About the course.  This is a one-credit course designed (largely but not exclusively) for students who are potential candidates for national scholarships.  The course is intended to confront students with a number of topical and controversial social issues with an eye toward preparing them for the kinds of questions they might face during scholarship interviews.  The objective will not be to persuade students of any particular position but rather to acquaint them with some major issues and to give them practice in discussing those issues intelligently.  The course cannot hope to acquaint students with all possible topics about which they may be asked; but it can hope to help them develop the kinds of skills that would be applicable to intelligent discussion of whatever topics they find themselves confronted with.

Course structure.  The course will focus on six issues. Two or three students will be assigned as discussion leaders for each topics. Those students will make a short presentation and will ultimately produce an eight-to-ten-page paper on the issue.  In addition, a different set of two or three students will be assigned as "discussants." Their role will be to prepare questions and provocations for the presenters.

Readings. The reading list provides a few (controversial) readings as a starting point, but discussion leaders will also find sources on their own.  All students will be expected to prepare for each topic, albeit not with the same thoroughness as the assigned discussion leaders.  Grades will be based on the issue papers and class participation.  Some class sessions will be devoted to films and guest speakers.