Playing team sports has many benefits, and yet high-contact sports such as football and rugby have also been linked to serious injuries, including concussions, and a higher risk of dementia, depression, and Parkinson’s disease. How can we weigh the potential benefits of contact sports with their potentially serious risks? This text provides primary source evidence from doctors, scientists, and experts in the field of sports medicine, as well as ordinary people’s viewpoints, in order to help students reach their own conclusions about the risks related to high-contact sports.

Vaccinations have been a contentious issue in recent years, particularly in North America, where parents have decided to forgo vaccinating their children due to potential health risks. According to health experts, this has led to an increase in potentially deadly diseases and an overall decrease in herd immunity. With so much fearmongering online about the potential deadly consequences of vaccinations, however, what information can we trust? This text provides primary source evidence from doctors and experts, along with scientific data, court cases, and the viewpoints of everyday people, in order to facilitate students’ own critical thinking about this important issue.

Terrorism is a form of violence with the main intent of frightening people from pursuing their everyday lives. Despite calls to ignore a fear of terrorism lest “the terrorists win,” many Westerners are justifiably scared about what seems like the increased presence of terrorism in their world. This text examines viewpoints about the roots of terrorism and its role in different areas around the globe. Experts, journalists, and politicians all weigh in on this important topic in order to help students reach their own conclusions about the role of terrorism in our world today.

Every day, forty-eight children and teens are shot; of these, seven will die from gun-related violence. Everyone agrees that these statistics are horrific, and yet people disagree about how to reduce gun-related violence. Will more federal control of gun sales help? Or, as others state, will this lead to an uptick in violence among those who obtain guns illegally? This text introduces different perspectives about this important—and timely—issue. Experts, politicians, judges, and everyday people weigh in on this contentious issue, allowing students to analyze gun control from all sides.

Renewable energy is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the global economy as climate scientists and environmentalists give voice to the detrimental effects of fossil fuels. But how far have we gotten in developing efficient and sustainable energy, including solar, wind, and geothermal power, and what are the benefits of these renewable energy sources compared to fossil fuels? This text examines the issue from diverse viewpoints, allowing students to analyze key ideas in energy production through primary source evidence.

The Middle East is almost always in the American news, and US forces—whether on the ground or in the air—have been involved in the region almost consistently for generations. Yet many people don’t fully understand the intricacies of US military engagement in the Middle East. This text includes primary source evidence, including experts’ opinions and scientific data, political rhetoric, and court decisions, in order to show students the issue from all sides. Students will evaluate the evidence included in this text to reach their own conclusions on one of the most important issues of our time.

Playing team sports has many benefits, and yet high-contact sports such as football and rugby have also been linked to serious injuries, including concussions, and a higher risk of dementia, depression, and Parkinson’s disease. How can we weigh the potential benefits of contact sports with their potentially serious risks? This text provides primary source evidence from doctors, scientists, and experts in the field of sports medicine, as well as ordinary people’s viewpoints, in order to help students reach their own conclusions about the risks related to high-contact sports.