Rhetorical Situation: The Five Elements Of An Argument

-The five elements in the rhetorical situation are: text, reader, author, constraints, and exigence.

-A reader can use the rhetorical situation to help understand the various parts of the argument. The reader can look at the text to identify the format of the argument and the various strategies the arguer is using. The reader can identify the audience of the author and predict the reactions that will take place. The reader can identify the author’s position, motives, and values as well. The reader can also look at the constraints or the people, events, and circumstances that either create or destroy common ground in an argument. Lastly, the reader can look at the exigence, or what happened to cause the argument.

On the other hand, writers also can use the rhetorical situation as an effective way to help plan and write a paper. During the planning phase exigence, audience, and constraints help to form the paper. First the author must identify the issue they are arguing, then decide the audience they are targeting, and lastly recognize any constraints the author and audience have. The text and author part of the rhetorical situation take place during the physical writing of the paper.

There are multiple types of positions an audience might initially hold including: friendly, undecided, neutral, hostile, and unfamiliar. With a friendly audience, the intended outcome of an argument is to help strengthen their agreement with the arguer. Possible outcomes with and undecided audience include: final agreement, creating a new interest, or causing a tentative decision. The intended outcome with a neutral audience is to stop the indifference and encourage them to choose a side. The intended outcome with a hostile audience is to get them to compromise with the arguer. Lastly, the intended outcome with an unfamiliar audience is to create interest in the argument at