Rhetorical Situation

Aristotle

Aristotle

A Greek Philosopher who invented the rhetorical triangle.

rhetorical triangle

A diagram that illustrates the interrelationship among the speaker, audience, and subject in a text.

speaker

The person delivering the message.

subject

The topic of a text. What the text is about.

audience

the listener, viewer, or reader of a text

occasion

a convenient or timely chance to address an audience.

context

The circumstances, atmosphere, attitudes, and events surrounding a text.

rhetoric

the art of using language effectively and persuasively

citizen rhetorician

the ability of individuals to communicate their needs, interests, and values in order to identify and solve public problems by being worldly

rhetorical situation

The convergence in a situation of exigency (the need to write), audience, and purpose.

genre

Particular category of text chosen by the writer to meet the particular NEED of the text and how it is recognizable to the audience to help the writer achieve his/her purpose.

exigence

an issue, problem, or situation that causes or prompts someone to speak or write; a spark

purpose

The person's reason for writing

rhetorical appeals

the use of emotional, ethical, and logical arguments to persuade in writing or speaking

ethos

an appeal to credibility

pathos

an appeal to emotion

logos

an appeal to logic or reasoning

counter argument

an opposing argument to the one a writer is putting forward

rebuttal

direct response refuting the counter argument

refute

to prove incorrect

concede

to admit as true; to yield, submit

automatic ethos

the speaker's title or reputation can automatically establish credibility

Persona

Greek for "mask." The face or character that a speaker shows to his or her audience.

text

While this term generally means the written word, in the humanities it has come to mean any cultural product that can be "read" - meaning not just consumed and comprehended, but investigated. This includes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, political cartoons, fine art, photography, performances, fashion, cultural trends, and much more.

line of reasoning

The logical sequence of a writer's claim, evidence, and commentary that leads a reader to and from a writer's conclusion. (The path of the argument).

rhetorical analysis

an examination of how well the components of an argument work together to persuade or move an audience to a purpose