Teaching Bitzer's Rhetorical Situation Theory Through Game Based Learning by Sherry Jones (Apr. 17, 2020)
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Sherry Jones presents a workshop on using digital games to teach Lloyd Bitzer's rhetorical situation theory, aiming to enhance understanding of complex rhetorical concepts through interactive learning. Participants engage in game-based activities that simulate rhetorical scenarios, analyzing the games in relation to rhetoric studies. Jones also provides recommendations for various digital games that can effectively illustrate rhetorical principles.
![Lloyd Bitzer’s Rhetorical Situation Theory
★ In “The Rhetorical Situation” (1968), rhetorician Lloyd F. Bitzer introduces a
“rhetorical situation” theory that explains the conditions that make the existence of
rhetorical discourses possible. He defines the following terms:
★ “Rhetoric is a mode of altering reality . . . by the creation of discourse which
changes reality through the mediation of thought and action” (Bitzer, 1968, p. 4).
★ “The rhetor alters reality by bringing into existence a discourse of such a
character that the audience, in thought and action, is so engaged that it becomes
mediator of change. In this sense rhetoric is always persuasive” (Bitzer, 1968, p. 4).
★ “Rhetorical situation [is] a natural context of persons, events, objects, relations,
and an exigence which strongly invites utterance” (Bitzer, 1968, p. 5).
6](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/teachingbitzersrhetoricalsituationtheorythroughgame-basedlearningbysherryjonesapr-200419060030/85/Teaching-Bitzer-s-Rhetorical-Situation-Theory-Through-Game-Based-Learning-by-Sherry-Jones-Apr-17-2020-6-320.jpg)
![21
“Jotun”
Action
Exploration
Game in Valhalla,
Based on Norse
Mythology
($14.99)
(Windows,
OS X,
Linux,
PS 4,
Wii U,
XBox One,
Nintendo Switch,
Steam)]](https://image.slidesharecdn.com/teachingbitzersrhetoricalsituationtheorythroughgame-basedlearningbysherryjonesapr-200419060030/85/Teaching-Bitzer-s-Rhetorical-Situation-Theory-Through-Game-Based-Learning-by-Sherry-Jones-Apr-17-2020-21-320.jpg)
Teaching Bitzer's Rhetorical Situation Theory Through Game Based Learning by Sherry Jones (Apr. 17, 2020)
- 1. Teaching Bitzer’s Rhetorical Situation Theory Through Game-Based Learning Sherry Jones | 2020 eLearning Consortium of Colorado Conference
- 2. HELLO!I am Sherry Jones ★ Philosophy + Games Studies SME Instructor, Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design. ★ Steering Committee Board Member, International Game Developers Association (IGDA) - Learning, Games + Education. ★ Judge, Software Information Industry Association (SIIA) CODiE Awards - Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Games + Gamification in Education. ★ Officer, IEEE Computer, Information Theory + Robotics Society. ★ Twitter @ autnes ★ Bio @ http://bit.ly/sherryjonesbio ★ Slides @ http://bit.ly/gamesituations 2
- 3. About This Virtual Workshop ★ The Purpose: This virtual workshop will demonstrate how digital games can be used to enhance our understanding of complex, rhetorical theories, that may be difficult for learners to conceptually grasp. ★ Game-Based Learning in Action: We will play a series of digital games that serve as metaphors of real world situations. ★ Collaborative Assignment in Action: We will complete a collaborative assignment designed to analyze the digital games using a rhetorical theory. ★ Further Considerations: Recommendations of digital games for enhancing rhetoric studies will be provided. 3
- 4. Introduction to Rhetoric Studies ★ Rhetoric Studies Are Interested In: ○ how rhetorical discourses (communications that seek or argue for the truth) function and are expressed in various patterns and through various rhetorical devices. ○ why rhetorical discourses about certain issues become necessary or important during specific time periods. ○ what forms or mediums of rhetorical discourses are most effective for persuading an intended audience. ★ A Pedagogical Problem: Most introductory rhetoric courses discuss theories about the processes and procedures for constructing rhetorical discourses, but ignore discussions about the conditions that allow for rhetorical discourses to exist in the first place. 4
- 5. Rhetorical Situation A theory that should be studied in introduction to rhetoric courses. 5
- 6. Lloyd Bitzer’s Rhetorical Situation Theory ★ In “The Rhetorical Situation” (1968), rhetorician Lloyd F. Bitzer introduces a “rhetorical situation” theory that explains the conditions that make the existence of rhetorical discourses possible. He defines the following terms: ★ “Rhetoric is a mode of altering reality . . . by the creation of discourse which changes reality through the mediation of thought and action” (Bitzer, 1968, p. 4). ★ “The rhetor alters reality by bringing into existence a discourse of such a character that the audience, in thought and action, is so engaged that it becomes mediator of change. In this sense rhetoric is always persuasive” (Bitzer, 1968, p. 4). ★ “Rhetorical situation [is] a natural context of persons, events, objects, relations, and an exigence which strongly invites utterance” (Bitzer, 1968, p. 5). 6
- 7. 3 Elements in the Rhetorical Situation Theory ★ “Any exigence is an imperfection marked by urgency; it is a defect, an obstacle, something waiting to be done, a thing which is other than it should be” (Bitzer, 1968, p. 6). Exigence refers to problems in a rhetorical situation that are waiting to be solved. ★ “A rhetorical audience consists only of those persons who are capable of being influenced by discourse and of being mediators of change” (Bitzer, 1968, p. 8). Audience refers to those who believe they are able to respond to or solve the exigence of a rhetorical situation. ★ “A set of constraints made up of persons, events, objects, and relations which are parts of the situation because they have the power to constrain decision and action needed to modify the exigence” (Bitzer, 1968, p. 9). Constraints refer to objects, obstacles, or conditions that limit our decisions to modify or solve the exigence. 7
- 8. A Teaching Solution Use Digital Games as Simulations of Rhetorical Situations That Invite Rhetorical Discourses. 8
- 9. Why Games for Learning? ★ Games can serve as interactive thought experiments that allow students to embody and perform a series of actions while analyzing the simulated conditions that led to actions performed in a simulated rhetorical situation. ★ As players with personal stakes to survive in a game/thought experiment, learners pay close attention to the simulated conditions that constrain or afford their play actions. This differs from reading a philosophical thought experiment without having to perform the choice of actions offered. ★ Learners, through play, can reflect on their game actions constrained by simulated cultural, social, and physical conditions in a rhetorical situation, which calls for a rhetorical discourse. 9
- 10. Let’s Play “Gods Will Be Watching” http://bit.ly/godswatch 10
- 11. Time for a Play Exercise 1 Participate in this play exercise by accessing the following Google Docs. http://bit.ly/playreflect1 11
- 12. Let’s Play “We Become What We Behold” http://bit.ly/wbwwb3 12
- 13. Time for a Play Exercise 2 Participate in this play exercise by accessing the following Google Docs. http://bit.ly/playreflect2 13
- 14. Recommended Games Long form and story-rich indie games recommended for rhetoric studies. 14
- 15. 15 “Distraint” Horror Puzzle Game About a Rent Collector (Free + Ads) (Android, iOS, Nintendo Switch, PS 4, Windows, PS Vita, Steam)
- 16. 16 “My Child Lebensborn (Fount of Life)” First Person Game About Nazis and 1960s Norway ($2.99) (Android, iOS)
- 17. 17 "The Park" First Person Horror Game About an Amusement Park ($5.19) (Windows, PS 4 XBox One, Nintendo Switch, Steam)
- 18. 18 "GRIS" Platformer Adventure Game About Tragic Loss ($8.49) (macOS, Windows, Nintendo Switch, iOS, PS 4, Steam)
- 20. 20 “Beholder 2” First Person Adventure Game about Surveillance ($14.99) (Windows, Linux, macOS, Google Play, App Store)
- 21. 21 “Jotun” Action Exploration Game in Valhalla, Based on Norse Mythology ($14.99) (Windows, OS X, Linux, PS 4, Wii U, XBox One, Nintendo Switch, Steam)]
- 22. 22 “Draugen” Mystery Adventure Game in 1920s Norway ($19.99) (Windows, PS 4, Xbox One, Steam)
- 23. 23 “Inside” Horror Puzzle Game ($19.99) (Windows, PS 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, iOS, Steam)
- 24. 24 "Kentucky Route Zero" A Magic Realist Adventure Game About a Secret Highway ($24.99) Horror Game (Windows, PS 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, iOS, Steam)
- 25. More Game Recommendations See my 2018 “Ethics and Games” series to discover more games that can be used to teach theories of rhetoric, as well as theories of moral philosophy and ethics. “Ethics and Games” http://bit.ly/ethicsandgames 25
- 26. 26 THANKS!Sherry Jones ★ Philosophy + Games Studies SME Instructor, Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design. ★ Steering Committee Board Member, International Game Developers Association (IGDA) - Learning, Games + Education. ★ Judge, Software Information Industry Association (SIIA) CODiE Awards - Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, Games + Gamification in Education. ★ Officer, IEEE Computer, Information Theory + Robotics Society. ★ Twitter @ autnes ★ Bio @ http://bit.ly/sherryjonesbio ★ Slides @ http://bit.ly/gamesituations
- 27. CREDITS Special thanks to all the people who made and released these awesome resources for free: ❑ Presentation template by SlidesCarnival ❑ Photographs by Unsplash 27