Rhetorical Situation In English

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RHETORICAL ANALYSIS Introduction Lloyd Bitzer defines a rhetorical situation specifically as “a complex of persons, events, objects, and relations presenting an actual or potential exigence which can be completely or partially removed if discourse, introduced into the situation, can so constrain human decision or action as to bring about the significant modification of the exigence(105).” A rhetorical situation can be described as someone or something trying to get you to do something without directly telling you, but implying it. Every rhetorical situation has an exigence, rhetors, audience, and constraints. Grant-Davie describes a rhetor as the author, the exigence as a problem or need that can be addressed by communication, and the audience…show more content…
My texts both discuss grammar, but they are different because they have conflicting opinions on their definition of proper grammar. These definitions of the role that grammatical roles play in good writing differ because the rhetors of each text are targeting different audiences with different exigences. Audience The audiences that are targeted in these two texts are very different; the article “Why you need good grammar” by Michael Kwan is targeted towards a more traditional and conservative audience because throughout the text he emphasizes that proper grammar is necessary in all situations, and shows his repugnance to modern day bloggers and internet users for not using correct grammar on the web. Kwan also writes that he thinks that all the new ways of communicating and sharing your opinion through the web and other new technology is ruining grammar, and stresses that we should go back to traditional proper grammar. The cartoon in the Wall Street Journal is targeted towards a younger, open-minded, and more liberal audience as it shows a picture of modern day rock and roll…show more content…
In “Why you need Good Grammar” by Michael Kwan, the rhetor is trying to tell his audience that proper grammar is necessary in all scenarios, he states, “Professional business correspondence (including press releases) needs to be impeccable but you should also take a similar level of care to your blogging. Just because the book is called Booher’s rule of Business Grammar doesn’t mean that the rules only apply to the realm of business.” In this quote, Kwan amplifies the importance of good writing in and out of the workplace; he states that just because what you’re writing isn’t going to be presented for business matters, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take your time to present it with proper grammar. He constantly uses the words “Business” and “Professional” throughout his article to emphasize the importance of proper grammar in the work environment; he uses these words to persuade his reader that in order to be successful in your career you have to be a stickler for traditional grammar rules. Throughout the article he compares grammar mistakes to a small chip on a coffee mug, telling the audience that you might think that one little grammar mistake is not a big deal, but truly it can damage the image of your whole paper. In the cartoon in the Wall Street Journal, the rhetor is trying to tell his audience, most likely aspiring musicians, that to be a successful

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