This book for in-service teachers presents readings, activities, and discussion prompts for teaching middle and high school students how to write strong arguments and evaluate the arguments of others, focusing on arguments of fact, judgment, and policy. The book was developed by the author in high-poverty, inner-city classrooms in Chicago, and includes vignettes from real classrooms, showing how to use the book's lively problem-solving approach to engage students. Activities are presented in the context of discussions of pedagogy and curriculum issues, and an introduction explains basics of argument and critical thinking for teachers in readable terms. In simple and gradually more complex activities, students solve murder mysteries, consider what makes a good leader, deal with arguments of judgment and policy in which warrants must be defended, and make literary judgments. In addition to student handouts and models of classroom discussions, the book includes chapter-by-chapter discussion questions for teachers about pedagogy and curriculum. Hillocks is professor emeritus at the University of Chicago. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)