Understanding Writing:
The Rhetorical Situation
A workshop brought to you by
the Purdue University
Writing Lab
Purdue University Writing Lab
Rhetorical Situation
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Writer
Purpose
Audience
Topic
Context
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Writer

your personal
characteristics
and interests
affect what you
write about and
how you write
about it
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Writer: factors which can affect
your writing include
your age
 your experiences
 your gender
 your location
 your political beliefs
 your education
 your parents and
peers
 your religion
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Purpose: your reason for
writing
to ___________
 to inform
 to persuade
 to educate
 to call to action
 to entertain
 to shock
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Genre
category of writing
 examples: fiction,
autobiographical
story, news article,
review, editorial,
analysis
 genres hinge upon
purpose and the
needs of the
projected audience
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Audience: to whom are you
writing?
many of the same
factors which affect
the writer also affect
the audience
 age
 social class
 education
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Topic
whatever it is that
you have selected to
write about
 may be broadened
or narrowed,
depending upon the
length of the article
and your level of
interest
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Context
the “situation” which
generates the need
for writing
 affected by time
period
 location
 current events
 cultural significance

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Rhetorical Situation





Writer
Purpose
Audience
Topic
Context
Purdue University Writing Lab
What This Means
 You
need to be aware that a
rhetorical situation exists EVERY
TIME you write.
 You
need to adapt your writing
depending upon your purpose and
your audience.
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