to achieve their academic and career goals. It emphasizes the building of prior knowledge, or schemata, one of the most critical elements in helping developing readers achieve.

The 12th Edition teaches effective reading techniques, offers extensive practice within the pages and online, provides independent and group activities and engages learners with actual college textbook passages.

Hallmark features of this title

• Chapter-opening learning objectives (clear, numbered and tied to Summary Points) support purpose-driven reading.
• Reader's Tips boxes offer easily located, condensed, actionable advice throughout.
• The quantity and quality of exercises provide abundant practice in essential reading skills.
• 4 Collaborative Problem-Solving Questions end each chapter, challenging students to brainstorm, think critically, reflect on chapter instruction, and present a response to classmates.
• Interpret the Quote and extended writing assignments follow each long reading selection. Students apply interpretation skills to a quote that proceeds each selection.
• Reading selections sourced from college textbooks provide authentic reading practice for future courses.
• Free download: The Pearson Guide to the 2021 MLA Handbook.

New and updated features of this title

• UPDATED: Revised Everyday Reading Skills sections close each of the 10 chapters. These short and practical pieces offer suggestions on handling a variety of common reading tasks (e.g., selecting a book, reading news articles, reading and organizing research, reading editorials, and more.)
• NEW: Capstone Ch. 10 is entirely new, includes 4 new selections, offers a variety of ways for students to synthesize and present their discoveries and is accompanied by an expanded casebook integrated with the rest of the book.
• NEW: 10 new, long reading selections (e.g., textbook excerpts, essays, 2 short stories, a narrative, and news feature articles) combine with 18 previous favorites to provide insights into academic disciplines and examples of literary forms.
• NEW: Topical issues covered by new selections include college stress, the psychology of early adulthood, stem cell research, and immigration, and new essays include “Silent Spring,” by Richard T. Wright and Dorothy F. Boorse.
• NEW: Articles from respected periodicals (Criminology Today, The Associated Press, and Los Angeles Times) help model writing at its best.
• NEW: The contents and longer readings now included Lexile levels to help guide students appropriately.