The text highlights communication theories, research, and skills in a manner that encourages students to put
concepts to immediate use in the self-tests and brief activities found in each chapter's "Sharpen Your Skills"
boxes. These boxes, as well as highlighted "Guidelines" sections in Parts II and III, ensure that the
text is a practical tool students can apply in their immediate use in their own lives.
To effectively reflect contemporary society and help students appreciate social diversity as a fact of cultural
life that has profound implications on how we communicate with others, each chapter features integrated coverage
of social and cultural diversity.
Julia Wood's first-person narrative writing style and the text's diverse student commentaries that are integrated
throughout each chapter give the text a personal tone that quickly engages students in the material.
An illustrative "Experience Communication Case Study" appears at the end of each chapter, giving
students the opportunity to actually observe the text's theories and principles in action. This experience highlights
the potential impact of studying communication and heightens student interest in developing their own communication
skills.
