Download Analyzing Rhetoric: Speaker, Purpose, Audience, Context, Exigence, Choices, and Appeals and more Lecture notes Rhetoric in PDF only on Docsity!
S _________________________
P _________________________
A _________________________
C _________________________
E _________________________
C _________________________
A _________________________
T _________________________
SPEAKER
● Who ___________ this?
● What do we _______ ______ them?
● What ________ _______ _________ about them?
● Does this text have a particular _______ because of _______ wrote/said it?
Examples: A President giving a _______ , a citizen sending a _______ , a newspaper staff
writing an _______
PURPOSE
● What is the _______ hoping to _______ by putting this out into the world?
● Remember that the _______ itself ≠ the _______.
Examples: to _______ , to _______ , to _______ , to _______ , to
__________________ , to ______________
AUDIENCE
● Who was the _______ audience of this text? Was that the _______ audience?
● What did the speaker _______ about their audience? How does that impact
_______ they say and _______ they say it?
Examples: TV viewers watching a _______ , readers of a _______ , a crowd gathered at a
_______
CONTEXT
● What was going on in the _______ when this text was _______?
● What were the _______ issues on the _______ mind, which they might be
_______ or _______ addressing?
● How would this _______ text be received _______ by a different _______ in or
in a different _______?
Examples: MLK’s “I Have a Dream” Speech is given in the context of the
_______ _______ _______
EXIGENCE
● Why “_______ ” for the speaker?
● What was the _______ or _______ that moved the speaker to act?
● Note that context is “happening” all the time, but usually, an _______ serves as
exigence.
Examples: The #_______ movement taking off after high profile reports of _______
SPACE CAT Questions
Speaker : How does the author present him/herself? Is he speaking on behalf of another entity? Why is this message important to the author? How does he establish credibility? Does he seem knowledgeable? Fair? How does he treat people who disagree? People who agree? Does he use stereotypes? Does he reveal prejudice? What are the author’s professional affiliations? How might these impact the argument he/she makes? What are the author’s personal affiliations? How might these impact the argument he/she makes? How does his reputation influence the reception of his message? How might he have insight into the subject that the audience doesn’t have? How might his understanding of the subject be limited? How does he appeal to the audience? What is his tone/attitude about the subject?
Purpose : What is the author’s intention? What does he hope to accomplish? What is he trying TO-DO for the audience? How does the author’s relationship with the audience limit or support the purpose? Does this text effectively meet its purpose? Does the author make a call to action to readers—individually or collectively? Is that call realistic? Idealistic? Achievable? Would readers be able to affect the desired outcome? Purpose verbs: accuse, add, address, advise, affirm, allude, amplify, attack, balance, blame, characterize, clarify, communicate, compare, contradict, contrast, condemn, defend demand, describe, diminish, dismiss, entertain, evaluate, evoke, excuse, flatter, guide, honor, identify, illustrate, imply, insult, introduce, lead, link, maximize, pacify, persuade, plead, portray, present, protest, question, reaffirm, reflect, reinforce, reiterate, relate, represent, reveal, scare, shock, signify, strengthen, suggest, support, taunt, teach, trace, urge, validate, warn.
Audience : Who is the primary audience for this text? Who is the secondary audience for this text? What values does the audience hold that the author seeks to appeal to? What is the audiences’ relationship to the subject of the text? How does the author anticipate the audience’s needs? How does the author anticipate the audience’s response? What are the experiences shared by the author and the audience? What are the values shared by the author and the audience? How might the audience perceive the author’s intention? Does the author make assumptions about the audience that hinder the argument? Does the writing have a wide appeal?
Context : What is the cultural/historical context for this text? What does the author celebrate or criticize in the culture? ( i.e., family traditions, economic and political structures, the arts, food, or religion.) Does the author wish to preserve or reform the culture? If reform, what and how? Either way—by instigating change or by maintaining the status quo—what would be gained or what would be at risk? What are the problems or issues raised? Are they personal, spiritual, societal, global, political, economic, medical, scientific? Does the author draw implications for the future? Are there long- or short-term consequences to the issues raised in the book? If so, are they positive or negative? Affirming or frightening? Does the author offer solutions to the issues raised in the book? Who would implement those solutions? How probable is success?
Exigence : What issue, problem, or situation prompted someone to write or speak? What events or occasions created a need or opportunity for this text? Is there a sense of urgency? A problem that requires attention right now? A need that must be met? A concept that must be understood?
Choices : What patterns exist in the author’s word choice? How does the author use diction to emphasize information that supports the argument? To minimize information? What patterns exist in the author’s sentence structure? How does the author use syntax to emphasize information that supports the argument? To minimize information? What information do the longest sentences in each paragraph convey? How do they develop the argument? What information do the shortest sentences in each paragraph convey? How do they develop the argument? Does the text tend to be concise or verbose? How does this impact the conveyance of meaning? Is the author’s approach to central idea objective or subjective? What rhetorical devices are used? What is its effect? Is the language formal or informal? How does this meet/not meet the audience’s needs? Does the author use satire? What is its effect? Does the author omit but imply keywords, phrases, or ideas? What effect does this have on the meaning of the text? Are the descriptions/images concrete or abstract? How does this contribute to the argument? What is the arrangement of the argument (Classical, Rogerian, Toulmin), OR how is the work organized? What rhetorical methods are used to develop the argument (problem/solution, cause/effect, narration, etc.)? Does the organization of the text complement the subject? The purpose? What concepts are repeated? How does this develop the argument? Is the argument inductive or deductive? If concessions are made, where in the organizational structure do they
