Final answer:
Vatz argues that rhetoric creates situations, countering Bitzer by emphasizing the rhetor's role in shaping context and influencing the audience. To refute counterclaims, Vatz would highlight weaknesses in Bitzer's arguments and integrate his rhetorical strategies into his analysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Vatz challenges Bitzer's situational rhetoric, asserting that rhetoric itself creates situations. Instead of seeing rhetoric as a response to predefined situations, Vatz suggests that rhetoricians play an active role in constructing rhetorical events through their language and arguments. Instead of being purely situational, he views rhetoric as a tool that shapes and defines contexts.
To refute the counterclaims made by Bitzer, Vatz would inspect the weaknesses in Bitzer's arguments, such as overemphasis on the context rather than the rhetor's influence. Vatz emphasizes the rhetor's responsibility and power in defining a situation. By examining rhetorical elements such as parallelism, repetition, and rhetorical questions, writers can enhance their argumentative strategies while addressing and integrating counterclaims.
Vatz's perspective insists on maintaining an objective voice and a balanced argument structure, using evidence and analysis to address counterclaims. Quoting from secondary sources should support the argument without overpowering the writer's voice, and engaging with evidence—even if it challenges the thesis—can strengthen the overall argument.