Introduction to the Rhetorical situation It’s brief & incomplete. But it packs a punch.

It doesn’t matter where you look, everyone defines rhetoric differently. (Where are your eyes, Aristotle?) Let’s start with a definition we can maybe attribute to Aristotle: Rhetoric may be defined as the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion.

What is the most important word in this definition? “Rhetoric may be defined as the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion.” What is the most important word in this definition?

“Rhetoric may be defined as the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion.” Why is observation as opposed to communication (or speaking, writing, debating, presenting, etc.) so critical? The eyeball knows the answer.

Available means is the stuff a rhetor uses to persuade an audience. “Rhetoric may be defined as the faculty of observing in any given case the available means of persuasion.” Available means is the stuff a rhetor uses to persuade an audience. It sounds a bit abstract, but break it down. Available means Of persuasion

There are a zillion ways to communicate—another definition of rhetoric might help us understand what’s even going on here.

For one thing, rhetoric isn’t just tossing some stuff into the world to see if it sticks. The word cloud was ugly. Think of it as a visual representation of ineffective rhetoric. Unless you’re the guy who loves word clouds. If that is you, raise your hand. I didn’t think so.

Rhetoric is the purposeful use of language. (This is the definition I like the best)

Rhetorical decision making purposeful Rhetorical choices & Rhetorical decision making (I love thinking about the use of available means this way)

Before we go any further, two important notes: What do we mean When we say “language?” What do we mean when we say “text?” A system of words or signs, such as The English language Hand gestures Photographs Umpire’s calls Colors (you can see where this is going) An object which can be “read,” such as A book Road signs (without words on them) A painting, photograph, sculpture, collage Advertisements Flags Memes Clothing

And now to the vocabulary quiz material! But first, a tiny koala.

Welcome to the rhetorical situation. Hey! Why is the rhetorical situation pictured as a triangle? Hey! Why is there a door on this rhetorical situation triangle? Hey! Why does exigence have hair?

At the heart of the rhetorical situation: Rhetor: more often called the speaker or writer. Creator of the text. Audience: when we say audience, we mean Rhetorical Audience (the person/people who are able to be influenced and mediate change). Message: what and how the rhetor is persuading the audience.

Exigence RHETORIC FOLLOWS EXIGENCE. *Opportunity for change. *A defect, imperfection, obstacle that calls for the rhetor to act. *Is able to be changed through discourse (communication). RHETORIC FOLLOWS EXIGENCE. RHETORIC WOULDN’T HAPPEN WITHOUT EXIGENCE.

A break for extreme adorability because we’re coming down the home stretch.

One very important note about purpose. Purpose is the rhetor’s bottom line reason for acting. It is not the message. Some texts have multiple messages. Exigence is not purpose. Exigence is how the rhetor came to the purpose.

Walking through the door. There is no rhetorical situation until a rhetor acts on exigence. There is no rhetorical situation if any of the corners of the triangle is missing.

The end.