As a preliminary study evaluating the relative merits of skill development and information exposure in speech communication classes, an opinion survey was administered to students taking two variants of the introductory course. The two courses, labeled "Basic Blend" and "Blend: Public Speaking Emphasis," included roughly equivalent units on communication theory, interpersonal communication, and small group communication; but the public speaking emphasis course worked two additional weeks on public speaking. Survey results indicated significantly greater student satisfaction with the overall instruction and the total knowledge and ability acquired in the public speaking emphasis course. Students in this course also reported greater self-perception of improvement in the public speaking unit and in writing skills associated with this unit--the ability to outline, to develop and support a thesis, and to conduct research. Time spent on a unit, by itself, did not appear to be a critical factor in determining student self-perception of improvement. (The survey instrument is appended.) (MM)