Now let's take a look at a few examples of rhetorical situations and identify the exigences of each so you can become more familiar the term. The first on that we are going to look at is Tiger Woods' apology speech for the scandal of the multiple affairs and discuss the exigences in the speech.
Tiger Woods' speech is an example of a rhetorical situation. There are many exigences and constraints that can be discussed when examining the speech, and we'll talk at some of them. The main exigences in the speech is the discussion of the affairs. Tiger Woods had to address his indiscretions with the public because of his status in the media and public image.There is this need of an apology to the public after what happened because so many people idolized Tiger Woods. Although he never specifically addresses the affairs and what exactly happened, this is the whole purpose of the speech. Another exigence that he brings up is clearing up the rumors that his wife assaulted him on Thanksgiving. He wanted to bring this up to falsify the rumors and uphold her public image. He believed that this was an important point to address in his speech. The importance of not discrediting his foundation because of his now corrupted reputation is another exigence. He doesn't want the public as well as corporations to stop funding it because it isn't fair to the children that it is helping. There are many many more exigences that could be discussed such as the importance of keeping his family safe from the media and how wrong it is that paparazzi follows his children and wife around because of his indiscretions.
Hopefully after viewing his speech, you are getting a better understanding of the term. I think that it is important to realize that exigencies don't only exist in formal speeches; there are exigences in every rhetorical situation. Think about a project or a major paper that you have to do for a class. Maybe your paper is over some movie that you watched in class and you have to relate it to the book. That is an exigency because you are formulating an argument that connects the book and the movie and finding research, That is the main purpose of the paper. Another exigency is to inform your teacher that you know what you are talking about and you understand the material. Now you can see the relation of the term to your everyday life.
Here is another example in which we can identify the exigences so that you can practice determine them and master the term! Let's take a look at a less serious example: Taylor Swift's new hit "Shake it Off".
Hopefully after viewing his speech, you are getting a better understanding of the term. I think that it is important to realize that exigencies don't only exist in formal speeches; there are exigences in every rhetorical situation. Think about a project or a major paper that you have to do for a class. Maybe your paper is over some movie that you watched in class and you have to relate it to the book. That is an exigency because you are formulating an argument that connects the book and the movie and finding research, That is the main purpose of the paper. Another exigency is to inform your teacher that you know what you are talking about and you understand the material. Now you can see the relation of the term to your everyday life.
Here is another example in which we can identify the exigences so that you can practice determine them and master the term! Let's take a look at a less serious example: Taylor Swift's new hit "Shake it Off".
This is a less serious look at addressing exigences that doesn't come in the form of public speeches or writing. Taylor Swift wrote this song trying to convey a message to society. There are many things that she brings up in her song that she wants to make apparent such as certain stereotypes that people associate with her. The main exigence is to inform the public that regardless of what people say about her, she isn't going to let it bother her. She addresses stereotypes that she is known for such as being a serial dater and not being smart saying, "at least that's what people say". She is making it known that while all of these are being said about her, they aren't necessarily true. Another exigence is informing the media that there are things that they don't see such as her not dancing to be "good" but to have fun. Taylor is also addressing that she knows these things won't change because people are going to speculate about her and what is going on in her life, but she will continue to "shake it off". All the lyrics and overall message of the song are addressing something that she thinks should be shared with the world. Although it is an indirect form of confronting the problem, she is getting her message out to millions upon millions of people. The things mentioned in the song are things that she felt the need to get out into the public calling attention to it. Informally, she is addressing a problem that she feels needs to be brought up. She is responding the media in the same way that Tiger Woods is without the apology.