For every text you compose throughout your career as a student and beyond, you must consider the rhetorical situation of that text. The rhetorical situation is how your project is positioned in relation to yourself, your audience, and the world around you, and it determines how effective your text will be at accomplishing your purpose for writing. Once you have determined your overall rhetorical situation, you should consider how well your text appeals to the intended audience. Rhetorical appeals are the elements of your text which help you relate to your audience and communicate effectively. Use the printable version below to learn more about the rhetorical situation and rhetorical appeals.

Dynamic PDF: The Rhetorical Situation and Rhetorical Appeals