Aug. 29th, 2006; HW#4; Rhetorical Situation

The way I understand the rhetorical situation, I, as a writer, would need to put myself in to convey the message I want, with some degree clarity to those readers who would be my audience: who am I writing to; what is my purpose [explain; vent emotions; to convince/persuade; instruct]; why am I writing; what's the topic/thesis; what's the reason/cause as to the 'why' (from www.bristol.mass.edu/DepartmentPages/Quest_Writing_Lab/writing/rhetoric.htm

The one of many experiences I can share is of last Spring semester, at MCC, my first on a campus in about a decade. I chose to take "Small Group Communications" [primarily, to get "it" done & over with!] as one of my classes, knowing full-well I would be required to speak in front of my classmates. One of first assignments was somewhat of an self-introduction to the class--the topic was about something not obviuos to others. I chose one of my "hidden" illnesses that I take once-a-week and as a visual aid, I brought to class a cloth bag with this medication's name on it. As I spoke, I recallnow, that there was a sense of understanding from the audience of my classmates--they now knew the 'why' behind my wheelchair.