Understanding Writing: The Rhetorical Situation

1. Understanding Writing:The Rhetorical Situation A workshop brought to you by the Purdue University Writing Lab

2. Rhetorical Situation • Writer • Purpose • Audience • Topic • Context

3. Writer • your personal characteristics and interests affect what you write about and how you write about it

4. Writer: factors which can affect your writing include • your age • your experiences • your gender • your location • your political beliefs • your education • your parents and peers • your religion

5. Purpose: your reason for writing • to ___________ • to inform • to persuade • to educate • to call to action • to entertain • to shock

6. Genre • category of writing • examples: fiction, autobiographical story, news article, review, editorial, analysis • genres hinge upon purpose and the needs of the projected audience

7. Audience: to whom are you writing? • many of the same factors which affect the writer also affect the audience • age • social class • education

8. Topic • whatever it is that you have selected to write about • may be broadened or narrowed, depending upon the length of the article and your level of interest

9. Context • the “situation” which generates the need for writing • affected by time period • location • current events • cultural significance

10. Rhetorical Situation • Writer • Purpose • Audience • Topic • Context

11. What This Means • You need to be aware that a rhetorical situation exists EVERY TIME you write. • You need to adapt your writing depending upon your purpose and your audience.

12. Where can you go for additional help with writing assignments? • Purdue University Writing Lab • Heavilon 226 • Grammar Hotline: (765) 494-3723 • Check our web site: http://owl.english.purdue.edu • Email brief questions: owl@owl.english.purdue.edu Purdue University Writing Lab