Description: This book is designed to help readers develop effective critical thinking, reading, and writing skills by challenging them to express their own ideas on controversial issues and to respond to those of others on the same issues. It features opposed, accessible readings on fifteen current topics -- with questions to stimulate application of prior knowledge, critical response, and persuasive writing -- and with a focus on developing an active, questioning, skeptical approach toward ideas in print. Features a wide range of classic and recent readings on controversial issues -- presented in a point-counterpoint format and illustrating variety in rhetorical form. Covers contemporary topics such as the juvenile justice system, aggression in sports, American attitudes toward aging, the right to bear arms, physician-assisted suicide, technology and society, etc. Provides a variety of supportive guidance and activities for each set of readings: "Preview" -- in which readers consider their own experiences and beliefs on a controversial topic, read a short selection presenting one view of the question, and preview the central essay -- representing an opposing view -- by predicting its main idea from the author's biographical information, the title, and key paragraphs; "Reading" -- in which readers read the main essay, and -- guided by Reading Questions -- make notes on key ideas, personal reactions, and the author's writing style; "Discussion" -- in which readers discuss

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