Rhetorical Situation (SPACECAT)
What does the “P” in SPACECAT stand for?
Purpose
What’s one key difference between writing for a professional vs. public audience?
Professional = formal, clear, concise; Public = persuasive, emotional, audience-driven
What is visual rhetoric?
The use of images and visuals to persuade or convey meaning
What is a logical fallacy?
A flaw in reasoning that weakens an argument
What is Gladwell’s central claim in Outliers?
Success depends on opportunity, timing, and cultural background, not just talent.
What is the difference between context and exigence?
Context = the broader situation; exigence = what sparked the text
Which genre would you likely use a call to action in: resume, op-ed, or cover letter?
Op-ed
What rhetorical appeal is strongest when a documentary includes emotional music and close-up shots of crying individuals?
Pathos
What fallacy attacks a person rather than their argument?
Ad hominem
What is the 10,000-hour rule?
Mastery requires 10,000 hours of focused practice
What rhetorical appeal builds the speaker's credibility?
Ethos
Why is audience awareness essential in real-world writing?
It guides your tone, style, content, and appeal strategy.
Define framing in a documentary.
How the filmmaker presents or structures the narrative to influence meaning
"If we allow students to retake tests, next they’ll want to retake entire courses!”
What fallacy is this?
Slippery slope
How does Gladwell use the story of Chris Langan?
To show that IQ alone doesn’t guarantee success
What’s the “tone” in SPACECAT?
Tone = speaker’s attitude
Identify the rhetorical appeal used in a social media caption: “Every dollar you give feeds a child in need.”
Pathos
How can a documentary build ethos?
Using expert interviews, credible data, and strong narration
“Either you support the policy or you’re against your country.” What fallacy is this?
False dilemma
What is power distance, and how does it affect airline safety?
High power distance cultures may avoid direct communication, leading to miscommunication in crises
A speaker gives a speech at a climate summit emphasizing her personal story of losing her home to wildfire, uses clear data from scientific sources, and cites her experience as a firefighter. Match each rhetorical appeal (ethos, logos, pathos) to the correct example in the speech.
Ethos = her job; Pathos = her story; Logos = her data
Revise this professional email subject line to be more effective: “Stuff from Yesterday”
Ex: Follow-Up on July 14 Advising Meeting
Name two editing or visual techniques used to guide emotional response in Free Solo.
Suspenseful pacing, close-ups, dramatic music, showing photos of him as a child, etc.
Create your own example of a bandwagon fallacy.
Answer will vary, but should essentially use the argument: "Everyone's doing it, so it must be right."
How do cultural legacies influence behavior in modern life, according to Gladwell?
They shape how we think, communicate, and respond to authority or success