The Wire's provocative subject matter, layered narrative and explicit critiques of American socio-economic institutions make it one of the most teachable television series in recent years. This collection of new essays offers practical examples for implementing The Wire in the college classroom as a cultural text to engage students in critical and creative inquiry. The essays provide a disciplinary framework for using the series in media studies, writing and narrative, ethics and rhetoric, and education and literacy. Each essay details the pedagogical goals of teaching the series or specific episodes, how it was employed in class and student responses to the material.