Rhetorical Situations
Rhetoric-The study of how language works and how to use it effectively.
Purpose- All writing must do something. It must have a reason for being/existing.
Exigence- Why we write; the reason or motivation for writing; stronger than purpose;
your story needs to be told. We write to express who we are.
Genre (what kind of story/writing will this be) + stance (how do we get started?)
Kenneth Burke- “Unending conversation”—Very few conversations ever actually end.
Therefore, our contribution/stand must be substantial. You must listen and figure out
how you can contribute to the conversation.
Stances:
Definition—what is it? Is it a pen or pencil; trying to define something.
Evaluation-Is it good or bad? Does it succeed?
Cause- how did it get that way?
Proposal-What should we do about it?
You are always trying to negotiate with your audience. All writing is an action and is
expressive of what/how you are as a person.
Audience- If you understand your audience, you may change your genre and/or stance.
Ethos- ethics or credibility as a writer/you
Logos- logic and arrangement/topic
Pathos- audience and their values/audience; you gotta remember your audience.
Kairos-appropriateness
