Ruben Chapters 1 & 2 and Lectures
Ruben’s & Richter’s definitions of communication. How & why are they different? History/tradition of communication studies, ancient time to present (classical--persuasion; modern--interpersonal, organizational, propaganda, mass media, etc.). Know some of the influences that make study of communication "interdisciplinary." Pick your favorite three models and be able to: identify the people they are associated with, draw an outline of them, and explain their strengths and weaknesses. Know how & why models of communication process have evolved/changed. When is the "information age"? Why do we call it that? What is meant by "information as a commodity"?

Ruben Chapter 3 and Lectures
Know the "Communication Modes" and think of an example of use of each mode.

Ruben Chapter 4 and Lectures
Know what Ruben means by a "Communication Iceberg (e.g., why "iceberg"; observable /unobservable). What are symbols? What does it mean to state that symbols are "arbitrary and conventional?" What is the difference between subjectivity and intersubjectivity? Be able to discuss self-reflexivity, inevitability. Media as giving symbols permanence & portability, i.e. binding of time & bridging of space. Be able to explain concept of money as symbol.

Ruben Chapters 5 and Lectures
Know how Ruben explains selection and selective attention—filter, or more complex?; How does Ruben explain interpretation? Know about retention: recall/recognition; fast/slow retrieval; semantic/episodic memory; long & short-term memory; relationship between semantic & episodic. Be able to explain the relationship between selection, interpretation & retention. Know "receiver" influences: needs (physical & social--how might they affect how we pay attention to, interpret communication); attitudes beliefs & values. Know message influences including mode, physical character (loudness, intensity of colors, e.g.), organization (of ideas/words; but also spatial), novelty. Know source influences, especially proximity, attractiveness & similarity (relate to receiver attitudes, etc., above); credibility & authoritativeness; delivery; status, power & authority. Know media and environment influences: for media, think of examples. Be able to relate the different types of influences above to one another in terms of selection, interpretation & retention (e.g. Receiver influences of attitudes, beliefs, etc.--how do they relate to source physical and social attraction?).

Ruben Chapter 6 and Lectures
Know: physiological and cognitive bases which make human language use possible: complexity of human vocal capability; Wernicke's area; Broca's area Know the basics of Psycholinguistic vs. Sociolinguistic approaches—can they be reconciled? Be ready to discuss apparent intersection of physiological/cognitive with social exemplified in language acquisition: babbling and language acquisition, unlearning certain sounds; stages of acquisition (don’t need to know them all, but know approximate order of how we start simple, get complex, know babbling stage, age at which children have full command of language). What is the "critical age" theory? What is meant by "code?" Know about language as code or system: rules of phonology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics; language as "arbitrary & conventional"(relationship of signifier & signified). Who was Saussure? Language as representational—strengths and weaknesses of this view. Language and reality, including production of social reality. Rules at level of use (pragmatics--Ruben’s "Rules and Rituals)--think of examples. Be ready to discuss sexist language as well as gender differences in use. Be ready to discuss communication as expressing content and relationship (Watzlawick, Beavin & Jackson). Metacommunication.

Ruben Chapter 7 and Lectures
Know: Similarities and differences between verbal codes and non-verbal codes--think especially in terms of rules. What is paralanguage (vocalics and written form)? Appearances: why a focus on face and eyes? Know terms for different types of 'gaze'. Be prepared to discuss hair; physique; dress/adornment; artifacts as nonverbal communication. For gestures/Kinesics, be able to give examples of different types of gestures (baton, guide, etc.). Know how we use touch (Haptics), touch as both powerful and ambiguous. Be ready to discuss Space/Proxemics at level of interaction (personal space) and at level of environment (organization to direct/regulate interaction; symbolic value). For Time/Chronemics, be ready to discuss micro & macro levels in interaction, cultural differences in timeliness, etc. FOR ALL NON-VERBAL, think in terms of the degree of control a person has in 'sending' vs. subjectivity in attributing, interpreting. Also, how the various categories are related/overlap--e.g. a couple holding hands can be considered from perspective of gestures, haptics or proxemics.

Wood Chapter 3 and Lectures
What is the relationship between the self and communication? Know the concepts of Self-fulfilling prophecy, Direct definition, Identity scripts, Attachment styles, Social comparison, Communication with society. Who is George Herbert Mead? Mead's concepts of self, particular/discrete others, generalized others. Self as constructed, arbitrary, etc.