Purdue University Writing Lab Understanding Writing: The Rhetorical Situation (Context)

Purdue University Writing Lab Rhetorical Situation Writer Purpose Audience Topic Context ADD: Language

Purdue University Writing Lab Writer your personal characteristics and interests affect what you write about and how you write about it

Purdue University Writing Lab 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

Purdue University Writing Lab Purpose: your reason for writing to ___________ to inform to persuade to educate to call to action to entertain to shock

Purdue University Writing Lab Genre category of writing examples: fiction, autobiographical story, news article, review, editorial, analysis genres hinge upon purpose and the needs of the projected audience

Purdue University Writing Lab Audience: to whom are you writing? many of the same factors which affect the writer also affect the audience age social class education

Purdue University Writing Lab 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

Purdue University Writing Lab Context the “situation” which generates the need for writing affected by time period location current events cultural significance

Purdue University Writing Lab Language (I added this category) Reflects the rhetorical situation  Writer  Purpose  Audience  Topic  context

Purdue University Writing Lab Rhetorical Situation Writer Purpose Audience Topic Context Language

Purdue University Writing Lab 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.