Reading Response on Situational Theory and Analysis

Read Crystal Lane Smith, “I Had an Abortion.”: The Rhetorical Situation of a Planned Parenthood T-Shirt,” pp. 57-63. Read Lundberg & Keith, The Essential Guide to Rhetoric, Chapter 3, “Situations and Speech Types,” pp. 26-34. In evaluating the possible value of these pieces (especially as you read them together), reflect on the extent to which they develop similar themes, have different opinions about something, and/or raise implicit or potential questions that could be applied to the other piece. Reading response (1) summarize your understanding of the main theme of the reading, as well as the thinking presented in each of its main sections to support that theme (you should summarize these understandings, in your own words, as generalizations or abstract claims; you should not include full-sentence quotes, nor recite the details or facts used to illustrate the larger claims, at least not at first, when you merely are summarizing the main theme and structure of the argument), (2) discuss at some length, and in your own words, the value, significance, or limits of the main arguments in the reading, and (3) list three probing or thoughtful questions (not just technical uncertainties about the meanings of terms, for example) that a person or community could actively raise in response to the reading, specifically about the art or practices of persuasion in politics. In other words, these should be questions that linger in the mind and can support thoughtful reflection even after you have adequately understood what the article says or suggests. Each of these three components in your response should be presented in its own section, marked by a descriptive heading or title.