19 What is the Rhetorical Situation?

The rhetorical situation consists of the key elements that bring forth a written or spoken word. These key elements play a part in the who, what, when, where, why, and how of a spoken or written message.

For example, as a teenager, you may want to talk to your parents about extending your curfew.  The purpose is clear; to persuade them.   Before you use your rhetoric to persuade them to extend your curfew, you would need to know how your parents think. What do you know about your audience (parents) that could help you in your efforts to persuade them?  Are they boomers?  How were they raised? In what ways do you think they will respond?  Would your mother have a different response than your father?

You would also want to consider when would be a good time to present this idea. Approaching mom right after a long day at work probably would not work in your favor. This means you’d need to consider the context. What is happening in your life or in your parents’ lives that might affect how your message is received?

There are a few other considerations such as how you have grown as a person, from a child to a responsible teenager. This will help to build your case in your attempt to persuade.  Also, how will you present your ideas?  What form or text would be most effective?  Will it be a text message, a letter, or a discussion?  All of these factors come into play as you, the writer/speaker, present ideas to your audience, your parents.  The rhetorical situation includes the context, writer, purpose, audience, and message. Each element determines the very nature of a text and how it is presented.

The Context

The context consists of the time, place, and events that may influence the writer or the audience.  For instance, what was going on in the world or in their world, politically, socially, spiritually, or culturally at the time the writer was prompted to share their message?  What events occurred within a group, culture, or the writer’s life that sparked the need to write? What have others written about the topic?

The Writer

The writer is, of course, the person who “picked up the pen”.  But when we think about the writer, we want to think about their background and experiences. Who are they as a writer and as a person? Where are they coming from?  What are their credentials? With which communities do they identify?

The Purpose

The purpose describes the reason why the writer is writing a specific text.  Does the writer want to inform, inspire, or entertain the audience?  Or does the writer want to instruct and educate?  Perhaps the writer will encourage the audience.  There may be several purposes.

The Audience

The audience includes the people who the writer had intended to reach. Therefore, it’s essential to describe them.  What is it that they need from the writer? What groups, cultures, or demographics do they stem from?

The Message (Topic)

The message is what the writer wants the audience to know or receive and comprises the ideas laid out by the writer to establish their purpose. Knowing the details of the message can be difficult if the writer does not know who they are as a writer, their target audience, or their purpose for writing.

The Text

The writer also needs to determine in what genre the message will be best received and how to organize it so that the audience will clearly understand it. Different formats can be used to communicate the message: a video, speech, textbook chapter, letter, text message, social media post, or essay. All are forms of text that a writer can choose from to be most effective in their communication.