Rhetorical Situations and Exigence

Flashcards related to key concepts of rhetorical situations, exigence, and discourse.

Rhetorical Situation

A complex of persons, events, objects, and relations presenting an actual or potential exigence that can be modified by discourse.

Exigence

An imperfection marked by urgency that requires discourse for its modification; a pressing problem in the world.

Rhetorical Audience

A group capable of being influenced by discourse and of being mediators of change.

Constraints

Circumstances that interfere with or impede an advocate's ability to respond to an exigence.

Rhetorical Discourse

Communication aimed at influencing or persuading an audience within a specific context.

Public Awareness

Recognition of issues affecting the community that can lead to collective action.

Sophistic

Situations that are contrived or misleading, lacking genuine connection to reality.

Deterioration

Stage in a rhetorical situation where the configuration of constituents makes modification difficult.

Disintegration

Final stage in a rhetorical situation where constituents dissolve and audience disappears.

Policy Advocacy

Efforts to persuade decision-makers to enact laws or regulations addressing specific issues.

Class Consciousness

Awareness among members of a social class of their common interests and struggles.

Dissociation

A rhetorical strategy that separates a subordinated group from the dominant narrative or identity.