Hi kcithred2,
If you needed to give an argument for a Linux/Ubuntu course, I'd show how Linux/Ubuntu has so many diifferent Graphical User interfaces(GUI(such as GNOME,etc.)), or the way "open-source" works. Here is a comparison about Linux vs. Windows (click here).
Also, here are some other "why Linux" articles:

http://www.linuxlinks.com/local/why.shtml

http://www.seul.org/docs/whylinux.html

Hope this helps,
-TechyGuy
P.S. Here's the Linux Site, and Ubuntu Site.

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