The student writers of this book have come to college to educate their minds. But the complex social issues that they grapple with in these pages are equally matters of the heart. Sexual violence, teen pregnancy, integrating compassion into our schools, dealing with student debt, healing our returning soldiers from the wounds of war, illegal immigration, and protecting and caring for our most vulnerable older citizensÑThese are all issues that offer challenges as emotional as they are intellectual. The nine writers here face these topics head on. They present us with facts and findings as well as meaningful strategies to navigate more successfully through complex problems. As they do so, they offer excellent writing models to other students looking to improve their skills, They provide examples of both MLA and APA research writing styles as they demonstrate best practices in critical thinking and persuasive writing.