Essentials of Human Communication

This top-selling book presents the fundamental skills of interpersonal, small group, and public communication, emphasizing the areas of human communication skills, cultural awareness, listening, critical thinking, ethics, power and empowerment, media literacy, and computer-mediated communication.   Essentials of Human Communication fills the need for a brief, interesting, but serious book that places a strong focus on skill development. In-text features and the text itself highlight the application of human communication skills to the real world and to the workplace.

Table of Contents:
  PART ONE FOUNDATIONS OF HUMAN COMMUNICATION   1 The Essentials of Human Communication Human Communication Communication Models and Concepts Principles of Communication Culture and Human Communication   Skill Development Experiences     Distinguishing Content from Relationship Messages     Making Cultural Beliefs Mindful   Featured Boxes     Listen to This: Listening to Communicate     Communicating Ethically: Approaching Ethics     Media Literacy: What Is Media Literacy?   2 The Self and Perception The Self in Human Communication Self-Disclosure Perception   Skill Development Experiences     Revealing Yourself     Taking Another’s Perspective   Featured Boxes     Listen to This: Listening to Others’ Perceptions     Communicating Ethically: Information Ethics     Media Literacy: Who Are the Media?   3 Listening in Human Communication The Importance of Listening: Task and Relationship Benefits Stages of Listening Styles of Effective Listening Listening Differences: Culture and Gender   Skill Development Experiences     Paraphrasing for Understanding     Regulating Your Listening Perspective   Featured Boxes     Listen to This: Listening to the Emotions of Others     Communicating Ethically: Listening Ethically     Media Literacy: Essential Principles of Media Literacy Listening   4 Verbal Messages Principles of Verbal Messages Disconfirmation and Confirmation Using Verbal Messages Effectively   Skill Development Experiences     Confirming, Rejecting, and Disconfirming     Talking in E-Prime   Featured Boxes     Listen to This: Listening without Prejudice     Communicating Ethically: Communicating in Cyberspace     Media Literacy: Hate Speech   5 Nonverbal Messages The Functions of Nonverbal Communication The Channels of Nonverbal Communication Culture, Gender, and Nonverbal Communication   Skill Development Experiences     Selecting Seats at the Company Meeting     Expressing Praise and Criticism   Featured Boxes     Listen to This: Listening with Nonverbals     Communicating Ethically: Communication Silence     Media Literacy: The Spiral of Silence   PART TWO CONTEXTS OF HUMAN COMMUNICATION   6 Interpersonal Communication, Conversation, and Relationships Conversation Principles of Conversation The Stages of Interpersonal Relationships Interpersonal Relationship Types Theories of Interpersonal Communication and Relationships Culture, Technology, Work, and Relationships   Skill Development Experiences     Opening and Closing Conversations     Formulating Apologies   Featured Boxes     Listen to This: Listening to Stage Talk     Communicating Ethically: Censoring Messages and Relationships     Media Literacy: Parasocial Relationships   7 Managing Interpersonal Conflict What Is Interpersonal Conflict? Principles of Conflict Conflict Management Strategies   Skill Development Experiences     Generating Win—Win Solutions     Early Conflict Resolution   Featured Boxes     Listen to This: Listening to Messages in Conflict     Communicating Ethically: Ethical Fighting     Media Literacy: Cultivation Theory   8 Small Group Communication The Small Group Brainstorming Groups Information-Sharing Groups Problem-Solving Groups   Skill Development Experiences     Brainstorming     Solving Problems in Groups   Featured Boxes     Listen to This: Listening in Small Groups     Communicating Ethically: Telling Secrets     Media Literacy: The Third-Person Effect   9 Members and Leaders in Small Group Communication Members in Small Group Communication Leaders in Small Group Communication Membership, Leadership, and Culture   Skill Development Experiences     Responding to Individual Roles     Empowering Group Members   Featured Boxes     Listen to This: Listening to Complaints     Communicating Ethically: Justifying the Ends     Media Literacy: Gatekeepers   10 Public Speaking Preparation (Steps 1—6) The Nature of Public Speaking Step 1: Select Your Topic and Purpose Step 2: Analyze Your Audience Step 3: Research Your Topic Step 4: Formulate Your Thesis and Identify Your Main Points Step 5: Support Your Main Points Step 6: Organize Your Information   Skill Development Experiences     Using Cultural Beliefs as Assumptions     Limiting Topics   Featured Boxes     Listen to This: Listening to Help Reduce Apprehension     Communicating Ethically: Plagiarism     Media Literacy: The Media and Disconfirmation     The Public Speaking Sample Assistant: A Poorly Constructed Informative Speech   11 Public Speaking Preparation and Delivery (Steps 7—10) Step 7: Word Your Speech Step 8: Construct Your Conclusion and Introduction Step 9: Rehearse Your Speech Step 10: Deliver Your Speech Critically Evaluating Speeches   Skill Development Experiences     Constructing Conclusions and Introductions     Checking Your Pronunciation   Featured Boxes     Listen to This: Listening to Criticism     Communicating Ethically: Criticizing Ethically     Media Literacy: Advertising and Public Relations     The Public Speaking Sample Assistant: The Preparation Outline     The Public Speaking Sample Assistant: The Template Outline     The Public Speaking Sample Assistant: The Delivery Outline     The Public Speaking Sample Assistant: A Poorly Constructed Persuasive Speech   12 The Informative Speech Guidelines for Informative Speaking Supporting Materials Presentation Aids Speeches of Description Speeches of Definition Speeches of Demonstration   Skill Development Experiences     Critically Evaluating Testimony     Amplifying Statements     Preparing an Informative Speech   Featured Boxes     Listen to This: Listening to New Ideas     Communicating Ethically: Speaking Ethically     Media Literacy: Product Placement     The Public Speaking Sample Assistant: An Excellent Informative Speech   13 The Persuasive Speech Goals of Persuasion Guidelines for Persuasive Speaking Supporting Materials Persuasive Speeches on Questions of Fact Persuasive Speeches on Questions of Value Persuasive Speeches on Questions of Policy   Skill Development Experiences     Developing Persuasive Strategies     Preparing a Persuasive Speech     Developing Persuasive Speeches   Featured Boxes     Listen to This: Listening to Anecdotal Evidence     Communicating Ethically: Emotional Appeals     Media Literacy: Reversing Media’s Influence     The Public Speaking Sample Assistant: An Excellent Persuasive Speech   Glossary of Human Communication Concepts Glossary of Human Communication Skills  Bibliography Index Credits