Opposing Viewpoints: Military Draft edited by Viqi Wagner

Looking for a book that encourages critical and independent thinking? A book filled with short essays by scholars, professionals and “ordinary” people, who have opinions on big issues from every angle? The Opposing Viewpoints series has all of this and more. In Military Draft, four chapters with questions around the topic of the draft are explored in essays that argue and attempt to persuade from one point of view. These essays are highly opinionated, often controversial, and full of material for discussion and debate. Also useful and appreciated are the bibliographies throughout the book that list additional and suggested reading on the subject at hand. When I ask students to tell me what they think non-fiction means, they often answer “truth” or “facts.” This book (and all the others in the series) is a well-edited example of how truth can mean so many different things to different people -- and it encourages students to think about where the information comes from. While this is not a book that students choose for independent reading, it is certainly recommended for teaching persuasive writing, non-fiction writing, and information literacy skills.

Wagner, Viqi, ed. Military Draft. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2008. Opposing Viewpoints.