Abstract

In comparing the rhetorical strategies of classical and contemporary rhetoricians, the reader notices how the attitudes of the authors and the expectations of the types of work influence the study of the audience. The changing perceptions of audience analysis intrigue scholars, who seek to understand the best approach to composition and further research. Classical rhetoricians, such as Plato, Aristotle, and Cicero, all encouraged orators and writers to consider the audience while preparing and giving speeches and texts. Their assessment of the importance of the audience parallels the work done by Kenneth Burke, Chaim Perelman, and Walter Ong as modern rhetoricians. The role of the audience in composition and comprehension provides an increased awareness of word choice, arrangement, and method of delivery for future writers.