This paper outlines the theoretical foundations of a strategy-based approach to second language reading abilities and demonstrates how the strategies described can be related to content area texts, thereby "authenticating" the learner's knowledge. There are three major sections--approach, method, and techniques. The "approach" section is divided into six chapters: (1) Learner Needs and Learning Needs: An Approach; (2) Building the Framework: Interactivity, Genre and Dominance v. Dependence; (3) Reading and the Communicative Resources of English: Being Clear, Expressive, Quick and Processible; (4) Language Function-Language Use; (5) Motivation and Coding; and (6) The Reflex of Function in Language. The sixth chapter includes subsections on understanding, following, identifying, and finding. The "methods" section is titled "How To Be a Dominant Reader: Methods," and includes sections on context strategies, text strategies, interaction strategies, and becoming a writer. The "techniques" section provides sample texts from various technical areas of study and further treatment of the concepts "finding" and "following." (Numerous diagrams are used throughout. Forty references and two appendixes--a taxonomy of reading strategies and a reprint of a journal article stressing points made in the main text--are attached.) (MHC)