This volume of an annual collection presents nine essays relating to instruction in the basic communication course. The essays are: "Three Metaphors for the Competencies Acquired in the Public Speaking Class" (Michael Osborn); "Perceptions of Basic Communication Texts: Factors in Student Learning and Textbook Adoption Decisions" (Donald D. Yoder and Roberta A. Davilla); "Written Feedback in the Basic Course: What Instructors Provide and What Students Deem Helpful" (Karla Kay Jensen and Elizabeth R. Lamoureux); "Culture Shock in the Basic Communication Course: A Case Study of Malaysian Students" (Eunkyong Lee Yook); "The Em-Powter-ing of America: Using Info-mercials to Teach Persuasion and Popular Discourse in the Basic Communication Course" (Daniel W. Heaton); "The Use of Simulation in the Beginning Public Speaking Classroom: Let's Make It Realistic, Relevant, and Motivating" (John J. Miller); "Computer-Mediated Learning Environments: Theory and Research Into Practice" (Chris R. Kasch); "Two Heads are Better Than One? Setting Realizable Goals in the Basic Course" (Glen Williams); and "A Commentary: The Basic Communication Course, General Education, and Assessment" (Lawrence W. Hugenberg and Barbara S. Moyer). (RS)