I incorporated the materials into class by distributing the required reading essays and questions to use as homework assignments with class discussion following each week for four weeks. After discussing the essays, students chose a topic, and classes did library research. The result of this kind of preparation is thousands of well-researched analyses of a topic. The essays are judged by a variety of ordinary citizens and, depending on the topic, a large sampling of attorneys, academics, politicians, financial wizards, other teens and senior citizens. This works because schools are not judged against each other, but only internally, so each school ends up with awards.
Every school is a winner.
That and the fact that we publish excerpts from the contest and distribute the hard copy book to all 535 members of congress and their state and community politicians and home town media. This year's essay contest introduces some changes to the usual prize format. Winners at each school will receive the usual small cash awards, but three schools will also be selected. These top entrants will receive computer equipment from the Foundation. This helps us achieve our purposes.