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Bitzer's Rhetorical Analysis

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Rhetoric in Bitzer’s sense is a “mode of altering reality, not by direct application of energy to objects, but by the creation of discourse which changes reality through the mediation of thought and action”. Bitzer explains that rhetoric is situational for five reasons: “[1] rhetorical discourse comes into existence as a response to a situation…[2] a speech is given rhetorical significance by the situation…[3] Rhetorical situation must exist as a necessary condition of rhetorical discourse…[4] many rhetorical situations mature and decay without giving birth to rhetorical utterance…and [5] Situation is rhetorical insofar as it needs and invites discourse capable of participating with the situation and thereby altering its reality…”. The main …show more content…

As rhetoric was once hyper-focused on the art of persuasion as well as oratory and philosophy on matters of human existence, this shift in human inquiry has collapsed the border between the two practices – into what is now known as contemporary rhetorical theory (and crosses into postmodern rhetorical theory). “The convictions and orientations that have traditionally marked the separation of rhetoric and philosophy—the concern with truth and the focus on persuasion—have begun to converge on a new space that can be defined through the central term discourse” (Angus & Langsdorf, 1993). Contemporary rhetoric emerged as a theoretical landscape in which to analyze the communicative act in the civic …show more content…

A phenomenological approach that is system-based and communication-centered, in particular, may serve to illuminate the relationship between structure and agency. One assumption of this analysis is that system change occurs through the actions of individual actors. It is when individuals have the motivation and capacity for action that they speak out, enact policy changes, and participate in change-oriented collectivities. Change at the system level, in turn, can facilitate individual awareness and relationship building (DeTurk, 2006, p.

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Grant-Davie describes thoroughly the term rhetorical situation and how the development of the definition and its constituents has contributed to the discovery of the motives and responses behind any discourse. The analysis of rhetorical situations could determine the outer or inner influences of the rhetors, the audience, and their particular constraints. Grant Davie supports his claims by using the earlier definitions of scholars and teachers as his foundation. He also addresses his own analysis drawn by life experienced discourses which it also helps the reader understand the causes of rhetorical situations. This is important because it teaches any writer or reader to analyze a situation and think about the options and paths it could lead

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And more importantly for him, the situation is the fundamental element of rhetorical activity. Bitzer defines Rhetorical situation 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.” In describing “Rhetorical Situation” Bitzer also mentions 3 constituents of it: First of all, the exigence—an “imperfection” or a “defect,” which is also the need of having something to be done. There is a variety of exigencies. An exigence will be classified as rhetorical only when it allows positive modification and the positive modification is based on discourse.

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Joe Johnson 01/04/18 Writ 1122 Online Yin & Yang To begin, it is important to lay out the definition that each Lloyd Bitzer and Richard Vatz give to the rhetorical situation. According to Lloyd Bitzer “Rhetorical situation may be defined 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 decisions or action as to bring about the significant modification of the exigence.” (Bitzer) Put into layman’s terms, Lloyd Bitzer believes that there are three main parts that create a rhetorical situation – Exigence, Audience, and a set of constraints.

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Rhetoric is used in many different ways and in many different places. When using rhetoric a certain type of language is being used to persuade the audience to do something or believe in something. Martin Luther King uses many different types of rhetoric in “I have a dream” to persuade people to stand with him in fighting against discrimination of another race. Elie Wiesel uses rhetoric in “Keep Memory Alive” to persuade his audience to not be detached from the world and what is going on in it. King uses many rhetorical devices whereas Wiesel uses very few.

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Rhetoric is used everywhere around the world. in the real world it is used by everyone sometimes to make examples. sometimes to prove a point. also there are times where rhetoric can help you persuade people. in the olden times Thomas Paine and Patrick Henry used rhetoric devices to help the situations they were in.

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Speeches are used to commemorate points of history, and inform the general public of the product of their history but what makes a speech so impacting on it’s audience? Rhetorical devices give speeches and works of literature a way that can convey feelings or ideas to a viewer. When addressing during times of war or chaos, people such as Ronald Reagan, Abraham Lincoln, and Winston Churchill used these terms to better connect with their audience. Without these tools of the english language, dialogue and literature would be all the more dull and unappealing. However, with these useful instruments, writers and speakers can better communicate through some of the many rhetorical devices.

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Jay Heinrichs beautifully transforms these approaches to rhetoric into a way that make sense today. From examples using celebrities, political powers, humor, and intellectual banter, Heinrichs truly encompasses the real art of persuasion in a way that complies with modern times, therefore proving the books continued use without a

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Now, the framework I decided to use for this article through analyzing is Lloyd Bitzer’s Rhetorical Situation. In his rhetorical situation, he explains how every situation can be analyzed rhetorically by looking at the interactions between speakers, subjects, audience and purpose. A rhetoric piece of work comes into existence for the sake of something far greater than the piece itself. In each rhetoric situation, he explains how there’s three main variables that come into play. First, you gave the exigence, which is the “reason.”

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Miner takes the simple American traditions and breaks them down to their raw form. For example, the way he describes the plain task of brushing our teeth as “inserting a small bundle of hog hairs into the mouth, along with certain magical powders, and then moving the small bundle in a highly formalized series of gestures.” In all honesty, the way he describes it is completely factual, but because we have become so used to doing it, we do not see how peculiar it essentially looks. Miner takes how we would explain another cultures traditions and turns it on ourselves. He evaluates what we see as normal and transforms it into something that seems unnecessary or strange.

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Dialectical Journaling ( The focus of your final essay will be on rhetoric. These quotes and commentaries should be considered brainstorming. ) Quote & Citations Rhetorical Strategy (Refer to this list as needed.)

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Past leaders such as Andrew Jackson, Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, and Marc Antony are evidence that society does not reward morality and good character in leadership. Society is drawn to leaders that have good rhetoric, propaganda, and charismatic personalities, and society supports them despite their immorality. Society is concerned about stability more than the morality of their leaders and will support immoral leaders in times of crisis to provide stability. In history there have been multiple leaders that have used rhetoric, propaganda and charismatic personalities to gain power, despite their morals.

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Briefcases: Steps toward Rhetorical Analysis”, Carroll describes the need for rhetorical analysis to assist in decoding the purpose and intent behind a cornucopia of the situation we faced daily. She elucidates the subject by describing the steps that we need to effectively to do it. She points out how we analyze people around us by making quickly a conclusion to the person that we are analyzing. As a student, it is important that we use Rhetorical Analysis as a strategy to communicate effectively.

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This paper will be talking about the similarities with the Reformation and WWI. What is War? War is a state of armed conflict between different nations or states or different groups within a nation or state. Sometimes we think that people in the past haven’t been to war before and it never started until 1914. People in the past had wars of beliefs or in Religion.

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In his landmark essay, "The Rhetorical Situation," rhetorical scholar Lloyd Bitzer laid out some of the basic components of the rhetorical situation. Bitzer views rhetoric as a action and not just hot air and fancy words. He defines rhetoric as “A mode of altering reality, not by the direct application of energy to objects, but by the creation of discourse which changes reality through the mediation of thought and action.” He sees rhetoric as a way to learn how to get things done. Rhetoric can be applied to practical things.

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In Act 2 Scene 2 of Hamlet by William Shakespeare, Shakespeare highlights the complexity of Hamlet’s interactions with others. Shakespeare does this through Hamlet’s conversations with others, as he exemplifies his intelligence, manipulates others, and expresses great emotions. In Hamlet, vivid conversations take place as they exemplify Hamlet’s interactions with others, such as when he expresses his intelligence, whether or not it is witty or genuine. His intelligence both illuminates and complicates his relationships with other characters. This is displayed when Hamlet and Lord Polonius exchange an encounter full of satirical remarks as Hamlet mocks Polonius and presents keen cleverness.

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