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
