Blog Post 9

constraints. A rhetorical situation or event is one that contains an issue that applies to an audience accompanied by a set of constraints.

An exigence is a reason or something waiting to be done It’s the base of the situation/ what the problem is built upon . Not all exigences are rhetorical. According to Bitzer, only exigences that can be modified and positive modification that requires discourse or the assistance there of, is rhetorical. He uses the example of air pollution, because the reduction of air pollution is brought on by discourse producing public awareness and action.

Bitzer describes a rhetorical audience as persons capable of being influenced by discourse and being mediators of change. The audience must contribute to the decision or the change in order to be considered audience. The writer gives an example of scientists and poets that do not require an audience in order to produce their end.

A rhetorical situation contains constraints- persons, events, objects and relations. These constraints can limit decisions and actions needed to alter the exigency. The two main classes of constraints are stated as those which are operative and those that originate by the rhetoric. Other examples of constraints include facts, attitudes, beliefs, documentary and many more. Constraints are basically what impacts as well as changes the final decision. But its not just what changes it but how, for example what beliefs, opinions, and traditions that caused it to do so.