Final answer:
Whichelm and Bitzer are concerned with critiquing rhetorical situations, involving the strategic analysis of persuasive communication within different rhetorical contexts.
Step-by-step explanation:
Whichelm and Bitzer are both concerned with critiquing rhetorical situations. Rhetorical criticism involves the analysis of texts or speech acts to understand the strategies used to persuade or inform an audience. This includes identifying the intended audience, the purpose of the rhetoric, the context in which it is delivered, and the appeals used by the rhetorician, often classified as ethos (credibility), logos (logic), and pathos (emotion).
Both Whichelm and Bitzer emphasize the importance of understanding the rhetorical situation, which includes the conditions and agents involved in communication. This understanding is central to analyzing the effectiveness of persuasive strategies and reasoning within a text or speech. The ability to critique these situations is an advanced skill utilized in many fields such as literature, law, and the analysis of public discourse.
By examining different types of rhetorical situations, one is able to communicate effectively within them and to understand the power dynamics and strategies at play. This process encourages critical thinking and a deeper engagement with the materials being studied, whether they be in written, spoken, or digital form