At the request of numerous instructors, I’ve created Instructors-only features for the web site that are not available to students.  In past editions, there were intellectual benefits for students who wrestled with ideas in the Suggestions for Discussion section of Langan and McClish’s Instructors Manual, just as some students making a class presentations drew upon the Exercises and Activities material.  But these advantages were outweighed by the inoculation effect that was evident when instructors faced students who already knew Langan and McClish’s best ideas to empower the teacher.  I’ve also added some short-answer quiz questions and other features that are obviously for teachers only.  I therefore ask you to validate your instructor status in order to receive a password for the Instructor's portion of the site.

Em Griffin

Registration Requirements

Fill out the registration form. You will be asked for the following information.

1. Your full name
2. Name of the school where you are an instructor
3. Your curriculum vitae as an attachment

If your e-mail address is not tied to your institution, you will also be asked for: 

4. Title of course
5. Department name
6. Phone number of department office
7. Indicate if you are a member of NCA and/or ICA

You will receive an e-mail (usually within a day or two) with a password that you can change, if you wish, after your first login.

To enter as an instructor, use the web address contained in the e-mail, which will lead you to a login page. Enter your registered email address as your user name and your password. For security reasons, it is recommended that you click the logout button (at the upper right of the screen) when you're done using the site or leaving your computer.

Instructors who are currently using A First Look at Communication Theory, as well as those considering its use, will be able to access additional resources on the site, including:

• Best Practices—share with and learn from other instructors. This is a new interactive feature that is still under development. (The Question of the Week, another new feature, will be available to all users.)
• Principal Changes*—what's changed since the 6th edition, by chapter.
• Suggestions for Discussion*—ideas to help you interact with students.
• Exercises and Activities*—ideas to help stimulate interest and interaction.
• Short-Answer Quiz Questions—suggestions by chapter
• News and Information—Upcoming conference sessions and other information of interest to instructors.

* These features are drawn from the Instructor's Manual

Note on Sample Essay Questions

The site contains Self-Help Quizzes, which were developed by McGraw-Hill for student use and Em's Short-Answer Quiz Questions for instructors. We have decided not to make the sample essay questions found in the Instructors Manual and the McGraw-Hill web site ( for registered instructors) are not available on this site. If you need an Instructors Manual or access to their site, contact your McGraw-Hill rep.