Constraints

Constraints are present in every rhetorical situation. Constraints are anything that may shape discourse. Bitzer argues they are "made up of persons, events, objects and relations" that "have the power to constrain decision and action needed to modify the exigence ." Constraints are often thought of as being negative but they may also positively modify decision and action (8-9)  [1].

For example, the limited word count of an op-ed piece does constrain the length and breadth of the op-ed rhetor's argument, which may negatively impact the quanitity of evidence that can be used to support the reasons; however, it also may positively impact the quality of the chosen evidence, thus aiding the rhetor in persuading the audience to act on the exigence as the rhetor claims they should.