For Shame

 

Audience is central to any argument. If no one is willing to listen, than what's the point? You may have discovered the answer to one divided by zero, but if no one is there to acknowledge your genius, then it's like the solution never existed. This predicament poses a similar dilemma to that of the age-old thought question "If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?" Perhaps, the author is the sole audience of a diary entry or some other form of personal reflection, however, most people write to be heard by others. I generally belong to the “diary entry” type of composition. I find that, at my stage in my writing career, I don't need to be noticed by anyone. Nonetheless, it is important to understand the fragile relationship between author and audience. Especially when writing for more former or scholarly audiences, it is essential that an author recognizes what is acceptable within the academic community. As opposed to some underdeveloped forms of argument, when approaching the daunting task of addressing an intellectual audience, it is imperative to acknowledge more than one viewpoint. Whether using a Rogerian or Toulmin argument style, opposing perspectives should always be addressed. Research should also be conducted in an unbiased way, and information should be collected from credible sources. This means that preconceptions and opinions should be abandoned before researching a topic, and that the argument should form naturally as a result of the evidence and information you have gathered from both sides of the spectrum. If all of these prerequisites are met, then the chances of reaching an academic audience have certainly increased. However, if all else fails, it's always fun to throw out the rulebook and write for yourself.