Journal 6

Bitzer believes the idea of rhetorical theory is one brought about that either gets ignored or thrown on the backburner and the idea of situation is discussed indirectly. He believes generally theories of rhetoric focus upon “orator’s” method rather than the situation that could have brings this method (creation of discourse) about. Bitzer goes on to continue that he believes there have been times when this idea has been apparent but not necessarily fully recognized and discussed and if discussed done so indirectly. Bitzer refers to rhetorical situation as “the nature of those contexts in which speakers or writers create rhetorical discourse”. It is important that the discourse you are exuberating comes from a specific condition or situation which invites “utterance”. As a formal definition rhetorical situation is described 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. Exigence is then further described as an imperfection marked by urgency. I feel in writing exigency can be exhibited when you have waited to the deadline to write a due task, therefore unable to give your best effort, although this idea brings about many other ideas such as if you were to have done the assignment early would you have allotted more time or rushed to get the final product.