KEY FEATURES * A perfect balance of scholarship and practicality in a format that is comprehensive yet concise * The most comprehensive and practical coverage of issues affecting communication in contemporary life-like social media, ethics, culture, and professionalism-in multiple contexts * Early, integrated, and effective coverage of public speaking that encourages students to be more confident and effective communicators earlier in the course * Superior ancillary materials, including an Annotated Instructor's Edition for professors and Dashboard, a reliable and easy-to-use online homework system for students, make it easy for anyone to use this text * Three concise chapters devoted to interpersonal communication (Chapters 7-9) reflect the increased emphasis in this course on communication in relationships with friends, family members, and romantic partners * An entire chapter devoted to the practical essentials of communicating for success in the workplace (Chapter 10) takes students step-by-step through the process of finding, getting, and keeping a job and communicating successfully with bosses, employees, and coworkers * Contemporary photos and captions highlight popular movies, television shows, and pop culture, prompting students to think critically about their own communication * Questions in the margins prompt students to think critically about the essential concepts in each major section