The document discusses the rhetorical situation, which includes the audience, purpose, and process of communication. It defines rhetoric as using language to persuade, inform, educate, or entertain. The rhetorical situation considers the circumstances of communication. When writing, the writer, audience, purpose, and topic must be considered. The audience is analyzed in detail. The purpose can be to express, explore, entertain, inform, argue, evaluate, or mediate. Choosing and focusing the topic is also covered. Finally, planning and other considerations like the assignment and sources are discussed.

1. Assessing the
Rhetorical Situation:
Audience, Purpose, & Process

2. What is a Rhetorical Situation?
– Rhetoric: Using language effectively to
persuade, inform, educate, or entertain
– Rhetorical Situation: The circumstances in
which you communicate.

3. The Rhetorical Situation

4. The Writer
• Your culture, personal characteristics and
interests affect what you write about and
how you write it.

5. To whom are you choosing to write?
AUDIENCE

6. Creating an Audience
1. What is the person’s name, age, and profession?
Describe this person’s physical appearance.
2. What is the person’s current attitude toward this
topic?
3. How much does this person know about the topic?
4. Describe the person’s value system.
5. How does this person’s value system influence his
or her attitude toward the topic?
6. What is your relationship to the audience?

7. Purpose
• WHY are you writing? To:
– express feelings
– explore an idea
– entertain or amuse
– inform people or explain an idea
– argue for or against an idea in order to persuade
others
– evaluate or problem solve
– mediate or negotiate a solution

8. Choosing a Topic
• Begin with a general
subject, question or
concern
Colonialism
• Narrow and focus Impact on
(subtopic) Native
• Pick an assertion Populations
(subject)
Negative
impacts of
assimilation

9. Focus Form
Colonialism
Impact on
Native
Religion Population
Economics Slavery
•British wanted •Disease
religious freedom
• British & •Indentured slaves •Extinction
•Missions Spaniards were •Assimilation
involved in •Slave Trade
triangular trade •Cooperation
•British were
agriculturally
based

10. PLANNING

11. Planning: Other Considerations
• Understanding the Assignment
– Do you thoroughly understand the question?
– Underline the requirements
• Sources of Information
– Where will your information come from?
• Length and document design
– Do you have specific length specifications?
– What length seems appropriate?
– Have you been assigned a specific format?