Real World Communication

Unit 1 Communication Concepts

Chapter 1 An Introduction to Communication Concepts 
Becoming More Aware 
The Rhetorical Triangle 
      Scenario 1: A Spill on the Steps 
      Scenario 2: Lecture on Homelessness 
      Practice Rhetorical Analysis 
Goals of Communication 
      Convey Information 
      Maintain Relationships 
Types of Communication 
      Intrapersonal Communication 
      Interpersonal/Dyadic Communication 
      Small-Group Communication 
      Large-Group Communication 
      Public Communication 
      Mass Communication 
Models of Communication 
      Linear Model 
      Transactional Model 
Communication as Negotiation 
Summary 

Chapter 2 Language 
Language Is Ambiguous 
      Connotation and Denotation 
      Languages Are Constantly Changing 
The Rules of Language 
      Phonological Rules 
      Semantic Rules 
      Syntactic Rules 
      Pragmatic Rules 
The Power of Language 
      What’s in a Name? 
      Linguistic Relativity 
      Powerless and Powerful Speech 
      Crutch Words 
      Language and Credibility 
      The Dr. Fox Lecture 
      Culture and Language 
Summary 

CHAPTER 3 Listening 
A (Problematic) Theory of Listening 
How Kids Listen 
How Adults Listen 
What Gets in the Way of Effective Listening? 
      Message Overload 
      Distraction/Preoccupation
      Hasty Assumptions 
      Lack of Effort 
      Lack of Apparent Advantages 
      Acoustic Interference/Hearing Problems 
      Bad Listening Habits in Conversation 
Listening Styles
Effective Listening 
      Informational Listening 
Critical Listening 
Empathetic Listening
Summary: Listening in a Rhetorical Context

CHAPTER 4 Nonverbal Communication 
Scenario 
Nonverbal Communication: More Than Words 
Functions and Challenges of Nonverbal Communication 
      Primary Functions of Nonverbal Communication 
      Contextual Considerations 
Categories of Nonverbal Communication 
      Kinesics 
      Scenario 1 
      Scenario 2 
Evidence-Based Strategies for Nonverbal Communication 
      Expectancy Violations Theory 
      Deception Tracking 
      Harnessing the Power of Nonverbal Cues 
      Identification 
      Immediacy 
      Measuring and Improving Nonverbal Communication Skills 
Summary 

UNIT 2 COMMUNICATING YOUR POTENTIAL

CHAPTER 5 The Job Search 
It’s Not What You Know . . . 
How to Build a Network? 
Starting Your Search 
      Job-Seeker, Know Thyself!
      Look for an Employer Rather Than a Job 
      Traditional Search Methods 
      Using Social Media 
Creating a Resume and Cover Letter 
      Resumes from a Rhetorical Perspective 
      Resume FAQ 
Top Five Ways to Sabotage Your Resume 
      Number 5: Bad Document Design 
      Number 4: Inconsistent Formatting 
      Number 3: Nonparallel Phrasing 
      Number 2: Exaggerations, Fibs, and Downright Lies 
      Number 1: Careless Errors 
Writing Your Cover Letter 
Summary 

CHAPTER 6 The Interview 
Types of Interviews 
      Informational Interview 
      Performance Review 
      Grievance Interview 
      Exit Interview 
      Employment Interview 
Your Role as an Interviewee 
      Preparing for Your Interview 
Part 1: Opening 
      Making a First Impression 
      Building Rapport 
Part 2: Question and Answer 
      Ask Your Own Questions 
Part 3: Closing 
Your Role as an Interviewer 
      Preparing for the Interview 
      Opening 
      Question and Answer 
      Closing 
Different Interview Formats 
      Online/Virtual Interview 
      Panel Interview 
Summary 

UNIT 3 COMMUNICATION AND CONFLICT

CHAPTER 7 The Self, Interpersonal Relationships, and the Nature of Conflict
Part I Communicating the Self—Who Are You? 
      Self-Concept and Communication 
            Reflected Appraisal 
            Self as Ethos: Constructing Self for Communication Purposes 
      Self-Disclosure and Self-Knowledge 
            Removing Your Blinders 
Part II Self and Others 
            Proximity 
            Reciprocal Attraction 
            Similarity 
            Complementarity 
            Capability 
            Return on Investment 
      Content and Relational Messages 
            Considering Your Relational Messages 
      Metacommunication 
      Intimacy 
            Intellectual 
            Physical 
            Emotional 
      Communication Climates 
      Escalatory Spirals 
      Nature of Conflict 
            Scarce Resources 
      Interdependence 
            Incompatible Goals or Values 
            Incompatible Personalities 
      Summary 

CHAPTER 8 Managing Conflict Persuasively
Part I Managing Conflict 
      Styles of Expressing Conflict 
            Nonassertion 
            Direct Aggression 
            Passive Aggression 
            Indirect Address 
            Direct Assertion 
            The Five Types of Assertion 
      Methods of Managing Conflict 
            Conceding 
            Compromising 
            Competing 
            Collaborating 
      When Conflict Can’t Be “Resolved” 
Part II Being Persuasive 
      Define the Conflict 
      Know Your Purpose 
      Analyze Your Audience: Appeal to Pathos 
      Craft Your Message: Appeal to Logos 
             Organizing Your Message 
      Build Your Credibility: Appeal to Ethos 
            Know Who You Are to Your Audience 
            Know Your Stuff 
            Be Fair 
            Appeal to Authority 
            Engage Your Audience 
      Summary 

UNIT 4 COMMUNICATING ACROSS CULTURES

CHAPTER 9 Cultural Connections 
Logos: Culture as Message 
      The Digital Culture Revolution 
Ethos: Your Personal Cultural Role 
      Your Digital Cultural Identity 
Pathos: Understanding Across Cultures 
How Language Creates Reality 
      The Bypassing Problem 
      Sapir–Whorf Hypothesis 
      Differentiated Language: Formality and Informality 
      Elaborate and Succinct Language 
      Low-Context and High-Context Cultures 
      Communication Accommodation Theory 
  Cultural Communication and Nonverbal Signs 
      Culture and Paralanguage 
      Culture and Kinesics 
      Culture and Proxemics 
      Culture and Haptics 
      Culture and Artifacts
      Culture and Chronemics 
  Worldviews and Cultural Communication 
      Individualism and Collectivism 
      Gender, Culture, and Communication 
      Cultural Awareness in the Workplace 
  Bridging Communication Gaps 
      Similarities: What We All Share 
  Summary 

CHAPTER 10 Giving an Informative Presentation
What Is an Informative Presentation? 
      Selecting a Topic
      Facing Anxiety 
      Situational Anxiety 
      Trait Anxiety
Audience Analysis 
Preparing a Speech: The Five Canons of Rhetoric 
      Canon 1—Invention 
      Canon 2—Arrangement 
      Canon 3—Style 
      Canon 4—Memory 
      Canon 5—Delivery 
Summary 

UNIT 5 COMMUNICATION IN GROUPS

CHAPTER 11 Group Dynamics
The Nature of Groups 
      Interaction 
      Size 
      Time 
      Goals 
Five Scenarios for Application 
Fundamental Questions of Group Dynamics 
      Research Question 1. What Forces Bind Members to their Groups? 
      Research Question 2. Do Groups Influence their Members’ Self-Conceptions? 
      Research Questions 3. How can Relationships within Groups be Improved? 
Types of Group Roles—Formal and Functional 
      Formal Roles 
      Functional Roles 
Virtual Groups 
Summary 

CHAPTER 12 Groups in Action 
What Are (Good) Groups Good At?
      Big Jobs 
      Achieving Buy-In
      Building Camaraderie and Loyalty
      Finding Creative Solutions 
      Being Accurate 
What Are Groups Bad At? 
      Quick Decision-Making 
      Tracing Responsibility for Failure 
      Why Groups Fail 
The Exploding Group
      Interruption
      Loaded Language 
      Obvious Nonverbal Cues 
The Imploding Group 
            Social Loafing 
      Distraction 
Improving Task Groups 
      Research Question 4. When do Groups Excel at the Tasks they Attempt? 
      Research Question 5. Who will Lead and Who will Follow? 
Power 
      Legitimate 
      Coercive 
      Reward
      Expert
      Information 
      Referent 
Leadership Qualities 
      Commitment 
      Self-Knowledge 
      Willingness to Look to Others for Support 
      Being Open to Change 
      Research Question 6. How do Groups Influence their Members? 
Decision-Making Methods: Group versus Mob Decisions 
      Consensus 
      Majority Rule 
      Authority Rule 
Groupthink 
Summary 

Glossary 
Index

Chapter 2: Language