Essential Communication

Concise, compact, and visually exciting, Essential Communication is a fresh approach to human communication. Written by renowned author team Ron Adler, George Rodman, and Athena du Pré, the text more accurately reflects the way that today's students communicate yet still includes more substantive content than other brief books on the market. Filled with skills-oriented concepts and learning objectives, Essential Communication is salient, practical, and engaging.

KEY FEATURES
* A perfect balance of scholarship and practicality in a format that is comprehensive yet concise
* The most comprehensive and practical coverage of issues affecting communication in contemporary life-like social media, ethics, culture, and professionalism-in multiple contexts
* Early, integrated, and effective coverage of public speaking that encourages students to be more confident and effective communicators earlier in the course
* Superior ancillary materials, including an Annotated Instructor's Edition for professors and Dashboard, a reliable and easy-to-use online homework system for students, make it easy for anyone to use this text
* Three concise chapters devoted to interpersonal communication (Chapters 7-9) reflect the increased emphasis in this course on communication in relationships with friends, family members, and romantic partners
* An entire chapter devoted to the practical essentials of communicating for success in the workplace (Chapter 10) takes students step-by-step through the process of finding, getting, and keeping a job and communicating successfully with bosses, employees, and coworkers
* Contemporary photos and captions highlight popular movies, television shows, and pop culture, prompting students to think critically about their own communication
* Questions in the margins prompt students to think critically about the essential concepts in each major section

Ronald B. Adler is Professor Emeritus of Communication at Santa Barbara City College. He is author of Interplay, Twelfth Edition (OUP 2013), Looking Out, Looking In, and Communicating at Work: Principles and Practices for Business and the Professions. In addition to his academic pursuits, Ron works with businesses and nonprofit agencies to improve communication among coworkers as well as with clients and the public.

George Rodman is Professor of Mass Communication at Brooklyn College, City University of New York, where he founded the television writing program. He is author of Mass Media in a Changing World and Making Sense of Media.

Athena du Pré is Distinguished University Professor of Communication and Director of the Strategic Communication and Leadership master's degree program and the Health Communication Leadership graduate-level certificate program at the University of West Florida. She is the author of Communicating About Health: Current Issues and Perspectives, Fourth Edition (OUP 2014) and co-author of Understanding Human Communication (OUP 2014).

PART ONE: FUNDAMENTALS OF HUMAN COMMUNICATION
Chapter 1: Communication: What and Why
Communication Defined
-Communication Is Symbolic
-Communication Is a Process
-Communication Is Irreversible
-Communication Is Relational, Not Individual
Models of Communication
-A Linear Model
-A Transactional Model
Contexts of Communication
-Intrapersonal Communication
-Dyadic/Interpersonal Communication
-Small Group Communication
-Organizational Communication
-Public Communication
-Mass Communication
Communication Competence
-Characteristics of Competent Communication
-Characteristics of Competent Communicators
Communication Competence with Social Media
-Choose the Best Medium
-Be Careful What You Post
-Be Considerate
-Balance Mediated and Face-to-Face Time
-Be Safe
Misconceptions About Communication
-Communication Does Not Always Require Complete Understanding
-Communication Will Not Solve All Problems
-Communication Isn't Always a Good Thing
-Meanings Don't Rest in Words
-Communication Is Not Simple
-More Communication Isn't Always Better

Chapter 2: The Self, Perception, and Communication
The Self-Concept Defined
-Self-Esteem Influences the Self-Concept
-Significant Others Influence the Self-Concept
-Culture Influences the Self-Concept
-The Self-Concept Influences Communication with Others
-The Self-Concept Influences Future Communication and Behavior
Perceiving Others Effectively
-Sex and Gender Misconceptions
-The Terms "Sex" and "Gender" Are Not Identical
-Mistaken Attributions
Empathy and Perception Challenges
-Dimensions of Empathy
-Perception Checking
Identity Management
-We Have Public and Private Selves
-We Have Multiple Identities
-Identity Management Is Collaborative
-Identity Management May Be Conscious or Unconscious
-People Differ in Their Degree of Identity Management
-People Manage Identities to Follow Social Rules and Accomplish Goals
-People Manage Identities Online
-Managing Your Identity Doesn't Make You Dishonest

Chapter 3: Communication and Culture
Culture Defined
Cocultures and Communication
-Ethnicity and Race
-Region
-Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity
-Religion
-Physical Ability and Disability
-Age and Generation
-Socioeconomic Status
Cultural Values and Norms That Shape Communication
-Individualism and Collectivism
-High and Low Context
-Uncertainty Avoidance
-Power Distance
-Talk and Silence
-Competition and Cooperation
Developing Intercultural Communication Competence
-Spend Time with People from Different Backgrounds
-Develop a Tolerance for Ambiguity
-Keep an Open-Minded Attitude
-Acquire and Use Culture-Specific Information Appropriately
-Be Patient and Persistent

PART TWO: COMMUNICATION ELEMENTS
Chapter 4: Language
The Nature of Language
-Language Is Symbolic
-Meanings Are in People, Not in Words
-Language Is Governed By Rules
The Power of Language
-Language Shapes Attitudes
-Language Reflects Attitudes
Troublesome Language
-Misunderstandings
-Disruptive Language
-Evasive Language
Gender and Language
-Content
-Reasons for Communicating
-Conversational Style
-Occupation and Gender Roles
-Biological Factors
-Social Norms
-Transcending Gender Boundaries

Chapter 5: Listening
Misconceptions about Listening
-Hearing and Listening Are Not the Same Thing
-Listening Is Not a Natural Process
-All Listeners Do Not Receive the Same Message
Challenges to Effective Listening
-Faulty Listening Behaviors
-Reasons for Poor Listening
Types of Listening
-Task-Oriented Listening
-Relational Listening
-Analytical Listening
-Critical Listening
Listening and Social Support
-Social Support Online
-Gender and Social Support
-When and How to Help

Chapter 6: Nonverbal Communication
Characteristics of Nonverbal Communication
-Nonverbal Behavior has Communicative Value
-Nonverbal Behavior Is Primarily Relational
-Nonverbal Behavior Is Ambiguous
-Nonverbal Communication Is Essential
Functions of Nonverbal Behavior
-Repeating
-Substituting
-Complementing
-Regulating
-Contradicting
-Deceiving
Types of Nonverbal Communication
-Body Movements
-Face
-Eyes
-Voice
-Appearance
-Touch
-Space
-Environment
-Time
Influences on Nonverbal Communication
-Culture
-Gender
Nonverbal Communication Competence
-Tune Out Words
-Use Perception Checking
-Pay Attention to Your Own Nonverbal Behavior

PART THREE: INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
Chapter 7: Communicating in Interpersonal Relationships
The Nature of Interpersonal Communication
-Content and Relational Messages
-Metacommunication
Self-Disclosure
-Models of Self-Disclosure
-Questions to Ask Before Self-Disclosing
Mediated Versus Face-to-Face Communication
Communication Climates in Interpersonal Relationships
-Confirming and Disconfirming Messages
-Relational Spirals
-Defensive and Supportive Behaviors

Chapter 8: Communicating With Friends and Family
How We Choose Friendships
-Similarity
-Complementarity
-Mutual Liking
-Rewards
Types of Friendships
-Short-Term vs. Long-Term
-Low Disclosure vs. High Disclosure
-Doing-Oriented vs. Being-Oriented
-Low Obligation vs. High Obligation
-Same Sex vs. Other Sex
-In-Person vs. Mediated
Successful Communication in Friendships
-Be a Good Listener
-Give Advice Sparingly
-Share Feelings Respectfully
-Apologize and Forgive
-Be Validating and Appreciative
-Stay True Through Hard Times
-Be Trustworthy and Loyal
-Give and Take Equally
Types of Family Relationships
-Parents and Children
-Siblings
-Grandparents and Grandchildren
Successful Communication in Family Relationships
-Share Family Stories
-Listen to Each Other
-Negotiate Privacy Rules
-Coach Conflict Management
-Go Heavy on Confirming Messages
-Have Fun

Chapter 9: Communicating With Romantic Partners
The Nature of Intimacy
-Male and Female Intimacy Styles
-Love Languages
Communicating in Romantic Relationships
-A Developmental Perspective
-A Dialectical Perspective
-Strategies for Managing Dialectical Tensions
Deception in Romantic Relationships
-Altruistic Lies
-Evasions
-Self-Serving Lies
Managing Interpersonal Conflict
-Styles of Expressing Conflict
-Abusive Relationships
-Applying Win-Win Problem Solving

PART FOUR: PROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION
Chapter 10: Communicating for Career Success
Strategies for Finding a Job
-Cultivating Personal Networks
-Conducting Informational Interviews
Strategies for Getting Hired
-Applying for a Job
-Preparing for the Selection Interview
-During the Interview
-Post-Interview Follow-Up
-Phone and Video Interviews
-Interviewing and the Law
Strategies for Communicating on the Job
-Communicating with Followers, Leaders, and Peers
-Communicating in a Professional Manner
-Working with a Difficult Boss
-Exiting Graciously
Leadership, Followership, and Power
-Approaches to Leadership
-Becoming a Leader
-The Importance of Followers
-Power in the Workplace

Chapter 11: Communicating in Groups and Teams
The Nature of Groups and Teams
-What a Group Is
-Group and Individual Goals
-How a Group Becomes a Team
Characteristics of Groups
-Rules and Norms
-Patterns of Interaction
-Roles
Problem Solving in Groups
-Advantages of Group Problem Solving
-When to Use Groups for Problem Solving
-Developmental Stages in Group Problem Solving
Group Problem-Solving Strategies and Formats
-Problem-Solving Formats
-Solving Problems in Virtual Groups
-A Structured Problem-Solving Approach
-Decision-Making Methods
Making the Most of Group Discussion
-Build Cohesiveness
-Encourage Equal Participation
-Avoid Information Underload and Overload
-Avoid Pressure to Conform
-Make the Most of Diversity

PART FIVE: PUBLIC COMMUNICATION
Chapter 12: Preparing Speeches
Analyzing Your Speaking Situation
-The Audience
-The Occasion
Planning Your Speech
-Choose Your Topic
-Define Your Purpose
-Write a Purpose Statement
-State Your Thesis
-Gather Information
Structuring Your Speech
-Outlines
-Speaking Notes
-Organizational Patterns
Using Introductions, Conclusions, and Transitions
-The Introduction
-The Conclusion
-Transitions
Using Supporting Material
-Types of Support
-Styles of Support

Chapter 13: Presenting Speeches
Managing Speech Anxiety
-Helpful and Unhelpful Speech Anxiety
-Sources of Unhelpful Speech Anxiety
-How to Overcome Unhelpful Speech Anxiety
Choosing a Type of Delivery
-Extemporaneous
-Impromptu
-Manuscript
-Memorized
Using Visual Aids
-Types of Visual Aids
-Media for Presenting Visual Aids
-Rules for Using Visual Aids
-Presentation Software
Practicing the Speech
-Visual Aspects of Delivery
-Auditory Aspects of Delivery
-Online/Virtual Delivery

Chapter 14: Speaking to Inform, Persuade, and Entertain
Types of Speeches
-Informative Speeches
-Persuasive Speeches
-Speeches to Entertain
Techniques of Informative Speaking
-Define a Specific Informative Purpose
-Make it Easy for the Audience to Listen
-Use Clear, Simple Language
-Emphasize Important Points
-Generate Audience Involvement
Techniques of Persuasive Speaking
-Set a Specific Persuasive Purpose
-Structure Your Speech Strategically
-Structure Your Argument Carefully
-Avoid Fallacies
-Adapt to Your Specific Audience
-Establish Common Ground and Credibility
Techniques of Speaking to Entertain
-Follow the Rules of Humor
-Use the Most Effective Type of Humor

APPENDIX A: Informative Speech
APPENDIX B: Persuasive Speech
APPENDIX C: Speech to Entertain

Notes
Glossary
Credits
Index