Discussion Questions
Chapter 12: What Should a Communicator Do?
1. Review the two major conclusions that open this chapter. Which do you find
more important? Why?
2. After examining Table 12.1, which theory do you consider to be the “best” from
those studied? Why?
3. How would you define “ethical communication”? What does it mean to be an
“ethical communicator? How would you define “communication competency”?
What does it mean to be a competent communicator?
4. Are ethical communicators competent? Are incompetent communicators
unethical? Is it possible to be an unethical, competent communicator?
5. You have spent the semester studying communication theories. For theories to
have use in our lives, they need to have some practical value. How can you apply
what you’ve learned in this class to your “real” life?