楊朝春主編的《英語說明文讀寫教程》適用對像是英語能力達到《大學英語課程教學要求》規定的“較高要求”的學生，或水平相當的英語學習者，旨在培養學術英語說明文的讀寫技能，掌握相關的寫作方法，為未來學術發展打下語言基礎。同時，為了提高學術英語綜合能力，書中結合課文介紹了一般性讀寫技巧，如識別和應用中心句(thesis statem。nt)、怎樣改善句子和段落銜接、提高語言流暢性、如何寫文章概要，等等，並通過練習幫助學習者積累高頻學術詞彙。

楊朝春主編的《英語說明文讀寫教程》為“通用 學術英語讀寫繫列教材”第一部，是闡述、議論、文 獻綜述和綜合學術寫作四個階段之開端，重在引導學 習者通過閱讀闡述性英語文章，了解該文體特點，學 習學術性語言的風格和基本要求。此外，通過研究和 討論文後問題，對文章內容進行反思，培養批判性思 維。 《英語說明文讀寫教程》共8個單元，每單元根 據寫作特點精心選編3篇課文，分別體現了定義、分 類、舉例、因果、對比和描寫等寫作方法，同時結合 課文編排了針對各寫作方法的讀寫練習。通過本教材 的使用學習，學生可以為進一步深入學習學術英語打 下良好的基礎。

Unit1 Science and Technology
Learning Objectives
Reading
Text A Climate Change and the Mystery of the Shrinking Sheep
Text B The Problems of Technology
Text C Public Attitudes Towards Science
Writing
Ⅰ. Thesis
Ⅱ. The Structure of an Expository Essay
Ⅲ. Writing Tasks
Unit2 Health
Learning Objectives
Reading
TextA Obesity
Text B Organic Food
Text C Addiction
Writing
Ⅰ. Definition Essay
Ⅱ. Academic Writing
Ⅲ. Writing Tasks
Unit3 Psychology
Learning Objectives
Reading
Text A Types of Mental Illnesses
Text B Causes of Mental Illness
Text C Psychology Behind Why People Lie
Writing
Ⅰ. Classification Essay
Ⅱ. Plagiarism
Ⅲ. Writing Tasks
Unit4 Tips in Life
Learning Objectives
Reading
Text A How to Write a Personal Letter
Text B Ways to Improve Communication Skills
Text C How to Make a Good Impression During Job Interviews
Writing
Ⅰ. Process Analysis Essay
Ⅱ. Coherence in Writing
Ⅲ. Writing Tasks
Unit5 Desires in Human Nature
Learning Objectives
Reading
Text A Some Motives in Human Nature
Text B The Road to Happiness
Text C Life in the Fast Lane
Writing
Ⅰ. Exemplification
Ⅱ. Summary
Ⅲ. Writing Tasks
Unit6 Life Values
Learning Objectives
Reading
Text A Ⅰ Wish Ⅰ Had Married Rich
Text B How Ⅰ Learned to Relax at a Spa -- With My Mom
Text C Thank You
Writing
Ⅰ. Cause and Effect
Ⅱ. Coherence: Transitions Between Ⅰdeas
Ⅲ. Writing Tasks
Unit7 Nature
Learning Objectives
Reading
Text A The Napo River
Text B Killer Whales
Text C Spring in the Sea
Writing
Ⅰ. Description
Ⅱ. Specific Words
Ⅲ. Writing Tasks
Unit8 Social Values
Learning Objectives
Reading
Text A A Planet for All Apes
Text B The Practical and the Theoretical
Text C Do Not Confuse Technology with College Teaching
Writing
Ⅰ. Comparison and Contrast
Ⅱ. Writing Tasks
Appendix1 Glossary
Appendix2 References