According to Lloyd Bitzer's theory, rhetorical considerations such as initial credibility, derived credibility, and perceived goodwill of the speaker fall under which aspect of the rhetorical situation?

Question

According to Lloyd Bitzer's theory, rhetorical considerations such as initial credibility, derived credibility, and perceived goodwill of the speaker  fall under which aspect of the rhetorical situation?

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

To start, let's parse the core idea of Bitzer's theory: the rhetorical situation comprises elements that prompt rhetorical action, including who speaks, to whom, and the surrounding constraints. 
Option 1: audience. The audience is a primary element in Bitzer's framework, but the question focuses specifically on credibility and goodwill tied to the speaker, not the audience’s characteristics or responses. So while audience matters, it does not capture the speaker-centered credibility described here.
Option 2: agent. The term agent in this context refers to the speaker or institution delivering the discourse. Initial credibility, derived credibility, and perceived goodwill of the speaker are qualities that belong to the agent and reflect how the speaker is viewed within the situation, influencing persuasiveness and acceptance. Thus, these speaker-centered attributes map onto the agent component of the rhetorical situation.
Option 3: exigence. Exigence is the imperfection or issue driving the rhetorical act—the problem to be addressed. While credibility can affect how exigence is perceived, credibility itself is not the exigence; it is a characteristic of the agent, not the triggering problem or need.
Option 4: producer. The term producer is not a standard element in Bitzer's framework. While a producer might be involved in creating discourse, Bitzer emphasizes the agent, audience, and constraints (scene), not a generic label like producer.
Option 5: scene. The scene refers to the broader setting or environment shaping the discourse (contextual factors, timing, constraints). Credibility judgments are not primarily a property of the scene itself, but of the speaker within that scene.
Option 6: act. The act denotes the actual speech or communicative event. Credibility relates to the speaker before and during the act, not the act as an isolated label, so this option misses the person responsible for delivering the message.
In summary, the features described—initial credibility, derived credibility, and perceived goodwill—are attributes attached to the speaker, i.e., the agent, rather than to the audience, the problem driving discourse, the production role, the setting, or the act itself. This makes the agent the most fitting category for these speaker-centered credibility cues.

CMN 001 A01-A20 SQ 2025 Midterm Exam #2 / Final

According to Lloyd Bitzer's theory, rhetorical considerations such as initial credibility, derived credibility, and perceived goodwill of the speaker fall under which aspect of the rhetorical situation?

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