Explore the ongoing debate between creationists and evolutionists. The Internet and the archives of major newspapers like the New York Times offer numerous examples of this discussion.

Examine instances of censorship in educational settings. Identify the types of materials that various groups have attempted to remove from public school classrooms over the past five years. Discuss why efforts to ban materials might succeed in one community yet fail in another. The events in Kanawha County, West Virginia, during the late 1960s, provide intriguing parallels to the atmosphere depicted in the fictional Hillsboro.

Learn more about the lives and careers of the historical figures central to Inherit the Wind—Clarence Darrow, William Jennings Bryan, and H. L. Mencken. Compare and contrast their historical personas with their dramatic representations.

Investigate the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). What is the organization's mission, and how effectively does it fulfill its goals? List some notable trials where the ACLU had a significant impact.