The ingredients of a rhetorical situation

I feel as though reading Bitzer for the second time in two semesters is good. The first time through was rough, but reading it again made more sense.

Overall, Bitzer discusses the composition of a rhetorical situation, which involves audience, exigency and constraints. When looking at any rhetorical situation, the audience is a key part in developing the argument for the exigency. Because audience can vary so much, it is important to pay close attention to who the audience is and how it may affect the situation.

The exigence, as Bitzer states, is "an imperfection marked by urgency." Exigence is what makes a rhetorical situation in the first place, and Bitzer also illustrates the fact that exigence can only exist rhetorically when it can be positively modified.

Finally, one must pay attention to the constraints of a rhetorical situation as well. The constraints are essentially what limits the rhetorical situation, which is why they must be recognized while addressing an exigency.

As Bitzer says, there are three main components for a rhetorical situation, audience, exigence and constraints. Each part plays an important role in the situation, and truly shapes it as a whole.