Essentials of Communication

Calvert Essentials of Communication: A Guide to Interacting Effectively in Today's World is a five-unit elective course for high school students. The materials cover fundamentals of the communication process important for successful interaction in a variety of social and professional settings. Students can use the course to gain and apply knowledge about communication theories, characteristics of language and language use, interpersonal relationships, group dynamics, and public speaking in order to interact more effectively with others.

Course goals include understanding aspects of communication theories and processes appropriate to both social and professional settings, as well as planning, preparing, delivering, and evaluaing formal and informal personal and professional presentations. In attaining these goals, students can use communication to hone other life skills, including exchanging information, fulfilling social obligations, developing relationships, and understanding and meeting the needs of others.