All teachers must contend with tough cases on occasion: community events in which there are strong emotions that insert themselves so directly into students' consciousness that they must be dealt with. In this article the two authors, a professor and a graduate student co-teaching pre-service teacher candidates, share their journey through the…

This article explores the difficulties immigrant students face in achieving civic participation and a democratic life through the stories of two ninth- grade English classes in which all students participate in an inside-out approach to community-based writing for action.

Advocates the use of research projects in the English curriculum. Describes an urban study project used by the author to develop students' research skills. The article concludes that social studies and other subjects of relevance not traditionally taught in English classes do indeed have value in English instruction. (JB)