Journal 4: Rhetorical SituationTo Bitzer, each circumstance of writing constitutes a different rhetorical situation.

It is the means by which the author solves the problem he is presented with. Bitzer writes that rhetorical situation is the “Contexts in which speakers or writers create rhetorical discourse”(1). He defines rhetorical situation using the key terms “Audience,” “Speaker,” “Subject,” “Occasion” and “Speech”(1). I would define rhetorical situation as the way an author approaches his circumstances to produce the most appropriate and efficient work. Bitzer’s definition connects most with my key term “Rhetoric” because it is how the writer uses his words to bridge the gap between the reader’s perception and his ideas. By using rhetorical situation, the author gets to choose how he wants his audience to view the subject and how the should feel about it after reading the piece. To me, rhetorical situation is very similar to genre. The genre is heavily influenced by the rhetorical situation the writer is in. After many authors are put in the same rhetorical situation it creates that genre. In Anzaldua’s essay, she finds herself in a situation of discrimination and she wants to communicate the negative effects of it to her audience. Therefore, she uses a certain voice and combination of evidence and convictions to accomplish her goal.