Instead of ignoring the controversial issues that emerge from discussions of gender, race, and sexuality, the author of this book addresses these issues head-on through the literature and writing he assigns. The book is about creating opportunities in the English classroom for students to become thoughtful, committed citizens. It is about encouraging them to air their views honestly and forthrightly. The pedagogy described in the book and used by the author in the classroom is process based. In addition to strategies for writing about reading, creating a learning center, and writing in multiple genres, the book discusses activities to promote discussion, stimulate debate, and rethink first thoughts. To help teachers get started, the book includes handouts for a number of these strategies, including those for four corner debates, writing poems for two voices, and working in literature circles. Chapters in the book are: (1) From Comfort Zone to Contact Zone; (2) Challenging Assumptions/Shaping Identity; (3) Prejudice--A Case Study; (4) Cultural Representation; (5) Silence and Sexism; (6) War and Voice--Speaking Up; (7) Sex and Sexuality; (8) Censorship and Faith; and (9) Contact and Context. Contains approximately 130 references. (NKA)