Watch Lloyd Bitzer’s Rhetorical Situation, by Travis McNair. Take note of the main concepts that make up Bitzer's model.
Notice that, although McNair refers repeatedly to persuasion, the Rhetorical Situation can just as easily apply to what in contemporary times we refer to as "informative" speaking. In addition, Bitzer's model applies just as well to analyzing the speaking situation for a narrative speech in which you "tell a story" to the audience.
Also pay attention to what McNair says about audience, because you will need this for the next assignment.
Analyze the following historical example:
In his second inaugural address, Abraham Lincoln argues that the United States should finish the war with an attitude of “malice towards none.” To this end, he argues that American citizens should work toward recovery from the war rather than blaming each other for the war.
Reply to the discussion and identify Bitzer’s key concepts using examples from the scenario. Do you think Bitzer’s model can be applied to every speaking situation from narrative speeches (storytelling) to persuasion? Why or why not?