Phyllis Mentzell Ryder - Writing Commons

Skip to content

Citation
Collaboration
Genre
Grammar

Encyclopedia for Writers

AI-Assisted Writing & Critical AI Literacy

Courses

Projects

Contribute

WritingCommonsDefault

Phyllis Mentzell Ryder

Articles

Ryder, P. (2023, November 1). Rhetorical Analysis in the Real World: A Useful Thinking Tool. Writing Commons.
https://writingcommons.org/article/rhetorical-analysis-in-the-real-world-a-useful-thinking-tool/

Search

Collaboration

Information Literacy

Composing with AI

The Writing Process

Writing Studies

Organization

Citation
Collaboration
Design
Discourse
Genre
Grammar
Information Literacy
Literacy
Mindset
Organization
Research
Rhetoric
Style
The Writing Process
Writing Studies

About Us
Contribute
Courses

Copyright © 2025 Writing Commons LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service & Privacy Policy. While copying, sharing, or redistributing content published under traditional copyright is generally prohibited, educators are permitted to print articles for classroom use. In turn, articles published under Creative Commons licenses may be used, shared, or adapted in accordance with their specific license terms, which require proper attribution and compliance with the designated Creative Commons conditions.

Search

Project History & Acknowledgements

Terms of Service & Privacy

Modifiers, Modification

The 9 Parts of Speech

Rhetorical Moves and Academic Writing

Rhetorical Reasoning

Rhetorical Situation

Rhetorical Stance

Rhetorical Theory

Information Literacy

Authority & Credibility

Information Ethics

Information Evaluation

Information Literacy Ecosystem

The Elements of Style

Collaboration

Collaboration Tools

Conflict Resolution

Team Leadership

Critical Literacy

Digital Literacy

Quantitative Literacy

Symbolic Communication

Symbolic Systems

Visual Language

Visual Literacy

Composing with AI

Intellectual Openness

Professionalism & Work Ethic

Self-Regulation & Metacognition

The Writing Process

Discovering Your Unique Writing Process

How to Leverage Inner Speech

Preliminary Research

Visual Brainstorming

Problem-Solving Strategies for Writers

Sharing – Publishing

The 7 Habits of Mind & The Writing Process

The Embodied Writing Process

The Ultimate Blueprint

Design Principles

Elements of Art

Elements of Design

Information Design and Architecture

Universal Design Principles

Usability & User Experience

Visualization Techniques

Organization

Organizational Patterns

Organizational Structures

Sentence Schemas

Causes & Effects

Comparison & Contrast

Discourse Conventions

Exemplification

Applied Research, Basic Research

Research Ethics

Research Methodology

Research Methods

Writing Studies

Communication Studies

Composition Studies

Psychology & Writing Studies

Research on Mindset

Rhetoric & Technology

Workplace Writing

Annotated Bibliography

Argument, Argumentation

Cover Letter, Letter of Transmittal

Executive Summary

Instructions & Processes

Problem Definition

Progress Reports

Recommendation Reports

Research Proposal

Research Protocol

Reviews and Recommendations

Subjects & Concepts

Search

Featured Articles

Student engrossed in reading on her laptop, surrounded by a stack of books — "Academic Writing" by AUM OER, CC BY 2.0

Academic Writing – How to Write for the Academic Community

Professional Writing - Writing Commons — "Professional Writing" by Internet Freedom Fellows, CC BY-ND 2.0.

Professional Writing – How to Write for the Professional World

an illustration of a scale. "Opinion" is being weighed on the left side of the scale. "Facts & Research" are being depicted on the right side. It's clear from the illustration that "facts & research" weigh more than "opinion." — In this illustration, "opinion" weighs more than "facts and evidence." While in academic and professional writing, facts and research typically outweigh opinion in terms of credibility and authority, this dynamic can shift in rhetorical situations where emotional filtering and information bias come into play. In such contexts, individuals may prioritize opinions that align with their beliefs over objective facts. Crafting truly authoritative texts requires more than just presenting data; it involves skillfully integrating evidence, acknowledging diverse perspectives, and demonstrating a nuanced understanding of the subject matter. Effective writers balance factual information with insightful analysis, creating work that is both well-supported and intellectually engaging, even in environments where opinion may carry more weight than facts.

Credibility and Authorial Authority – How to Develop Readers’ Trust and Respect