The hallmarks of the book will be its integrated theme of race, class, and gender; an emphasis on "service learning" (student awareness of effective community responses); critical thinking and active learning; and the use of the internet and unique print supplements to expand on what is intended to be a briefer book than most.

Features and benefits:

Voices in the Community ? a section in each chapter offering testimony from those experiencing or doing something about social problems

Visual Essays in each section to highlight a particular social problem or solution in the context of actual experiences.

Internet and community exercises at the end of each chapter

What Does it Mean to Me? Brings the analysis of the problem being studied down to the level of the individual

Four theoretical perspectives for each problem studied: conflict, social interactionist, functionalist and feminist

Community, Policy and Social Action sections focus on social policy, advocacy, and community innovation