Examples of EXIGENCE

There are examples of Exigence all around us, whether it is written or oral. The Exigence for this newsletter is providing information and insight on different rhetorical terms, and helping ne Editing Writing and Media students. The Exigence for Lloyd Bitzer writing Rhetorical Situation was his need to explain what three constituents made up a Rhetorical Situation (Exigence, Audience, and Constraints) where Vatzs Exigence is his response to Bitzer, stating that you create your own Exigence. Some practical examples include Tiger Woods is his apology speech. His Exigence for that was he wanted to get rid of the shame and guilt for cheating on his wife, to clear his name, and to get back the respect of his sponsors and fans. Abraham Lincolns Exigence for the Gettysburg Address during the civil war was to extol liberty and honor the people fighting for our nation who died in hope that there would still be a nation in the end. Arthur B. Miller even states that theyre may be a variety of Exigences in each piece, and that there are different Exigences based on different backgrounds, beliefs, and morals (p. 116).

EXIGENCE critiques
Contrasting to Bitzers Rhetorical Situation where Exigence is an identifiable something that acts to specify speech, as well as specify limits and the rhetor has to interpret the significance of the Exigence within those limits (Miller p. 111). Miller also states that the ultimate or perceived nature of the Exigence depends upon the constraints of the perceiver (p. 112). Our own interpretations of different rhetorical situations create different Exigences for each individual. What one may get out of a reading, another person may have thought the purpose was completely different and got something else out of it. Because of this, set Exigences may be limiting to the authors, but to us as readers as well because we may think its supposed to be taken as one way, when it is really meant to be another. The rhetors challenge is to make the Exigences clear, and the audience must know the constraints before making a judgment.

Key Questions
Some key questions to ask while analyzing a paper and looking for exigence is what was the author actually trying to say when they wrote it? Not what you want them to be saying. Also, always make sure to look for some sort of rational while reading. Most authors will include some sort of indication as to why they wrote what they wrote. It is also important when writing and having your own exigences, to be aware of the audience and what they want, the rhetorical situation that you are a part of, and the constraints or limitations of the situation.

Using EXIGENCE in our everyday lives

Now that were all up to date with the word Exigence, how are ways that we can go about using it?
Now it may not be practical to throw the term around when just talking about any purpose or need to satisfy, but it can help most definitely in any classroom. You might even have to give your teachers a lesson on it. Basically, what we hope that you take away from this newsletter is that Exigence is no longer a term to be afraid of, but rather one that allows us to think and question the author on their reasons for writing, and allows us so see some insight on what went into the piece of work. As you can see, Exigences are all around us and we dont even notice them. Just small little states of urgency that need to be satisfied. With this new knowledge of the word, we challenge you to get out there and start using it! Discover the Exigence behind each written piece you come across, and youll read it from brand new eyes! When you learn the reasoning and purpose that goes into different works, you learn the true meaning and what the author really wanted to day.

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WORKS CITED

Bitzer, Lloyd. "Rhetorical Situation." (1968): 1-14. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. Killingsworth, Jimmie. "Appeals in Modern Rhetoric." SIU. (2005): n. page. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. Miller, Arthur B. "Rhetorical Exigence." Philosophy and Rhetoric. 5.2 (1972): 112-118. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. "Merriam-Webster." An Encyclopedia Brittanica Company. 2013. <http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exigence>. "President Lincoln Gives His Gettysburg Address." History Channel. n.d. n. page. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. <http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/lincolns-gettysburg-address>. Vatz, Richard. "The Myth of the Rhetorical Situation." Penn State University Press. 6.3 (1973): 154-161. Web. 13 Feb. 2013. Killingsworth, Jimmie. "Appeals in Modern Rhetoric." SIU. (2005): n. page. Web. 13 Feb. 2013.