A Survey of Human Communication

Book excerpt: This textbook provides a survey of the Speech and Communication Studies areas of Communication, focusing on human communication through the transactional model of communication. Interpersonal Communication chapters constitute the largest portion of the book, with the Public Speaking chapters the next largest block, followed by the Intercultural and Small Group/Organizational Communication chapters. Homework and/or classroom exercises are provided in nearly every chapter to enable students to learn the related skills and/or reinforce their knowledge. There is a unique money talk section in the Relationship Communication chapter, an in-depth problem-solving exercise with sample content information in the Small Group/Organizational Communication chapter, an overview of controversial Intercultural topics in the Intercultural Communication chapter that can be optional reading, and a step-by-step process for learning how to write thesis sentences in one of the Public Speaking chapters. In addition, instructions for and samples of seven different types of speeches are provided, as well as evaluation forms, to give instructors suitable choices.