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Overview
Essential Viewpoints examines critical debates occurring today, including the legislation that has shaped the issue as well as the numerous sides of each argument.
Biographies, historic events, and current debates are all an essential part of the curriculum. Readers can meet these needs with the Essential Library. The Essential Library is a well-researched, well-written, and beautifully designed imprint created specifically for the middle school reader.
Synopsis
Essential Viewpoints examines critical debates occurring today, including the legislation that has shaped the issue as well as the numerous sides of each argument.
Biographies, historic events, and current debates are all an essential part of the curriculum. Readers can meet these needs with the Essential Library. The Essential Library is a well-researched, well-written, and beautifully designed imprint created specifically for the middle school reader.
School Library Journal
Gr 6–8—In each title, the topic is introduced, background and historical information are provided, and then the debate surrounding the issue is discussed. The opposing viewpoints are intertwined throughout rather than presented as separate chapters. The titles conclude with summaries of salient information, time lines, and sections titled "Essential Facts" and "Source Notes." Thorough sources are included for each chapter. The titles include a few photographs as well as sidebars that highlight additional facts. Geared for middle school students, the books for the most part reach their target audience, although Genetically Modified Foods assumes some knowledge of genetics. Particularly interesting are the chapters titled "The Evolution of Cosmetic Surgery" in Cosmetic Surgery and "Sex Education in U.S. History" in Sex Education in Schools. The titles succeed in providing balanced viewpoints, successfully incorporating historical information with current concerns. Teaching Intelligent Design and Genetically Modified Foods both do a particularly good job placing the controversy in a social, economic, and political context. Visually, the titles are less successful. The marbled-paper borders on each page are old-fashioned, and the white space at the end of some chapters seems to call out for graphics, or at least a tighter layout. Useful for reports.—Ragan O'Malley, Saint Ann's School, Brooklyn, NY