Genre is one element of rhetorical situation, thus proving that they are definitely connected. Rhetorical situation is the circumstances under which language meets style. According to Dirk’s, “Navigating Genres,” genres are seen as repeating rhetorical situations because genres and rhetorical situations both share a purpose, influence and inspire writing. Bitzer suggests rhetorical situations are rhetorical because they respond to a particular kind of circumstance. He also claims that they exist ...”ultimately to produce an action...” which counts as their overall purpose in writing. Because of this specific condition, a particular discourse is provided. This discourse is what provokes the certain response.
It is clear that genre, and therefore rhetorical situation, occurs in everyday writing because Dirk points out that whether it is a joke, email, or social media update, the ‘writer’ is performing various genres. I like his explanation and reasoning about it. He claimed, “…You were recognizing the rhetorical situation of your action and choosing to act in a manner that would result in the outcome you desired.” Writing a professional email to a professor and making sure my Facebook post is not raunchy seem so under the radar to me. I never realized that doing so is considered a ‘genre.’ Paige says that “everyday writing is a genre fueled by discourse that is derived from a situation that had become rhetoric...” I agree completely because that is how genres develop. George Washington’s State of the Union Address, as mentioned in Bitzer's essay, used to be a first time thing but now occurs annually, therefore being a genre that each successor has followed. Rhetorical situations and genres in everyday writing are in fact prevalent. Their effects help the reader grasp a better understanding of the writing piece.
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