{"id":26,"date":"2021-04-28T18:14:50","date_gmt":"2021-04-28T18:14:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/chapter\/mccroskey-and-the-types-of-communication\/"},"modified":"2025-07-16T18:32:06","modified_gmt":"2025-07-16T18:32:06","slug":"mccroskey-and-the-types-of-communication","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/chapter\/mccroskey-and-the-types-of-communication\/","title":{"raw":"McCroskey and the Types of Communication","rendered":"McCroskey and the Types of Communication"},"content":{"raw":"<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Learning Objectives<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n\r\nBy the end of this section, you should be able to:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Distinguish between the three types of communication discussed by McCroskey: accidental, expressive, and rhetorical.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Reflect on how the three types of communication have occurred in your own experience.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Analyze how the three types of communication impact the message in a student's email.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nWhen we think about communication, we often picture two people talking, but there\u2019s a lot more to it than that. James McCroskey, a renowned communication scholar, helped clarify the nature of human interaction by identifying four primary types of communication: intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, and public. This chapter breaks down McCroskey\u2019s framework and explains how each type of communication affects your personal and professional life. Whether you're making a decision, chatting with a coworker, working on a team project, or giving a presentation, understanding these types will help you communicate more effectively in every setting.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<h2>What is Communication?<\/h2>\r\nLike many other animals, humans are social creatures: we like to live in groups and work together. Because of this, humans are almost always communicating, sometimes without even knowing it. In the previous chapter, we provided a general definition of <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"203\"]communication[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong>, but let's take a step back and look at some others. <em style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Like<\/em><em> Rhetorical communication, <\/em>McCroskey (2016) divides communication\u00a0into three categories:\r\n<table class=\"shaded\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 42px;\" border=\"0\">\r\n<tbody>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 14px;\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 14px;\">Communication is<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 14px;\">\"a substitute for the word\u00a0<em>message<\/em>\"<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 14px;\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 14px;\">Communications are<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 14px;\">\"The process of transferring messages from one place to another.\"<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<tr style=\"height: 14px;\">\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 14px;\">Communication is<\/td>\r\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 14px;\">\"The process of one person stimulating meaning in the mind of another using a message.\"<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">(McCroskey, 2016, p. 20)<\/p>\r\nWe are concerned with the third definition of communication: oral and written workplace communication. As you will see, the material in this course focuses on the meaning of messages rather than the media and tools of communication. Specifically, we aim to help you develop your communicative judgment as you create various technical communication messages. With that in mind, let's break down that third definition even more. McCroskey (2016) identifies three types of communication that can fall under the third definition:\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li><strong>[pb_glossary id=\"199\"]Accidental communication[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t<li><strong>[pb_glossary id=\"200\"]Expressive communication [\/pb_glossary]<\/strong><\/li>\r\n \t<li>and <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"201\"]Rhetorical communication[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong>.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\nHow do these three types of communication impact our messages? How have they occurred in your own life? The following sections will answer these two questions.\r\n<h2>Accidental Communication<\/h2>\r\nHas your communication ever gotten you in trouble by mistake? Do you sometimes feel that your audience misunderstands or misinterprets your communication? Your communication may exhibit some traits that McCroskey identifies as accidental communication.\u00a0 Accidental communication occurs when one person conveys meaning to another without intending to do so and without necessarily being aware that they have done so (McCroskey, 2016, p. 21).\r\n\r\n<span class=\"pullquote-left\">\u201cPeople communicate their interests, needs, backgrounds, and sometimes their weaknesses without having the slightest desire to do so, and often despite a definite desire <em>not <\/em>to communicate these things\u201d (McCroskey, 2016, p. 21).<\/span>Two words\u00a0<span style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">commonly associated with accidental communication are\u00a0<em>'unaware'<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0<em>'unintended'<\/em><\/span>. Whenever a speaker employs this type of communication, they often fail to realize the impact of the messages they convey to their audience. Consider the instances when your words were interpreted more negatively than intended\u2014perhaps a non-verbal element in your message's tone caused your audience to perceive you differently than you intended.\r\n\r\n<strong>[pb_glossary id=\"198\"]Non-verbal communication[\/pb_glossary]<\/strong> can play a large role in accidental communication. For example, McCroskey (2016) discusses the impact of how some North Americans inadvertently expressed unfriendliness in a Latin American context due to the cultural differences in what constitutes personal space.\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--examples\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Characteristics of Accidental Communication:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div><\/div>\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>The speaker is <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">unaware<\/span> of the message being sent<\/li>\r\n \t<li>The speaker may be <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">unintentionally<\/span> sending messages for the audience to interpret<\/li>\r\n \t<li>can be a result of a cultural \"blind spot.\"<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n&nbsp;\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Reflection Questions: Accidental Communication<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n\r\nReflect on the following questions regarding your own experience with accidental communication. Identify at least two examples of each.\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>How have you unintentionally communicated in your <strong>personal life<\/strong>?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>In what ways have you accidentally communicated in <strong>the classroom<\/strong>?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>In what ways have you accidentally communicated at <strong>work<\/strong>?<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\nAs you can see, our aim as professional communicators is to identify and avoid any accidental communication in our lives. You must understand this type of unintentional communication to prevent it professionally.\r\n<h2>Expressive Communication<\/h2>\r\nExpressive communication\u00a0\"arises from the emotional, or motivational, state of the individual\" (McCroskey, 2016, p. 21). This definition indicates that this form of communication is primarily speaker-centered.\u00a0There is a <strong>[pb_glossary id=\"205\"]transactional [\/pb_glossary]<\/strong>element involved whenever we communicate, with the audience playing a key role in the communicative process. In expressive communication, the emphasis is more on the speaker and less on the audience and how they receive the message.\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--examples\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Characteristics of Expressive Communication:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Focuses primarily on addressing the speaker's needs, not the audience's.'<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Appears as emotional venting in some cases<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Relies upon the speaker's impulse rather than their rational choice<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Little concern for meeting the audience's specific needs\/values\/expectations<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Can be selfish and impulsive<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Often damaging to the speaker's credibility and the audience relationship<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Reflection Questions: Expressive Communication<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n\r\nReflect on the following questions regarding your own experience with expressive communication. Identify at least two examples of each.\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>In what ways have you used expressive communication in your <strong>personal life<\/strong>?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>In what ways have you used expressive communication in <strong>the classroom<\/strong>?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>In what ways have you used expressive communication at <strong>work<\/strong>?<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\nAs with accidental communication, we should avoid using expressive communication in a professional setting. Technical communication has both purpose and a connection to the audience, which are often missing in expressive communication.\r\n<h2>Rhetorical Communication<\/h2>\r\n<span class=\"pullquote-right\">\"Rhetorical communication is the primary tool with which we influence and control the thoughts and actions of other people, as well as the environment in which we live.\" (McCroskey, 2016, p. 19).<\/span>Rhetorical communication is a crucial aspect of understanding effective communication in the workplace. McCroskey (2016) defines rhetorical communication as \"the process of a source stimulating a source-selected meaning in the mind of a receiver using verbal and non-verbal messages\" (p. 21). The \"source\" is another term for the speaker; the \"source-selected meaning\" implies that the source intends to create a specific meaning in the audience's mind. McCroskey's (2016) definition of rhetorical communication emphasizes the need for meaning to be made in the mind of the audience. He writes that this type of communication is \"<em>goal-directed<\/em>\" (McCroskey, 2016, p. 22, emphasis added) and is always purposefully directed toward an audience.\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--examples\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Characteristics of Rhetorical Communication:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>Intentional communication with a purpose<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Success depends on the speaker adapting the message to the audience<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Creates understanding and connection<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Always ethical<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Speaker are aware and purposeful in their communication<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Includes deliberate and conscientious choices when addressing an audience<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Relies on the speaker's respect for the audience, their belief in the message's purpose, and their sincerity<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Reflection Questions: Rhetorical Communication<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n\r\nReflect on the following questions regarding your own experience with <span style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">rhetorical communication<\/span>. Identify at least two examples of each.\r\n<ol>\r\n \t<li>In what ways have you used rhetorical communication in your <strong>personal life<\/strong>?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>In what ways have you used rhetorical communication in <strong>the classroom<\/strong>?<\/li>\r\n \t<li>In what ways have you used rhetorical communication at <strong>work<\/strong>?<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\nBy the time you finish this course, you will see how rhetorical communication can help you in your career and know how to apply these principles in day-to-day job duties such as writing reports and giving presentations.\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Exercise #1: Reading Quiz<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n\r\n<span style=\"text-align: initial; font-size: 1em;\">Answer the questions below to check your understanding of this chapter. The questions are a combination of multiple-choice and true\/false.<\/span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"text-align: initial; font-size: 1em;\">[h5p id=\"3\"]<\/span>\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Exercise #2: Case Study Application<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n\r\nPlease read the following email and consider the type (or types) of communication it uses. Also, pay attention to yo<span style=\"text-align: initial; font-size: 1em;\">ur first impressions as you read.\u00a0<\/span>\r\n\r\n<img class=\"wp-image-25 size-full alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/ppsccom2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/231\/2021\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-05-at-8.30.00-AM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1166\" height=\"836\" \/>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Before reading McCroskey (2016), you would have probably identified this email as poorly written, but would not necessarily be able to articulate why. Now that you know some rhetorical theory, you can provide a more detailed answer as to why this email fails in its purpose.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Use the questions below to guide your analysis.<\/p>\r\n[h5p id=\"4\"]\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--key-takeaways\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Key Takeaways<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n<ul>\r\n \t<li>McCroskey (2016) defines communication as \"the process of one person stimulating meaning in the mind of another using a message\" (p. 20-21). He further explains that this definition covers three types of communication: accidental, expressive, and rhetorical.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Accidental communication can occur when the speaker is unaware that they are conveying a message. Even if they don't intend for their message to be interpreted in a certain way, aspects such as their body language or tone can influence how their message is understood.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Expressive communication<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>occurs primarily from the speaker. This type of communication often disregards the needs and interests of the audience. As a result, this kind of impulsive communication can break the audience connection.<\/li>\r\n \t<li>Rhetorical communication is the focus of this course, utilizing strategies to craft a message that appeals to the audience intentionally and helps the speaker establish a connection with them.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--examples\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">References<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n\r\nMcCroskey, J. C. (2016). <em>An introduction to rhetorical communication: A western rhetorical perspective<\/em>. Pearson Education.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\"><header class=\"textbox__header\">\r\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Attribution<\/p>\r\n\r\n<\/header>\r\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\r\n\r\n<a href=\"https:\/\/www.saskoer.ca\/rcm200\" rel=\"cc:attributionURL\">Effective Professional Communication: A Rhetorical Approach<\/a>\u00a0Copyright \u00a9 2021 by\u00a0Rebekah Bennetch; Corey Owen; and Zachary Keesey\u00a0is licensed under a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0\/\" rel=\"license\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License<\/a>, except where otherwise noted.\r\n\r\n<\/div>\r\n<\/div>","rendered":"<div class=\"textbox textbox--learning-objectives\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Learning Objectives<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p>By the end of this section, you should be able to:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Distinguish between the three types of communication discussed by McCroskey: accidental, expressive, and rhetorical.<\/li>\n<li>Reflect on how the three types of communication have occurred in your own experience.<\/li>\n<li>Analyze how the three types of communication impact the message in a student&#8217;s email.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>When we think about communication, we often picture two people talking, but there\u2019s a lot more to it than that. James McCroskey, a renowned communication scholar, helped clarify the nature of human interaction by identifying four primary types of communication: intrapersonal, interpersonal, group, and public. This chapter breaks down McCroskey\u2019s framework and explains how each type of communication affects your personal and professional life. Whether you&#8217;re making a decision, chatting with a coworker, working on a team project, or giving a presentation, understanding these types will help you communicate more effectively in every setting.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2>What is Communication?<\/h2>\n<p>Like many other animals, humans are social creatures: we like to live in groups and work together. Because of this, humans are almost always communicating, sometimes without even knowing it. In the previous chapter, we provided a general definition of <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_26_203\">communication<\/a><\/strong>, but let&#8217;s take a step back and look at some others. <em style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Like<\/em><em> Rhetorical communication, <\/em>McCroskey (2016) divides communication\u00a0into three categories:<\/p>\n<table class=\"shaded\" style=\"border-collapse: collapse; width: 100%; height: 42px;\">\n<tbody>\n<tr style=\"height: 14px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 14px;\">Communication is<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 14px;\">&#8220;a substitute for the word\u00a0<em>message<\/em>&#8220;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 14px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 14px;\">Communications are<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 14px;\">&#8220;The process of transferring messages from one place to another.&#8221;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr style=\"height: 14px;\">\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 14px;\">Communication is<\/td>\n<td style=\"width: 50%; height: 14px;\">&#8220;The process of one person stimulating meaning in the mind of another using a message.&#8221;<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p style=\"text-align: right;\">(McCroskey, 2016, p. 20)<\/p>\n<p>We are concerned with the third definition of communication: oral and written workplace communication. As you will see, the material in this course focuses on the meaning of messages rather than the media and tools of communication. Specifically, we aim to help you develop your communicative judgment as you create various technical communication messages. With that in mind, let&#8217;s break down that third definition even more. McCroskey (2016) identifies three types of communication that can fall under the third definition:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_26_199\">Accidental communication<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_26_200\">Expressive communication <\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li>and <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_26_201\">Rhetorical communication<\/a><\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>How do these three types of communication impact our messages? How have they occurred in your own life? The following sections will answer these two questions.<\/p>\n<h2>Accidental Communication<\/h2>\n<p>Has your communication ever gotten you in trouble by mistake? Do you sometimes feel that your audience misunderstands or misinterprets your communication? Your communication may exhibit some traits that McCroskey identifies as accidental communication.\u00a0 Accidental communication occurs when one person conveys meaning to another without intending to do so and without necessarily being aware that they have done so (McCroskey, 2016, p. 21).<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"pullquote-left\">\u201cPeople communicate their interests, needs, backgrounds, and sometimes their weaknesses without having the slightest desire to do so, and often despite a definite desire <em>not <\/em>to communicate these things\u201d (McCroskey, 2016, p. 21).<\/span>Two words\u00a0<span style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">commonly associated with accidental communication are\u00a0<em>&#8216;unaware&#8217;<\/em>\u00a0and\u00a0<em>&#8216;unintended&#8217;<\/em><\/span>. Whenever a speaker employs this type of communication, they often fail to realize the impact of the messages they convey to their audience. Consider the instances when your words were interpreted more negatively than intended\u2014perhaps a non-verbal element in your message&#8217;s tone caused your audience to perceive you differently than you intended.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_26_198\">Non-verbal communication<\/a><\/strong> can play a large role in accidental communication. For example, McCroskey (2016) discusses the impact of how some North Americans inadvertently expressed unfriendliness in a Latin American context due to the cultural differences in what constitutes personal space.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--examples\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Characteristics of Accidental Communication:<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li>The speaker is <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">unaware<\/span> of the message being sent<\/li>\n<li>The speaker may be <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">unintentionally<\/span> sending messages for the audience to interpret<\/li>\n<li>can be a result of a cultural &#8220;blind spot.&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Reflection Questions: Accidental Communication<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p>Reflect on the following questions regarding your own experience with accidental communication. Identify at least two examples of each.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>How have you unintentionally communicated in your <strong>personal life<\/strong>?<\/li>\n<li>In what ways have you accidentally communicated in <strong>the classroom<\/strong>?<\/li>\n<li>In what ways have you accidentally communicated at <strong>work<\/strong>?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>As you can see, our aim as professional communicators is to identify and avoid any accidental communication in our lives. You must understand this type of unintentional communication to prevent it professionally.<\/p>\n<h2>Expressive Communication<\/h2>\n<p>Expressive communication\u00a0&#8220;arises from the emotional, or motivational, state of the individual&#8221; (McCroskey, 2016, p. 21). This definition indicates that this form of communication is primarily speaker-centered.\u00a0There is a <strong><a class=\"glossary-term\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-describedby=\"definition\" href=\"#term_26_205\">transactional <\/a><\/strong>element involved whenever we communicate, with the audience playing a key role in the communicative process. In expressive communication, the emphasis is more on the speaker and less on the audience and how they receive the message.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--examples\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Characteristics of Expressive Communication:<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<ul>\n<li>Focuses primarily on addressing the speaker&#8217;s needs, not the audience&#8217;s.&#8217;<\/li>\n<li>Appears as emotional venting in some cases<\/li>\n<li>Relies upon the speaker&#8217;s impulse rather than their rational choice<\/li>\n<li>Little concern for meeting the audience&#8217;s specific needs\/values\/expectations<\/li>\n<li>Can be selfish and impulsive<\/li>\n<li>Often damaging to the speaker&#8217;s credibility and the audience relationship<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Reflection Questions: Expressive Communication<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p>Reflect on the following questions regarding your own experience with expressive communication. Identify at least two examples of each.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>In what ways have you used expressive communication in your <strong>personal life<\/strong>?<\/li>\n<li>In what ways have you used expressive communication in <strong>the classroom<\/strong>?<\/li>\n<li>In what ways have you used expressive communication at <strong>work<\/strong>?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>As with accidental communication, we should avoid using expressive communication in a professional setting. Technical communication has both purpose and a connection to the audience, which are often missing in expressive communication.<\/p>\n<h2>Rhetorical Communication<\/h2>\n<p><span class=\"pullquote-right\">&#8220;Rhetorical communication is the primary tool with which we influence and control the thoughts and actions of other people, as well as the environment in which we live.&#8221; (McCroskey, 2016, p. 19).<\/span>Rhetorical communication is a crucial aspect of understanding effective communication in the workplace. McCroskey (2016) defines rhetorical communication as &#8220;the process of a source stimulating a source-selected meaning in the mind of a receiver using verbal and non-verbal messages&#8221; (p. 21). The &#8220;source&#8221; is another term for the speaker; the &#8220;source-selected meaning&#8221; implies that the source intends to create a specific meaning in the audience&#8217;s mind. McCroskey&#8217;s (2016) definition of rhetorical communication emphasizes the need for meaning to be made in the mind of the audience. He writes that this type of communication is &#8220;<em>goal-directed<\/em>&#8221; (McCroskey, 2016, p. 22, emphasis added) and is always purposefully directed toward an audience.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--examples\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Characteristics of Rhetorical Communication:<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<ul>\n<li>Intentional communication with a purpose<\/li>\n<li>Success depends on the speaker adapting the message to the audience<\/li>\n<li>Creates understanding and connection<\/li>\n<li>Always ethical<\/li>\n<li>Speaker are aware and purposeful in their communication<\/li>\n<li>Includes deliberate and conscientious choices when addressing an audience<\/li>\n<li>Relies on the speaker&#8217;s respect for the audience, their belief in the message&#8217;s purpose, and their sincerity<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Reflection Questions: Rhetorical Communication<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p>Reflect on the following questions regarding your own experience with <span style=\"margin: 0px; padding: 0px;\">rhetorical communication<\/span>. Identify at least two examples of each.<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>In what ways have you used rhetorical communication in your <strong>personal life<\/strong>?<\/li>\n<li>In what ways have you used rhetorical communication in <strong>the classroom<\/strong>?<\/li>\n<li>In what ways have you used rhetorical communication at <strong>work<\/strong>?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>By the time you finish this course, you will see how rhetorical communication can help you in your career and know how to apply these principles in day-to-day job duties such as writing reports and giving presentations.<\/p>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Exercise #1: Reading Quiz<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p><span style=\"text-align: initial; font-size: 1em;\">Answer the questions below to check your understanding of this chapter. The questions are a combination of multiple-choice and true\/false.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-align: initial; font-size: 1em;\"><\/p>\n<div id=\"h5p-3\">\n<div class=\"h5p-iframe-wrapper\"><iframe id=\"h5p-iframe-3\" class=\"h5p-iframe\" data-content-id=\"3\" style=\"height:1px\" src=\"about:blank\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"Quiz - Types of Communication\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Exercise #2: Case Study Application<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p>Please read the following email and consider the type (or types) of communication it uses. Also, pay attention to yo<span style=\"text-align: initial; font-size: 1em;\">ur first impressions as you read.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-25 size-full alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/ppsccom2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/231\/2021\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-05-at-8.30.00-AM.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1166\" height=\"836\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/231\/2021\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-05-at-8.30.00-AM.png 1166w, https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/231\/2021\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-05-at-8.30.00-AM-300x215.png 300w, https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/231\/2021\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-05-at-8.30.00-AM-1024x734.png 1024w, https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/231\/2021\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-05-at-8.30.00-AM-768x551.png 768w, https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/231\/2021\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-05-at-8.30.00-AM-65x47.png 65w, https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/231\/2021\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-05-at-8.30.00-AM-225x161.png 225w, https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/231\/2021\/02\/Screen-Shot-2021-05-05-at-8.30.00-AM-350x251.png 350w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1166px) 100vw, 1166px\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"font-size: 1em;\">Before reading McCroskey (2016), you would have probably identified this email as poorly written, but would not necessarily be able to articulate why. Now that you know some rhetorical theory, you can provide a more detailed answer as to why this email fails in its purpose.<\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">Use the questions below to guide your analysis.<\/p>\n<div id=\"h5p-4\">\n<div class=\"h5p-iframe-wrapper\"><iframe id=\"h5p-iframe-4\" class=\"h5p-iframe\" data-content-id=\"4\" style=\"height:1px\" src=\"about:blank\" frameBorder=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\" title=\"types of communication\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--key-takeaways\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Key Takeaways<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<ul>\n<li>McCroskey (2016) defines communication as &#8220;the process of one person stimulating meaning in the mind of another using a message&#8221; (p. 20-21). He further explains that this definition covers three types of communication: accidental, expressive, and rhetorical.<\/li>\n<li>Accidental communication can occur when the speaker is unaware that they are conveying a message. Even if they don&#8217;t intend for their message to be interpreted in a certain way, aspects such as their body language or tone can influence how their message is understood.<\/li>\n<li>Expressive communication<strong>\u00a0<\/strong>occurs primarily from the speaker. This type of communication often disregards the needs and interests of the audience. As a result, this kind of impulsive communication can break the audience connection.<\/li>\n<li>Rhetorical communication is the focus of this course, utilizing strategies to craft a message that appeals to the audience intentionally and helps the speaker establish a connection with them.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--examples\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">References<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p>McCroskey, J. C. (2016). <em>An introduction to rhetorical communication: A western rhetorical perspective<\/em>. Pearson Education.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"textbox textbox--exercises\">\n<header class=\"textbox__header\">\n<p class=\"textbox__title\">Attribution<\/p>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"textbox__content\">\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.saskoer.ca\/rcm200\" rel=\"cc:attributionURL\">Effective Professional Communication: A Rhetorical Approach<\/a>\u00a0Copyright \u00a9 2021 by\u00a0Rebekah Bennetch; Corey Owen; and Zachary Keesey\u00a0is licensed under a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-sa\/4.0\/\" rel=\"license\">Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License<\/a>, except where otherwise noted.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"glossary\"><span class=\"screen-reader-text\" id=\"definition\">definition<\/span><template id=\"term_26_203\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_26_203\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>the process of one person stimulating meaning in the mind of another by means of a message<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_26_199\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_26_199\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>when one person stimulates meaning in the mind of another without having any intention of doing so and without necessarily knowing that he or she has done so<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_26_200\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_26_200\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>Communication that arises from the emotional, or motivational, state of the individual<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_26_201\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_26_201\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>the process of a source stimulating a source-selected meaning in the mind of a receiver by means of verbal and non-verbal messages<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_26_198\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_26_198\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>the transfer of information through the use of body language including eye contact, facial expressions, gestures and more<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><template id=\"term_26_205\"><div class=\"glossary__definition\" role=\"dialog\" data-id=\"term_26_205\"><div tabindex=\"-1\"><p>types of communication that are highly designed to create a purposeful exchange between the sender and receiver of a message<\/p>\n<\/div><button><span aria-hidden=\"true\">&times;<\/span><span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Close definition<\/span><\/button><\/div><\/template><\/div>","protected":false},"author":101,"menu_order":2,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-26","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":21,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/26","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/101"}],"version-history":[{"count":40,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/26\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1746,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/26\/revisions\/1746"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/21"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/26\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=26"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=26"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/pressbooks.ccconline.org\/2250organizationalcommunication\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=26"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}