Communication: Principles for a Lifetime, 8th edition
Published by Pearson (April 1, 2021) © 2022
- Steven A. Beebe Texas State University - San Marcos
- Susan J. Beebe Texas State University - San Marcos
- Diana K. Ivy Texas A&M University - Corpus Christi
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For courses in Introduction to Communication.
A 5-principles approach that helps students build practical communication skills
Communication: Principles for a Lifetime presents an accessible overview of the fundamental theories and skills of communication. By organizing the text around 5 key principles of communication, authors Steven Beebe, Susan Beebe and Diana Ivy help students to see the interplay among communication concepts, skills and contexts.
The 8th Edition offers new Critical/Cultural Perspectives features that examine contemporary issues in communication. Refreshed chapter-ending study guides better reinforce the authors' 5-principles approach.
Hallmark features of this title
To help students understand and remember the essential concepts of the course, the text is organized around 5 fundamental communication principles:
- Be aware of your communication with yourself and others
- Effectively use and interpret verbal messages
- Effectively use and interpret nonverbal messages
- Listen and respond thoughtfully to others
- Appropriately adapt messages to others
These principles are introduced early in the text, and are referred to throughout the later chapters as students learn about interpersonal relationships, group and team discussions, and public presentations. This principles-centered framework helps students see the "big picture," and understand the importance of communication, in the classroom and beyond.
New and updated features of this title
- NEW: Critical/Cultural Perspectives & Communication features in each chapter explore various topics from a critical/cultural communication perspective, focusing on messages about power, resistance, suppression and marginalization.
- UPDATED: Reworked chapter-ending study guides better reinforce how chapter content connects to the 5 fundamental communication principles that form the backbone of the text.
- UPDATED: Diversity & Communication features complement and expand discussions of new applications of research about diversity throughout the text.
- UPDATED: Ethics & Communication features reinforce the importance of being an ethical communicator and may spark enriching discussions.
- UPDATED: Social Media & Communication features explore ways to effectively use social media as an important communication tool.
- UPDATED: Fresh, contemporary examples, photos and illustrations enhance key themes and help students relate course content to their own lives.
Features of Revel for the 8th Edition
- Videos embedded within each chapter elucidate key topics such as gender stereotypes, active listening and groupthink.
- Video self-checks that accompany the embedded videos enable students to test their knowledge.
- Engaging interactive figures help students understand hard-to-grasp concepts, such as the transactive model of communication.
UNIT I: PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNICATION
- Identifying Foundations of Human Communication
- Exploring Self-Awareness and Communication
- Understanding Verbal Messages
- Understanding Nonverbal Messages
- Listening and Responding
- Adapting to Others: Diversity and Communication
UNIT II: INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
- Understanding Interpersonal Communication
- Enhancing Relationships
UNIT III: COMMUNICATING IN GROUPS AND TEAMS
- Understanding Group and Team Performance
- Enhancing Group and Team Performance
UNIT IV: PUBLIC SPEAKING
- Developing Your Speech
- Organizing and Outlining Your Speech
- Delivering Your Speech
- Speaking to Inform
- Speaking to Persuade
APPENDICES
- Interviewing
- Sample Speeches for Discussion and Evaluation
About our authors
Steven A. Beebe is Regents' and University Distinguished Professor emeritus at Texas State University. He served as Chair of the Department of Communication Studies at Texas State for 28 years and concurrently as Associate Dean for 25 years. Steve is the author or co-author of 14 widely used communication books, most of which have been through multiple editions (including Russian and Chinese editions), as well as numerous articles, book chapters and conference presentations. He has been a Visiting Scholar at both Oxford University and Cambridge University in England. He made international headlines when conducting research at Oxford; he discovered a manuscript that was the partial opening chapter of a book that was to be co-authored with J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis called Language and Human Nature. Steve's book, C. S. Lewis and the Craft of Communication, chronicles the discovery of and identifies Lewis's contributions to communication. Steve has travelled widely in Europe and Asia, and has played a leadership role in establishing new communication curricula in Russian universities. He has received his university's highest awards for research and twice for service, has been recognized as Honors Professor of the year, received the Texas State Everette Swinney Excellence in Teaching Award twice, was designated a Piper Professor by the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation, and was named Outstanding Communication Professor by the National Speaker's Association. In 2013 he served as President of the National Communication Association. His passions include his family and a lifelong love of music; he is a pianist and organist and a struggling cellist.
Susan J. Beebe's professional interests and expertise encompass both oral and written communication. Sue has co-authored 3 books and has published a number of articles and teaching materials in both English and communication studies. She has received the Texas State University Presidential Awards for Excellence in Teaching and in Service and the College of Liberal Arts Awards for Excellence in Scholarly/Creative Activities, in Teaching, and in Service. After serving as Director of Lower-Division Studies in English for 11 years, Sue retired in 2014 from the Department of English at Texas State. An active volunteer in the community of San Marcos, Texas, Sue was the founding coordinator of the San Marcos Volunteers in Public Schools Program and has served on the San Marcos School Board, the Education Foundation Board and the Lifelong Learning Advisory Committee. The Texas Classroom Teachers' Association has honored Sue with the statewide Friend of Education award, and the San Marcos school district has presented her with its Lifetime Achievement Award. Sue enjoys reading, traveling and spending time with her family. Sue and Steve have two sons: Mark, a senior marketing manager for a Dallas security technology company; and Matt, a middle school teacher in Austin.
Diana K. Ivy, Ph.D., has been a Professor of Communication for nearly 40 years, 27 of which have been spent at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi where she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in nonverbal, interpersonal, and gender communication, in addition to a new course entitled Communication and Sexuality. Her master's degree and Ph.D. in communication are from the University of Oklahoma; her Bachelor's degree is in speech and theatre from Texas Wesleyan University in her hometown of Fort Worth, Texas. Her first faculty appointment was at Texas State University, where Steve Beebe hired her as Basic Course Director. Ivy is author/co-author of 3 communication textbooks (GenderSpeak, 6th Edition; Nonverbal Communication for a Lifetime, 3rd Edition; Communication: Principles for a Lifetime, 8th Edition) and a book chapter entitled "College Students' Sexual Safety: The Verbal and Nonverbal Communication of Consent," included in Contemporary Studies of Sexuality and Communication. She has published articles in Communication Education, Southern Communication Journal and Women & Language and has held multiple offices in the National Communication Association and Western States Communication Association. In 2012 she received NCA's Teachers on Teaching distinction. She has served as Speaker of the TAMUCC Faculty Senate; Director of the university's Women's Center for Education and Service; Internship Coordinator for the Department of Communication and Media; and President, current Board member, and singing member of the Corpus Christi Chorale. In 2006, she received both the College of Liberal Arts and the University's Outstanding Service Award. In 2002, she was named Gender Scholar of the Year by the Southern Communication Association. She also hosted a call-in radio show, "Call Me Ivy," and has pursued post-doctoral coursework at Oxford University, studying C. S. Lewis and communication. She was granted a sabbatical for the academic year of 2015 to 2016, with a research focus on the communication of consent in sexual settings. Her sabbatical projects included guest teaching, presentations and interviews with faculty and staff associated with student sexual safety, both at U.S. and Australian universities. Her primary non-academic interests include choral singing and making floral creations from a studio in her home, using unique materials such as antlers, feathers, berries, seashells and other natural materials found in the South Texas area.
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