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ON Managebac
UNIT 3 DO NOW #1
ON MANAGEBAC
Unit 3 Do Now #2
THE RHETORICAL
SITUATION
Subject
Audience
Purpose
Context
Motivation
Writing is thinking.

Rhetoric ~ Using language effectively to
persuade, inform, educate, or entertain.

Rhetorical Situation ~ The circumstances in which
you communicate.
WHAT IS A RHETORICAL SITUATION?
THE RHETORICAL SITUATION
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Your culture, personal characteristics and
interests affect what you write about and how
you write it.
THE WRITER

Your age

Your experiences

Your gender
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Your location
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Your political beliefs
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Your parents and peers

Your education

Your religion

Your ethnicity
PURPOSE: YOUR REASON FOR
WRITING
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To + VERB
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To inform

To persuade
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To educate
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To call to action
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To entertain
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To shock

Category or type of writing

Genres hinge upon purpose and the
needs/expectations of the projected audience.

Examples ~ fiction, autobiographical story, news
article, review, letter to the editor/editorial,
rhetorical analysis, criticism, persuasive essay
GENRE
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Emphasis on Author: writing for oneself in a diary
or journal
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Emphasis on subject: Science, journalism

Emphasis on Language: Poetry
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Emphasis on Audience: Advertisements, popular
fiction, or movies
DIFFERENT GENRES

Target Audience
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Intended Audience
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Assumed Audience
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Implied Audience
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Many of the same factors which affect the writer also affects the
audience
•
Age
•
Social class
•
Education
•
Past experience
•
Culture/subculture
•
Expectations
AUDIENCE: TO WHOM ARE YOU
WRITING?
MOST COMMON ERRORS ON
AUDIENCE

Misunderstanding who the audience is for the
document. They often confuse themselves
with the reader.
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May be broadened or narrowed depending on
the length of your writing and your interest

Topics should be appropriate to the rhetorical
situation you are in
SUBJECT/TOPIC: WHAT YOU WILL
WRITE ABOUT
What is the subject?
What is the occasion?
Who is the audience?
What is the purpose?
Who is the speaker?
Isn’t she cute?
What is the tone?
DOES YOUR ANALYSIS CHANGE NOW
THAT YOU KNOW IT ADVERTISES
CHOCOLATE?
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What is the situation, or “back story”?

What happened before the document that caused
the document to be written in the first place?
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The “situation” which generates the need for writing
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Affected by the
•
Time period or timing
•
Location
•
Current events
•
Cultural significance
CONTEXT/MOTIVATION
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No understanding what context is
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Not telling the whole story
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Not distinguishing between “conTEXT” and
“conTENT”
MOST COMMON ERRORS ON
CONTEXT
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You need to be aware that a rhetorical situation
exists EVERY TIME you write.
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You need to adapt your writing depending upon
your purpose and your audience.
WHAT THIS MEANS…

Take out your assessment and rubric. Pay
attention to your GRASPS framework.

What is the purpose of this speech?
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What is your role in this speech?
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What is the topic of this speech?

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Who is your audience?
Please write your answers in the form of a mind
map
ASSIGNMENT
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Begin working on your speech. Make sure to
consider your audience, purpose, and topic.
ON MANAGEBAC
Unit 3 Exit Ticket #2