Real Communication presents human communication as lively, cohesive, relevant, and fun. This comprehensive overview of the discipline is full of refreshing, contemporary examples from real life, backed by the most current scholarship available. Helping overcome one of the greatest challenges in the course, CONNECT notes throughout the text highlight the connections among the concepts and skills of interpersonal, small group, and public communication. This both ties the discipline together into a comprehensible whole for students and shows them how the concepts learned throughout the course are relevant in many situations. Critical thinking activities encourage students to examine how ethics, culture, and technology influence how we communicate. The "Real Reference" study tool in each chapter helps students grasp key concepts quickly through concise summaries and an overview of key terms.