RhetoricalDigital Rhetoric Situation

ings inThird, a digital a rhetorical environment. situation Thus, by delivery defi ni- cantion refer has constraints,to traditional and ways they of come sharing in two a text—informs. An speech author and may on paper—but bring certain it can con- Subject alsostraints refer to to the other writing, forms forof sharing example through certain mediabeliefs thatthat ofteninfl uence interact how withthe author each other.under- Thestands central a given question issue. Likewise, is how this there new are digital con- andstraints networked associated environment with the situation is changing itself, rhetoric.for instance the frame of mind of the audi- ence or the environment in which they hear Significance Composer Audience or read a text. Both of these constraints are part of the rhetorical situation because they Digital rhetoric is a new field of study and can infl uence audience response and the po- practice adapting the principles of rhetoric DefinitionContext tential of the writer to make change. for a world where we write to the screen The term rhetoric often refers to a set of as muchImportance as to the page, in wherethe Field we write to practices and a theory helping us to make, readers we have never met halfway around represent,Text, and shareGenre, knowledge, Medium and often theAlthough globe—who scholars may disagree well write on whichback to comes and we think of rhetoric, more specifically, as the withfi rst—the us. writing or the rhetorical situation— art of persuasion. Thus, in writing in both they agree that effective writers use the con- in school and out,Defi we nition attempt to persuade cept of the rhetoricalResources situation throughout their others by use of logos, pathos, and ethos. composing processes. They use it as a way to Some might say that the rhetorical situation, Bolter, Jay David. Writing Space: The Computer, Likewise, we often compose by using the frameHypertext, a writing and thetask, History for example. of Writing And. Mahwah: they use an expression coined by Lloyd Bitzer, is the rhetorical canons—invention, arrangement, it asLawrence they compose, Erlbaum, to1991. be Print.sure that their writing most important concept in writing. style, memory, and delivery—as a heuristic Gurak,keeps Laura,its intended Smiljana focus. Antonijevic, Laurie Johnson, According to Bitzer, all writing occurs for composing. But in a digitally mediated ClancyIn Ratliff, sum, and the Jessica rhetorical Reyman, situation eds. Into isthe the within a rhetorical situation, and every rhe- Blogosphere: Rhetoric, Community, and Culture of environment, composing may need to em- situationWeblogs . inUniversity which of we Minnesota. all write—be Web. it a text torical situation has three components. ploy a different rhetoric, a digital rhetoric. message; a resume; or a research project and First, a rhetorical situation includes Ridolfo, Jim, and Dànielle Nicole DeVoss. “Compos- For example, in traditional rhetoric, we poster.ing for Recomposition: Rhetorical Velocity and what he calls an “exigence,” or occasion for Delivery.” Kairos: A Journal of Rhetoric, Technol- think of the rhetor/composer and the audi- writing. More specifi cally, such an occasion ogy, and Pedagogy 13.2 (2009). Web. ence as being separate, but as James Zappen Resources carries with it both a sense of urgency and Turkle, Sherry. Life on the Screen: Identity in the Age observes, digital rhetoric seems less inter- of the Internet. New York: Simon and Schuster, a promise that through writing, a composer Enos, Richard Leo. “The History of Rhetoric.” ested in persuasion and more interested in 1995.Coming Print. of Age: The Advanced Writing Cur- can make a change to that situation. how we can support “self-expression” and Welch,riculum. Kathleen Ed. E.Linda Electric K. Rhetoric:Shamoon, Classical Rebecca Rheto- Second (and while it may seem obvi- “creative collaboration for the purpose of ric,Moore Oralism, Howard, and a Sandra New Literacy Jamieson,. Cambridge: and Robert MIT ous), a rhetorical situation includes an audi- Press,Schwegler. 1999. Print. Portsmouth: Boynton/Cook, 2000. building communities of shared interest” ence that can be infl uenced by or react to the Zappen,81–86. James. Print. “Digital Rhetoric: Toward an (321). Likewise, the rhetorical canon of writing. Lowe,Integrated Kelly. Theory.” “Against Technical the Writing Communication Major.” Com- delivery seems to be taking on new mean- Quarterly 14.3 (2005): 319–25. Print. position Studies 35.1 (2007): 97–98. Print. Lunsford, Andrea A. “The Future of Writing Programs—and WPAs.” Plenary Address. Conference of the Council of WPA. Grand CCC Hyatt, Denver. 10 July 2008. Address. College Composition and Communication

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