Misc

Question 1

Authority

Claiming that something must be true because it is believed by someone who said to be an “authority” on the subject; the capacity to produce reasoned elaboration and persuasive arguments

Answer 1

Ex. 1 - A commercial claims that a specific brand of cereal is the best way to start the day because athlete Michael Jordan says that it is what he eats every day for breakfast

Ex. 2 - A commercial claims that 3 out of 4 dentists would choose this particular brand of toothpaste for their own families to use.

Question 2

Audience

The listeners or spectators at a speech or performance, or the intended readership for a piece of writing.

Answer 2

Ex. 1 - People watching a play at a theater

Ex. 2 - The group of people a piece of writing is intended for

Question 3

Exigence

An issue, problem, or situation that causes or prompts someone to write or speak.

Answer 3

Ex. 1 - A congressman delivers a speech arguing that we need stricter gun control. The exigence is that
the congressman believes stricter gun control will lead to less gun violence.

Ex. 2 - A pastor writes and delivers a eulogy at a funeral. The exigence is that it is customary to reflect on a deceased person’s life and accomplishments

Question 4

Rhetorical Situation

Any set of circumstances that involves at least one person using some sort of communication to modify the perspective of at least one other person.

Answer 4

Ex. 1 - A prosecutor’s closing statement

Ex. 2 - An advertisement hawking the next needful thing you can’t possibly live without

Question 5

Assertion

An emphatic declaration by a speaker or writer.

It’s not necessarily factually correct, but the person making the assertion forcefully states their belief as if it were true.

Answer 5

Ex. 1 - People stating the world is flat

Ex. 2 - A person who stands up boldly in a meeting with a point in opposition to the presenter, despite having valid evidence to support his statement