COM 101Unit 1 Study Guide Fall 15

The first exam will take place in class on Monday 10/5. We will have a brief in-class review in the last part of class
Friday 10/2. For assistance in exam preparation and reviewing course material, please drop by TA or instructor office
hours and course staff will be happy to assist you. A list of COM 101 staff office hours can be found on the UB Learns
COM 101 website. Please remember to bring photo ID with you to class on the day of the exam.
Lecture Material
The following list describes the topics covered in
course lecture. Lecture material is the basis of the
majority of exam questions.
Exploring Communication
Communication as a broad, inclusive concept
Definition of communication
Meaning of terms used in this definition
Definition, purpose, & benefit of models
Limitations of models
Linear, transactional, and interactive models
Laswells modelcommunication effects
Shannon-Weaver modelmediated comm, message
vs. signal, physical noise
Gerbners modelperception & representation in
comm
Westley-MacLean modelgatekeeping
Berlos SMCR modelComm elements as complex,
SMCR mnemonic, fidelity, psychological noise
Convergence modelcyclical view of communication,
comm as a process, convergence & mutual
understanding
Properties of communicationprocess, continuous,
symbolic, systemic, irreversible, frequently flawed, &
inclusive
Properties of human communicationintentional &
unintentional, messages have multiple dimensions, & a
process of perception
Brief History of the Study of Communication
Roots of the communication field in Ancient Greece
Aristotle & sophists
Rhetoric & communication theory approaches
Link between the study of comm & the state of society
Perception
Importance of perception, 2 remarkable aspects
Differences in perception, how comm & perception are
linked
Definition of perception, 3 sub-processes
Selectionnecessity of selection, combination of
voluntary & involuntary elements, qualities of stimuli,
individual differences
Organizationcognitive schemata & various types
(prototypes, personal constructs, scripts/punctuation),
conscious influence, role of knowledge and skill
Interpretationattribution, 2 types of attributions,
implicit personality theories, expectations
Contextual principles & states
Verbal Communication
Primacy of verbal communication
Various components of language
Definition of language
Properties of language (symbol system, symbolic,
systemic, rule-governed, learned, reflects its user, tied
to thought
Tactics for effective verbal communication
Person centeredness

Nonverbal Communication
Definition of NV comm & 2 elements of def
3 general principles of NV comm
Personal, vocal, & environmental NV stimuli
*Ekman & Knapps 6 ways that NV & V cues interact
*3 other general NV comm functions: status, states,
immediacy
*(4 aspects of NV comm
*Specific types of NV comm:

*KinesicsEkman & Friesens 5 types

*Paralinguistics3 types of cues

*Physical appearance/body type

*Oculesics

*Haptics

*Chronemics

*Objectics

*Proxemics/personal space
*You are only responsible for the items on the study
guide that we get through by the end of class on 10/2
Areas of Emphasis from the Readings
Material from the text is the secondary focus for exams
and will account for roughly 33% of exam questions.
Pay special attention to the following topics/concepts,
but remember that all material from course readings is
fair game.
Chapter: History of Communication Study
Evolution of the study of comm in American higher
education
Contributions of each of the 4 forefathers of
communication & of Wilbur Schramm
Chapter: Exploring Communication
Practical expertise in communication
Progression from linear to interactive to transactional
models
Abstraction
Dimensions of Gerbners model
Reasons behind Kincaids convergence model
Chapter: Perception & Human Comm
Qualities of stimuli
Organizational principles
Discussion of various cognitive schemata
Types of personal constructs
Tendencies in perception
Chapter: Verbal Communication
Principles of language & meaning
Use & impact of language
Challenges presented by verbal communication
Chapter: Nonverbal Communication
4 aspects of NV comm
Halls 4 levels of personal space
Chapter: Evolution of Facial Expression
Neurocultural theory of emotions