New Directions
Reading, Writing, and Critical Thinking
Second Edition
Peter S. Gardner

New Directions is a thematic reading-writing book aimed at the most advanced learners. It prepares students for the rigors of college-level writing by having them read long, challenging, authentic readings and applying critical thinking skills to them as a precursor to writing. This emphasis on multiple longer readings gives New Directions its distinctive character. Each of the five topic-based chapters contains three core readings and five additional readings. The readings come from a variety of genres and are accompanied by exercise material.

The second edition represents a major revision. It contains two entirely new chapters and many new readings and activities in the other three. Another significant new feature is a handbook section on the essentials of writing that is set in colored pages for easy access in the center of the book. Students work through this section for their first writing assignment and return to this thorough treatment of the writing process for each subsequent major writing assignment.

Advanced/Freshman Comp

Download a sample chapter:
Student's Book, Unit 2

Download the table of contents:
New Directions TOC

To order:
Student's Book 978-0-521-54172-5
About the Author
Peter Gardner is a Professor in the Liberal Arts Department at Berklee College of Music, where he coordinates the ESL Program and teaches courses in writing, literature, and intercultural communication. He has taught EFL and trained teachers in Europe, Japan, and China.