Activate Your Superpower: Creating Compelling Communication
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2020
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2020
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Finally! An Intro to Communication textbook for how instructors actually teach and students want to learn. Through teacher-informed organization, expert-written material, and applied challenges for today’s students, Activate Your Superpower: Creating Compelling Communication covers the powers necessary for students to become superheroes in our current world. What’s the point of learning if you’re not making a difference?
Written and ordered how the class is actually taught! Knowing speeches often start at the beginning of a semester, we’ve arranged the book to cover speech construction and delivery first and throughout the semester. Every chapter has additional, practical speaking “tips” for students to practice and understand how all aspects of communication can inform their public speaking skills/knowledge.
Current! Each chapter is written by an “expert” in that particular communication area. In other words, this is the current info taught in each communication subdiscipline. You know you’re getting the best coverage because no one is writing on areas with which they’re unfamiliar.
Accessible! Despite being written by experts, we crafted a textbook written in a conversational manner, making it accessible and entertaining (plenty of “dad” jokes and pop culture references included). And, of course, the more your students actually enjoy the material, the more likely they are to actually READ the textbook.
It’s applied to engage! Nothing is introduced without a solid grounding in the practical realities of student-lives. We challenge students to take the material beyond the classroom. All chapters include “activism” boxes with ideas for putting superpower-level skills to use in the real world around them today.
Here's to embracing our superpowers as instructors and helping our students discover their own!
Includes access to the KHQ, a user-friendly app available on the iTunes and Google Play store that gives instructors and students access to hundreds of terms and test questions from the author. In addition, instructors have the opportunity to upload their own questions based on their curriculum. This unprecedented combination of customization and expert-provided content provides endless possibilities for students and instructors.
Introduction
CHAPTER 1: INTRO TO THE COMMUNICATION PROCESS (Ribarsky & Eckstein)
Communication Is More Complex and Important than You Think
Practice
Understanding Our Sense of Self
Physical and Mental Well-Being
Relationship Development
Career Enhancement
Community Engagement and Activism
ACTIVISM HERO: Make Your Speech Work for You (Ribarsky & Eckstein)
Defining Communication
There Is No “S” in Communication
The Communication Process
Simple Linear Model
Interactional Model
Transactional Model
Principles of Communication
Communication Is Unavoidable
Communication Is an Unrepeatable Process
Communication Is Irreversible
Communication Has Two Levels of Meaning
Communication Does Not Solve All Problems\
Communication Involves Ethical Issues
PUBLIC SPEAKING POWER: Ethics of Changing Minds & Behaviors (Eckstein & Ribarsky)
Good Communication Takes Works
Communication Areas and Opportunities
References
CHAPTER 2: PLANNING AND ORGANIZING SPEECHES (Scholten)
Why People Hate Learning About and Doing Public Speaking
Laying It Down So the Audience Can (Mostly) Pick It Up
Choosing a Topic
PUBLIC SPEAKING POWER: Rules for Brainstorming (Scholten)
Analyzing Your Audience: Becoming Their Kind of Hero
PUBLIC SPEAKING POWER: A Guide to Analyze Your Audience (Scholten)
ACTIVISM HERO: Your Anti-Guru for Social Change (Scholten & Eckstein)
Speech Design: Making a Meal Even Batman Will Devour
Organizational Patterns: The Plating
Speeches to Inform
Speeches to Persuade
Overall Organizational Tips
Intros and Conclusions: Apps and Desserts
Introductions
Conclusions
Transitions: Smooth Table-Service
Major Transitions
Minor Transitions
That’s All, Folks!
References
CHAPTER 3: VERBAL AND VISUAL SUPPORT (Ribarsky, Luce, & Eckstein)
Creating Credibility Through Verbal Evidence
Why Your Research Matters
Types of Verbal Support
PUBLIC SPEAKING POWER: How to Make Your Argument! (Scholten)
Finding Your Verbal Support
Questioning Source Quality
Recency
Relevancy
Bias
Primacy
Material Types
What to search
How to search
Being Ethical With Your Information
Presentational Aids
Types of Visual Aids
Presentational Aid Technologies
Physical Aids
ACTIVISM HERO: Do the Legwork for Them (Ribarsky)
Digital Aids
PUBLIC SPEAKING POWER: Audible Support (Luce & Ribarsky)
Tips and Tricks for Visual Aid Use
Selection
Preparation and Design
Visual Aid Use
Tying It All Together
References
CHAPTER 4: DELIVERY (Cherry & Eckstein)
Types of Speech Delivery
Manuscript
Memorized
PUBLIC SPEAKING POWER: Stop Saying You’re Nervous and Start Saying You’re Excited! (Scholten & Eckstein)
Extemporaneous
Impromptu
Let’s Talk About Notes, Ba-by!
Clarity
Conspicuousness
Color
Charting
Content
Practice
Vocal Delivery
Variety
Volume
Velocity
Verbalizations
Vernacular
Vocalizations and Verbal Fillers
Body
Eye Movement
Poise: Head, Neck, and Shoulders
Gestures
Stand With Power
Feet Movement
Speech Day Is Here! How to Prepare
Attire: Suit Up Like Superman!
Active Ingredients: Imbibing the Food of the Gods
Allies: Recruit the Positive Energy Team!
ACTIVISM HERO: Confidence is Key! (Scholten & Eckstein)
Final Thoughts
References
CHAPTER 5: ENGAGING IN PERCEPTIONS (Munz)
The Perception Process
Selecting
Selective Attention
Selective Exposure
Mood Effects
Variations
Organizing
Prototypes
Personal Constructs
Scripts
Stereotypes
Interpretation
ACTIVISM HERO: Perception-Checking for ChangeMakers (Eckstein)
Culture
Media
Personal Experiences
PUBLIC SPEAKING POWER: Habituation & De-Sensitization (Eckstein)
Memories and Remembering
Summary
References
CHAPTER 6: DEVELOPING AND PRESENTING SELF (Eckstein)
Identity Processes
Types of Identities
Personal Identities
Master Identities
Interactional Identities
Relational Identities
ACTIVISM HERO: Sex, Gender, & Essentializing (Eckstein)
Why Self Matters: Working Consensus
Situational Salience
PUBLIC SPEAKING POWER: Creating Shared Identities (Eckstein)
Implied Expectations
Endless Possibilities
How Self Matters: Face Management
Social and Public
Situated
Claimed
Conclusion
References
CHAPTER 7: LANGUAGE (Murphy)
Language Defined
Language and Culture
Language Is Symbolic
Language Is Systematic
Behaviors, Sounds, and Signs
PUBLIC SPEAKING POWER: Communicative Rhythm (Murphy)
Language and Organizing
Language and Meaning
Language Obstacles
Creating Clarity
Commanding Conciseness
ACTIVISM HERO: Speak Their Language (Eckstein & Murphy)
Framing Familiarity
Donning Directness
“Bad” Language: Releasing the Kraken!
Trigger Words and Warnings
Profanity
Sexist Language
Racist Language
Conclusion
References
CHAPTER 8: NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION (Withers)
Why We Use It: Functions of Nonverbal Communication
Characteristics of Nonverbals: What Makes Them a Superpower?
Intrinsic Codes
Iconic Codes
Forms of Nonverbal Communication: Your Not-So-Hidden Superpowers
Kinesics
Facial Expression/Eye Contact
Proxemics
Haptics
Appearance and Beauty
PUBLIC SPEAKING POWER: Clothes Make the Wo/Man (Eckstein)
Vocalics
Chronemics
ACTIVISM HERO: Is Time on Your Side? (Eckstein)
Artifacts and Environment
Following Nonverbal Communication Norms
References
CHAPTER 9: LISTENING (Wiss)
POW! WHAM! Batman Gets the Riddler by Knowing ‘Why?’
PUBLIC SPEAKING POWER: Attention Is Your Gift (Wiss)
OUCH! Riddler Punches Back by Asking ‘When?’ and ‘What?’
When Does This All Happen?
Receiving
Attending
Understanding
Remembering
Interpreting and Evaluating
Responding
What Types of Listening Are Possible?
Common Listening Types
Poor Listening Skills
WHACK! BAM! BOOM! Batman Beats Riddler by Learning ‘How?’
Upgrade Your Utility Belt, Batman!
Improving Your Attention Scanner
Honing Your Memory Blade
Short-term memory strategies
Long-term memory strategies
Responding Quickly and Accurately to the Bat-Signal
Give a Damn, Batman!
Activate Empathic Concern!
ACTIVISM HERO: Constructive Criticism to Create Change (Eckstein)
Critically Evaluate!
Look Inward, Bruce Wayne
Conclusion
References
CHAPTER 10: INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION (Brule)
Where “We” Came From: An Interpersonal Origin Story
Definitional Concepts: Why Interpersonal Comm Is Unique
Dyadic and Frequent
Processual
Uniquely Inescapable and Continuous
Uniquely Unrepeatable
Interdependent
Evolving Continuum of Continual Redefinition
It Takes Twoooo, Baby . . . Me and You!
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
PUBLIC SPEAKING POWER: Using Maslow to Persuade (Ribarsky)
Schutz’s Theory of Interpersonal Needs
Managing Needs
Interpersonal Superpowers: Achieving Competence!
1 and 2: Empathy and Altercentrism
3: Social Relaxation
4: Self-Disclosure
5 and 6: Interaction Management and Environmental Control
7 and 8: Expressiveness and Immediacy
9: Supportiveness
10: Assertiveness
PUBLIC SPEAKING POWER: Can You Relate? (Eckstein)
Conclusion
ACTIVISM HERO: Conflicting to Overcome (Eckstein)
References
CHAPTER 11: ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS (Ribarsky)
Main Attraction(s): Why We Seek Out the People We Do
Finding Partners
E-Mail My Heart—Finding Dates Online
What Makes You Beautiful—Online and In-Person
PUBLIC SPEAKING POWER: Wooing Your Audience (Ribarsky)
Getting to Know You . . . Through Dating
Dating Scripts
Uncertainty Reduction Theory
What’s Love Got to Do With It?
In My Feelings—Felt Love
How Will I Know That S/He Really Loves Me?—Expressed Love
Let’s Talk About Sex, Baby
Stairway to . . . Relational Progression
Stages of Escalation
Stages of De-Escalation
Progression Considerations
Stuck in the Middle With You—Relational Maintenance
Relationship Maintenance Challenges
Maintenance Success Strategies
We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together—Breaking Up Is (Not) Hard to Do
ACTIVISM HERO: Dear Dr. Beth . . . (Ribarsky)
Conclusion
References
CHAPTER 12: SMALL GROUP COMMUNICATION (Hammonds, Ribarsky, & Eckstein)
Characteristics of Small Groups
Group Size
Common Purpose
Sense of Belonging
Interdependence
Balancing Small-Group Disadvantages and Advantages
PUBLIC SPEAKING POWER: Presenting Group Speeches (Ribarsky)
Benefits of Working in Groups
Productivity
Creativity
Accuracy
Enthusiasm
Challenges to Working in Groups
Groupthink
ACTIVISM HERO: Don’t Be a Bystander (Ribarsky)
Opposing Communication Styles
Unfair Workloads
Time Commitments
Small Group Roles
Communication in Small Groups
Power in Small Groups
Power Sources
Understanding Power Dynamics
Making Decisions
Group Phases
Making a Group a Team
Clear and Elevating Goal
Results-Driven Structure
Competent Team Members
Unified Commitment
Collaborative Climate
Standards of Excellence
External Support and Recognition
Principled Leadership
Leadership in Small Groups
Trait Perspective
Style Approach
Leadership Emergence
Evolving Technology and the Small Group
Grab Your Capes! Tips for Small Group Superheroics
References
CHAPTER 13: ORGANIZATIONAL COMMUNICATION (Papa & Papa)
What Is Organizational Communication?
Understanding Organizations
Awareness of Skills
How Organizational Communication Works
Organizations as Systems
Wholeness
Openness
Feedback
Hierarchy
Organizational Communication Patterns
Formal Communication
Downward communication
Upward communication
Horizontal communication
PUBLIC SPEAKING POWER: Audiences as Organizations (Ribarsky & Eckstein)
Diagonal communication
Informal Communication
Organizational Culture
Global Issues in the Org Comm World
Technology and Work/Life Separation
Marketplace and Global Competitive Pressures
ACTIVISM HERO: Organize for Power (Papa & Papa) Conclusion
References
CHAPTER 14: CULTURAL COMMUNICATION (Eckstein)
What Makes a Culture? It’s Similar for Everyone!
Norms and Rules
Shared Meanings
Appearance
Language/Voice
Worldviews and Values
Meaning Complexity
PUBLIC SPEAKING POWER: Am I Speaking Your Language? (Scholten)
Uncertainty Tolerance
Power Distance
Gender Framework
Communality
Contact Level
Culturally Communicating to Change the World!
Reinforcing Inequality
Macro-Level Perpetuation: Justice or Lack Thereof
Micro-Level Perpetration: How We Do It in Our Lives
Why
ACTIVISM HERO: Use the Platinum Rule (Eckstein)
How
Ways to Fix It!
Conclusion
References
CHAPTER 15: MEDIATED COMMUNICATION (Sochay)
A VERY Short History of Media
Media Literacy: Being an Educated, Skilled Audience Member
How We Engage With Media: Media Ecology
How We Read: Print Mediums
How We Watch: Visual Mediums
How Medium-Type Matters
Why We Engage Media: Media Literacy
Access and Pervasiveness
Exposure Types and Levels
PUBLIC SPEAKING POWER: Push YOUR Agenda (Eckstein & Ribarsky)
Why Media Engages Us
Who We Are: Audience
ACTIVISM HERO: Don’t be THAT Person! (Sochay)
Who “They” Are: Industry and Content
Reality
Representation
Risking offense
How Media Engages Us
Considering the Future: Media Protections?
References
Contributor Bios: Roster of Superheroes!