Rhetoric and the Rhetorical Situation

Rhetoric and The Rhetorical Situation

English I

2019-2020

What you need to know

So what do people mean when they say...?

• "It's just rhetoric"
• "Rhetorical question"
• "Empty rhetoric"
• "Visual rhetoric"
• "Rhetorical Analysis"

The Rhetorical Situation

What is Rhetoric?

What is the goal of analyzing a rhetorical situation?

Why do rhetorical situations matter?

What decisions do we need to make about writing?

Why does context matter?

The last word

What is Rhetoric?

English I

2019-2020

Definition - The art of persuasion or communication

According to Aristotle:"the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion"

+ laymen's terms

So What Do People Mean When They Say...?

English I

2019-2020

Click on each example for further explanation:

• "It's just rhetoric"

• "Rhetorical question"

• "Empty rhetoric"

• "Visual rhetoric"

• "Rhetorical analysis"

+ laymen's terms

The Rhetorical Situation

English I

2019-2020

The CONTEXT in which writing or other communication takes place

• Purpose (why?)
• Audience (who?)
• Genre (what?)
• Stance (how?)
• Medium / Design (how?)

+ laymen's terms

Why Do Rhetorical Situations Matter?

English I

2019-2020

Because the QUALITY and EFFECTIVENESS of your writing always depend on how well you meet your RHETORICAL SITUATION

Why Does Context Matter?

English I

2019-2020

Because what makes writing GOOD or BAD depends on the CONTEXT.

When You Analyze Your Rhetorical Situation...

English I

2019-2020

...your goal is to understand the CONTEXT of your writing...

...so that you can make better decisions about WHAT and HOW to write.

What Decisions Do We Need to Make About Writing?

English I

2019-2020

PURPOSE

GENRE

MEDIUM/DESIGN

AUDIENCE

STANCE

The Last Word

English I

2019-2020

ACADEMIC rhetorical situations generally share some family resemblances.

ALL communication happens within a rhetorical situation!

What does this mean for us in English I?