More than 140 readings in Conversations, Fifth Edition , present an extraordinary variety of authors, genres, voices, and viewpoints on important contemporary civic issues.

The diversity of opinions expressed and the currentness of issues explored encourage students to "join the conversation"—through their own writing. For each issue addressed, Conversations offers not just one or two selections, but several. Frequently, selections comment on and argue with other selections, demonstrating that writing is a social exchange, and that much writing is a response to other writing.