Rhetorical contexts5/15/2023 ![]() ![]() Generating interest in your speech is only the first step as you guide perception through selection, organization, and interpretation of content and ways to communicate your point. Several of the first questions any audience member asks himself or herself are, “Why should I listen to you?” “What does what you are saying have to do with me?” and “How does this help me?” We communicate through the lens of personal experience and it’s only natural that we would relate what others say to our own needs and wants, but by recognizing that we share in our humanity many of the same basic motivations, we can find common ground of mutual interest. This “other-orientation” is key to your success as an effective speaker. By looking to your audience, you shift your attention from an internal focus (you) to an external (them/others) emphasis. ![]() Just as a group makes a leader, an audience makes a speaker. The audience gives you the space and time as a speaker to fulfill your role and, hopefully, their expectations. Remember that without an audience to listen and respond to you, it’s really not much of a speech. In so doing, you’ll make the transition from your viewpoint to that of your audience members. By understanding the rhetorical situation, you can gauge the best ways to reach your listeners and get your points across. In the classical tradition, the art of public speaking is called rhetoric the circumstances in which you give your speech or presentation are the rhetorical situation. Label and discuss the three main components of the rhetorical situation.
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