The topic is “Pollution from an Economic Perspective.”

1-Think of an argument you have been involved in (The argument is Pollution from an Economic Perspective:) Describe an argument or discussion you have had with someone or one that you have written (this can be a really silly or mundane example!). Why did you write/have this argument? What was/is your position? Who was this argument with or for?

Example: My husband’s family from across the country is having a reunion in Colorado in July. It is being organized by an uncle who lives in California. Since he doesn’t live in Colorado, the planning and communication are chaotic. I think my husband and I should help with the planning and organizing. My husband doesn’t want to get involved because he doesn’t like to plan things and his uncle can be difficult; however, I think we should help.

2-earn more about the common features involved in argument situations: Please read pages 37-42 and 44-47 in Perspectives. These ideas are from chapter 2. Then, use the textbook to explain the following terms and give some examples:
a) What are some different kinds of argument texts?
b) What is exigence? What are some examples?
c) What are constraints? What are some examples? How can these be positive as well as negative?

3-Apply the textbook reading: Use the TRACE criteria from the textbook reading to briefly analyze the argument you described in question one. Just write a short paragraph to show that you can identify the different elements.

Example: TEXT — a conversation or discussion; READER — my husband; AUTHOR — me; CONSTRAINTS — my husband does not like organizing things, he has negative experiences with his uncle; I like organizing things and have not had the negative experiences. However, we both want the reunion to be less chaotic. EXIGENCE: The reunion planning and communication are unorganized and chaotic.

4-Read or listen to Bitzer’s original article, “The Rhetorical Situation” from 1968 and answer the questions below. Remember to use quotations if you take words and phrases directly from the text.

— Click this link for a copy of the reading. (Links to an external site.) Focus on sections II, III and IV.

Questions:
a) What else does Bitzer say about exigence and how you can determine if it is rhetorical?
b) What else does Bitzer say about the audience and how it can be rhetorical?
c) How does Bitzer describe constraints?

5-Apply Bitzer’s theory to some scenarios. According to Bitzer’s theory, some situations and arguments are rhetorical and some are not. Which of these situations would be considered “rhetorical?” Why or why not?
a) Your dog has bad allergies, so you make an appointment to visit the vet.
b) Coming back from an evening out, you realize that the dog has been chewing on the furniture and destroyed one of your shoes.
c) You write a poem about your dog, expressing how much you love him.
d) Your girlfriend wants to get another dog, but you disagree.
e) Your girlfriend goes ahead and gets a puppy anyway, and you still disagree.

6-Reconsider your example in question one. Considering your example argument, do you think it was a rhetorical situation? Why or why not?

1. Example: For my situation with the family reunion, it could be rhetorical but maybe not. It involves discourse because we can talk about the problem, but I don’t know if we can really positively change the exigence. If I convince my husband (by arguing/explaining) that we should help, then the chaos of the poor communication and organization could be reduced. However, it might just be that arranging this reunion is going to be difficult because there are so many opinionated people involved. Simply talking to my husband and convincing him to help might not really solve the problem.

7-Other theorists have questioned Bitzer’s ideas because they could be overly simplistic. One critic, Richard Vatz, argues that it is not the “situation” that presents the exigence Edit download (Links to an external site.), but that the rhetor (or writer) chooses what should be written about and what is important (or salient). Look at today’s headlines in a newspaper or magazine you read sometimes. Tell me what publication you are looking at (give me a link), then answer these questions: In your opinion, what is generating the arguments or news stories highlighted here? Is there an urgent situation that naturally demands a response? What other factors might determine the content of the different articles?