Erica Simonetti
Reading Objectives
August 24, 2011

Chapter 1: * What is the definition of communication embraced by the authors of this text? * The authors define communication as “a social process in which individuals employ symbols to establish and interpret meaning in their environment.” * From their perspective, they use five key terms that coincide with defining communication: social, process, symbols, meaning, and environment. * Communication involves people and interactions, and is a process that happens from the beginning of a conversation to the end. Communication can be represented through symbols and cues, both verbal and nonverbal. In addition, meaning is what people extract from a
* The value of the communication theory also helps us to recognize the breadth and depth of research. It helps us appreciate “the richness of research across various fields of study.” * Furthermore, we can make sense of our life experiences and foster self-awareness through understanding the communication theory.

Chapter 2: * Define the term context, and discuss how it is related to the study of communication. * Contexts are environments in which communication takes place. By studying communication, we can see the various types based on factors such as the environment. Context provides a backdrop against which researchers and theorists can analyze phenomena. Furthermore, contexts provide clarity. Communication is a matter of understanding a message, and clarity given by context only increases a better chance of understanding that message. * List and define the seven traditions of communication. Provide a unique (i.e. not from the textbook) example of each tradition of communication * 1. The Rhetorical Tradition – noted as the “practical art” of talk. It implies that we are interested in public areas and speaking, as well as both of their functions in society. * Example: why people succeed by chance, while others by habit * 2. The Semiotic Tradition – the study of signs, and by signs that is not to just say a physical