West and Turner's UNDERSTANDING INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION: MAKING CHOICES will empower your students with the knowledge they need to be skillful communicators in today's changing and technologically advanced society. With a belief that "theory informs skills and skills refine theory," this text seeks to eliminate the perceived division between theory and practice while clarifying the intersection between the two. This approach to skill development provides discussion of interpersonal skills and the behavior choices students can make in order to become more effective communicators. The authors avoid "telling" students how to apply interpersonal skills to various situations. Rather, they provide a list of skills pertaining to the theory students read about in the chapter so students will be able to draw upon a sort of toolbox, or set of skills, that are specific and workable. Filled with realistic examples and scenarios that reflect the diversity and interactions of today's students, UNDERSTANDING INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION makes clear connections between theory, skills and the life situations we all encounter on a daily basis.