Author, Lloyd F. Bitzer, provides a great series of examples to reinforce his idea of the rhetorical situation. You are probably wondering what the heck even is a rhetorical situation. Bitzer describes it as "the want to know the nature of those contexts in which speakers or writers create rhetorical discourse" (Bitzer 1). By asking a series of different questions, rhetorical situations become even more clear. These questions include, "How should they be described? What are their characteristics? [And finally] Why and how do they result in the creation of rhetoric (Bitzer 1)?
There are several issues at hand with the new idea of a Keystone XL Pipeline. "The Keystone XL Pipeline Project is a proposed 1,179-mile (1,897 km), 36-inch-diameter crude oil pipeline, beginning in Hardisty, Alberta, and extending south to Steele City, Nebraska" (TransCanada 1). Many argue the issue that it will bring disaster upon natural habitats of animals as well as other wildlife. Others see this project as "a critical infrastructure project for the energy security of the United States and for strengthening the American economy (TransCanada 2). The Senate has already "passed a bill forcing its approval" (Winston 1) which shows that many key American figures are pro-Keystone. On the other hand, "President Obama has said he'll veto Keystone" (Winston 2). These specific issues have helped me manage my research by focusing on particular debates and questions raised on both sides of the argument.
There is a rather large audience of people involved with both sides of this argument. The people who live in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Montana, South Dakota, and Nebraska do not want a pipeline to come in and destroy the beauty of their states and provinces. On the other hand, people of TransCanada really want this to take place so that crude oil transportation between the U.S. and Canada can be better than it ever was. All republicans and democrats in Washington D.C. have had many heated arguments as whether or not the good out weigh the bad and should therefore allow for the construction of this Keystone XL pipeline. Animals and trees are definitely at stake if this process is to pass. Environmentalist and other pro-environment personnel will step in to discuss this issue.
This argument of whether or not the Keystone XL Pipeline should be constructed is a nationwide issue that will either positively or negatively effect the lives of millions. The Pipeline will continue to be discussed until a compromise is reached.
Sources:
TransCanada-
http://keystone-xl.com/about/the-keystone-xl-oil-pipeline-project/
Harvard Business Review-
https://hbr.org/2015/01/why-the-keystone-pipline-is-the-wrong-u-s-energy-debate
The Rhetorical Situation-
http://comphacker.org/comp/engl335fosen/files/2012/08/Bitzer.pdf
David, you’ve obviously done your research on this topic. I really like how you tried to balance your presentation of each side of the argument and just lay out the facts as they are and the potential effects of action or inaction. I look further to seeing the whole research paper on the topic, as there are many issues to explore, both economic and political. I think you could have expanded more on Bitzer’s argument, as I think he had a lot of information that could have been further dissected. However, I do realize that it was confusing and not easy to paraphrase. Overall, you have a well-researched topic that can be argued from either side, and I think you’ll have a great paper.
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