Daily Message Sept. 1

Good Day,

Today, I want to talk briefly about the rhetorical situation.

Background readings vs. K&R

I know that you have all read the background readings in the Course Introduction module, and I know that you have all read the first chapter in our textbook. I hope that you can see how the two discussions of the rhetorical situation blend together.


In the background readings we talk about the need for understanding writer and text, along with audience (reader) and context/purpose. Keep in mind that these are seeking the same goals although from slightly different angles. Kostelnick and Roberts make certain assumptions about writer and text. Not that they don’t exist or that we don’t need to account for them, but they see them as less important in the scheme of constructing your documents.

From my perspective, especially for students who are still developing the skills that they will need to be successful writers, accounting for your role as writer in any given situation is extremely important. Too often in academics the writer is assumed to be less knowledgeable than the reader (the teacher), but more often than not outside of academics, the writer is writing as an expert or in a position of authority.

This  difference in role of the writer makes a huge difference in the language that you use and the kinds of facts/details that you must present. Similarly, accounting for the kind of text that you are constructing will help guide you effectively in its organization and visual makeup (see background reading on genre).

As I said, while the book does not discount these features, they focus on the features they believe are most important for their work. You need to understand and apply all of the features (writer, reader, text, context, and purpose) as you develop into a successful writer in any rhetorical situation.

Why do we do reflections?

While I'm waxing philosophical, I'd also like to say a bit about the reflective component for each module. I do so because I want to reemphasize the importance of this activity.

For me, the real worth of any learning environment is the opportunity to begin to try to articulate what you have gained from a particular assignment or a particular activity. I realize that you may not fully appreciate any part of your university education until years later; however, I also believe that developing a habit of mind that examines your work critically on a regular (if not daily) basis is extremely important.

Your learning and application of concepts is your work for this course, and I want you to think deeply about what you've learned, what you need to learn, what you need to do to prepare yourself for the future. Be vigilant. And this class will be a positive influence on the writing that you do for the rest of your life.

Julie