Rhetorical Situation Notes

Rhetoric is defined as the art of effective speaking or writing.
Effective rhetoric is carefully adjusted based on the situation involving the speaker and audience.

The rhetorical situation encompasses the circumstances surrounding the communication between the author and the audience.
Key questions to consider:
- Where does the exchange take place?
- When does it take place?
- Is the setting private or public?
- Is the situation pleasant/open or hostile/closed?
- How does the author adapt the message to the situation?
Understanding the context is crucial for understanding the interaction between speaker and audience.

Scenario: The Queen writes a letter to her cousin.
Audience: One person, a trusted relative.
Content: Hopes for her cousin's well-being, expresses missing her, and suggests a future meeting.
Rhetorical Occasion: A private letter between relatives; generally low stakes.
The Queen is aware the letter might end up in a museum in the future.
It is implied that the Queen would be less casual and more aware of her position compared to an ordinary person.
This occasion is less critical than public speeches to parliament.

Scenario: The Queen hosts her cousin's 70th birthday at Buckingham Palace and delivers a toast.
Audience: Dozens or hundreds of people.
Setting: Public, spoken speech.
Expectations: The speech has to be brief, personal, and positive.
The speech can be funny or playful, within the limits of what is appropriate for a queen.
Implication: Everything a queen says and does is influenced by the situation.

On the AP exam, merely describing the rhetorical situation is insufficient.
The explanation of the situation's influence on the author's rhetorical choices is needed.
Focusing on the rhetorical occasion helps in delivering information effectively.
Doing so results in scoring points with the essay graders.