Excel in human communication in school and throughout your everyday life. Lets Communicate gives you a strong base through real-life examples and practical skills to help you achieve successful and effective communication skills.

Douglas M. Fraleigh is a Professor and Chair of the Communication Department at California State University Fresno, where he also teaches in the Honors College and serves as Assessment Coordinator for the College of Arts & Humanities. His teaching and research interests include Freedom of Speech, Argumentation, and Public Discourse. He is co-author of Speak Up: An Illustrated Guide to Public Speaking and Freedom of Expression in the Marketplace of Ideas. Before becoming chair, he was active in speech and debate, coaching at Fresno State, Cornell, UC Berkeley, and California State University, Sacramento. He holds a Juris Doctor from UC Berkeley and BA from CSU Sacramento. When not busy teaching, writing, and administrating, he looks forward to running, reading, family time (especially plays and sporting events), and hanging out with his dogs.

Joseph S. Tuman is a professor and former chair of the Department of Communication Studies at San Francisco State University, where he received the Jacobus tenBroek Society Award, a state-wide award for Excellence in Teaching. He has also taught at the University of California at Berkeley, the New School, and the University of Paris II, and has published widely in the field of communication studies (including Speak Up: An Illustrated Guide to Public Speaking). Joseph has appeared regularly on local and national network television and radio as a political analyst since 1984. He has served on the boards of several non-profits in Oakland, and in 2014 he was one of the leading candidates in the Mayoral race. Currently, he serves as an advisor and expert analyst regarding terrorism and social media for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In his spare time, he is an avid triathlete and marathoner.

Katherine l. Adams has been a professor of communication for over 30 years at California State University, Fresno, where she formally served as Chair of Department of Communication and currently chairs the Department of Mass Communication & Journalism. Her primary teaching responsibilities include undergraduate and graduate courses in communication theory, interpersonal communication, and small group communication. She helped to create an honors public speaking course and taught in the Smittcamp Honors College. A former graduate of the University of Utah, she published her first interpersonal text book with her mentor and noted small group communication scholar B. Aubry Fisher. She continues to publish two text books in small group communication. She has held all the major offices in the Western States Communication Association, including its past presidency. She has also completed 4 AIDS/Lifecycle events to help raise money for the fight against AIDS.

Let’s communicate 1/e contents

Brief Contents

Preface

THE ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO HUMAN COMMUNICATION
1 Introduction to human communication

Communication: The Basics

Communication Defined

Contexts for Communication

Interpersonal Communication

Group Communication

Public Speaking

Mass and Mediated Communication

The Importance of Effective Communication

Benefits of Effective Communication

Communication Helps in Your Personal Life

Communication Helps in Your Career

Communication Helps You as a Student

Communication Helps You in Your Community

Gaining Communication Competence

Achieving Communication Goals

Building a Communication Repertoire

Choosing Appropriate Communication Behaviors

Principles of Communication

Communication is a Transactional Process

Communication is Symbolic

Communication Can Result in Shared Meaning

Misconceptions About Communication

Communication is not Just Common Sense

Communication is not Always Positive

Communication Does Not Always Result in Agreement

Communication Cannot Solve Every Problem

Chapter Review

2 PERCEIVING OTHERS, PERCEIVING OURSELVES
Perceiving Others
The Meaning of Perception

The Role of Perception in Communication

Making the right communication choices

Making a good impression on others

Deepening and strengthening our interactions.

The Formation of Perceptions

Receiving Stimuli

Using Mental Associations (Schemas) to Make Sense of Stimuli

Sources of Mental Associations

Barriers to Perception and How to Overcome Them
Why are Perceptions Often Inaccurate

Rush to Judgment

Stereotypes

Fooled by Appearances

She Reminds Me of Aunt Minnie (Transference)

Giving Ourselves the Benefit of the Doubt

Improving the Accuracy of Perceptions

Recognize that Perceptions are Fallible

Seek Additional Data

Differentiate Facts and Inferences

Check Perceptions

Perceiving Ourselves
The Nature of Your Self-Concept

Attributes of Self-Concepts

Self-Concept and Self-Esteem

Sources of Self-Concepts

Reflected Appraisals

Sociocultural and Gender Contexts

Improving Your Self-Concept

Positive Self-Talk

Personal Growth

Reappraisal

Support Networks

Identity Management
How We Engage in Identity Management

Objectives of Identity Management

Ethics and Identity Management

Online Identity Management

Chapter Review

3 VERBAL COMMUNICATION
The Nature of Verbal Communication
Language is Rule-Based

Semantic Rules

Syntactic Rules

Pragmatic Rules

Language is Symbolic

Language is Literal and Figurative

Language is Dynamic

Language is Contextual

Verbal Communication and the Challenge of Understanding
Language is an Imperfect Vehicle for Understanding

Problematic Language Exacerbates Misunderstandings

Abstract Language

Jargon

Improper Use of Words

Equivocal Language

The Effects of Verbal Communication
Use of Language

Sharing Information

Influencing Others

Expressing Feelings

Imagining

Accomplishing Actions

Abuses of Language

Biased Language

Inflammatory Language

Guidelines for Verbal Communication
Make Your Message Clear

Consider Your Listeners or Readers

Use Concise Language

Focus on Concrete Terms

Check for Understanding

Make Your Message Considerate

Avoid Stereotypes

Use Gender-Neutral Terms

Make Appropriate References to Ethnic Groups

Avoid Unnecessary References to Ethnicity, Religion, Gender, or Sexuality

Appropriate Language and Political Correctness

Make Your Responses Respectful

Work for Accurate Understanding

Respond with Respect

Take Ownership of Your Feelings

Chapter Review

4 Nonverbal
Influences on Nonverbal Communication
Culture

Gender

Technology

Functions of Nonverbal Communication
Supplementing

Repeating

Contradicting

Regulating

Substituting

Accenting

Types of Nonverbal Communication
Kinesics

Facial Expressions

Oculesics

Haptics

Proxemics

Physical Appearance

Paralanguage

Smell (Olfacics)

Chronemics

Technology and its Impact on Nonverbal Communication
Guidelines for Communicating Nonverbal Messages Effectively

Chapter Review
5 LISTENING SKILLS
How We Listen
Listening and Hearing Processing What You’ve Heard

Retaining What You’ve Processed

Listening Styles

Action-Oriented Listening

Content-Oriented Listening

People-Oriented Listening

Time-Oriented Listening

Overcoming Listening Challenges
External Factors that Affect Listening

Rate of Delivery

Time

Physical Location

External Noise

The Culprits Behind Poor Listening
Information Overload

Distracted Listening

Interruptive Listening

Agenda-Driven Listening

Argumentative Listening

Nervous Listening

Becoming a Better Listener
Filter Out Distractions

Focus on the Speaker

Show That You are Listening

Helping Others to Listen to You
Anticipate Ineffective Listening Before You Speak

Consider Your Listeners’ Attention and Energy Levels

Assess Your Audience’s Knowledge and Abilities

Front- and Back-Load Your Main Message

Use Presentation Aids Strategically

Encourage Active Listening

Tailor Your Delivery

Watch Out for Argumentative Listeners

Watch Out for Defeated Listeners

Watch Out for Superficial Listeners

When You are the Listener
Making a Speech Critique

Giving Conversational Feedback

Chapter Review
6 CULTURE AND COMMUNICATION
What is Culture?
Culture and Diversity
Ethnicity, Race, and Heritage

Gender and Sexual Orientation

Age

Variations in Culture: How Do They Affect Communication?
Uncertainty Avoidance

High and Low Context

Collectivist and Individualistic

Masculine and Feminine

Contact and Non-Contact

Understanding of Power Distance

Assimilation, Accommodation, and Separation
Assimilation

Accommodation

Separation

Challenges to Intercultural Communication
Ethnocentrism

Prejudice

Hate and Hate Speech

Constructive Steps to Improving Intercultural Communication
Show Awareness and Respect for Cultural Communication Variations

Express a Willingness to Learn About and Participate in Other Cultures

Limit Ethnocentrism and Condemn Hate

Chapter Review
7 MASS AND MEDIATED COMMUNICATION
Understanding Mass Media
Entertainment Media and News Media

Old Media and New Media

Free Media and Paid Media

Understanding Social Media
Effects of Social Media

Anonymity, Free Speech and Privacy Issues

Digital Divide and Net Neutrality

Media-Centric Criticism
Critical Media Theory

Agenda-Setting and Framing Theory

Suggestions for Mediated Communication
Become a Critical Consumer of Mass Media

Avoid Being Influenced by Media Depictions of "The Other"

Be Mindful About How Much Personal Information You Share on Social Media

Don’t Say Anything Online You Wouldn’t Say in Person

Consider Taking a Break to Avoid Technology Burnout

Chapter Review
8 PRINCIPLES OF INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
Interpersonal Communication in the Dyad
The Benefits of Interpersonal Relationships

Belonging

Emotional, Psychological, and Physical Well-Being

Self-Expression

Reciprocal Altruism

The Nature and Type of Close Dyads

Friendships

Work Peers

Romantic and Marital Relationships

Selecting a Few from the Many
The Secrets of Attraction: Noticing

Brain Chemistry

Proximity

Similarity

The Secrets of Initiating: Opening Moves

Introductions

Managing First Impressions

Small Talk

Capturing Relational Movement
The Straightforward Path

The Turbulent Path

Imagined Trajectories

Cyclical Tensions

Self-Disclosure and Privacy
Social Penetration Theory

The Downside to Self-Disclosure

Communication Privacy Management Theory (CPM)

Privacy Rules

Privacy Violations

Understanding and Managing Dialectical Tensions
Dialectical Tensions

Connection/Separation

Openness/Closedness

Predictability/Novelty

Managing Dialectical Tensions

Separation

Selection

Balance

Reframing

Chapter Review
9 PRACTICES FOR EFFECTIVE INTERPSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
Maintaining Relationships
Common Maintenance Behaviors

Maintaining Relationships with Technology

Maintaining Different Types of Relationships
Romantic Relationships

Positivity and Assurances

Sharing Tasks

Social Networks

Technology

Friendships

Positivity

Sharing Activities

Openness

Cross-Sex Friends: Special Considerations

Friends-with-Benefits: Special Considerations

Workplace Relationships

Five General Guidelines for Maintaining Relationships
Embrace Your Agency

Connecting Bids

Taking Action Based on Knowledge

Nurture Mutual Commitment

Don’t Fear Uncertainty

Managing Interpersonal Conflict
What is Interpersonal Conflict?

Common Causes of Conflict

Behavior

Relational Rules

Personality

Benefits of Interpersonal Conflict

Styles and Patterns of Conflict
Six Conflict Styles

Competitive Fighting: Direct and Uncooperative

Collaborating: Direct and Cooperative

Compromising: Moderate Directness and Cooperation

Yielding: Indirect and Cooperative

Avoiding: Indirect

Indirect Fighting: Indirect and Uncooperative Unhealthy Conflict Patterns

Negative Reciprocity

Common Couple Violence

Demand-Withdrawal

Cascading Negativity

Staying Respectful, Strong, and Positive in Conflict
Accept Conflict

Monitor Your Emotions

Express Criticisms Gently and Respectfully

Engage in Conflict with Positive Expectations

Keep Positivity in Balance with Negativity

Chapter Review
10 PRINCIPLES OF GROUP COMMUNICATION
Small Group Characteristics
Small Group Communication

Types

Group size

Size and Complexity

Size and Stability

Advantages of Small Groups
Diverse Perspectives

Multiple Resources

Commitment

Small Group Dynamics
Small Group Roles

Work Roles

Social Roles

Selfish Roles

Group Development

Cultural Diversity
Collectivist and Individualistic

Power Distance

Uncertainty Avoidance

High and Low Context

Masculine and Feminine

Mindful Communication

Small Group Communication in the Digital Age
Technology for Group Meetings

E-mail

Text messaging

Instant Messaging (IM)

Video and Audio Conferencing

Meeting Applications

Electronic Bulletin Board Services (BBS) and a Chat Room or Instant Relay Chat (IRC)

Technology for Group Work and Document Sharing

Guidelines for Using Technology for Group Work

Effective Participation in a Small Group
Prepare for Group Meetings

Listen Interactively

Participate, Don’t Dominate

Fulfill Your Commitments

Use Technology to Your Advantage

Encourage a Positive Climate with Politeness and Authenticity

Chapter Review

11 PROBLEM SOLVING AND LEADING A SMALL GROUP
Group Problem Solving
Define the Problem

Generate Possible Solutions

Establish Criteria for Solutions

Select the Best Solution

Tips for Using Problem-Solving Agendas
Make Sure Group Members Understand the Task

Getting Rid of Roadblocks

Carefully Observe Your Process

Technology and Group Problem Solving

Effective Group Leadership
Leaders versus Leadership

Types of Leadership

Leading in Virtual Groups

Leadership Challenges

Leading Meetings and Managing Conflict
Leading Meetings

Address Procedural Needs

Model the Behavior You Expect

Facilitate Discussion

Keep Members on Task

Help Members Avoid Groupthink

Facilitate Decisions

Assess Meeting-to-Meeting Effectiveness

Managing Conflict

Refer to Ideas by Topic, Not the Person

Manage Conflicts Respectfully

Focus on Tasks, Not Disagreements

Manage Disruptive Emotions

Chapter Review
12 PUBLIC SPEAKING: FIRST STEPS
Introduction to Public Speaking
Why Study Public Speaking?

In the Workplace

In School and Community Settings

On Special Occasions

A Great Tradition

Key Elements of Public Speaking

Public Speaking Features Communication Between a Speaker and an Audience

Public Speaking is Audience Centered

Public Speaking Emphasizes the Spoken Word

Public Speaking is Generally a Prepared Presentation

The Speech Preparation Process
The Classical Approach to Speech Preparation

The Benefits of an Organized Preparation Plan

Audience Analysis
The Importance of Audience Analysis

Analyzing Situational Characteristics

Audience Size

Time

Location (Forum)

Incorporating Demographics

Age

Gender Composition

Race and Ethnicity

Sexual Orientation

Religious Orientation

Seeking Common Ground

Identifying Prior Exposure

Has My Audience Heard This Message Before?

Has My Audience Responded Positively to the Message?

Why Did the Previous Message Fail?

Topic Selection
Developing a Set of Potential Topics

Research

Brainstorming

Word Association

Mind Mapping

Selecting the Best Topic

Consider the Assignment

Consider the Audience

Consider Your Own Knowledge and Interests

Choose a Topic and Stick to It

Refining Your Topic

Decide Your Rhetorical Purpose

Narrow Your Topic

Drafting Your Specific Purpose Statement

Drafting Your Thesis Statement

Chapter Review
13 SPEECH CONTENT: RESEARCH, SUPPORTING MATERIALS, AND ETHICS
Researching Your Speech
Creating a Research Plan

Inventory Your Research Needs

Find the Sources You Need

Keep Track of Your Sources

Evaluating a Source’s Credibility

Expertise

Objectivity

Observational Capacity

Recency

Conducting Library Research

Books

Periodicals

Newspapers

Government Documents

Using the Internet

Benefits of Internet Research

Disadvantages of Internet Research

Participatory (or Social) Media

Evaluating the Credibility of Online Sources Interview Research

Prepare for Your Interview

Set Up Your Interview

Plan Your Interview Questions

Conduct the Interview

Presenting Evidence in Your Speeches

Selecting and Using Supporting Materials
Uses of Supporting Materials

Types of Supporting Materials

Examples

Definitions

Testimony

Statistics

Narratives

Analogies

Guidelines for Using Supporting Materials

Speech Ethics
Communicating Truthfully

Lying

Half-Truths

False Inference

Omission

Acknowledging and Representing Others’ Work

Avoid Plagiarism

Properly Quote from Sources Acknowledge Others’ Work

Chapter Review
14 ORGANIZING AND OUTLINING
Organizing the Body of Your Speech
Selecting Your Main Points

Consider Your Specific Purpose

Take Your Audience into Account

Select an Appropriate Number of Main Points

Arranging Your Main Points

Spatial Pattern

Chronological Pattern

Causal Pattern

Comparison Pattern

Categorical Pattern

Organizing Your Supporting Materials

Subordination and Coordination

When a Subpoint Doesn’t Fit

Using Organizing Words and Sentences

Transitions

Signposts

Internal Preview and Internal Summaries

Introducing Your Speech
Gain Audience Attention

Tell a Story or Anecdote

Signal Your Thesis

Show Your Audience What’s in It for Them

Establish Your Credibility

Preview Your Main Points

Concluding Your Speech
Transition to Your Conclusion

Summarize Your Main Points

Finish with a Memorable Clincher

Tie Your Clincher to the Introduction

End with a Striking Sentence or Phrase

Highlight Your Thesis

Conclude with an Emotional Message

End with a Story or Anecdote

Outlining Your Speech
Two Stages of Outlining

The Working Outline

The Speaking Outline

Creating Your Working Outline

Outlining the Body of Your Speech

Outlining Your Introduction

Outlining Your Conclusion

Creating a Bibliography

Inserting the Title, Specific Purpose, or Thesis

A Sample Working Outline

Creating Your Speaking Outline

Formatting Your Speaking Outline

Elements of Your Speaking Outline

A Sample Speaking Outline

Chapter Review
15 DELIVERING YOUR SPEECH
Selecting the Right Mode of Delivery
Reading from a Manuscript

Memorizing from a Manuscript

Extemporaneous: Speaking from an Outline

Impromptu: Speaking without Preparation

Using Vocal Delivery Skills
Volume

Tone

Rate of Delivery

Projection

Articulation

Pronunciation

Pausing

Using Nonverbal Delivery Skills
Eye Contact

Gestures

Physical Movement

Proxemics

Personal Appearance

Presentation Aids
Using Presentation Aids in Your Speech

Presentation Aids Can Make Your Speech More Interesting

Presentation Aids Can Simplify a Complex Topic

Presentation Aids Can Help Your Audience Remember Your Speech

Guidelines for Developing Presentation Aids

Consider the Forum

Consider Your Audience

Make Sure Your Aids Support Your Points

Keep Your Aids Simple and Clear

Use Technology Wisely

Rehearse with Your Presentation Aids

Using Presentation Aids During Your Speech
Make Sure Everyone Can See and Hear Your Aids

Control Audience Interaction with Your Aids

Remember the Purpose of Your Aids

Chapter Review
16 INFORMATIVE SPEAKING
Techniques for Informing Definition

Explanation

Description

Demonstration

Narrative

Types of Informative Speeches
Objects

Individuals or Groups

Events

Processes

Ideas

Developing Your Informative Speech
Analyzing Your Audience

Selecting a Technique

Focusing on Your Goal to Inform

Clarifying and Simplifying Your Message
Move from General to Specific

Reduce the Quantity of Information You Present

Make Complex Information Seem Familiar

Use Presentation Aids

Reiterate Your Message

Repeat Your Message

Chapter Review
17 PERSUASIVE SPEAKING
The Nature of a Persuasive Speech
Persuasive Speeches Attempt to Influence Audience Members

Strengthen Audience Commitment

Weaken Audience Commitment

Promote Audience Action

Persuasive Speeches Advocate Fact, Value, or Policy Claims

Tailoring Your Persuasive Message to the Audience
Adapting to Audience Disposition

Appealing to Your Audience’s Needs

Connecting to Your Listener’s Values

Demonstrating How Your Audience Benefits

Acknowledging Listeners’ Reservations

Building Blocks of Persuasion
Ethos: Your Credibility as a Speaker

Understanding the Elements of Credibility

Building Your Credibility

Avoiding Loss of Your Credibility

Logos: The Evidence and Reasoning Behind Your Message

Using Evidence

Using Reasoning

Example Reasoning

Comparison Reasoning

Sign Reasoning

Causal Reasoning

Avoiding Logical Fallacies

Hasty Generalization

Causal Reasoning Errors

Ad Populum Fallacy

Straw Person Fallacy

Slippery Slope Fallacy

Pathos: Evoking Your Listener’s Emotions

Using Emotional Appeals

Ensuring Ethical Use of Pathos

Organizing Your Persuasive Speech
Criteria-Application Pattern

Categorical Pattern

Moore’s Motivated Sequence

Problem-Cause-Solution Pattern

Chapter Review

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