Small Talk

1

Small talk is considered an activity in which people converse politely about unimportant topics. Small talk can occur in face-to-face interactions as well as in phone calls, e-mails, and text messages. While many people might not think too much about small-talk exchanges, others consider them an important part of relationships. In fact, there is growing interest among scholars and journalists in small talk and the extent to which it is helpful or harmful in our personal and professional development.
Carefully read the following six sources, including the introductory information for each source. Write an
essay that synthesizes material from at least three of the sources and develops your position on what role, if any, small talk should have in our everyday lives.