Analyzing the Rhetorical Situation

The speaker’s reason for creating the text; what they want the audience to think or do as a result of reading/viewing the text.

• Subject

• Rhetorical Situation

• Occasion

• Purpose

The attitude of the speaker/author toward their subject.

• Tone

• Persona

• Exigence

• Rhetorical Situation

The “mask” that a speaker projects and the audience interprets.

• Constraints

• Subject

• Persona

• Exigence

The problem, incident, or situation causing the speaker to create the text. The “spark”.

• Occasion

• Exigence

• Audience

• Constraints

The general topic, content, and ideas contained in the text.

• Purpose

• Rhetorical Situation

• Subject

• Constraints

WHEN the speaker delivers his/her message. This should be the most critical or opportunistic moment to speak. REMEMBER, the speaker is trying to change a belief, idea, or action in THIS moment. This includes the exigence and element of Kairos.

• Audience

• Pathos

• Exigence

• Occasion

What happens or fails to happen in that situation? Why is one compelled to speak out? What is going on at the time? What belief, idea, or action does the speaker want to change in THIS moment.

• Credibility

• Occasion

• Exigence

• Audience

The key elements of the rhetorical situation are

• Imperfection, people's attitude & context

• Urgency, agency & context

• Exigence, audience & context

• Only 1 & 2 are correct

What is the definition of rhetoric?

• Using language effectively and persuasively in writing or speaking
• Literal meaning of a word or phrase (the dictionary definition)
• Questions that do not require an answer
• The emotions or feelings that a word or phrase creates

"The data is perfectly clear: this investment has consistently turned a profit year-over-year, even in spite of market declines in other areas."

• Appeals to credibility

• Appeals to reasoning

• Appeals to emotion