该教材将听、说、记笔记等各项学术技能培养与具体的学科知识结合在一起，编写方法比较新颖，基本上与我国大学英语高年级教学的EGAP方向一致。学生可学到学术英语能力，还可以掌握一定专业知识的英语表达。本教材供高校高年级英语教学使用。本次再版增加了配套数字课程“随行课堂”。

Scope and sequence
Introduction
To the student
Acknowledgments
Unit 1: Belonging to a Group
Chapter 1 Marriage,Family,and the Home
Chapter 2 The Power of the Group
Unit 2: Gender in Society
Chapter 3 Gender Roles
Chapter 4 Gender Issues Today
Unit 3: Media and Society
Chapter 5 Mass Media Today
Chapter 6 Impact of the Media on Our Lives
Unit 4: Breaking the Rules
Chapter 7 Crime and Criminals
Chapter 8 Controlling Crime
Lecture video scripts
Appendix:Academic Word List vocabulary
Skills index
Credits