Noting that the word "phonics" has become so politically charged that it is probably the most widely misunderstood and misrepresented aspect of language education today, this book takes a fresh look at the debate about the use of phonics in reading instruction. After defining phonics, the book addresses the science, teaching, and politics of phonics. Chapters are: (1) Heat without Light; (2) Some Basic Misconceptions; (3) Phonology: The Sound System; (4) Orthography: The Written Symbol System; (5) Phonics: The Connector; (6) The Roots of Literacy; (7) Learning about Phonics; (8) The Politics of Phonics; and (9) Phonics in Reading Instruction. A bibliography is attached. (NKA)