An oral communication course, offered at Michigan State University during the 5-week summer session, was conducted for academically talented high school students. Students learned about the responsibility of creating and delivering ethical, informed, and rhetorically sensitive messages. Each student researched one socially significant issue, and delivered three different speeches (one informative and two persuasive) based on this single issue. Feedback and critique of famous and peer speeches were also integral parts of the course. Review of student presentations included: (1) immediate oral critique by peers, led by the speaker; (2) peer and faculty written critiques; and (3) critiques following video playback. Students were also required to play back their video at home. Throughout the 5-week summer session, instruction emphasized personal and social responsibility. Students were responsible for several roles--researcher, contributor, supporter, critic, and orator. The students learned to value their own voices and the voices of others. (KEH)