Communication in Our Lives,
8th Edition

Julia T. Wood

ISBN-13: 9781305949546
Copyright 2018 | Published
480 pages | List Price: USD $250.95

COMMUNICATION IN OUR LIVES, 8th Edition, provides everything you need to become a more confident and effective communicator -- in both your personal and professional life. Award-winning teacher Julia T. Wood combines the latest research, theory, and best practices with hands-on skills development. Extremely student friendly, the text features an engaging, personal tone, while frequent Student Voice sections highlight how past students have experienced key communication concepts. In addition to its signature emphasis on social and cultural diversity, the eighth edition includes expanded coverage of digital media, a new focus on health communication, and an early introduction to public speaking -- with plenty of sample speeches. The text also illustrates the importance of effective communication to today's careers. Interactive, online study tools help you put what you learn into practice as you strengthen your interpersonal, group, public speaking, and media skills.

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Preface.
About the Author.
Introduction.
Part I: FOUNDATIONS OF COMMUNICATION.
1. The World of Communication.
2. Perception and Communication.
3. Communication and Personal Identity.
4. Listening Effectively.
5. The Verbal Dimension of Communication.
6. The Nonverbal Dimension of Communication.
Part II: CONTEXTS OF COMMUNICATION.
7. Communication in Personal Relationships.
8. Communication in Groups and Teams.
9. Communication in Organizations.
10. Communication and Culture.
11. Media and Media Literacy.
Part III: PUBLIC COMMUNICATION.
12. Planning Public Speaking.
13. Researching and Developing Support for Public Speeches.
14. Organizing and Presenting Public Speeches.
15. Informative Speaking.
16. Persuasive Speaking.
Closing: Pulling Ideas Together.
Appendix A: Annotated Sample Speeches.
Appendix B: Interviewing.
Glossary.
References.
Index.

  • Julia T. Wood

    Julia Wood joined the faculty at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill when she was 24. During her 37 years on the faculty, she taught classes and conducted research on personal relationships as well as gender, communication and culture. She was named the Lineberger Distinguished Professor of Humanities and the Caroline H. and Thomas S. Royster Distinguished Professor of Graduate Education. In addition to publishing 25 books and 100 articles and book chapters, she has presented more than 100 papers at professional conferences and campuses around the country. Her accolades include 14 awards honoring her teaching and 16 awards recognizing her scholarship. She received her B.A. from North Carolina State University, her M.A. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and her Ph.D. from The Pennsylvania State University.

  • Thoroughly revised and updated with the latest developments from the field, Wood's COMMUNICATION IN OUR LIVES, 8e, includes more than 150 new references -- ensuring that the text is informed by the most current research.

  • Enhanced digital media coverage is integrated throughout the eighth edition. Every chapter includes a major new section devoted entirely to social media, while chapter 11, Media and Media Literacy, focuses on both mass media and social media.

  • Features in every chapter emphasize the importance of effective communication to today's careers, helping students see the relevance of text concepts in real-world practice.

  • A new focus on health communication is incorporated throughout the text. Every chapter includes all-new boxed feature Health Communication, which highlights connections between communication and issues relevant to health. In-text examples and key discussions of this topic are also included where appropriate.

  • After reading the latest about communication theories, research, and skills, students apply what they've learned to their own lives through Communication Highlight boxes, which provide examples of communication in personal and work contexts, and Sharpen Your Skills boxes, which include self-tests and brief activities.

  • A signature feature of the text, thorough coverage of social and cultural diversity is woven into every chapter -- which not only reflects contemporary society but also helps students appreciate social diversity and its profound implications for how we communicate with others.

  • Extensive public speaking coverage begins early in the text with examples, exercises, and sample speeches with annotated commentary, all designed to support speaking as a key course component. Enriched attention to effective reasoning --including the Toulmin model -- and discussion of fallacies in reasoning also help students master public speaking skills.

  • Case studies in every chapter expand the conversation by enabling students to see how the theories and principles explored in the text play very real, important roles in everyday life. The scenarios and speeches featured in the case studies are also available as multimedia presentations.

  • Featured at the end of chapters in Parts I and II, "Beyond the Classroom" offers suggestions for expanding on chapter material in three ways: considering the chapter's relevance in the workplace, probing ethical issues raised in the chapter, and connecting chapter material to civic and social engagement with the broader world.

Cengage provides a range of supplements that are updated in coordination with the main title selection. For more information about these supplements, contact your Learning Consultant.

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