Rhetorical Situation
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Transcript Rhetorical Situation
Understanding Writing:
The Rhetorical Situation (Context)
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Rhetorical Situation
Writer
Purpose
Audience
Topic
Context
ADD: Language
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Writer
your personal
characteristics
and interests
affect what you
write about and
how you write
about it
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Writer: factors which can affect
your writing include
your age
your experiences
your gender
your location
your political beliefs (
your education
your parents and peers
your religion
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Purpose: your reason for
writing
to ___________
to inform
to persuade
to educate
to call to action
to entertain
to shock
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Genre
category of writing
examples: fiction,
autobiographical
story, news article,
review, editorial,
analysis
genres hinge upon
purpose and the
needs of the
projected audience
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Audience: to whom are you
writing?
many of the same
factors which affect
the writer also affect
the audience
age
social class
education
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Topic
whatever it is that
you have selected to
write about
may be broadened
or narrowed,
depending upon the
length of the article
and your level of
interest
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Context
the “situation” which
generates the need
for writing
affected by time
period
location
current events
cultural significance
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Language (I added this
category)
Reflects the
rhetorical situation
Writer
Purpose
Audience
Topic
context
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Rhetorical Situation
Writer
Purpose
Audience
Topic
Context
Language
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What This Means
You
need to be aware that a
rhetorical situation exists EVERY
TIME you write.
You
need to adapt your writing
depending upon your purpose and
your audience.
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