Essentials of Human Communication (Book Alone), 5/E
Joseph A. DeVito, Hunter College of the City University of New York

ISBN-10: 0205414885
ISBN-13: 9780205414888

Publisher: Allyn & Bacon
Copyright: 2005
Format: Paper; 400 pp
Status: Out of Print


This best-selling text presents the fundamental skills of interpersonal, small group, and public communication, emphasizing the areas of human communication skills, cultural awareness, listening, critical thinking, power, and ethics.

Essentials of Human Communication fills the need for a brief, interesting, but serious text that places a strong focus on skill development. In-text features and the text itself highlight the application of human communication skills to the real world and to the workplace.

  • Critical thinking principles are integrated into the text and in the marginal questions, self-tests, box scenarios, and photos' “ViewPoints” captions where students are asked to apply their skills to specific situations to better understand, resolve or improve them.
  • Strong emphasis on skills is integrated throughout the text in the end of chapter “Summary of Concepts and Skills,” in the skills-development exercises, which emphasize the application of specific communication skills, and in the photos' “ViewPoint” captions (accompanying all photographs) that challenge the student to use the skills acquired in the chapter to approach everyday communication situations.
  • Cultural issues are fully integrated within the text to promote cultural sensitivity and understanding, while developing skills to effectively understand students' own cultural beliefs and values.
  • Helpful boxed features are included to raise awareness about current communication issues, enhancing students' understanding and application of communication and allowing them to enrich their experience in the course:

    • “Listen to This” boxes apply listening principles to the chapter topic and ask students to offer suggestions for a variety of listening situations.

    • “Communicating with Power” boxes explain how power operates all forms of communication and ask students to develop skills to understand the vital connection between power and effective communication.

    • “Communicating Ethically” boxes present real-life ethical issues and asks the student, “What Would You Do?” personally to respond to the issue at hand.

    • “Self-Test” boxes now include two series of questions—“How Did You Do?” and “What Will You Do?”—to provide students an assessment of their skills while prompting them to use this analysis to improve their skills in these key areas of communication.

  • The text's Companion Website offers over 100 interactive exercises and self-tests written by the author for students to apply and enhance the skills they have studied in the text. These resources can be found at www.ablongman.com/devito and are referenced throughout each chapter.

  • “What Do You Say?” boxes in each chapter pinpoint specific, real-life scenarios, giving students an opportunity to think through a situation and develop appropriate, ethical responses.
  • Updated research and coverage throughout the text including new discussions of the benefits of communication training, ethnocentrism, increasing accuracy in perception, ageism, ethical online communication, nonverbal communication, leadership approaches, communication apprehensiveness, and two new speeches (informative and persuasive) with annotations.
  • Chapter 8 has been completely rewritten and now includes a section on the characteristics of interpersonal relationships, a new self-test on the advantages and disadvantages of relationships, sections on relationships and technology, and relationships in the workplace.
  • The text's glossary is presented in two parts, with one focusing on key concepts and the other focusing on key skills to further the emphasis on skills in this edition.
  • The interviewing chapter, previously Chapter 9, is now available as a separate valuepack item, entitled Interviewing and Human Communication. This chapter is free when packaged with the text. Use ISBN: 0-205-41488-5.
  • New workplace-related examples better emphasize the immediate value of communication skills to students' lives. Topics include issues on mentoring relationships, networking, office romance, and workplace groups.

Each Chapter ends with “Key Word Quiz,” “Summary of Concepts and Skills” and “Skill Development Exercises.”

I. FOUNDATIONS OF HUMAN COMMUNICATION.

1. Introduction to Human Communication.

Communication Models and Concepts.

Principles of Communication.

Culture and Human Communication.

2. The Self in Human Communication.

Self-Concept.

Self-Awareness.

Self-Disclosure.

3. Perception in Human Communication.

The Stages of Perception.

Perceptual Processes.

Increasing Accuracy in Perception.

4. Listening in Human Communication.

The Listening Process.

Effective Listening.

Listening, Culture, and Gender.

5. Verbal Messages.

The Principles of Verbal Messages.

Disconfirmation and Confirmation.

Using Verbal Messages Effectively.

6. Nonverbal Messages.

The Functions of Nonverbal Communication.

The Channels of Nonverbal Communication.

Culture and Nonverbal Communication.

II. THE CONTEXTS OF HUMAN COMMUNICATION.

7. Interpersonal Communication: Conversation and Conflict.

Conversation.

Effective Conversation.

Conflict.

Effective Conflict Management.

8. Interpersonal Relationships.

Characteristics of Interpersonal Relationships.

Stages in Interpersonal Relationships.

Relationships in a Context of Culture and Gender, Technology, and Work.

9. Small Groups.

The Small Group.

The Brainstorming Group.

Information-Sharing Groups.

Problem-Solving Groups.

10. Members and Leaders in Group Communication.

Members in Small Group Communication.

Leaders in Small Group Communication.

Membership, Leadership, and Culture.

11. Public Speaking Preparation (Steps 1-6).

The Nature of Public Speaking.

Step 1: Select Your Topic and Purpose.

Step 2: Analyze Your Audience.

Step 3: Research Your Topic.

Step 4: Formulate Your Thesis and Identify Your Major Propositions.

Step 5: Support Your Propositions.

Step 6: Organize Your Information.

12. Public Speaking Preparation and Delivery (Steps 7-10).

Step 7: Word Your Speech.

Step 8: Construct Your Conclusion and Introduction.

Step 9: Rehearse Your Speech.

Step 10: Deliver Your Speech.

Critically Evaluating Speeches.

13. The Informative Speech.

Guidelines for Informative Speaking.

Types of Informative Speeches.

Amplifying Materials.

14. The Persuasive Speech.

Guidelines for Persuasive Speaking.

Types of Persuasion Speeches.

Logical Appeals.

Motivational Appeals.

Credibility Appeals.

Glossary of Human Communication Concepts.

Glossary of Human Communication Skills.

Bibliography.

Credits.

Index.

Reviewer Praise for DeVito's Essentials of Human Communication

“I marvel at the ease with which Professor DeVito synthesizes the communication literature into coherent and easy to read chapters for our undergraduate communication students.”
Carole A. Barbato, Kent State University

“I find the material on culture well integrated into the book at appropriate times...I think this material is extremely relevant in our ever-shrinking world and that students really benefit from its inclusion.”
Thomas D. Bovino, Suffolk Community College

“The strength of this text is a basic, well organized approach to human communication with a clear, concise writing style that flows well and makes for an easy read.”
Kathleen Perri, Valencia Community College

“The mix of theoretical discussion and skill development exercises is appreciated by students as they find it to be a 'friendly' text compared to other college level texts they read. Also, the layout and design of the text encourages students to interact with the work.”
Joseph Ortiz, Scottsdale Community College

“The intercultural thread was one of the original qualities that drew me to the text and I find the updates to be excellent. The full integration of this theme is especially effective and is much preferred to treating the concept in one chapter only.”
“I like the attention paid to diversity. My students come from very diverse backgrounds and I am especially sensitive to a text that will include photos and examples of people similar to them. This text accomplished that goal.”
Elizabeth O'Brien, Phoenix College

“The writing style is excellent, literate without pretension and very well focused. I think that the students, and the lecturers, will find it very accessible, without feeling as if they are being spoon-fed the information.”
Karen Tanski, Portland Community College

“I very much like the cultural teachings section. This is essential information, not often covered directly in other texts.”
Sheryll Hirschberger, Cape Cod Community College

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