Each week's lesson consists of:

Reading materials on a topic. The points in a week's lesson are illustrated through:
   - several set readings and
   - a number additional websites.

Readings and links are different. Readings are for careful thought and group discussion. Links are for quick scanning and browsing, so students don't get bogged down with them. (As a variation, you can also use podcasts.)

Class email forum. These are public discussions of the readings and links for each topic. Students are expected to reply to the questions asked. The whole class can read the forum, so it becomes a place for discussion and debate in a spirit of mutual edification. (As a variation, forums an be done by chatroom, teleconference or  videoconferences.)

Personal reflection. Students reflect on the course material in a personal journal. Only the student and the facilitator get to see what is written there, so students can express themselves freely.

A personal written project. The topic is assigned, but students who cannot do the project may seek permission to do an alternative paper, for example, a review of the readings with a summary of each and a personal reaction to each. Internet searches. Internet searches are a growing trend, and the are basically no different from an annotated bibliography.

The assessments are a based on a project and a reflective journal.