Understanding rhetorical situations january 21 2014 (rev. 012114)

UNDERSTANDING RHETORICAL SITUATIONS

By Ms. Sara Emami and Dr. Norman St. Clair

GROUP ASSIGNMENT

In groups of 3-4, analyze the images placed on your desk and describe what you see. How are these images related?

GROUP 1

GROUP 2

GROUP 3

UNDERSTANDING RHETORICAL SITUATIONS

By Ms. Sara Emami and Dr. Norman St. Clair

WHAT IS A RHETORICAL SITUATION?

Rhetoric by definition: using language effectively to persuade, inform, educate, or entertain

Rhetorical Situation: The circumstances/situations in which you communicate.

THE RHETORICAL SITUATION AND THE STUDENT WRITER

A student’s diversity, cultural experiences, personal characteristics, interests and and past have an impact on what is written by the student and the ways in which they write.

FACTORS WHICH IMPACT WRITING

Personal and Professional Experiences

Age

Gender

Location (geographical)

Political belief

Family members, friends, colleagues, mentors

Education

A WRITER’S PURPOSE – WHAT REASONS IMPACT WRITING?

GENRES, CATEGORIES, AND STYLES OF WRITING

Genres are based upon your purpose and the needs/expectations of your target audience.

Here are some examples of writing: non-fiction, fiction, news articles, letters to the editor, autobiographical accounts, rhetorical analysis, criticism, persuasive essay and reviews.

WHO IS YOUR AUDIENCE? WHO ARE YOU WRITING TO? CONSIDER THE DEMOGRAPHICS OF YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE

Many of the same factors which affect the writer also affect the audience

Consider Age What is their socio-economic

background? (social class) What is their education

level/background? What are their past experiences? Are there any cultural/subcultural

ties? What are their expectations of

you as the writer/presenter?

YOUR TOPIC – WHAT WILL YOU CHOOSE TO WRITE ABOUT?

When searching for a topic to write about, consider the following:parameters of the writing assignment the projected length of the project the complexity of the issue being

discussed.

Narrowing a topic is also very important in that the more specific and focused the topic, the more the writer is able to construct a competent, controlled, comprehensive, and compelling argument.

BROAD TOPIC VS. NARROW TOPIC (example included)

For examples (courtesy of Purdue Owl): The American welfare crisis is not a topic that could be adequately covered in a three-page paper; this is a topic that might be more appropriately covered in a book-length argument.

The need for a new university bike rack is not a topic that could be covered well in a twenty-page assignment. Sometimes topics, such as the need for bike racks, need to be broadened to fit the requirements of the assignment.

WHAT IS CONTEXT?

Context is simply “situation” that generates the need for writing.

Your selected topic, purpose, writer, and writing audiences are all affected by current events, location, social customs, and cultural changes.

The facilitator may note that the assignment and intended academic audience also impact the context of an assignment.

It is also significant for you, the writer, to consider the goals of the assignment in developing a focus.

REVISITING THE RHETORICAL SITUATION

Remember, you will always need to be aware that a rhetorical situation exists each time you choose to write.

The writer will need to adjust their writing depending on the purpose and audience.