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

Table of Contents:
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