Rhetorical

Situation
Língua Inglesa IV
Profa. Dra. Judith Tonioli Arantes
Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie
Consider the following statements...

• That is a dangerous situation.

• I find myself in an embarassing situation.
• I find myself in an ethical situation.

• What can we infer or “get” from the sentences above?

Rhetoric – definition...
• Watch and take notes...
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIESu4yXco4

• An extra video for more understanding....also, for home

watching
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYMUCz9bHAs
What is a Rhetorical Situation?
• Rhetoric – Using language effectively to persuade, inform, educate, or
entertain.
• Rhetoric Situation: The nature of the contexts in which speakers and
writers create rhetorical discourse (or the situation in which we
communicate)

How should they be described?

What are their characteristics?
Why and how do they result in the creation of rhetoric?
Rhetorical Situation
• “The presence of rhetorical discourse obviously indicates the presence of a rhetorical situation.”
• The Declaration od Independence, Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, Churchill’s Address on Dunkirk -> clear examples of
rhetoric and each of them indicates the presence of a situation.
• “the existence of a rhetorical address is a reliable sign of a rhetoric situation” – BUT: it does not mean that a situation
only exists when discourse exists
• Example – When we come up with the perfect thing to say, but five minutes later
• Situations are not always accompanied by discourses
• Situations, though, call the discourse into existence
• Every rhetorical situation has three componentes (basically)
• #1 – an “exigence” or occasion for writing/speaking – it carries with it a sense of urgency and a promise of (possible) change
• #2 – an audience that can be influenced by or react to the writing / speech
• #3 – it has restraints which come in two forms: restraints that come from the author/speaker due to their beliefs (which influence how
they write/speak); restraints associated with the situation itself (for example, the frame of mind of the audience or the environment in
which they hear or read a text)
• Context – the “situation” which generates the need for writing/speaking. It can be affected by time period, timing,
current events and cultural significance
In other words...
• A rhetorical situation is any circumstance in which one or more people employ rhetoric, finding all the available means of
persuasion. Speakers and writers who use rhetoric are called rhetors.
• Exigence: All rhetorical situations originate with an exigence. The exigence is what motivates a rhetor to argue in the first place.
Why does the rhetor need to make this point? What will this argument do for the world?
• Examples of exigence:
• A congressman delivers a speech arguing that we need stricter gun control. The exigence is that the congressman believes stricter gun control will
lead to less gun violence.
• A pastor writes and delivers a eulogy at a funeral. The exigence is that it is customary to reflect on a deceased person’s life and accomplishments.
• A defense attorney argues before a jury that her client is innocent of murder. The exigence is that it is the defense attorney’s job to ensure that
her client—even if guilty—receives a fair trial.
• Audience
• All rhetors write or speak for an audience, the body of listeners or readers—real or imagined— that the rhetor is arguing
to.
• There are two kinds of audience:
• Immediate audience: the individuals literally listening to or reading the rhetor’s argument. For example, in the president’s State of the
Union address, those hearing the address (representatives, senators, people watching from home, etc.) are the president’s immediate
audience.
• Mediated audience: the individuals for whom the argument is intended. These individuals may or may not actually listen to or read
the rhetor’s argument. For example, in the State of the Union address, all American citizens—even those not tuning in to the address—
are the president’s mediated audience.
• Constraints Rhetorical situations are based on the relationship between the rhetor, the audience, and the subject matter,
but they are also based on various constraints that not only affect how the rhetor argues but how the audience
interprets the argument. Common constraints include:
• Knowledge of the rhetor and audience about the subject matter
• Example: A rhetor alludes to a quotation from the Declaration of Independence which she knows the audience will understand.
• Beliefs held by the rhetor and audience about the subject matter
• Example: A rhetor argues against tattoos by citing a passage from the Bible condemning them.
• Culture of the rhetor and audience
• Example: A rhetor argues that supporting the war effort is “part of being an American.”
• The time of the argument
• Example: A rhetor has a hard time stirring the emotions of the audience at 7:00 a.m.
• The timing of the argument (the Greeks called this kairos—the idea that a good rhetor will know when it is the right time to make an
argument)
• Example of good kairos: Following a fatal school shooting, a rhetor argues for stricter gun control laws.
• Example of bad kairos: A rhetor makes a tasteless joke too soon after a tragic event.
• The place of the argument
• Example: A rhetor delivers a compelling argument, but the audience is too distracted by the sound of nearby construction machinery to pay attention.
• Relationship between rhetor and audience
• Example: A political candidate gets a warm reception in her home state, but when she gives speeches in other states, the audience is more hostile toward her.
Example of a rhetorical situation
• Abraham Lincoln delivers his second inaugural address upon being reelected president during the American Civil War.
• Exigence: it is customary for the president of the United States to deliver an inaugural address upon being elected or reelected.
• Argument: the United States should finish the war with “malice toward none.” Citizens should work toward recovery instead of blaming each other for
the war.
• Rhetor: Abraham Lincoln
• Immediate audience: those in attendance of the address
• Mediated audience: all Americans
• Subject matter: the American Civil War, slavery, religion, recovery
• Constraints: facts (e.g., the participants in the war, the death toll, the major battles), beliefs (e.g., about the cause of the war), time (March 4, 1865),
timing (near the end of the Civil War and approaching the Reconstruction period), place (in front of the Capitol Building in Washington, D.C.), relationship
with audience (both Union and Confederate)
When it comes to your own writing....
• Your culture, personal characteristics and interests affect what you write about and how you write it.
• Other factors are:
• Age
• Experiences
• Gender
• Location
• Political beliefs
• Parents and peers
• Education
• These factors influence the audienced too.
Remember....

• The componentes of a rhetorical situation:

• Writer
• Purpose
• Audience
• Topic
• Context
• Culture