Addresses some of the controversies and illustrates the historical background of drug testing and what the different drug tests are. Also outlines some national statistics and opinions on drug testing and the results of a survey taken of a Louisiana population dealing with this issue. (NB)

Discusses a poetry therapy group held at a supportive single room occupancy residence (SRO) in East Harlem, New York City. Describes the SRO, the group members, techniques, and work produced by members. Discusses issues of social integration, separation, and childhood as special difficulties of psychiatrically impaired people. Argues that poetry…

Notes crisis in spirit of hope within society, and growing pessimism that there are no workable solutions to massive social problems facing communities. Explains conflict cycle of stress, feelings, behavior, and reactions, then moves beyond theater of punishment with call to action. Recommends fighting three-front war of primary prevention, early…

Reform-minded social scientists often assume that increased social scientific knowledge leads inevitably to advances in understanding and amelioration of difficult social problems. Asserts that, although important social problems do raise empirical questions, at their core these problems are nonempirical. Solutions must be based on political…

Assesses the evidence for revisionist views of teenage childbearing. These theories suggest that the perception of teenage pregnancy as a growing social problem has been caused by the political agendas of certain interest groups; the consequences of early childbearing have been exaggerated; and pregnancy among disadvantaged teenagers may be an…

Defines the most prominent aspects of critical discourse analysis (CDA) and discusses how such a research program enables individuals to cope with the changes in societies. Also identifies social problems deserving investigation.(Author/VWL)

Explores three alternative approaches (conciliatory approach, integrative approach, and deliberative approach) that writers with a broad repertoire of argumentative styles should be able to adopt when they are addressing controversial issues and disputed topics. Focuses on finding differences among the alternative approaches and looking at…

In this interview with Bernardine Dohrn, an advocate for the rights of children and families, Dohrn shares her outlook on the often hostile environment affecting today's families, allowing counselors to join her in amplifying "the voice of children and families who are voiceless." (MKA)

Argues that a good procedure for starting an essay is to define the topic's central concept, looking up the word in reference books and looking carefully at what it means to the student personally. (SR)

Describes how a teacher found literature for Upward Bound students. Presents Geoffrey Canada's "Fist, Stick, Knife, Gun: A Personal History of Violence in America" as a nonfiction work to provide clarity and connections that might not have been available in a fictional work, yet it had elements of literary fiction that made the text…

Discusses the need for a forum to discuss public issues related to language. Introduces three papers that focus on current language issues. (Author/VWL)

Spam is not just a technology issue. It is a social issue, and it threatens something very dear: the viability of e-mail. Campuses struggle to support solutions that will control the costs of filtering spam, keep "false positives" to a minimum and not diminish their own marketing use of mass e-mails. The openness of the Internet, long touted as…

Much of the literature on the effects of conjugal bereavement has focused on the detrimental effects of losing a spouse. Although it is very important to be aware of the emotional, physical, and social problems often associated with bereavement, these difficulties are not universal accompaniments of grief. Accumulating evidence suggests that…

This research study describes a community-based pedagogical and theatrical project that centered on the use of creative writing, drama, and music as tools to unearth and cope with social problems. The class was grounded in the work of Brazilian teacher, actor, and activist Augusto Boal and philosopher Paolo Freire. The activities at a free summer…

The issues of violence and trauma over the past 20 years have generated a significant amount of research. However, the development of each field has remained, for the most part, exclusive from the other. Therefore, the goal of this article is to address this shortcoming within the literature by responding to three important questions: (a) What is…