In our careers and everyday lives, we have many different reasons for writing, whether it be a text to a friend or relative, an email at work, or even a post on social media.

In our careers and everyday lives, we have many different reasons for writing, whether it be a text to a friend or relative, an email at work, or even a post on social media.

This week you are exploring rhetorical situation. Whether you realize it or not, you’ve been evaluating rhetorical situations for as long as you’ve been writing. Each time you write, you make choices based on your audience (i.e., to whom you are writing) and your purpose.

Review the following resources before responding to the discussion questions:

Pre-Writing Process Questions

Pages discussing elements of rhetorical situations on the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) website:

Text

Author and Audience

Purposes

Setting

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Reflect on the writing you do in your life.

Respond to the following in a minimum of 175 words:

In your own words, how would you explain rhetorical situation to a friend who is unfamiliar with the term?

Why do you write? Who do you write to? How does your language and structure adjust as your purpose, audience, or context changes?

What is your current attitude toward writing? How would you describe your comfort level and familiarity with college writing or writing in general?

How might writing help you connect with others, relieve stress, or feel empowered to define your goals?

How will you determine your success in this course? How might your thought processes about writing contribute to your success in this course?

Response Requirements

By Thursday, respond to the prompt above in a minimum of 175 words.

By Monday, post a total of 3 substantive responses over 2 separate days for full participation. This includes your initial post and 2 replies to classmates or your faculty member.