The Five Elements of a Rhetorical Situation

1. The Five Elements of a Rhetorical Situation

2. Five Elements • Author • Audience • Purpose • Topic • Occasion To help you remember this, just think: AAPTO

3. Topics of Discussion • Writers will pursue different motives: they emphasize certain elements of the rhetorical situation over others. • Whatever your emphasis, do not lose sight of these elements for long.

4. Topic One • Writers have different habits. • Author: • All good writers have at least one common characteristic: they are all active readers. • Good writers are critical readers of their own work.

5. Topic Two • Audience: • This is the most important factor in writing well. • Understand who your audience is. • Your writing will benefit if you are aware of how the readers differ. • Identify with the audience and appeal to them.

6. Topic Three • Purpose: • Essentially the same as the writer’s motive, both terms are used to describe what a writer hopes to accomplish. • Keep in mind if the essay is expressive, informal, or persuasive.

7. Topic Four • Topic: • Subject and topic are often used interchangeably. • Always narrow a subject to a specific topic.

8. Topic Five • Occasion: A sense of occasion will help the writer satisfy the conventions.

9. Next Steps • Summary: • The purpose is determined by your assignment. • The audience and occasion determines your topic. • The audience and occasion will also influence how you present