This best selling text analyzes the major communication theories at a level appropriate for both lower and upper level courses. The material is presented in a coherent manner and strikes a balance between humanistic, scientific, classical, and contemporary theories. (In contrast to previous editions no theories have been dropped.) Ethics are covered throughout the text.The most widely-used textbook for the communication theory course, "A First Look at Communication Theory" analyzes the major communication theories at a level that is appropriate for both lower- and upper-level courses. The 33 theories represented in the text reflect a mix of foundational and recent scholarship and strike a balance of scientific and interpretive approaches.