Blog Post 1 – What is Rhetorical Situation?

To me, Rhetorical Situation is the internal motivation for why and the external style for how we express ourselves. Every bit of speech has a purpose, and the way we present that speech depends on that purpose in addition to the circumstances the speech is made. Rhetoric that creates a Rhetorical Situation can be verbal, written, or visual. Rhetorical Situation is present in everything we do, from lazily telling your sibling you will be down in a second in the morning, to passionately presenting a topic to your peers.

As an aspiring litigator and courtroom geek, I often imagine myself presenting a closing argument in court during a Mock Trial Tournament. I practice this situation for weeks to perfect my rhetoric for the jury.

Despite the scores of people, the courtroom is quiet. Not a pin drop would go unheard in the seconds before I begin my speech. My purpose is to summarize the evidence presented throughout trial, persuade the jury of my case theory, and perform this persuasion in such a way that I will score highly on the judges ‘ ballots. I am constrained, of course, by the rules of competition, court procedure, and the facts in the case packet. There is a certain candor I am restricted from by the anxiety I am feeling. Yet, as I grow more comfortable through more competitions and experience hopefully my rhetoric will grow more powerful.