In the Company of Others: An Introduction to Communication » (3rd Edition)

J. Dan Rothwell is Professor of Communication at Cabrillo College.

Communication competence is vital for attaining most goals in life. In order to help students apply theoretical lessons to their own skills, In the Company of Others uses an organizing "communication competence model" to provide students with direction and guidance as they explore and improve their own communication processes.

Marked by J. Dan Rothwell's signature wit, this new edition engages students more than ever with its lively mixture of examples (drawn from pop culture, sports, and today's headlines), anecdotes, and illustrations. Focusing on the contexts of interpersonal, small group, and public communication, this introductory text integrates coverage of gender and culture throughout, giving these areas special attention early on in Chapter 3. Further discussions include cultural differences in perception and non-verbal meanings, cross-cultural friendships and romantic relationships, and gender and cultural bias in the workplace. In addition, the text incorporates coverage of technology and its impact on communication throughout. Topics include virtual groups, technology's effect on dating relationships, and the use of PowerPoint in public speaking. The book also features distinctive coverage of power, treating it as a central variable within all communication.

The streamlined third edition also presents a variety of new examples and enhanced pedagogical features:
* Developing Communication Competence boxes offer self-tests that help students assess their own communication skills and progress. Topics include nonverbal communication abilities, assertiveness, listening capabilities, and responsiveness.
* Focus on Controversy boxes examine ethical issues and instances in which communication research is instrumental in debunking assumptions and pop culture myths. Coverage includes cyberaddiction, the credibility of Wikipedia, the debate over animals' linguistic abilities, and the relationship between gender and aggression.
* Film School sections explore communication concepts in popular films, such as conflict management in Knocked Up and family dialectics in Juno.

A unique blend of research, scholarly insight, and humor, In the Company of Others, Third Edition, is ideal for introductory communication courses.

SUPPLEMENTS
* Companion Website: Provides resources for both students (aids for speeches, research, web usage, study guides) and instructors (links to a variety of communication-related websites, chapter outlines, lecture assistance, student activities)
* Instructor's Manual: Includes an extensive Test Bank
* Instructor's Resource CD-ROM: Features PowerPoint lecture slides and a computerized Test Bank
* Student Success Manual: Offers study tips, chapter outlines and summaries, review questions, key terms, and critical thinking exercises

PART I: FUNDAMENTALS OF COMMUNICATION
Chapter 1: Competent Communication: Effective and Appropriate
I. Benefits of Communication Competence II. Communication Myths III. Defining Communication IV. Defining Communication Competence V. Achieving Communication Competence VI. Creating a Communication Climate VII. Summary VIII. Film School BOX 1-1: Developing Communication Competence: Hindsight Bias Test BOX 1-2: Focus on Controversy: Ethics and Hypercompetitiveness
Chapter 2: Perception of Self and Others: Who Am I? Who Are They?
I. The Perceptual Process II. Perception of Self III. Perception of Others IV. Communication Competence and Perceptual Challenges V. Summary VI. Film School BOX 2-1: Focus on Controversy: Self-Esteem: More Is Not Always Better BOX 2-2: Developing Communication Competence: Where Do You Draw the Line?
Chapter 3: Culture and Gender
I. Culture and Communication II. Intercultural Miscommunication III. Intercultural Communication Competence IV. Gender and Communication V. Communication Competence and Gender VI. Summary VII. Film School BOX 3-1: Developing Communication Competence: Be Ye Individualist or Collectivist?
BOX 3-2: Focus on Controversy: Competition: Cultural Influence
Chapter 4: Language: Sharing Meaning with Words
I. The Nature of Language II. The Abstracting Process III. Competent Language Use IV. Summary V. Film School BOX 4-1: Focus on Controversy: Aping Language: The Debate over Animals' Linguistic Abilities BOX 4-2: Developing Communication Competence: Measuring Connotative Meaning BOX 4-3: Focus on Controversy: Verbal Taboos: A Question of Appropriateness
Chapter 5: Nonverbal Communication: Sharing Meaning without Words
I. Distinctions between Verbal and Nonverbal Communication II. Interconnectedness of Verbal and Nonverbal Communication III. Types of Nonverbal Communication IV. Communicating Competently with Nonverbal Codes V. Summary VI. Film School BOX 5-1: Developing Communication Competence: Nonverbal Communication Test BOX 5-2: Focus on Controversy: Gated Communities: Fortress America?
Chapter 6: Listening to Others
I. The Listening Process II. Competent Informational Listening III. Competent Critical Listening IV. Competent Empathic Listening V. Summary VI. Film School BOX 6-1: Developing Communication Competence: Focused Attention BOX 6-2: Focus on Controversy: Skepticism and Open-Mindedness: Inquiring Minds, Not Empty Minds BOX 6-3: Developing Communication Competence: Distinguishing Listening Responses
PART TWO: INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
Chapter 7: Power: The Inescapable Interpersonal Dynamic
I. Definition of Power II. Communication Indicators of Power III. Power Resources IV. Problems of Power Imbalance V. Competent Communication and Balancing Power VI. Summary VII. Film School BOX 7-1: Focus on Controversy: Gender and Relationship Aggression: A White-Hot Debate BOX 7-2: Developing Communication Competence: Assertiveness Self-Assessment Questionnaire
Chapter 8: Making Relationships Work
I. Forming Close Relationships II. Sustaining Relationships with Competent Communication III. Technology and Competent Interpersonal Relationships IV. Intercultural Relationships and Communication Competence V. Summary VI. Film School BOX 8-1: Focus on Controversy: Cyberaddiction BOX 8-2: Developing Communication Competence: Cell Phone Etiquette for the Competent Communicator BOX 8-3: Developing Communication Competence: Netiquette
Chapter 9: Interpersonal Conflict Management
I. Definition of Conflict II. Relationship Dialectics III. Communication Styles of Conflict Management IV. Managing Conflict Competently V. Summary VI. Film School BOX 9-1: Focus on Controversy: Ethical Conundrum: Is Honesty Always the Best Policy?
PART THREE: GROUP COMMUNICATION
Chapter 10: The Anatomy of Small Groups
I. The Genius of Groups II. The Structure of Small Groups III. Leadership IV. Summary V. Film School BOX 10-1: Developing Communication Competence: Playing By the Roles: A Self-Assessment BOX 10-2: Focus on Controversy: Gender and Ethnicity: Glass Ceiling or Tricky Labyrinth?
Chapter 11: Effective Groups
I. Challenges of Group Composition II. Competent Group Decision Making and Problem Solving III. Teambuilding and Teamwork IV. Virtual Groups and Teams V. Summary VI. Film School BOX 11-1: Developing Communication Competence: A Sample Agenda for Group Meetings BOX 11-2: Developing Communication Competence: How to Achieve a Consensus
PART FOUR: PUBLIC SPEAKING
Chapter 12: Preparing Speeches
I. Audience Analysis II. Topic Choice and Analysis III. Researching the Topic IV. Supporting Materials V. Competent Outlining and Organizing VI. Summary VII. Film School BOX 12-1: Focus on Controversy: Wikipedia: Credible Scholarship or Mob Rule?
BOX 12-2: Developing Communication Competence: Spotting Fallacies BOX 12-3: Developing Communication Competence: A Student Outline: Rough Draft and Revision
Chapter 13: Presenting Speeches
I. Addressing Speech Anxiety II. Gaining and Maintaining Attention III. Competent Presentation of Introductions and Conclusions IV. Competent Presentation of Supporting Materials V. Competent Style of Presentation: A Signature Event VI. Competent Delivery of Speeches VII. Summary VIII. Film School
BOX 13-1: Focus on Controversy: Deleting Presidential Verbal Goofs: An Ethical Question
Chapter 14: Informative Speaking
I. Distinguishing Informative from Persuasive Speaking II. Types of Informative Speeches III. Guidelines for Competent Informative Speaking IV. Visual Aids V. Summary VI. Film School BOX 14-1: Developing Communication Competence: Examples of Signposts and Transitions BOX 14-2: Developing Communication Competence: Outline and Text of an Informative Speech BOX 14-3: Focus on Controversy: PowerPoint: Lots of Power, Little Point?
Chapter 15: Persuasive Speaking
I. Foundations of Persuasion II. Competent Persuasive Speaking III. Summary IV. Film School BOX 15-1: Developing Communication Competence: A Sample Outline and Persuasive Speech
Appendix: Interviewing