Meeting a need for teaching critical reading, writing, and the techniques for research, Perspectives on Contemporary Issues: Readings Across the Disciplines, demonstrates to students the interconnectedness of ideas and the relationship of different areas of curriculum studies to one another. The goals of the book are to sharpen students' thinking skills by presenting them with a variety of perspectives on current individual, national, and global issues. The variety of issues and opinions are aimed to provoke lively classroom discussions and provide writing topics, giving students practice in both oral and written communication.

PART ONE Writing Critically and Conducting Research

 CHAPTER 1 Reading Critically

Reading Critically in Preparation for Writing Critically

Organizing and Developing Ideas

Illustration: Reading Critically

What's in a Name? More than You Think Joe Saltzman

 Criticizes U S. television news for using slanted terms in

 reporting U.S. wars on foreign soil.

Discussion of"What's in a Name? More than You Think"

Rhetorical Analysis of Visuals

Rhetorical Analysis of Websites

 CHAPTER 2 Writing a Summary

Writing a Summary

Illustration: Making Marginal Notes and Summarizing

Enter Right, Exit Left Joshua Foer

 Explains the effects of 9/11 and the Iraq war on thepolitical

 views of today's generation of college graduates.

Illustration: Summary

Stern Belongs on the Radio Just as Much as Rush

 Roger Ebert

 Argues that Howard Stern's right to be on the radio is as valid as Rush Limbaugh's.

 Chapter 3 Writing a Critique

The Connection between Reading Critically and Writing a Critique

Writing a Critique

The Hollow Curriculum Robert N. Sollod

 Argues that omitting courses on religion and spirituality in higher education weakens the curriculum and ]eaves students ill prepared for their professions.

Illustration: Critique

Who Needs College? Linda Lee

  Questions the value of a college education and asks if it is

  appropriate for everyone.

 Chapter 4 Writing an Argument

Narrowing Your Focus and Discovering Your Position

Structuring an Argument

Strategies for Arguing Effectively

Sample Student Papers

Illustration: Opposing Arguments

Grade Inflation: It's Time to Face the Facts

 Harvey C. Mansfield

 Argues that grade inflation is widespread and explains its

 negative effects.

The Dangerous Myth of Grade Inflation Alfie Kohn

 Counters arguments of those who charge that teachers give

 unrealistically high grades for mediocre performances.

 Chapter 5 Synthesizing Material and Documenting Sources Using NLA Style

Writing a Synthesis

Illustration: Synthesis

In-text Citations Using MLA Style

Paraphrasing

Quoting

Integrating Source Material into Your Paper

Using Ellipsis Points, Brackets, Single Q~otation

 Marks, and "Qtd. in"

Documenting Sources in a Collection of Essays

 Illustration: Synthesis with In-text Citations using MLA Style

 Chapter 6 Writing a Research Paper using HLA Style

Defining Your Purpose

Asking Questions and Discovering a Topic

Forming a Preliminary Thesis

Developing a Working Bibliography

Using the Library

Using Electronic Sources

Creating a Preliminary Bibliography

Evaluating Print Sources

Evaluating Internet Sources

Illustration: Seeking Promising Websites

Taking Notes

Illustration: Summarizing, Paraphrasing, and Quoting

Avoiding Plagiarism

Illustration: Plagiarism, Inaccurate Documentation,

and Correct Handling of Source Material

Handling Source Material

Documenting Sources

Citing Sources in the Text

Creating a Works Cited Page Using MLA Style

Writing a Research Paper

Illustration: Sample Pages from Student Research Papers

Student Research Paper Using MLA Style

Writing a Research Paper Using APA Style

Parenthetical Citations Using APA Style

Illustration: Sample Pages from Student Research

Paper Using APA Style

APA Style References List

PART TWO The Arts, Media Studies, and Popular Culture

Chapter 7 Music and Video Games

Art Form for the Digital Age Henry Jenkins

Argues that "computer games are art--a popular art, an

emerging art, a largely unrecognized art, but art

nevertheless."

Here Come the Alpha Pups John Tierney

Explains the advertising tactic of "viral marketing" and

comments on the popularity of video games among boys.

 ……