Communication in a Civil Society

Teaches students to communicate civilly and ethically

Uncivil acts and messages too often color our experience with others. Communication in a Civil Society, 1/e, offers an alternative way to teach and learn about communication. Every chapter focuses on communication based on respect, restraint, and ethical choices.

MyCommunicationLab is an integral part of the Lane/Abigail/Gooch program that will help students communicate better. With MediaShare, students can post and share videos of their presentations. Also, interactive videos provide students with the opportunity to evaluate speeches. Online self-assessments and pre- and post-tests help students assess their comfort level with course concepts and their knowledge of the material.

Shelley D. Lane (Ph.D., University of Southern California, 1982) is the Associate Dean for Undergraduate Education in the School of Arts and Humanities at the University of Texas at Dallas. She has approximately 35 years of university and college experience that combines publication, teaching and administration. She is the author of Interpersonal Communication: Competence and Contexts, 2^nd Edition, also published by Pearson Education,and a memoir, A Stirling Diary: An intercultural Story of Communication, Connection, and Coming-of-Age. Lane was selected as a Minnie Stevens Piper Professor, which is themost distinguished higher education teaching award in Texas.

Ruth Anna Abigail (Ph.D., University of Southern California, 1982) taught at Azusa Pacific University for 30 years, retiring in 2012 as faculty emeritus. She is the author (with Dudley D. Cahn) of Managing Conflict through Communication, 5th Edition, also published by Pearson Education. In addition to her research in the area of communication, Abigail is an artist whose textile work has been displayed both in the US and abroad. She recently accepted a position with the State of New Mexico as a trainer. One of her most frequently taught classes is on civility and ethics in the workplace.

John Casey Gooch (Ph.D., Texas Tech University, 2002) is Director of Rhetoric and Writing and Assistant Professor of Literary Studies at the University of Texas at Dallas. For almost 20 years, he has taught courses in professional speaking, technical writing, and rhetoric. He has published articles in IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication and Rhetor: Journal of the Canadian Society for the Study of Rhetoric; his piece on rhetoric pedagogy will appear in the forthcoming Oxford Studies in Rhetoric: A Report from the Interactive Seminar on Rhetoric and the 21st Century from Cambridge Scholars Press.

1.) Brief Table of Contents

2.) Full Table of Contents

1.) Brief Table of Contents

Part I: Foundations of Communication

Chapter 1: A First Look at Civil Communication

Chapter 2: Perceiving the Self and Others

Chapter 3: Civil Verbal Communication

Chapter 4: Civil Nonverbal Communication

Chapter 5: Civil Listening and Responding with Confirmation 90

Part II: Civil Interpersonal Communication  

Chapter 6: Interpersonal Relationships and Civil Communication

Chapter 7: Intimate Relationships, Romantic Relationships, and Civil Communication

Chapter 8: Civil Communication in Conflicts

Part III: Civil Small Group Communication  

Chapter 9: Civil Communication in Groups

Chapter 10: Group Processes and Civil Communication

Part IV: Civil Public Speaking

Chapter 11: Preparing Civil Public Speeches

Chapter 12: Delivering Public Speeches with Civility

Chapter 13: Giving Civil Informative and Special Occasion Speeches

Chapter 14: Giving Persuasive Speeches with Civility

2.) Full Table of Contents

Part I: Foundations of Communication  

Chapter 1: A First Look at Civil Communication

Civil and Ethical Communication

Defining Communication

Types of Communication

Models of Communication

Contexts of Communication

Improving Our Ability to Communicate Civilly and Effectively: Principles of Communication

Chapter 2: Perceiving the Self and Others

Definition of Perception and Self-Concept

Perception, Self-Concept, and Civility

Stages in the Perception Process 

Theoretical Perspectives about Perception

Characteristics of the Self-Concept

Improving Our Ability to Communicate Civilly and Effectively About our Perceptions 

Chapter 3: Civil Verbal Communication

Definition of Verbal Communication

Verbal Communication and Meaning 

Verbal Communication and Thought

Improving Our Ability to Engage in Civil and Effective Verbal Communication

Uncivil Language: Profanity and Cursing 

Chapter 4: Civil Nonverbal Communication

Definition of Nonverbal Communication

Functions of Nonverbal Communication

Types of Nonverbal Communication

Road Rage: Nonverbal Communication and Incivility

Deception and Nonverbal Communication

Improving our Ability to Communicate with Civil and Effective Nonverbal Immediacy Behaviors 

Chapter 5: Civil Listening and Responding with Confirmation

Definition of Listening 

Listening, Civility, and Ethics 

Stages and Types of Listening 

Improving our Ability to Engage in Civil and Effective Listening 

Confirming Listening Response Styles 

Listening, Confirming Responses, and Contexts 

Part II: Civil Interpersonal Communication  

Chapter 6: Interpersonal Relationships and Civil Communication

Definition and Types of Interpersonal Relationships 

Interpersonal Relationships and Civility

Theoretical Perspectives about Interpersonal Relationships 

Relational Communication

Improving our Ability to Communicate Civilly and Effectively with Metacommunication

Chapter 7: Intimate Relationships, Romantic Relationships, and Civil Communication

Definition of Intimate and Romantic Relationships 

Communication in Intimate and Romantic Relationships 

Self-Disclosure and Social Penetration Theory

Stage Models

Dialectical Tensions Model 

Intimate Relationships, Romantic Relationships, and Civility

Chapter 8: Civil Communication in Conflicts

Definition of Conflict

Theoretical Perspectives on Conflict Behavior 

Causes of Conflict

Options in Conflict Management

Improving our Ability to Communicate in Conflict Situations 

Avoiding Violence in Conflicts 

Improving our Ability to Come Together After Conflict

Part III: Civil Small Group Communication

Chapter 9: Civil Communication in Groups

Group Communication and Civility

What Characterizes Groups?

How Groups Develop 

Creating Group Climate 

Power and Leadership in Groups 

Chapter 10: Group Processes and Civil Communication

Group Problem Solving, Civility, and Ethics 

Communication and Decision Making in Groups 

Introduction to Group Processes 

Problem-Solving: The Heart of Group Processes 

Improving Our Ability to Engage in Civil and Effective Problem Solving 

Barriers to Effective Problem Solving 

Handling Conflict in Groups 

Improving Our Ability to Create Civil and Effective Group Meetings 

Part IV: Civil Public Speaking

Chapter 11: Preparing Civil Public Speeches

Engaging Your Audience with Civility

Planning Your Speech Topic 

Organizing Your Information

Writing a Speech Outline 

Formulating the Introduction, Transitions, and Conclusion

Gathering and Using Supporting Material 

Chapter 12: Delivering Public Speeches with Civility

Delivery, Civility, and Ethics 

Controlling Anxiety

Methods of Delivery

Techniques for Effective Delivery

Planning, Preparing, and Using Presentation Aids 

Practicing Your Speech

Chapter 13: Giving Civil Informative and Special Occasion Speeches

What Is Information?

Informative Speech Purposes 

The Process of Informing Audiences 

Composing an Informative Speech

Special Occasion Speeches 

Informative Speeches, Special Occasion Speeches, and Civility: Avoiding Plagiarism

Chapter 14: Giving Persuasive Speeches with Civility

What Is Persuasion?

Persuasive Speech Purposes 

The Process of Persuading Audiences 

Composing a Persuasive Speech

Persuasive Speaking and Incivility: Logical Fallacies 

Persuasive Speaking and Civility: Invitational Rhetoric 

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