Thinking Through Communication: An Introduction to the Study of Human Communication (5th Edition)

Praised for its “teachability,” Thinking Through Communication provides an excellent, balanced introduction to basic theories and principles of communication, making sense of a complex field through a variety of approaches.

In an organized and coherent manner, Thinking Through Communication covers a full range of topics―from the history of communication study to the methods used by current communication scholars to understand human interaction. The book explores face-to-face communication in a variety of traditional contexts: interpersonal, group, organizational, public, intercultural, computer-mediated communication and the mass media. This edition also offers new insights public speaking and listening.

Written in a clear, lively style, Trenholm's overall approach―including her use of examples and interesting illustrations―helps develop a better understanding of communication as a field of study and an appreciation for ways in which communication impacts our daily lives.

Praised for its “teachability,” Thinking Through Communication provides an excellent, balanced introduction to basic theories and principles of communication, making sense of a complex field through a variety of approaches.

In an organized and coherent manner, Thinking Through Communication covers a full range of topics–from the history of communication study to the methods used by current communication scholars to understand human interaction. The text explores face-to-face communication in a variety of traditional contexts: interpersonal, group, organizational, public, and intercultural, and offers new insights in computer-mediated communication and the mass media. Thinking Through Communication can be used successfully in both theory- and skills-based courses.

Written in a clear, lively style, Trenholm's overall approach–including her use of examples and interesting illustrations–helps both majors and non-majors alike develop a better understanding of communication as a field of study and an appreciation for ways in which communication impacts their daily lives.

New to this edition:

• The focus of Chapter Three has switched from a general discussion of perception to a detailed examination of listening. In addition to explaining how the listening process works, this chapter also offers suggestions that will help students improve listening effectiveness and teach them how to design messages that enhance audience acceptance and understanding.
• The material on public communication, formerly found in Chapter Nine, has been revised, augmented, and divided into two chapters: Rhetoric and Preparing and Presenting Public Speaking. This new format gives instructors maximum flexibility by allowing them to assign either or both chapters. Students will benefit from the more poignant discussions of both aspects of public communication.  
• The mass communication section, Chapter 11, has been updated to include material on new media as well as an expanded discussion of traditional mass media. New sections on computer-mediated communication and mobile telecommunications technology invite students to consider how media convergence is changing the nature of the mass media and affecting the way they live their lives.
• The suggested readings sections at the end of each chapter have been updated to provide recent titles of interest.