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Cover of Communication in the Real World v3.0
Published: 
September 2023
Page Count: 
642
ISBN (Digital): 
978-1-4533-4197-1

Communication in the Real World

Version 3.0
By Richard G. Jones Jr.

Included Supplements

Key Features

  • Reader-friendly style that is conversational and approachable 
  • Real-world focus on the intersection of practicality and competence
  • Diversity and inclusion woven throughout, including names and examples, photo program, and curated streaming videos
  • Hyperlinks to 90 all-new, embedded streaming videos enrich online courses, engage students, and reinforce or augment many of the presented topics 
  • Integrative learning focus challenges students to connect content to their other classes and experiences (academic, professional, personal, and civic/community)
  • Addresses the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on communication and relationships
  • Supportive learning features in each chapter:
    • “Learning Objectives” at the beginning of each main section preview the material to come and prepare students to learn
    • “Key Takeaways” at the end of each main section reflect the corresponding Learning Objectives and summarize key ideas in bullet-point fashion. Key Takeaways enable the learner to pause and consolidate the information just read or experienced into a ‘chunk.’ This process enables the reader to better understand and retain the section’s content and its key concepts
    • “Getting Digital” highlights the intersection of communication, technology, and social media
    • “Getting Real” illustrates how communication is valuable in multiple professions and contexts
    • “Getting Competent” helps students practice and enhance specific communication skills
    • “Getting Critical” encourages students to hone their critical thinking skills by asking them difficult questions related to culture, politics, ethics, and more
    • “Exercises” at the end of each section can be used as in-class activities, homework assignments, or journal/discussion board prompts
  • All supplements are written by the author
  • Sample answers for all exercises and activities are included in the instructor’s manual
  • Customizable

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Students

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Communication in the Real World is suitable for a “hybrid” survey of foundational communication topics that features several chapters on public speaking. This basic communication course is typically called Introduction Speech Communication, Introduction to Communication, or similar titles and is taught at the undergraduate level at virtually all two- and four-year colleges and universities.

Communication in the Real World surveys and applies the time-tested, research-based conceptual foundations of the communication field: the foundations of communication; interpersonal communication; public speaking; group communication; and media, technology, and communication. One of the key features of the book is its focus on integrative learning. Students are prompted and challenged to reflect on how the concepts they are learning connect to their other classes, professional goals, and civic responsibilities. Another key feature is how diversity is integrated into the narrative. Rather than relegated to separate feature boxes, considerations of diverse identity are woven throughout, as are plentiful inclusive examples in terms of race, gender, sexuality, ability, age, marital status, religion, and other human characteristics.

New in This Version

  • Substantially updated citations and references include 383 new citations from the past five years with 146 of those from 2022–2023
  • New, unified chapter on “Mediated Communication” replaces the two chapters that previously addressed mass communication and communication technology 
  • Hyperlinks to 90 all-new, embedded streaming videos enrich online courses, engage students, and reinforce or augment many of the presented topics 
  • Expanded coverage of domestic diversity and cultural identities, including extended coverage of:
    • Social justice and advocacy
    • Race and ethnicity including content related to Asian-American identity and culture and First Nations Peoples
    • Communication in the LGBTQ+ community
    • Inclusive language related to gender identities
    • Ability as a cultural identity
  • New coverage or examples of contemporary issues related to communication, including:
    • Personal space and human-robot interaction (Chapter 4)
    • The “jagged love” cycle of dating app usage (Chapter 7)
    • “Friendzoning” and interpersonal relationships (Chapter 7)
    • Land acknowledgment statements (Chapter 8)
    • Gen Z and Gen Alpha’s use of TikTok for self-expression (Chapter 8)
    • Mental health access and stigma (Chapter 9)
    • Data visualization as a visual aid (Chapter 9)
    • FOMO and JOMO—minimizing the stress of online social comparison (Chapter 15)
    • Careers related to social media (Chapter 15)
    • Cancel culture and freedom of speech (Chapter 15)
    • Complexities of influencer-follower relationships (Chapter 15)
  • About the Author
  • Acknowledgments
  • Dedication
  • Preface

    • Part 1: Foundations of Communication

    Chapter 1: Introduction to Communication Studies

  • 1.1 Communication: History and Forms
  • 1.2 The Communication Process
  • 1.3 Communication Principles
  • 1.4 Communication Competence

    • Chapter 2: Communication and Perception

  • 2.1 Perception Process
  • 2.2 Perceiving Others
  • 2.3 Perceiving and Presenting Self
  • 2.4 Improving Perception

    • Chapter 3: Verbal Communication

  • 3.1 Language and Meaning
  • 3.2 Functions of Language
  • 3.3 Using Words Well
  • 3.4 Language, Society, and Culture

    • Chapter 4: Nonverbal Communication

  • 4.1 Characteristics and Functions of Nonverbal Communication
  • 4.2 Types of Nonverbal Communication
  • 4.3 Nonverbal Communication Competence

    • Chapter 5: Listening

  • 5.1 Understanding How and Why We Listen
  • 5.2 Barriers to Effective Listening
  • 5.3 Improving Listening Competence

    • Part 2: Interpersonal Communication and Culture

    Chapter 6: Interpersonal Communication Processes

  • 6.1 Principles of Interpersonal Communication
  • 6.2 Conflict and Interpersonal Communication
  • 6.3 Emotions and Interpersonal Communication
  • 6.4 Self-Disclosure and Interpersonal Communication

    • Chapter 7: Communication in Relationships

  • 7.1 Foundations of Relationships
  • 7.2 Communication and Friends
  • 7.3 Communication and Families
  • 7.4 Romantic Relationships
  • 7.5 Relationships at Work
  • 7.6 The Dark Side of Relationships

    • Chapter 8: Culture and Communication

  • 8.1 Foundations of Culture and Identity
  • 8.2 Exploring Specific Cultural Identities
  • 8.3 Intercultural Communication
  • 8.4 Intercultural Communication Competence

    • Part 3: Public Communication

    Chapter 9: Preparing a Speech

  • 9.1 Selecting and Narrowing a Topic
  • 9.2 Researching and Supporting Your Speech
  • 9.3 Organizing
  • 9.4 Outlining

    • Chapter 10: Delivering a Speech

  • 10.1 Managing Public Speaking Anxiety
  • 10.2 Delivery Methods and Practice Sessions
  • 10.3 Vocal Delivery
  • 10.4 Physical Delivery

    • Chapter 11: Informative and Persuasive Speaking

  • 11.1 Informative Speeches
  • 11.2 Persuasive Speaking
  • 11.3 Persuasive Reasoning and Fallacies
  • 11.4 Persuasive Strategies

    • Chapter 12: Public Speaking in Various Contexts

  • 12.1 Speaking in Personal and Civic Contexts
  • 12.2 Speaking in Academic Settings
  • 12.3 Speaking in Business Settings

    • Part 4: Group Communication

    Chapter 13: Small Group Communication

  • 13.1 Understanding Small Groups
  • 13.2 Small Group Development
  • 13.3 Small Group Dynamics

    • Chapter 14: Leadership, Roles, and Problem Solving in Groups

  • 14.1 Leadership and Small Group Communication
  • 14.2 Group Member Roles
  • 14.3 Problem Solving and Decision Making in Groups

    • Part 5: Communication Technology

    Chapter 15: Mediated Communication

  • 15.1 The Self and Mediated Communication
  • 15.2 Relationships and Mediated Communication
  • 15.3 Democracy, Media Literacy, and Mediated Communication
    • FlatWorld Homework System

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    Instructor’s Manual

    Instructor’s Manual

    The Instructor’s Manual guides you through the main concepts of each chapter and important elements such as learning objectives, key terms, and key takeaways. Can include answers to chapter exercises, group activity suggestions, and discussion questions.

    Instructor’s Manual

    PowerPoint Lecture Notes

    PowerPoint Lecture Notes

    A PowerPoint presentation highlighting key learning objectives and the main concepts for each chapter are available for you to use in your classroom. You can either cut and paste sections or use the presentation as a whole.

    PowerPoint Lecture Notes

    Test Generator - powered by Cognero

    Test Generator - powered by Cognero

    FlatWorld has partnered with Cognero, a leading online assessment system, that allows you to create printable tests from FlatWorld provided content.

    Test Bank Files for Import to Learning Management Systems

    Test Bank Files for Import to Learning Management Systems

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    Test Item File

    Test Item File

    Need assistance in supplementing your quizzes and tests? Our test-item files (in Word format) contain many multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and short-answer questions.

    Sample Syllabi

    Sample Syllabi

    Sample syllabi provide useful templates to help new faculty adopters revise their teaching plans to match their assigned FlatWorld textbook or lend insights to existing adopters on how to organize their classes.

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    Richard G. Jones Jr. Marshall University

    Richard G. Jones, Jr. (PhD University of Denver) is professor and chair of the Department of Communication at Marshall University. Formerly, he was a professor in the Department of Communication Studies at Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois, where he also served as Basic Course Director for ten years, supervising the instruction of dozens of sections of introduction to speech communication every year. Rich holds a PhD in Human Communication Studies with a concentration in Culture and Communication from the University of Denver. He also has an MA in Speech Communication; a post-baccalaureate certificate in Women’s and Gender Studies; and a BA in Communication Studies from the University of North Carolina Greensboro.

    Rich is an academic, educator, consultant, engaged citizen, and community member. As an academic, his research has been published in scholarly journals and books, and he regularly presents at local, regional, and national conferences. As an educator, he has won teaching awards as a graduate teaching assistant and as a tenured faculty member. His educational philosophy is guided by the notion that the classroom is the doorway to developing critical thinking skills, which prepares students to be engaged citizens who work for the public good. As a consultant, he has worked with non-profit organizations and social service providers on various topics related to diversity and communication. Since much of his research is related to social justice and community building, Rich believes that being active in his community is an important part of modeling the behaviors about which he writes and teaches.

    Rich is a three-time recipient of Eastern Illinois University’s Achievement and Contribution Award that honors faculty members’ outstanding achievements and academic contributions. He was recognized in the “balanced” category, which considers teaching, research, and service as a whole. He was named Faculty Laureate at Eastern Illinois University in 2016 for his commitment to general education. In 2019, Communication in the Real World was recognized as a “Textbook of Distinction” by the Basic Course Division of the National Communication Association. Rich also publishes Our World, Our Communication with FlatWorld. In his spare time, Rich enjoys playing with his dogs and cooking and eating foods from all over the world.

     

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