Structuralism vs. phenomenology: Implications for rhetorical criticism

This study examines the implications of the structuralist, phe‐nomenological, and constructivist views of discourse and applies them to rhetorical criticism. Structuralist criticism analyzes the elements of the text and their interrelationships, whereas phe‐nomenological criticism stresses the influence of the situation on discourse. Constructivist criticism incorporates both methods and assumes a structural‐developmental perspective, focusing on the processes whereby participants understand and interpret discourse.