
Choices & Connections
An Introduction to Communication
by Steven McCornack, Joseph Ortiz
4th Edition
Publisher: Bedford/St. Martin's
Book Details
| Print ISBN | 9781319448547 |
| eText ISBN | 9781319485153 |
| Publisher | Bedford/St. Martin's |
| Publishing Year | 2023 |
| Edition | 4th Edition |
| Language | English |
| Pages | 576 |
In an era defined by rapid digital transformation and increasingly diverse social landscapes, the ability to communicate with purpose, clarity, and empathy has never been more critical. Choices & Connections 4th Edition addresses this modern reality head-on by framing human communication not merely as a set of mechanical skills, but as a series of conscious decisions that actively shape our relationships, identities, and communities. By encouraging students to recognize the profound, direct link between their expressive choices and their real-world relational outcomes, this textbook empowers learners to navigate complex human interactions with confidence, sensitivity, and ethical integrity in both face-to-face and digital environments.
Written by acclaimed educators Steven McCornack and Joseph Ortiz, the text offers a comprehensive exploration of communication foundations, interpersonal dynamics, group collaboration, and public speaking. The authors masterfully blend rigorous, contemporary scholarship with highly relatable real-world scenarios and modern pop-culture references that resonate deeply with today's diverse student body. This balanced approach ensures that essential theoretical frameworks, such as perception-checking, cultural dimensions, and communication competence, are easily translated into everyday practice. Through this integrated perspective, Choices & Connections 4th Edition helps students understand how their verbal and nonverbal behaviors influence their personal, academic, and professional spheres in a globalized society.
This updated edition stands out for its groundbreaking collaboration with an advisory board dedicated to diversity, equity, and culturally responsive-sustaining pedagogy, ensuring that all represented perspectives reflect the modern classroom. Instructors across the country adopt this text for its highly engaging features, such as the interactive "Advance the Conversation" scenarios that prompt critical thinking, ethical analysis, and self-reflection. For students seeking a flexible, portable, and highly interactive learning experience, the Choices & Connections 4th Edition PDF provides seamless digital access to these vital tools across various mobile devices and e-readers. Ultimately, this textbook serves as an invaluable resource for introductory communication courses, guiding students to become more thoughtful, ethical, and highly effective communicators in their academic journeys and beyond.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Introduction to Communication
- • What Is Communication?
- • Why We Communicate
- • Communication Models
- • Studying Communication: A Brief History
- • Communication Competence in Practice
- • Choices and Connections: Communication Skills
Chapter 2: Self and Perception
- • The Nature of Self: Awareness, Concept, and Esteem
- • Presenting Self: Faces, Masks, and Online Presentation
- • Perceiving Others: The Perception Process and Culture
- • Forming Impressions: Gestalts and Stereotypes
- • Improving Perception: Perception-Checking and Empathy
Chapter 3: Understanding Gender and Culture
- • What Is Gender? Definition and Communication
- • What Is Culture? Co-Cultures and Prejudice
- • Culture and Communication: Dimensions of Difference
- • Creating Intercultural Competence
Chapter 4: Listening Actively
- • The Listening Process: Receiving, Attending, and Understanding
- • The Functions of Listening
- • Active Listening Styles
- • Barriers to Effective Listening
Chapter 5: Verbal Communication
- • Characteristics of Verbal Communication
- • The Power of Language
- • Cooperative Verbal Communication
- • Barriers to Cooperative Verbal Communication
Chapter 6: Nonverbal Communication
- • Principles of Nonverbal Communication
- • Nonverbal Communication Codes
- • Functions of Nonverbal Communication
- • Managing Your Nonverbal Communication
Chapter 7: Managing Conflict
- • Understanding Conflict
- • Conflict Approaches and Outcomes
- • Gender, Culture, and Conflict
- • Technology and Conflict
Chapter 8: Interpersonal Relationships
- • The Nature of Interpersonal Relationships
- • Relational Dynamics and Stages
- • Maintaining Relationships
- • Dark Sides of Interpersonal Relationships
Chapter 9: Small Group and Team Communication
- • Characteristics of Small Groups
- • Group Development Stages
- • Roles and Leadership in Groups
- • Effective Decision Making and Problem Solving
Chapter 10: Public Speaking: Preparation and Audience Analysis
- • Choosing Your Topic and Purpose
- • Analyzing Your Audience
- • Researching Your Speech Topic
- • Supporting Your Points Effectively
Chapter 11: Organizing and Outlining Your Speech
- • Structuring the Body of Your Speech
- • Developing Introductions and Conclusions
- • Creating Outlines
- • Using Presentational Aids
Chapter 12: Delivering Your Speech
- • Methods of Delivery
- • Vocal and Physical Delivery Elements
- • Managing Speech Anxiety
- • Informative and Persuasive Speaking Strategies
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- Choices & Connections - ISBN 9781319485153 - Campusbooks.com
- Choices & Connections Free PDF Textbook Link!! - Reddit
- Choices & Connections, 4th Edition | Macmillan Learning US
- Thoughtful Learning K-12 |
- Choices & connections : an introduction to communication
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