Graduate courses are designed to help students learn discipline-specific knowledge, theories, and methods, but also to socialize them into the larger professional network. The awards assignment in this paper is designed to familiarize students with a wide variety of scholars and research within a field of study, to engage them creatively with synthesizing and assessing a field of study, to build strong arguments, and to enhance their socialization and networking opportunities. Course: Any graduate-level survey course focused on a particular area of communication studies (e.g. instructional communication, health communication, family communication). Objectives: (1) Understand the historical, philosophical, and foundational roots of a field of study, including people, concepts, theories, and research studies; (2) Critically evaluate scholars, constructs, theories, and research; (3) Develop sound and supported arguments regarding critical evaluations and decisions; (4) Socialize students into a field of study; and (5) Begin building students' scholarly networking opportunities.