Thinking Through Communication : An Introduction to the Study of Human Communication

by Trenholm, Sarah

• ISBN13: 9780205530472
• ISBN10: 0205530478
• Edition: 5th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-04-09
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

Praised for its "teachability,"Thinking Through Communicationprovides an excellent, balanced introduction to basic theories and principles of communication, making sense of a complex field through a variety of approaches. In an organized and coherent manner,Thinking Through Communicationcovers a full range of topics-from the history of communication study to the methods used by current communication scholars to understand human interaction. The book explores face-to-face communication in a variety of traditional contexts: interpersonal, group, organizational, public, intercultural, computer-mediated communication and the mass media. This edition also offers new insights public speaking and listening. Written in a clear, lively style, Trenholm's overall approach-including her use of examples and interesting illustrations-helps develop a better understanding of communication as a field of study and an appreciation for ways in which communication impacts our daily lives.

Table of Contents

Each chapter concludes with Summary

Introduction To Communication

The Communication Tradition

In the Time of Aristotle: A Brief History of Communication Study

Communication Today: Contemporary Departments of Rhetoric and Communication Theory

Definitions, Models, and Perspectives

Defining Communication

How Models Help Us Understand Communication

It All Depends on Your Point of View: Three Perspectives

What to Look for When You Look at Communication

Listening And Language

Decoding Messages: Perception, Information Processing, and Listening

What Is Perception?

Information Processing: Communicating for Clarity

Listening: How Receivers Can Improve Decoding

Encoding Messages: Spoken Language

What Is Language?

The Subsystems of Language

Pragmatic Styles and Structures

Language and Social Identity

Language Choices and Pragmatic Effects

Encoding Messages: Nonverbal Communication

What Is Nonverbal Communication?

The Nonverbal Codes

Increasing Nonverbal Skills

Communication Contexts

Interpersonal Communication

What Is Interpersonal Communication?

Managing Interpersonal Communication

Relational Development: Stages in Intimate Dyads

Increasing Relational Skills

Becoming a More Responsible Communicator

Group Communication

What Is a Group?

Managing Group Communication

Group Development: Phases in Problem-Solving Groups

Strengthening Group Discussion Skills

Becoming a More Responsible Communicator

Organizational Communication

What is an Organization?

Managing Organizational Communication

Developing Organizational Culture

Increasing Organizational Skills

Becoming a More Responsible Communicator

Public Communication

What Is Public Communication?

Audience Adaptation and Source Credibility

Constructing Valid Arguments

Preparing and Presenting the Public Speech

Increasing Public Speaking Skills

Communication and the Mass Media

What Is Mass Communication?

How Audiences and Media Messages Interact

Media Formats and Logics

Computer Mediated Communication Becoming a More Responsible Communicator

Intercultural Communication

What Is Culture?

Barriers to Intercultural Communication

Adapting to New Cultures

Becoming a More Open Communicator

Appendix: Methods of Discovery

How Is Communication Research Done?

Five Popular Research Methods

Learning More about Communication

Author Index

Subject Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.