{"id":8886,"date":"2021-05-15T11:08:55","date_gmt":"2021-05-15T15:08:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/techrhet.com\/3213\/?page_id=8886"},"modified":"2024-05-15T10:32:09","modified_gmt":"2024-05-15T14:32:09","slug":"rhetorical-situation-rhetorical-approach","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"#","title":{"rendered":"Rhetorical Situation & Rhetorical Approach"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Contents & Navigation<\/div>\n
rhetoric<\/a><\/div>\n
rhetorical situation<\/a><\/div>\n
rhetorical situation analysis<\/a><\/div>\n
rhetorical approach<\/a><\/div>\n
formulaic vs. rhetorical<\/a><\/div>\n
heuristics<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Business writers write to get things done\u2014to accomplish goals, to motivate action, to persuade audiences, to sell products and ideas, etc. Because the contexts, audiences, and purposes of business writing are all unique, professional writing isn’t formulaic. Instead, to achieve various purposes within a range of contexts to diverse audiences, professional writers must take a rhetorical approach. A rhetorical approach entails understanding the rhetorical situation and identifying the various possibilities for effective communication within its constraints.\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/span>\u2305<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n

What is Rhetoric<\/span>?<\/h3>\n
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connotation:<\/em><\/span> an associated, secondary, or additional meaning of a word; a feeling or attitude a word evokes that is separate from (or in addition to) it’s primary meaning<\/p>\n

denotation:<\/em><\/span> the primary, literal, and\/or actual meaning of a word<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cRhetoric\u201d has become a dirty word. Particularly in political discussions, it’s common to hear accusations of politicians using “just rhetoric” or using “false rhetoric.” By this, critics usually mean that someone is using empty words or dishonest words\u2014employing unethical means of persuasion, or trying to fool an audience with meaningless talk, impressive words, or slick (but dishonest) reasoning.<\/p>\n

But this is not the definition of rhetoric Aristotle<\/a> gave us. Aristotle’s definition of rhetoric had no positive or negative connotation. Rhetoric was considered a skill that most rhetoricians advocated for the betterment of society. Historically\u2014from the ancient origins of classical rhetoric to the present\u2014rhetoricians have practiced and taught rhetoric in order to show people how to be good citizens, to use rhetoric for the benefit for the community and not just for self-gain.<\/p>\n

\"\"While Aristotle isn’t the first to offer a definition of rhetoric, his definition is the most referenced. According to Aristotle, rhetoric is “the faculty<\/span> of observing<\/span> in any given case<\/span> the available means<\/span> of persuasion<\/span>” (Rhetoric<\/em>, Book 1, Ch 2<\/a>). Let’s unpack his definition and put it in plainer language:<\/p>\n

faculty<\/span> = mental power<\/div>\n
observing<\/span> = seeing or recognizing<\/div>\n
any given case<\/span> = in any context or situation<\/div>\n
available means<\/span> = the methods, choices, and techniques<\/div>\n
persuasion<\/span> = getting things done; accomplishing your purpose<\/div>\n

Rearranging the syntax, adding perspective, and putting it all together: If you practice effective rhetoric, you can\u2014in any situation\u2014identify the best techniques for accomplishing your purpose.<\/p>\n

While unethical speakers may have dishonest purposes, that’s not the fault of rhetoric\u2014it’s the fault of the speaker. Rhetoric helps speakers see what is possible and most effective; it does not lead speakers to choose unethical (or ethical) tactics.<\/p>\n

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<\/span>\u2305<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n

What is a Rhetorical Situation<\/span>?<\/h3>\n

A rhetorical situation is a situation that calls for rhetoric. While different scholars have different models, generally, a \u201crhetorical situation\u201d refers to the circumstances in which a rhetorical text is written. The circumstances include:<\/p>\n