Contents

1. Introduction

2. Organization of the Course

3. Copyright Notice

4. Acknowledgements

5. Accessibility

6. Unit 1: Introduction to Communications and the Process Model

   1. Topic 1: Foundations

   2. Topic 2: Defining Communication

   3. Topic 3: Communication Study and You

   4. Unit 1 Summary

7. Unit 2: Perception

   1. Topic 1: All About Self

   2. Topic 2: Perception Process

   3. Topic 3: Perceiving Others

   4. Topic 4: Improving Perception

   5. Unit 2 Summary

8. Unit 3: Verbal Communication

   1. Topic 1: Language and Meaning

   2. Topic 2: Functions of Language

   3. Topic 3: Using Words Well

   4. Topic 4: Language, Society, and Culture

   5. Unit 3 Summary

9. Unit 4: Nonverbal Communication

   1. Topic 1: Principles and Functions of Nonverbal Communication

   2. Topic 2: Theories and Elements of Nonverbal Communication

   3. Unit 4 Summary

10. Unit 5: Interpersonal Communication

    1. Topic 1: Principles of Interpersonal Communication

    2. Topic 2: Conflict and Interpersonal Communication

    3. Topic 3: Emotions and Interpersonal Communication

    4. Topic 4: Self-Disclosure and Interpersonal Communication

    5. Unit 5 Summary

11. Unit 6: Introduction to Intercultural Communication

    1. Topic 1: Introduction to Intercultural Communication

    2. Topic 2: Theories of Cross-Cultural Communication

    3. Unit 6 Summary

12. Unit 7: Self and Identity

    1. Topic 1: Who Am I?

    2. Topic 2: Identity

    3. Topic 3: Difference Matters – Stereotypes, Prejudice, and “Aren’t We All the Same?”

    4. Unit 7 Summary

13. Unit 8: Group Communication

    1. Topic 1: Understanding Small Groups

    2. Topic 2: Small Group Development

    3. Topic 3: Small Group Dynamics

    4. Unit 8 Summary

14. Unit 9: Public Speaking

    1. Topic 1: Audience Analysis

    2. Topic 2: Topic Selection, Purpose, and Thesis

    3. Topic 3: Research

    4. Topic 4: Speech Organization

    5. Topic 5: Presenting

    6. Unit 9 Summary

15. Unit 10: Informative and Persuasive Speaking

    1. Topic 1: Informative Speeches

    2. Topic 2: Persusasive Speeches

    3. Topic 3: Persuasive Reasoning and Fallacies

    4. Topic 4: Persuasive Strategies

    5. Unit 10 Summary

16. Unit 11: Listening

    1. Topic 1: Understanding How and Why We Listen

    2. Topic 2: Barriers to Effective Listening

    3. Topic 3: Improving Listening Competence

    4. Topic 4: Listenable Messages and Effective Feedback

    5. Unit 11 Summary

17. Unit 12: Popular Culture and Mass Media

    1. Topic 1: Media Studies and Popular Communication

    2. Topic 2: Mass Communication and Media Studies

    3. Topic 3: Popular Culture Studies – Bowling Green and Birmingham

    4. Topic 4: Postmodern and Post-Structural Media Theory

    5. Topic 5: Convergence Media

    6. Unit 12 Summary