Whenever we write, whether it be a text to a friend or a toast for a wedding, an essay or rsum, we face a rhetorical situation. We have a purpose, a certain audience, a particular stance, a genre, and a medium to considerand, often, a design. All are important elements that we must consider.
Think of a piece of writing you wrote recently or at some point in the past (e.g., a toast for a wedding, an essay/research paper, an e-mail, a lengthy Facebook or Twitter post, a lengthy caption under your Instagram photo, a letter to a partner/spouse, a journal entry, a lengthy text message, etc.).
Main post: In a minimum of 250 words, answer the following questions based on that composition:
- What is/was the primary purpose of that writing task?
- Who is/was the audience for that writing task?
- In which genre did you write?
- What is/was your stance toward the topic of that writing task?
- What medium are you using/did you use? What are/were your design needs?
- Do you think you accomplished the goal you set out to achieve when you shared this writing task with your intended audience? What might you have done differently?
- Why is it important to consider the rhetorical situation each time we write?
