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70 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for Secondary ELA

May 28, 2019 // by Lindsay Ann // 8 Comments

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Before we get to the rhetorical analysis essay prompts (a.k.a. tons of ready-to-analyze texts at your fingertips), let’s take a time-out to lay the groundwork for understanding a rhetorical analysis essay using ethos, pathos, and logos.

Rhetoric is Defined As…

Put simply, rhetoric refers to any technique an author uses to persuade an audience.

Or, the behind-the-scenes choices an author makes to give you all the feels.

Chances are, if you consider a text or speech to be really good , rhetorical techniques are working like a master puppeteer to pull at your heart strings, make an impact on your brain, and get you to let down your guard because you trust the author or speaker.

That’s why political figures have speech writers.

That’s why authors spend time fine-tuning their words and sentences.

Rhetoric is important.

In addition, rhetoric goes back to the ancient Greek philosophers like Aristotle, the “father” of rhetoric.

The Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Moving on, if rhetoric is the art of persuasion, then the rhetorical analysis essay analyzes how an author or speaker creates opportunity for persuasion in his/her text.

Writing a rhetorical analysis essay involves understanding of context and occasion for writing. It also involves understanding the subject matter of the speech and intended audience.

Beyond this, noticing how the author uses rhetorical appeals and rhetorical devices to impact the target audience can help you to write an in-depth rhetorical essay analysis.

The BEST Rhetoric Topics

As a teacher, I’m always in search of engaging texts for students to analyze. In this post, I’m sharing the best speeches, advertisements, and essays for rhetorical analysis. You’ll never run out of rhetorical analysis essay topics again!

So, you’ll definitely want to stop right now and pin this post.

Your future English-teacher-self will thank you.

47 Rhetoric Examples in Speeches

The following speeches work well individually, but I’ve also tried to add value by pairing texts together.

Whether you’re analyzing rhetorical appeals such as ethos, pathos, and logos or looking at rhetorical devices, these speeches will work for discussion or as the text for a rhetorical analysis essay.

Gettysburg Monologue in Remember the Titans – Pair with “ The Gettysburg Address ” by Abraham Lincoln
“ Full Power of Women ” by Priyanka Chopra – Pair with Emma Watson’s speech on the Power of Women
Speech from Finding Forrester – Pair with “ Integrity ” by Warren Buffet
Red’s Parole Hearing from Shawshank Redemption – Pair with the Freedom Speech from Braveheart
Ending Scene from The Breakfast Club – Pair with “ The Danger of a Single Story ” by Chimamanda Ngozi Achichi
Authentic Swing Speech from The Legend of Bagger Vance – Pair with “ How Winning is Done ” from Rocky Balboa
Maximus’ Speech to Commodus from Gladiator – Pair with The Revolutionary Speech from V for Vendetta
The Natural State of Mankind from Amistad – Pair with “ Our Diversity Makes Us Who We Are ” by Michelle Obama
Denzel Washington’s Dillard University Commencement Speech – Pair with “ The Last Lecture ” by Randy Pausch
“ Like Pieces of Glass in my Head ” from The Green Mile – Pair with “ Eulogy for Beau Biden ” by Barack Obama
Oprah’s 2018 Golden Globes speech – Pair with Seth Myers’ Golden Globes Monologue and/or Ellen says #MeToo
Independence Day speech – Pair with Aragorn’s Helm’s Deep Speech from LOTR: The Two Towers
Pair “I am Human” & “Love Liberates” , both by Maya Angelou
Pink’s VMA acceptance speech – Pair with “ If I Should Have a Daughter ” by Sarah Kay
Ellen’s People’s Choice Humanitarian Award Acceptance Speech – Pair with “ Pep Talk ” by Kid President
Gandalf Speaks to Frodo in Moria from LOTR : Fellowship of the Ring – Pair with Sam’s Speech in LOTR: The Two Towers
Obama’s Final Farewell Speech – Pair with Al Pacino’s Any Given Sunday speech – clean version
Harvard Graduation Speech by Donovan Livingston – Pair with Steve Jobs 2005 Stanford Commencement Speech
“ Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator ” by Tim Urban – Pair with “ Five Second Rule ” by Mel Robbins
Rachel Hollis “Inspire Women to be Their Best” (mild profanity)
My Philosophy for a Happy Life by Sam Berns
“ To this Day: For the Bullied and the Beautiful ” by Shane Koyczan – Pair with Kid President’s “ Pep Talk to Teachers and Students “
“ The Power of Introverts ” by Susan Cain – Pair with “ Don’t Let Others Stop You From Living Your Own Truth “

Rhetoric in Advertising: 23 Examples

This next list holds a blend of print advertisements and commercials, perfect for introducing close reading and rhetorical analysis and for writing a rhetorical analysis essay.

Ads are short, but pack a punch. Honestly, my students love analyzing the rhetoric of advertisements a lot because they are accessible and visual.

Rhetoric Commercials & Print Advertisements

“ Web of Fries “
Duracell “ Teddy Bear ” Commercial
Apple 1984 Commercial Introducing the New Macintosh Computer
Nike “ Find Your Greatness ” Ads
Pepsi, Superbowl 53 Commercial: “ More than Okay ”
“ Get a Mac ” Commercial Compilation
“ Can You Hear Me Now ” Verizon Wireless
Apple iPhone X – “ Unlock ”
Kiwi “ First Steps ” Print Advertisement
Vauxhall’s Backwards Cinderella
Lego Print Advertisement
Top 10 Powerful Ads of 2014

Rhetoric of the Image

Entourage NGO for the Homeless Print Advertisement Images
33 Creative Print Ads
Protege Group
Greenpeace Print Advertisement Collection
“ Divorce Furniture “
L’Oréal Paris: “This Ad Is For Men, 1 ” L’Oréal Paris: “This Ad Is For Men, 2 ” L’Oréal Paris: “This Ad Is For Men, 3 ”
“ It’s Not Acceptable to Treat a Woman Like One”
“ 50 Creative and Effective Advertising Examples “
Juvenile Protective Association
Anti-Bullying Campaign
25 Serious Ads

Writing a Rhetorical Analysis Essay Using Ethos, Pathos, and Logos

No doubt, writing a rhetorical analysis essay is like taking apart a puzzle and putting it back together again. Teachers, help your students to understand how all of the pieces fit together in order to see the bigger picture of what the author is trying to accomplish.

First, take time to understand how a text “works” for a rhetorical analysis essay using ethos, pathos, and logos:

Read or listen to understand overall content. Look up unfamiliar words.
Mark the text for the author’s main points and sub-points.
descriptive
compare/contrast
cause/effect
argumentative
Take notes on SOAPS: subject, occasion, audience, purpose, speaker
Discuss the text(s) in Socratic Seminar .

Next, identify rhetorical appeals .

Ethos: How an author demonstrates credibility and builds trust.
Pathos: How an author creates an emotional response.
Logos: How an author demonstrates expertise and knowledge.

Look for rhetorical devices & patterns in the text.

Rhetorical devices refer to an author’s use of diction and syntax.
Does the author repeat key words / phrases? What’s the impact?
Does the author return to the same idea or image? Why?

Finally, write a clear thesis statement & topic sentences for your rhetorical analysis essay.

Use your thesis statement to generate topic sentences.
In your body paragraphs, identify a technique, provide an example, and discuss the “right there” and “beneath the surface” meanings. How does the author’s choice impact the audience, further a message, establish a tone?
What’s the context for the repetition?
What connotations are important?
How is the anaphora used to move the reader to greater understanding (logos), emotional investment (pathos), and/or trust in the author’s ideas (ethos)?

Six Strategies for Teaching Rhetorical Analysis

I’ve created an awesome free guide to inspire English teachers who teach rhetoric and the rhetorical analysis essay in their classrooms. Even if you don’t teach AP lang, you can benefit from these strategies !

Rhetorical Analysis Essay FAQ’s

How do you write a rhetorical analysis essay.

Writing a rhetorical analysis essay is like writing a literary analysis essay, except the focus is on one or more non-fiction texts and the analysis targets an author’s style or rhetorical “moves” (a.k.a. use of rhetorical appeals and/or devices). Rhetorical analysis essays usually prove a claim about the author’s message or purpose for writing. The paragraphs in a rhetorical analysis essay unpack “what” an author is doing to send this message and “how” these choices impact the audience.

What does it mean to write a rhetorical analysis?

Writing a rhetorical analysis means that you are aware, as an audience member, reader, listener, human being, of the messages you consume. As a critical consumer of others’ ideas, you ask hard questions about how these messages are shaped, why they’re being delivered in certain ways, and why this is important for you and for society.

What are the three rhetorical strategies?

The three most commonly known rhetorical strategies are known as rhetorical appeals. Ethos (ethics) refers to credibility and trustworthiness. Pathos (passion) refers to engaging an audience’s emotions. Logos (logic) refers to engaging an audience’s brain through logical organization and use of evidence and arguments.

About Lindsay Ann

Lindsay has been teaching high school English in the burbs of Chicago for 19 years. She is passionate about helping English teachers find balance in their lives and teaching practice through practical feedback strategies and student-led learning strategies. She also geeks out about literary analysis, inquiry-based learning, and classroom technology integration. When Lindsay is not teaching, she enjoys playing with her two kids, running, and getting lost in a good book.

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Reader Interactions

January 9, 2023 at 9:38 am

Hi Lindsay Ann, thanks so much for these great resources. Just wanted to gently point out a couple errors that you might want to fix:

#12: should be Seth Myers’ (not Seth Myer’s) #13: should be independence (not independance)

Teachers have to help each other out 🙂

Best, Nikkee

January 9, 2023 at 5:44 pm

Thank you so much for letting me know, Nikkee!

[…] a lot of options and extensions for analyzing rhetoric in social media. Who knows, maybe your next rhetorical analysis essay assignment will be focused on rhetoric in social […]

[…] 70 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for Secondary ELA […]

[…] find that teaching rhetorical analysis and close reading skills go hand-in-hand with teaching voice in […]

[…] helps students to remember that everything comes back to the author’s purpose or message in rhetorical analysis. Author’s purpose is central to unpacking an author’s choices, including use of […]

[…] you assigning a rhetorical analysis essay? Why not try having students use rhetorical analysis sentence […]

[…] I introduced students to rhetoric. First, we journaled on this topic: Think of a time someone talked you into doing something or believing something. How did they do it? What tactics did they use? Students may share out journals. I gave students a graphic organizer with a PAPA analysis (purpose, audience, persona, argument) and picked a speech. Frankly, the speech I picked, which was Samwise Gamgee’s speech to Frodo Baggins in The Two Towers, failed spectacularly since students had no frame of reference. Note: that movie is old now. I know. It makes me sad, too. So go cautiously if you use this, but maybe pick something else. You can find a massive list here. […]

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200 rhetorical analysis topics for students in 2023.

The first thing to note when writing anything on rhetorical analysis is that the essay requires you having a wide and in-depth knowledge about the specific topic you’ll be basing your essay on. A good mastery of rhetorical essay topics entails the ability to write effectively.

Sometimes, the challenge looks like not knowing where to begin. But, understanding that a rhetorical analysis essay requires the writer to deeply and accurately analyze a piece of work and make a plausible argument with supporting evidence about it will give you an edge when crafting and choosing a topic.

However, rhetorical analysis topics are majorly predominant in topics associated with the arts but are also not limited to it. Topics can be based on literature, movies, billboards, popular culture, ads, speeches, and even ordinary human conversations.

Aside from understanding what rhetorical topics are, having ample information about any selected topic is crucial as it helps to develop sound rhetorical analysis ideas. Here are some topics you can base your rhetorical analysis essay topics on.

Rhetorical Essay Topics to Choose From

In any rhetorical essay, what the writer does is highlight a problem, carry out extensive analysis on the listed problem to make a strong-base argument on the subject matter.

A rhetorical essay isn’t complete without sound backup evidence to the highlighted problem. Carrying out an essay writing of this form requires you to have done thorough research on whatever you will be writing on.

Knowing how to choose smart topics for rhetorical analysis isn’t enough to write the essay, there must be the existence of extensively done research as this enables the writing to come fully alive. Rhetorical analysis topics list can look like.

Do social media encourage low productivity in young adults?
Rhetorical Analysis of Shonda Rhimes’s How to Get Away with Murder
Obama’s first presidential speech
A textual analysis of Hanya Yanagihara’s A Little Life
Analysis of Dove ’s beauty Ads over the last 5 years
A Feminist look at Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own
Importance of complex themes in American TV shows and Movies
Analysis of the Instagram aesthetics and what it entails
The role of symbolism in Literature and art piece
The work of representation in Popular Culture
TV shows: That’s what I Like and Here’s Why you should too
The implication of Horror movies on middle and preschoolers
Do Smartphones encourage low productivity in Young Adults or not?
The impact of Diversity representation in Hollywood
A cultural exploration of Beyoncé’s Lemonade
Madam CJ Walker, Diversity beauty-representation
Explicit sexual exploration: the Hip Hop culture
Purity culture an offspring of Rape culture
Social exploration of the movie adaptation of Les Misérables
Does Social media obscure reality or not?
Rhetorical analysis: Mom blogs and the role they play within the society
The Hidden Reality of Foodbanks in the American system
Welfare mom, bad mom?
Analyze the political implications of George Orwell’s Animal Farm
The unsettling effect of Dan Fogelman’s This Life
Homeschooling, the bane of many high school students.
The impacts of gaming on preschoolers
How PBS for Kids has changed the Parenting game
The Role of the Erotica: The poems by E. E Cummings
The absurdity of the Afterlife

Rhetorical Situation Essay Topics for 2023

Before embarking on choosing any essay topic in a rhetorical situation, you must first understand the role of rhetoric in writing. Good rhetorical analysis essay topics aim to compel action through oral, written, visual, and sound forms. Rhetorical analysis compels the reader or the present audience to reassess their perspectives based on what you are saying or have written.

A good rhetorical analysis essay topic primarily seeks to capture the base attention of the reader or audience. One of the most common situations where rhetorics come in handy is in the political field.

However, rhetorical situation essays are impassioned, affective and are intended to capture the emotion of the reader or the audience; luring emotion is its basic and most tactical style for a call to action.

How the legislation on Birth Control pills has resulted in the untimely death of Women in rural areas
The rise of inflation and its resulting consequences in low-income homes
Was capitalism not okay enough? How the pandemic has displaced even more households
How does Popular Culture contribute to the continuous subjugation of women
Rape, teen pregnancy and the delegitimization of birth control pills: How they all conjure to control women’s bodies
Television is helping us understand the complexities of human lives
How the epidemic of drug abuse and its prevalence affects the lives of young Americans in the Deep South
Gun Control: Why we should pay attention to guns rather than women’s bodies
How lack of access and poverty is affecting homeschooling for young Americans
Paying low-income workers below minimum wage is a late capitalist concept
Gentrification: how it’s displacing people from their communities and homes
Capitalism is the main reason why millennials can’t afford to buy a house
The capitalist undertones of the “black to office” maximum
The Vernacular of Fatphobia in American Popular Culture
This is why America isn’t Post-racial
Myth: The Post-racial American Society
Why the rhetoric “The Future of Remote Work is Lonely” is a Myth
The Fatphobia of the American Wellness Culture
How Homeschooling is Demoralizing Teachers
Navigating various identities: the reality of the immigrant household
The Big lessons from Covid era: the diminishing returns of Hyper-productivity
What it means to be displaced within a Pandemic
Rhetorical Analysis of the Work Culture
The Unrealized myth of Self-care culture
The US Women as Social safety nets
Analysis of how Email became Work
What the Pandemic has taught workers about Unionism
The insidious nature of work culture and how it contributes to Burnouts
How Publishing is promoting Diversity and Inclusivity
Want it means to live within a pandemic as a low-income worker

30 Rhetorical Analysis Example Topics

The challenge that students often face when asked to write a rhetorical essay is the problem of how to craft a topic that best conveys their thoughts as well as that which they can grasp easily and have adequate available and accessible information on.

There are so many researchable ideas to write on; the hitch is often crafting your topic into something capable of inciting attention and encouraging conversations.

This is because, in rhetorics and persuasive writing, the rhetorical analysis topics for essay are also of crucial importance as much as the content. Here are some easy rhetorical analysis topics.

Why is Disneyland referred to as the Happiest Place on the Planet Earth
Why free Sanitary items is essential in every public space
The impact of Hip Hop in growing the Feminist Consciousness
Ted Talk: How it gives and encourages voices
Why Some blogs become Influential within a short period
The Myth of Consistency is Key
How Access is Key
How Shame culture emerged from Respectability Culture
Calling Survivors of Abuse Victims is Derogatory
How Speaking up exposes Survivors to more Harm
Analysis of Cancel Culture and Social Media Justice
The Importance of Commercials on Tv
How Commercials promote Falsehood
The impacts of Colorism and the Issue of Color Complex
A Room of One’s Own : The coming of Virginia Woolf before her time
A Rhetorical Analysis of Reality Tv
This is how Commercials can be more Relatable
How Relatability Tv impacts us
The importance of Inclusivity, Diversity, and Representation in Popular Culture
The Therapeutic effect of Representation
The Therapeutic effect of Yoga and Meditation
Why Low-income Workers should be exempted from Tax
The Ripple Effect of the Internet on Young Adults
Where the realistic depiction of Tv begins and ends
An Existential analytical approach to the works of Sylvia Path
The Rhetorical strategy in Frederick Douglas’ Memoir
Rhetoric as style in Martin Luther King Jr.’s I Have a Dream
Why the Bob Dylan Nobel Prize for Literature in 2016 was deserving
Award Culture is slowly Killing Creativity
A Historical approach to Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales

Ideas on Rhetoric Research Paper Topics

Every writing within academia hinges on the effective use of rhetorical situation essay topics; this is because the basis of everything done within academia is to impact ideas through the use of language and this language is usually persuasive in nature even while it seeks to educate.

For university students, it’s most likely very rare that you can run away from rhetoric research paper topics during your school year, in fact, it’s a prerequisite while in school.

It comes in the form of assignments, research, and term papers. If you are looking for topics, there are a variety of good topics to write a rhetorical analysis on. Below is a list of rhetorical analysis assignment ideas.

An Analysis of the Rhetorical Device implored in Beowulf
A Case study of Contemporary Popular Culture
The political and social implications of 90’s Hip Hop
A Comparative Analysis of Tv shows and Movies
The Futility of the American Dream as explored in F.S Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby
The Symbolic exploration of “The Green Light” in The Great Gatsby
The Impact of Technological Innovation on American Student’s attention span
The Misogyny of the American Entertainment Industry
Structural Racism: The Mother of Gentrification
The Growing Concern of the Broken American Childcare System
The Triumph and the Bold Rhetorics employed in Diversity Tv
Restructuring: Why Diversity, Inclusivity, and Representation should be Championed
Purity Culture: A social construct that seeks to control women’s body
The representation distinction in the movie adaptation of Push and the book
A Comparative Analysis of Digital Literature and Traditional Literature
Innovation: The growing effects of Technological advancement
Late Capitalism: Self-care culture as a tool
The need for Inclusivity in the discussion of Beauty Culture
American Gun Culture and how it perpetuates greater harm
Domestic Violence, Abuse: The Battered Woman Syndrome
Affirmative Action: A Tool for Subjugation and Intellectual Relegation of the Minority Communities
Race Relations: The future of the American System
The Intrinsic effect of the exploration and promotion of interracial marriage on American popular Culture
Obesity: The distinction between Fatphobia and a need for Medical Attention
The Evolution of Identity Politics within the American System
Diversity Higher: Why America Needs a quick Racial intervention
A Comparative Study of 90s Hip Hop Culture and early 2010s Hip Hop
Rape Culture, Victim Blaming: The need to listen to Survivors
The Explicit Way American Hip Hop Explores Abuse and Misogyny
The Institutional Bias of the American System

Rhetorical Argument Essay Topics

When writing an argumentative essay, rhetoric is employed as the tool to not just convey thoughts and opinions but also to capture the interest of the audience or reader(s).

In any rhetorical argument essay, the writer must employ ethos, pathos, and logos as this enables the writer to navigate the topic better. For every form of rhetorical argumentative essay, there has to be a thoroughly carried out research, an understanding of the audience, a solid thesis statement, and the use of a writing style that captures attention.

The basis of an argumentative essay is that it must contain persuasive elements, without that, the argument isn’t complete. Here are some rhetorical argument essay topics to look into while writing your essay.

Can Drug Abuse be Contained by Legalizing and Regulating certain Drugs?
High-end and Fast fashion, how does it contribute to the Unhealthy lifestyle in our environment
Does a Democratic system have any significant drawbacks?
Why working moms and nursing moms should be given more workplace privilege
Why Maternal paid leave should be legalized
Is Cyberbullying capable of affecting mental health?
Should Diversity Higher, Affirmative Action and Inclusivity be made mandatory?
Does Feminism obscure the need for women to lash out at their fellow women?
Is Religion really the Opium of the Masses as Suggested by Karl Max?
Are there significant drawbacks to marrying off of a Dating App?
How Social Media Fame negatively impacts one’s real-life experiences
Is the presence of Artificial Intelligence going to lead to human extinction?
How hyperactivity on Social media plays out in impacting loneliness
Is there a possibility of Electronic money wiping out paper money?
Can human society experience growth without the presence of technology?
Is the consistent attachment to cell phones contributing to depression and anxiety?
Do public cameras infringe on individual privacy?
Is sustainable living capable of helping us reverse Climate Change?
Limiting Children’s screen time, does it contribute to their academic growth?
Should people be encouraged to use Marijuana now its health benefits have been dictated?
Are Academic Stress and excessive academic workload a form of psychological torture?
Has homeschooling improved the nature and operation of the school system?
Does beauty pageantry influence the concept and idea of beauty in society?
Is it Ethical to demand maternity leave for fathers?
Is Killing a Murderer a Punishable offense?
Should High school children be introduced to sex education in school?
How does the knowledge of sex education impact high schoolers?
Lecturer-Student friendship: is it an ethical practice?
Are students supposed to bring school work back home?
Impromptu test within the University system: Cancelled or Promoted?
Does access to so much information lead to Misinformation?
Does homeschooling contribute to students’ anti-socialism?
Should College Education be made completely free?
Will free education make or mar the performance of the academic institution?
Is GPA a sound determinant of intelligence?

Visual Rhetoric Essay Topics

There are different means through which rhetoric can be employed as a communication feature. Rhetorics occur in oral form, in written format as well as in the visual display. Visual rhetoric essay topics detail effective communication that is attained through the use and analysis of visual images, this is what differentiates it from other forms of rhetorical essays.

Communication through visual presentation has been noted to be effective and visual rhetoric makes communication and understanding very easy. It occurs in movies, painting, commercials, and other forms of art exploration.

For college students, especially those majoring in media studies and visual arts, assignments usually fall under visual rhetoric essays and visual text analysis. Here are some of the topics to look at within this subject matter.

Analyze the impact of TV Commercials and Ads on consumers
A case study of a prominent Hollywood production and the visual arts involved
Rhetorical analysis of the emotional appeals employed in web ads
Dissecting the ad of a TV Commercial and its implications
The emotional appeal within the movie The Help and permeates the entire Movie
A critical exploration of Leonardo Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa Painting
The use of Lighting and Effect in Movies and what they Signify
The Cinematography of a Movie: A Language of its own
How Visual Commercials influence us more than Written Commercials
An exploration of the use of visuals in marketing
Analysis of Yellow Journalism
What is the most effective visual ad you’ve seen and how did it influence you towards a product?
How Visual ads increase people’s purchasing power
An in-depth analysis of effective visual campaigns
How TV influences our understanding of and our relation to society

Having a Hard Time Thinking of Rhertorical Analysis Topics?

Writing a rhetorical essay can be quite tasking as it requires that you embark on extensive research, digging through myriad materials in order to have a substantial essay. What is required to achieve a sound essay can really be a lot of work especially if you’re already engulfed with other activities. Nevertheless, there is the presence of fast expert writers online that offer essay writing help to you in any situation. Our essay writing service isn’t just high quality but is also very cheap. You do not just get the value of a great job, but also the promise of high grades and a stress-free and reliable service.

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Knowledge Base
How to write a rhetorical analysis | Key concepts & examples

How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis | Key Concepts & Examples

Published on August 28, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

A rhetorical analysis is a type of essay that looks at a text in terms of rhetoric. This means it is less concerned with what the author is saying than with how they say it: their goals, techniques, and appeals to the audience.

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Key concepts in rhetoric, analyzing the text, introducing your rhetorical analysis, the body: doing the analysis, concluding a rhetorical analysis, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about rhetorical analysis.

Rhetoric, the art of effective speaking and writing, is a subject that trains you to look at texts, arguments and speeches in terms of how they are designed to persuade the audience. This section introduces a few of the key concepts of this field.

Appeals: Logos, ethos, pathos

Appeals are how the author convinces their audience. Three central appeals are discussed in rhetoric, established by the philosopher Aristotle and sometimes called the rhetorical triangle: logos, ethos, and pathos.

Logos , or the logical appeal, refers to the use of reasoned argument to persuade. This is the dominant approach in academic writing , where arguments are built up using reasoning and evidence.

Ethos , or the ethical appeal, involves the author presenting themselves as an authority on their subject. For example, someone making a moral argument might highlight their own morally admirable behavior; someone speaking about a technical subject might present themselves as an expert by mentioning their qualifications.

Pathos , or the pathetic appeal, evokes the audience’s emotions. This might involve speaking in a passionate way, employing vivid imagery, or trying to provoke anger, sympathy, or any other emotional response in the audience.

These three appeals are all treated as integral parts of rhetoric, and a given author may combine all three of them to convince their audience.

Text and context

In rhetoric, a text is not necessarily a piece of writing (though it may be this). A text is whatever piece of communication you are analyzing. This could be, for example, a speech, an advertisement, or a satirical image.

In these cases, your analysis would focus on more than just language—you might look at visual or sonic elements of the text too.

The context is everything surrounding the text: Who is the author (or speaker, designer, etc.)? Who is their (intended or actual) audience? When and where was the text produced, and for what purpose?

Looking at the context can help to inform your rhetorical analysis. For example, Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech has universal power, but the context of the civil rights movement is an important part of understanding why.

Claims, supports, and warrants

A piece of rhetoric is always making some sort of argument, whether it’s a very clearly defined and logical one (e.g. in a philosophy essay) or one that the reader has to infer (e.g. in a satirical article). These arguments are built up with claims, supports, and warrants.

A claim is the fact or idea the author wants to convince the reader of. An argument might center on a single claim, or be built up out of many. Claims are usually explicitly stated, but they may also just be implied in some kinds of text.

The author uses supports to back up each claim they make. These might range from hard evidence to emotional appeals—anything that is used to convince the reader to accept a claim.

The warrant is the logic or assumption that connects a support with a claim. Outside of quite formal argumentation, the warrant is often unstated—the author assumes their audience will understand the connection without it. But that doesn’t mean you can’t still explore the implicit warrant in these cases.

For example, look at the following statement:

We can see a claim and a support here, but the warrant is implicit. Here, the warrant is the assumption that more likeable candidates would have inspired greater turnout. We might be more or less convinced by the argument depending on whether we think this is a fair assumption.

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Rhetorical analysis isn’t a matter of choosing concepts in advance and applying them to a text. Instead, it starts with looking at the text in detail and asking the appropriate questions about how it works:

What is the author’s purpose?
Do they focus closely on their key claims, or do they discuss various topics?
What tone do they take—angry or sympathetic? Personal or authoritative? Formal or informal?
Who seems to be the intended audience? Is this audience likely to be successfully reached and convinced?
What kinds of evidence are presented?

By asking these questions, you’ll discover the various rhetorical devices the text uses. Don’t feel that you have to cram in every rhetorical term you know—focus on those that are most important to the text.

The following sections show how to write the different parts of a rhetorical analysis.

Like all essays, a rhetorical analysis begins with an introduction . The introduction tells readers what text you’ll be discussing, provides relevant background information, and presents your thesis statement .

Hover over different parts of the example below to see how an introduction works.

Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech is widely regarded as one of the most important pieces of oratory in American history. Delivered in 1963 to thousands of civil rights activists outside the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., the speech has come to symbolize the spirit of the civil rights movement and even to function as a major part of the American national myth. This rhetorical analysis argues that King’s assumption of the prophetic voice, amplified by the historic size of his audience, creates a powerful sense of ethos that has retained its inspirational power over the years.

The body of your rhetorical analysis is where you’ll tackle the text directly. It’s often divided into three paragraphs, although it may be more in a longer essay.

Each paragraph should focus on a different element of the text, and they should all contribute to your overall argument for your thesis statement.

Hover over the example to explore how a typical body paragraph is constructed.

King’s speech is infused with prophetic language throughout. Even before the famous “dream” part of the speech, King’s language consistently strikes a prophetic tone. He refers to the Lincoln Memorial as a “hallowed spot” and speaks of rising “from the dark and desolate valley of segregation” to “make justice a reality for all of God’s children.” The assumption of this prophetic voice constitutes the text’s strongest ethical appeal; after linking himself with political figures like Lincoln and the Founding Fathers, King’s ethos adopts a distinctly religious tone, recalling Biblical prophets and preachers of change from across history. This adds significant force to his words; standing before an audience of hundreds of thousands, he states not just what the future should be, but what it will be: “The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.” This warning is almost apocalyptic in tone, though it concludes with the positive image of the “bright day of justice.” The power of King’s rhetoric thus stems not only from the pathos of his vision of a brighter future, but from the ethos of the prophetic voice he adopts in expressing this vision.

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The conclusion of a rhetorical analysis wraps up the essay by restating the main argument and showing how it has been developed by your analysis. It may also try to link the text, and your analysis of it, with broader concerns.

Explore the example below to get a sense of the conclusion.

It is clear from this analysis that the effectiveness of King’s rhetoric stems less from the pathetic appeal of his utopian “dream” than it does from the ethos he carefully constructs to give force to his statements. By framing contemporary upheavals as part of a prophecy whose fulfillment will result in the better future he imagines, King ensures not only the effectiveness of his words in the moment but their continuing resonance today. Even if we have not yet achieved King’s dream, we cannot deny the role his words played in setting us on the path toward it.

If you want to know more about AI tools , college essays , or fallacies make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples or go directly to our tools!

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The goal of a rhetorical analysis is to explain the effect a piece of writing or oratory has on its audience, how successful it is, and the devices and appeals it uses to achieve its goals.

Unlike a standard argumentative essay , it’s less about taking a position on the arguments presented, and more about exploring how they are constructed.

The term “text” in a rhetorical analysis essay refers to whatever object you’re analyzing. It’s frequently a piece of writing or a speech, but it doesn’t have to be. For example, you could also treat an advertisement or political cartoon as a text.

Logos appeals to the audience’s reason, building up logical arguments . Ethos appeals to the speaker’s status or authority, making the audience more likely to trust them. Pathos appeals to the emotions, trying to make the audience feel angry or sympathetic, for example.

Collectively, these three appeals are sometimes called the rhetorical triangle . They are central to rhetorical analysis , though a piece of rhetoric might not necessarily use all of them.

In rhetorical analysis , a claim is something the author wants the audience to believe. A support is the evidence or appeal they use to convince the reader to believe the claim. A warrant is the (often implicit) assumption that links the support with the claim.

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Essay Topics
Rhetorical Analysis

100 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Rhetorical analysis essay topics always stood out from other tasks of similar nature. There are many assignments students get at college, but this one is more difficult, largely because few people understand what it even means. Rhetorical analysis means writing an essay where you research a specific text or speech and determine what elements it contains to impact the audience.

These could be literary devices, plot, characterization, style, method of influence, and many other things. To write a good essay, you should understand what makes an author’s rhetoric effective, but even more importantly, you must choose an appropriate topic for your future analysis. The choice is vast, so it’s not an easy task, but fortunately, we have many interesting options you could choose from.

How to Pick Rhetorical Analysis Ideas

The first thing to know is that any topic you select must resonate with your believes in particular. Sure, it has to have academic value — one cannot just write whatever comes into their mind, but your own interest is almost equally important. If you think the text you’re analyzing is boring, you’ll never succeed with your essay. If you hate your chosen topic, there is actually a bigger chance of getting great results with it because you could always pick a negative stance, introducing an argument against the author’s usage of literary techniques. So, passion for the text is everything, whether it’s of positive or negative nature. Recall any works that affected you on some level and use them as the basis for your essay.

Another strategy for picking good topics for rhetorical analysis is to discuss it with friends or professors. They might not know your preferences, but they could give new ideas through their brainstorming. Doing research before you start working on assignment is also crucial. For example, you decided to analyze a short article written by an unknown writer, but you don’t entirely understand how rhetorical analysis works. You won’t be able to find other similar analyses available, so you’ll be stuck. If this is your first try, be sure to select an essay topic other people have already explored before — it’ll give an idea of how to proceed.

100 Rhetorical Analysis Topics List Developed for You

Still feeling uncertain? It’s not a problem, so there is no need to worry! Take a look at the list we’ve composed below. It has 100 topics you could use for your essay.

Easy Rhetorical Analysis Essays Topics

Let’s start with something you won’t have any problems with! Some texts are widely known, so finding research on them isn’t difficult.

What literary devices used in “Pride and Prejudice” turn this book into being so popular even now?
Literary tactics used within Wordsworth’s poems
What symbolism do Harry Potter’s green eyes have?
What makes TV Hannibal Lecter’s monologues influential?
Fox Mulder’s vs. Dana Scully’s modes of persuasion
How true love is depicted in cartoons to resonate with children?
Tone of TV Sherlock Holmes & Why he rubs people the wrong way
Why are King Arthur’s speeches inspiring within ‘Merlin’ TV show?
Describe setting of the Hunger Games & Explain what makes it gruesome
Explore choice of dresses in your favorite TV show & Explain what it implies

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Ideas For High School

Good rhetorical analysis essay topics for high school are also pretty easy. Here they are.

Frankenstein novel and movies: Their stylistic similarities and differences
Why is Ron Weasley less compelling character for many readers/viewers?
How setting in ‘Games of Thrones’ reflects its plot
Which elements help create the perfect setting in magical realism genre
Why are movies usually worse than books they are based on?
Harry Potter in the movies vs. books: Differences in portrayal
Elements within fiction that inspire fans to write fanfiction on its basis
Three stories by Kate Chopin – Their similarities in terms of stylistics
Why Romeo and Juliet are still known in our days?
Details about secondary characters in “To Kill a Mockingbird”

Rhetorical Essay Prompts For College

How about rhetorical analysis example topics for college? They are a little more complicated, but it just makes them all the more interesting!

Your favorite Shakespeare’s poem & Why you like it
Role that color green plays in Twilight saga
Analyze appearance of vampires from Twilight vs. Interview with a Vampire
Compare movies based on Stephen King’s works versus his novels
Explore every chilling element in “The Birthmark” by Hawthorne
Choose your favorite novel and elaborate on how characters communicate in it
Soap operas & Why many people consider characters’ behavior in them exaggerated
Setting and conflict in Joyce’s “Ulysses”
Analyze the major conflict in Tolstoy’s “War and Peace”
Elements of presidency and dictatorship within “Hunger Games”

Non-Fictional Ideas

Analyzing fiction is the most popular choice, but how about rhetorical essay topics on other kinds of works?

Trump’s least effective speech: Why was it not successful?
Obama’s introduction of new health policies: How did people react?
What tactics should ancient kings’ speeches follow to motivate their armies?
Surrender speech, its weaknesses & strengths
What elements should historical books have to be perceived as convincing?
Pathos in real-life stories written by survivors of tragic events
How to separate true accounts written by victims from fake ones?
Choose any article written by journalist and analyze its efficiency
Ethos in reports presented by medical personnel
Logos of arguments used by teachers to prove usefulness of their subjects to students

Rhetorical Topics for Art and Culture

Creative topics for rhetorical analysis essay is something lots of students prefer.

Why is Mona Lisa’s smile considered elusive?
Painting that stopped you in your tracks
Most successful billboards ever created
Least effective billboards you have ever seen
Song that you consider the best representative of your culture
Advertisement that struck a chord with you
Can rap be considered American cultural heritage?
What makes known blogs popular?
Which elements help make a successful ad?
What design of an apartment could say about its owner

Ideas for Rhetorical Analysis Essay on Movies

Probably everyone likes movies. If so, these rhetoric topics might be your best pick.

Analyze actors’ performance in ‘Titanic’: Is it believable?
How do horror movies manage to scare their audience?
How fighting scenes in ‘Twilight’ look
‘Saw’ movie: A mindless horror or a chilling thriller?
Which version of King Kong is better and why?
Analyze the oldest movie and techniques used in it for influencing audience.
Which Harry Potter movie is the worst in an entire franchise?
Compare versions of ‘Pride & Prejudice’ & State which one stays closest to the original
Can we consider “Jurassic Park” impressive in our days?
Compare Chinese action movies against American ones

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History Prompts

The past is fascinating, and these rhetorical analysis paper topics could help analyze it more deeply.

Pick an old historical figure & Analyze how they became known
Winston Churchill: His actions versus his words
What people thought about honesty in the past & How did they express it?
Why are many important historical documents locked away from the public?
Analyze reasons for WW2 based on available historical documents
How weddings were organized in the past & What do people do now to express their love?
What role symbolism played in Ancient Egypt?
People’s dreams of immortality and how they progressed over the years based on literature & art
Understanding how Syrian politics promoted war
Analyze setting in Troy and reasons that brought war into it

Advanced Rhetorical Ideas

If you like a challenge, check out these more difficult rhetorical essay topic ideas.

Portrayal of hope in three different works of art: How did their authors express it?
Value and meaning of food as presented in “Hunger Games”
What does the Stag man mean in TV show “Hannibal”?
Depictions of Mind Palace in “Sherlock” and “Hannibal”
Christmas in poor vs. rich families in literature: How are they portrayed?
Analyze every speech of Martin Luther King in regard to their effectiveness
How animals communicate within different literary works
Compare & Contrast leadership strategies of two historically relevant people
Why is Mother Teresa talked about still? Delve deeply into reasons
Pick two different ambitious people & Evaluate how they fought to realize these ambitions

Enjoy What You Write and Write What You Enjoy

We hope that our list of topics helped find good rhetorical analysis topics. Pick any idea and develop it into a unique essay. Personal involvement means a lot when it comes to analysis, especially of a rhetorical nature. Since it requires taking firm position on a subject, you should have an actual interest in it. Remember what stories you’ve read before, think about the last inspirational or funny speech, and you’re ready to go!

But if something else is bothering you and you don’t feel up to looking for topics for rhetorical analysis, let us know. We’ve been assisting students in different ways including essay, research paper of coursework writing service for quite a while, so we could help figure out which theme to choose or even craft an essay in your stead. Explain your requirements, talk with your specialist, and get your essay done right by your deadline.

Can’t come up with a topic for you paper? We’ve prepared a collection of essay topics for you

Want to write a winning essay but lack experience? Browse our free essay samples

Good Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for Students

A good topic is the key to a perfect essay. Here is a list of topics for essays that assist you in making the right choice.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for College Students

"The Odyssey" And "Beowulf"
"The Prince" Summary
The symbolism of Bullfighting In “The Sun Also Rises” by Ernest Hemingway.
Rhetorical Analysis of "Romeo And Juliet"
Rhetorical Analysis of "The Great Gatsby"
Rhetorical Analysis of "Hamlet"
Main Themes And Analysis of Plato's "Republic"
"The Picture Of Dorian Gray" Summary
Rhetorical Analysis of "Pride And Prejudice"
Rhetorical Analysis of “The Fault in Our Stars”

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Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for High School Students

An attitude of consumers towards Fast Fashion
Rhetorical Analysis of the Cultural Industry
Consumers Habits: Women Vs. Men“
1950’s Fashion” Rhetorical Analysis
Rhetorical Analysis of the Commercials and the Media“
1970’s Fashion” Analysis
Martin Luther King jr last speech
Rhetorical Analysis of E-commerce
“Electronic Media and Culture” Rhetorical Analysis
Environment and Consumerism Analysis

Sports Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Rhetorical Analysis of “Olympics”
“NFL And the Concussion Rules”
BCS or Playoffs
Kobe or LeBron
Players or Owners
Rhetorical Analysis of Presidential Sports Encomia
Rhetorical Analysis of Symbolic Power of Sports
Rhetorical Analysis of the use of steroids
Rhetorical Analysis on “Football World Cup”

Fiction Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

O'Henry’s "Witches Loaves"
Rhetorical Analysis of "Huckleberry Finn"
Rhetorical Analysis of "Fight Club"
Michael Punke’s "The Revenant""The White Heron" Analysis
Rhetorical Analysis of “Death of A Salesman"
"The Lottery" Main ThemesLiterary Analysis of "Life In The Iron Mills"
"Alice In The Wonderland" Primary Themes"
The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand Analysis

Easy Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

A blog that you are passionate about
England in 1819” by Percy Bysshe Shelley.
Do we allow our fears to restrain us from action?
Is there anything weird in the rhetoric of Amy Poehler?
Faces of love in A Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns.
Analyze Edgar Allan Poe’s poem ‘Raven.
’The similarities and differences between two Ovidian tales
Steve Jobs commencement speech
Is there no age for education?
What is under our feet?

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Movies

Rhetorical analysis of Romeo + Juliet.
To Kill a Mockingbird
Analyze TV shows based on true events
Summary of "The Prince"
Use of symbolism Harry Potter series
Analyze a famous historical movie
Martin Luther King and “I Have a Dream.” How it changes.
Jennifer Lawrence in the Hunger Games: Catching Fire.
The Phantom of the Opera
The Shawshank Redemption

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Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics About Speeches

“Full Power of Women” by Priyanka Chopra
Analysis of the farewell address of a famous president
Joseph Stiglitz’ The Price of Inequality
A rhetorical analysis of President Biden’s speech on inauguration day
Speech from President Trump
Malala Yousafzai speech for students
Any speech delivered by George W. Bush: what does it carry?
Rhetorical analysis of Pope Urban II’s Speech at Clermont, 1095.
Any given Sunday speech

Visual Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

The rhetoric of blogs and online writing.
Animal Farm
Yellow journalism
The spirit level
“The Hunger Games” vs. “The Lottery”
Art through history
Out of Africa
Rhetorical analysis of creative ads
Culture and arts
Analyze the text in a famous TV campaign

Comparative Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

The Hunger Games vs. the Lottery
Backpacks vs. Briefcases
Jazz vs. Rock
"Death of a Salesman" Vs. "The White Heron"
Lord of the Flies: civilization vs. savagery.
The Breakfast Club Ending Scene vs. The Danger of a Single Story
Life in high school vs. life in college
Adolf Hitler vs. Joseph Stalin
American vs. Chinese concepts of beauty.
Gandalf vs. Dumbledore

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for 2022

Rhetorical Analysis of "The Ethics of Belief" by Clifford
Summary and Analysis of Jared Diamond’s "Easter Islands' End"
Rhetorical Analysis of "Success Strategies”
Anne Lamott’s "Traveling Mercies
”Joseph Stiglitz “The Price of Inequality”
Rhetorical Analysis of “The Sun Is Also a Star”
Summary and Analysis "Guns, Germs, And Steel”
Rhetorical Analysis of “Forty Rules of Love”
“The Host” Summary“
The Kite Runner” Summary and Analysis

How to Choose a Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topic?

When you choose the topic for the rhetorical analysis essay, you should follow some tips. Also, save yourself from selecting a bad essay topic. For your help, we gathered some tips that will make your topic selection phase easy.

Choose an interesting rhetorical question that has the scope of research or writing.
Brainstorm the essay topic ideas.
Pick the one that grabs the reader’s attention.
You have little information about the topic.
Select the topic by knowing the opposing viewpoints.
Consult your professor and get guidance from them for your topic.
Know the target audience’s interests and choices.
Collect information about the rhetorical devices that you can discuss in the essay.
Determine the rhetorical strategy.

We hope that the lists mentioned above will help you select your next rhetorical analysis topic. Therefore, choose the best one according to your interest and scope.

Are you still having trouble choosing your topic or writing your rhetorical analysis essay? Consult 5StarEssays.com . We are here for you round the clock and provide the best essay writing services.

Our qualified essay writers deliver high-quality work at the most affordable rates. You only have to request to write my essay and our writers are ready to help you.

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Betty is a freelance writer and researcher. She has a Masters in literature and enjoys providing writing services to her clients. Betty is an avid reader and loves learning new things. She has provided writing services to clients from all academic levels and related academic fields.

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Rhetorical Analysis Essay - The Ultimate Guide

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline - Template & Writing Guide

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example - Samples By Experts

120 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

When examining a non-fiction piece of content, be it literature, advertising, media promotions, or some other element of the written word, the term rhetorical analysis essay may be used.

This essay format examines the creator’s intentions and techniques to persuade the audience of a particular course of action or a specific train of thought. The rhetorical analysis essay also looks at how this message is delivered from the standpoint of style and tone, as well as other elements, including statistics, facts, anecdotes, and figures.

In its simplest definition, a rhetorical analysis essay is an article that has been written to examine the effectiveness of a content creator’s techniques and whether those techniques reach the intended goal.

Beyond the strict formatting and stylistic writing elements mandatory for this type of essay writing, students may find themselves challenged to create a topic that is interesting and relevant to analyze.

However, this list of 120 rhetorical analysis essay topics along with a guide on the critical elements of writing a rhetorical analysis essay will ensure that every student assigned this task can complete it successfully.

A Guide to Writing an Effective Essay on Rhetoric

One definition of rhetoric refers to the art or system of writing and speaking that seeks to persuade or convince an audience using effective, productive techniques.

A rhetorical analysis essay examines Aristotle’s three modes of persuasion: ethos, pathos, and logos, to determine which was used most effectively.

Ethos examines an author’s character and credibility. In a rhetorical analysis essay, the writer must assess whether or not the author has established trustworthiness through personal appearance and lifestyle choices, as well as educational background and career accomplishments.

This element of rhetoric is also known as logic. It examines how effectively someone’s argument makes sense to an audience. This includes statistics, facts, figures, and other information meant to support a central thesis.

This element of rhetoric involves an author’s use of emotionally-charged language to sway the audience. This includes the use of anecdotes, analogies, humor, and other details that tug at the audience’s emotions as opposed to their logic or reasoning skills.

One or all of these elements may be used in a rhetorical analysis essay, but the writer needs to determine which was used most effectively.

How to Write a Rhetorical Essay?

When it comes to writing a rhetorical analysis essay, students will want to ensure that they cover the five aspects of a rhetorical situation:

The writer of any rhetorical analysis essay must determine the purpose of their message and whether or not it has been accomplished through their use of ethos, logos, and pathos in the target audience’s best interest.

2. Audience

The writer of a rhetorical analysis essay must also assess their audience and what that audience may understand or expect based on prior socialization and knowledge of the topic.

The writer of a rhetorical analysis essay must also determine what genre they are writing in, be it argumentative or expository. This dictates the type of information they will need to include in their essay and which elements of rhetoric they may focus on most effectively.

The writer of a rhetorical analysis essay must establish credibility and trustworthiness. This is done by establishing one’s ethos and refuting opposing arguments to show that their argument is the most logical and well-reasoned.

What are the means of persuasion used in the essay? The writer must establish credibility by using logical arguments and evidence to support their claims and separate themselves from the opposition through refutation and deflection.

Outlining a Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Rather than try to write a rhetorical analysis essay from scratch, it’s best to create an outline of the main points that will need to be covered in the essay to ensure that the writing stays on track. Outlines should include:

Introduction – Designed to hook the reader by providing context and background information for the topic. This should also include a strong thesis that will be supported throughout the rest of the essay.
Body – Includes three to five paragraphs that support that thesis with logical arguments and empirical evidence.
Conclusion – A brief paragraph summarizes the main idea and relates it to the introduction for a nice clean finish. It should end with a powerful or thought-provoking statement of the overall impact of the non-fictional content being examined.

With the fundamentals of a rhetorical analysis essay above and the many rhetorical analysis essay topics below, students should be well equipped to write a stellar rhetorical analysis essay.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics About English & Literature

Shakespeare’s use imagery to support theme and mood in “Othello”
The impact of the narrator’s tone on meaning and tone in Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird
The use of foreshadowing in “Frankenstein”
How Shakespeare uses the dramatic structure to influence the meaning and tone of Romeo and Juliet
How Edgar Allan Poe builds suspense in The Tell-Tale Heart
The use of irony in The Great Gatsby by Fitzgerald
Analyzing the mood created through imagery used in Taming of the Shrew by Shakespeare
The effect of symbolism in “Catcher in the Rye”
How J. D. Salinger uses language to influence meaning and tone in The Catcher in the Rye
Analyzing how William Blake creates a mood through imagery in Auguries of Innocence
Menippean satire used in Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne
The use of symbolism in “The Picture of Dorian Gray”
Disillusionment and cynicism encountered through dialogue and setting in The Great Gatsby
Irony used to reveal theme and tone in Animal Farm by George Orwell
How Louisa May Alcott establishes a mood and tone with descriptive language in “Little Women”
Analyzing symbolism throughout Hamlet by Shakespeare
The effect of setting on tone and mood in Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Language used to create a tone of alienation in 1984 by George Orwell
Foreshadowing in Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson
Symbolism throughout The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
The effects of genetic modification on individuality in Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
A comparison of individualism vs. collectivism in novels “Fahrenheit 451” and The Giver by Lois Lowry
Genetic engineering’s impact on identity in Gattaca by Andrew Niccol
Impact of the dramatic structure on tone and mood in The Crucible, Macbeth, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Hamlet by William Shakespeare
How Stephen Crane uses symbolism to develop theme and tone in his short story “The Open Boat”
The symbolism used to create atmosphere in “The Tell-Tale Heart” by Edgar Allan Poe
The symbolism used to enhance tone and mood in Hamlet by William Shakespeare
How Dr. Seuss uses word choice, imagery, and rhyme to create a tone of whimsy in Green Eggs and Ham
Analyzing the use of hyperbole throughout Animal Farm by George Orwell
A comparison of the tone and mood created in “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee and “1984” by George Orwell
Use of symbolism to enhance theme in Nightfall by Isaac Asimov

Rhetorical Essay Topics About Famous Speeches

Rhetorical analysis of “Mr. Gorbachev, Tear Down This Wall!”
The impact of King’s rhetorical strategies on the Civil Rights Movement
Rhetorical Analysis on Ronald Reagan Speech on Challenger Disaster
How does Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s rhetoric build tension to create an aura of despair for African Americans in his “I Have a Dream” speech?
Analyzing the impact of Winston Churchill’s rhetoric on England during World War II
Rhetorical Analysis of Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death!” Speech
How effective was Lincoln’s use of logos, ethos, and pathos in his Second Inaugural Address?
The influence of Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s “Solitude of Self” speech on the women’s rights movement
The effectiveness of John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address in creating a new generation of American citizens
How effective was Malcolm X’s “Message to the Grass Roots” speech in gaining black nationalistic pride?
How does JFK contribute to the Cold War rhetorical strategies used in his Address at American University?
Analysis on George W. Bush’s address to Congress after September 11, 2001
George H. W. Bush’s speech on the Gulf War being a New World Order
Analyzing Barack Obama’s 2008 Democratic National Convention Speech
Analyzing Donald Trump’s Inaugural Address as President of the United States
How does Barack Obama differ from Donald Trump in his use of rhetorical strategies?
What makes the most effective presidential inaugural address, and why do you believe so?
The use of inflection throughout Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech
Structure and content of the Gettysburg Address by Abraham Lincoln
The effect of Taft’s “A Time for Action” speech on his campaign
How effective was Woodrow Wilson’s “Fourteen Points” speech in ending World War I?
Presidential rhetoric used to push America into WWI, WWII, and Vietnam
Using a rhetorical analysis of a presidential speech to analyze the effectiveness of a president’s administration
Presidential rhetoric used to justify U.S. involvement in WWII
How effective was FDR’s use of pathos and ethos in his “Day of Infamy” speech?
Rhetorical analysis of President Reagan’s “Star Wars” speech and its effect on the Cold War
The effect of FDR’s “Four Freedoms” speech and whether it achieved its goal
Analyzing the effectiveness of President Nixon’s Vietnamization program

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics About T.V. & Film

How effective is the symbolism used in Steven Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan?”
A rhetorical analysis of Andrew Niccol’s “Lord of War” film
Rhetorical Analysis of Stanley Kubrick’s “Dr. Strangelove”
The effectiveness of Spielberg’s incorporation of the Holocaust into his films through a rhetorical analysis
Rhetorical analysis on the symbolism in Wes Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel”
The symbolism used to create atmosphere in the opening scene of Ridley Scott’s “Alien”
Rhetorical Analysis of the symbolism in Christopher Nolan’s “Interstellar”
The effect on the Cold War brought about by Hans Zimmer’s score for Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar
What is Spielberg trying to communicate about American values through his use of symbolism in E.T.?
A rhetorical analysis of the effectiveness of “The Hunger Games” film series in communicating its message to society
Rhetorical Analysis on Spielberg’s use of symbolism in “War Horse”
How does Pixar’s movie Up contribute to the discussion over euthanasia?
Rhetorical analysis on how Shrek communicates modern values through its story and symbolism
Using a rhetorical analysis to determine whether or not the symbolism in “300” is empowering for women
How does Tarantino’s use of violence contribute to his films’ success?
The effect of negative imagery as used by Tyler Perry within the opening scene of “For Colored Girls.”
The impact on society from Quentin Tarantino’s use of violence within his films
The effect on society from the impact Quentin Tarantino’s use of violence has had on Hollywood.
Analysis of how effective it is for Tyler Perry to include dialogue and monologue within his films
How does the opening scene of “12 Years a Slave” contribute to the discussion about race relations in America?
A rhetorical analysis of Quentin Tarantino’s dialogue in “Pulp Fiction”
The effect that the symbolism in David Fincher’s “Fight Club” film has on society
How does art house director Terrence Malick communicate the effects of war through a rhetorical analysis of his film, The Thin Red Line?
Rhetorical Analysis on Terrence Malick’s use of symbolism in “The Thin Red Line”
Rhetorical analysis of Quentin Tarantino’s view on violence as communicated through his films
Analyzing the impact that the film, American Sniper, had on society regarding the War on Terror
Analyzing how effective David Fincher is at directing horror films through a rhetorical analysis of The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
A rhetorical analysis of Tarantino’s dialogue in Django Unchained and its effect on race relations in America
The effectiveness of David Fincher’s use of violence as a plot device in “Gone Girl”

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics About Advertising & Marketing

How does the symbolism in Apple’s 1984 commercial influence its effectiveness?
A rhetorical analysis of Chrysler’s Super Bowl ad, “Halftime in America”
The symbolism used to communicate ideas about marriage in Nike’s 2013 commercial, “The Next Wave”
The effect that the symbolisms used in Nike’s “Unlimited” commercial have on society
How does Honda use rhetoric to influence the American public through its Fitnation campaign?
Analyzing Adidas’ World Cup 2014 ad and how it works to sell Germany as a nation of winners.
Using a rhetorical analysis to determine what effect the symbolism used in Nike’s “I am Tiger Woods” commercial has on society
A rhetorical analysis of how the strategy used by Beats by Dre in their #HearWhatYouWant campaign works to influence the public
A rhetorical analysis of the effectiveness for McDonald’s in its “I’m Lovin’ it” campaign
Analyzing how Skittles uses symbolism in its commercial entitled, “#TasteTheRainbow.”
A rhetorical analysis of Burger King’s use of a social media hashtag, #EatLikeAndy to market its product.
The effectiveness of the symbolism used in Adidas’ “All In For #BETRUE” campaign
Analyzing how effective Burger King’s use of social media was in their “Whopper Sacrifice” campaign
The effect that the use of Sean Bean as a spokesperson has on Samsung’s product, Galaxy Note 3.
How effective is Red Bull at using symbolism to market its product?

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics About Arts & Entertainment

Analysis of how effective Iggy Pop is as a frontman in the music video “The Passenger”
Rhetorical analysis on what makes Nirvana’s performance in “Smells Like Teen Spirit” so significant and influential
A rhetorical analysis of Jay-Z’s use of symbolism, imagery, and irony to communicate ideas in his music video for “Big Pimpin”
An analysis of how effective Tupac’s use of symbolism and rhetoric was in “Brenda’s Got a Baby” to communicate what life was like for African American women.
Analyzing the effectiveness of Kendrick Lamar’s use of language and metaphor in his song, “Swimming Pools (Drank)”
Rhetorical analysis on the symbolism and irony present in Jay-Z’s music video “99 Problems”
The use of irony found in Beyonce’s song, “Partition”
Analyzing how effective U2 was at using lyrics to communicate ideas about politics and justice.
How does director David Lynch communicate violence and evil through a rhetorical analysis of his film, Blue Velvet?
The effectiveness of Tupac’s use of irony and symbolism in his song, “Changes”
A rhetorical analysis on how effective Antonio Canova was at communicating ideas about the past through a statue commissioned by Napoleon.
How does Van Gogh’s Starry Night communicate ideas about the interaction between light, darkness, and the world as a whole?
A rhetorical analysis of how effective Prometheus Rising is at communicating its point through symbolism and irony.
How effective is The Beatles’ song “Eleanor Rigby” at using symbolism to make its point about life and loneliness?
An analysis of Iron Maiden’s music video for “Number of the Beast” and how it works to communicate its point through symbolism and imagery.
A rhetorical analysis on the effectiveness of using sexuality as a plot device in “Pretty Woman.”
A rhetorical analysis on the use of irony and humor that is found in Miley Cyrus’ song, “We Can’t Stop.”

Rhetorical essays can effectively teach students how to analyze, understand and separate rhetorical elements of writing, speaking, and presenting the material. Be sure to combine these essay topics with the writing guide above to ensure that you get the grade you need on your rhetorical essay to pass your course and earn a degree.

120 Expository Essay Topics
130 Problem Solution Essay Topics
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130 Social Media Essay Topics
200 Persuasive Essay Topics

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What Is a Rhetorical Analysis and How to Write a Great One

Helly Douglas

Do you have to write a rhetorical analysis essay? Fear not! We’re here to explain exactly what rhetorical analysis means, how you should structure your essay, and give you some essential “dos and don’ts.”

What is a Rhetorical Analysis Essay?

How do you write a rhetorical analysis, what are the three rhetorical strategies, what are the five rhetorical situations, how to plan a rhetorical analysis essay, creating a rhetorical analysis essay, examples of great rhetorical analysis essays, final thoughts.

A rhetorical analysis essay studies how writers and speakers have used words to influence their audience. Think less about the words the author has used and more about the techniques they employ, their goals, and the effect this has on the audience.

In your analysis essay, you break a piece of text (including cartoons, adverts, and speeches) into sections and explain how each part works to persuade, inform, or entertain. You’ll explore the effectiveness of the techniques used, how the argument has been constructed, and give examples from the text.

A strong rhetorical analysis evaluates a text rather than just describes the techniques used. You don’t include whether you personally agree or disagree with the argument.

Structure a rhetorical analysis in the same way as most other types of academic essays . You’ll have an introduction to present your thesis, a main body where you analyze the text, which then leads to a conclusion.

Think about how the writer (also known as a rhetor) considers the situation that frames their communication:

Topic: the overall purpose of the rhetoric
Audience: this includes primary, secondary, and tertiary audiences
Purpose: there are often more than one to consider
Context and culture: the wider situation within which the rhetoric is placed

Back in the 4th century BC, Aristotle was talking about how language can be used as a means of persuasion. He described three principal forms —Ethos, Logos, and Pathos—often referred to as the Rhetorical Triangle . These persuasive techniques are still used today.

Rhetorical Strategy 1: Ethos

Are you more likely to buy a car from an established company that’s been an important part of your community for 50 years, or someone new who just started their business?

Reputation matters. Ethos explores how the character, disposition, and fundamental values of the author create appeal, along with their expertise and knowledge in the subject area.

Aristotle breaks ethos down into three further categories:

Phronesis: skills and practical wisdom
Arete: virtue
Eunoia: goodwill towards the audience

Ethos-driven speeches and text rely on the reputation of the author. In your analysis, you can look at how the writer establishes ethos through both direct and indirect means.

Rhetorical Strategy 2: Pathos

Pathos-driven rhetoric hooks into our emotions. You’ll often see it used in advertisements, particularly by charities wanting you to donate money towards an appeal.

Common use of pathos includes:

Vivid description so the reader can imagine themselves in the situation
Personal stories to create feelings of empathy
Emotional vocabulary that evokes a response

By using pathos to make the audience feel a particular emotion, the author can persuade them that the argument they’re making is compelling.

Rhetorical Strategy 3: Logos

Logos uses logic or reason. It’s commonly used in academic writing when arguments are created using evidence and reasoning rather than an emotional response. It’s constructed in a step-by-step approach that builds methodically to create a powerful effect upon the reader.

Rhetoric can use any one of these three techniques, but effective arguments often appeal to all three elements.

The rhetorical situation explains the circumstances behind and around a piece of rhetoric. It helps you think about why a text exists, its purpose, and how it’s carried out.

The rhetorical situations are:

1) Purpose: Why is this being written? (It could be trying to inform, persuade, instruct, or entertain.)
2) Audience: Which groups or individuals will read and take action (or have done so in the past)?
3) Genre: What type of writing is this?
4) Stance: What is the tone of the text? What position are they taking?
5) Media/Visuals: What means of communication are used?

Understanding and analyzing the rhetorical situation is essential for building a strong essay. Also think about any rhetoric restraints on the text, such as beliefs, attitudes, and traditions that could affect the author's decisions.

Before leaping into your essay, it’s worth taking time to explore the text at a deeper level and considering the rhetorical situations we looked at before. Throw away your assumptions and use these simple questions to help you unpick how and why the text is having an effect on the audience.

Image showing what to consider when planning a rhetorical essay

1: What is the Rhetorical Situation?

Why is there a need or opportunity for persuasion?
How do words and references help you identify the time and location?
What are the rhetoric restraints?
What historical occasions would lead to this text being created?

2: Who is the Author?

How do they position themselves as an expert worth listening to?
What is their ethos?
Do they have a reputation that gives them authority?
What is their intention?
What values or customs do they have?

3: Who is it Written For?

Who is the intended audience?
How is this appealing to this particular audience?
Who are the possible secondary and tertiary audiences?

4: What is the Central Idea?

Can you summarize the key point of this rhetoric?
What arguments are used?
How has it developed a line of reasoning?

5: How is it Structured?

What structure is used?
How is the content arranged within the structure?

6: What Form is Used?

Does this follow a specific literary genre?
What type of style and tone is used, and why is this?
Does the form used complement the content?
What effect could this form have on the audience?

7: Is the Rhetoric Effective?

Does the content fulfil the author’s intentions?
Does the message effectively fit the audience, location, and time period?

Once you’ve fully explored the text, you’ll have a better understanding of the impact it’s having on the audience and feel more confident about writing your essay outline.

A great essay starts with an interesting topic. Choose carefully so you’re personally invested in the subject and familiar with it rather than just following trending topics. There are lots of great ideas on this blog post by My Perfect Words if you need some inspiration. Take some time to do background research to ensure your topic offers good analysis opportunities.

Image showing considerations for a rhetorical analysis topic

Remember to check the information given to you by your professor so you follow their preferred style guidelines. This outline example gives you a general idea of a format to follow, but there will likely be specific requests about layout and content in your course handbook. It’s always worth asking your institution if you’re unsure.

Make notes for each section of your essay before you write. This makes it easy for you to write a well-structured text that flows naturally to a conclusion. You will develop each note into a paragraph. Look at this example by College Essay for useful ideas about the structure.

1: Introduction

This is a short, informative section that shows you understand the purpose of the text. It tempts the reader to find out more by mentioning what will come in the main body of your essay.

Name the author of the text and the title of their work followed by the date in parentheses
Use a verb to describe what the author does, e.g. “implies,” “asserts,” or “claims”
Briefly summarize the text in your own words
Mention the persuasive techniques used by the rhetor and its effect

Create a thesis statement to come at the end of your introduction.

After your introduction, move on to your critical analysis. This is the principal part of your essay.

Explain the methods used by the author to inform, entertain, and/or persuade the audience using Aristotle's rhetorical triangle
Use quotations to prove the statements you make
Explain why the writer used this approach and how successful it is
Consider how it makes the audience feel and react

Make each strategy a new paragraph rather than cramming them together, and always use proper citations. Check back to your course handbook if you’re unsure which citation style is preferred.

3: Conclusion

Your conclusion should summarize the points you’ve made in the main body of your essay. While you will draw the points together, this is not the place to introduce new information you’ve not previously mentioned.

Use your last sentence to share a powerful concluding statement that talks about the impact the text has on the audience(s) and wider society. How have its strategies helped to shape history?

Before You Submit

Poor spelling and grammatical errors ruin a great essay. Use ProWritingAid to check through your finished essay before you submit. It will pick up all the minor errors you’ve missed and help you give your essay a final polish. Look at this useful ProWritingAid webinar for further ideas to help you significantly improve your essays. Sign up for a free trial today and start editing your essays!

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You’ll find countless examples of rhetorical analysis online, but they range widely in quality. Your institution may have example essays they can share with you to show you exactly what they’re looking for.

The following links should give you a good starting point if you’re looking for ideas:

Pearson Canada has a range of good examples. Look at how embedded quotations are used to prove the points being made. The end questions help you unpick how successful each essay is.

Excelsior College has an excellent sample essay complete with useful comments highlighting the techniques used.

Brighton Online has a selection of interesting essays to look at. In this specific example, consider how wider reading has deepened the exploration of the text.

Image showing tips when reading a sample essay

Writing a rhetorical analysis essay can seem daunting, but spending significant time deeply analyzing the text before you write will make it far more achievable and result in a better-quality essay overall.

It can take some time to write a good essay. Aim to complete it well before the deadline so you don’t feel rushed. Use ProWritingAid’s comprehensive checks to find any errors and make changes to improve readability. Then you’ll be ready to submit your finished essay, knowing it’s as good as you can possibly make it.

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Helly Douglas is a UK writer and teacher, specialising in education, children, and parenting. She loves making the complex seem simple through blogs, articles, and curriculum content. You can check out her work at hellydouglas.com or connect on Twitter @hellydouglas. When she’s not writing, you will find her in a classroom, being a mum or battling against the wilderness of her garden—the garden is winning!

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122 Various Rhetorical Analysis Topics To Help Your Progress

Many students don’t know where to start when choosing rhetorical analysis topics for academic papers. That’s because writing about these topics requires students to explore the subject in detail and prove their standpoint. Usually, educators expect learners to use effective and persuasive methods to achieve this goal. In simple terms, a rhetorical essay involves writing about writing.

This article presents a rhetorical analysis topics list for learners at different educational levels. It’s useful because it provides helpful ideas to help students with difficulties create interesting titles for their papers.

What Is Rhetorical Analysis?

Before diving into the list of rhetorical analysis topics, let’s define rhetoric.

A dictionary will say rhetoric is “the effective or persuasive art of writing or speaking, especially one that exploits figures of speech and other compositional techniques.”

However, rhetoric is more than just an art form. It’s also a tool that a writer can use to achieve a specific goal. In the context of academic writing, learners often use rhetoric to persuade the reader to see things from their point of view.

For example, consider the following statement:

“The death penalty is naturally an inhuman and cruel punishment that governments should abolish.”

This statement is an example of rhetoric because the writer uses persuasive language to make an argument. They want to convince the reader that the death penalty is wrong and governments should stop it.

What Are Good Rhetorical Analysis Topics?

Good rhetorical analysis titles allow the writer to analyze something and its effect on the audience or themselves. Although a rhetorical analysis essay can be about a speech or literature, it can also be about a movie or art. Some educators even ask learners to write rhetorical analyses about billboards or commercials. Nevertheless, an ideal topic allows the writer to acquire and analyze sufficient information.

Remember, the goal of a rhetorical analysis is to evaluate the effectiveness of an argument or a piece of work. Therefore, pick a topic that allows you to do this. Once you’ve known what rhetorical analysis is and what makes good topics, let’s delve into some of the titles worth considering.

Best Topics For Rhetorical Analysis In 2023

Maybe you’re looking for the best ideas to consider for your academic essays or papers. In that case, here are some of the titles to consider for your write-up.

How social media affects body image
Common rhetorical strategies in advertising
What is the relationship between violence and video games?
How does music affect mood?
The role of the internet in education
Should governments lower the legal drinking age?
Should governments legalize marijuana?
Euthanasia: To be or not to be?
Cloning: The ethical implications and applications
Is homeschooling a viable educational alternative?
Is childhood obesity a reflection of bad parenting?
Are beauty pageants exploitative?
Should the government censor the internet?
Can the death penalty deter crime?
Should abortion be legal?
Are zoos ethical?
Should governments dictate the number of children a family can have?
Should parents be allowed to choose the sex of their child?
Is it ethical to buy organs on the black market?
What are the ethical implications of human cloning?
The impact of social media on relationships
How do the media influence body image and eating disorders?
The effect of advertising on consumerism
Exploring music’s influence on emotions
Investigating the internet’s impact on education
The changing face of family structure and its effects
The pros and cons of homeschooling
Cyber-bullying- Its impact and how to prevent it
School uniforms: Are they necessary?
Religion in schools: Should the government allow it?
Censorship in schools: What are the criteria for choosing books, art, music, and film?
Are standardized tests an accurate measure of student ability?
Is tracking students by ability level beneficial?
Should schools eliminate homework?
Is the current educational system preparing students for the workforce?

Pick any of these ideas and investigate them to provide a detailed analysis. You can consult different sources to present an informative paper.

Rhetorical Analysis Ideas For College Students

Perhaps, you’re pursuing your college or university education, and the professor wants you to write a rhetorical analysis essay. In that case, here’s a list of topic ideas to consider for your paper.

How do authors use ethos, pathos, and logos in their work?
What is the purpose of the author’s argument?- Provide an example
Choose a piece of literary work and describe the target audience
Explain the methods the author uses to persuade their audience- Choose your scholarly work.
Explain the implications of the author’s argument in your preferred literary work
Use an example to demonstrate the effectiveness of the author’s rhetoric
The rhetoric issue in Plato’s Republic
Why did “I Have a Dream” by Martin Luther King break the internet?
Rhetorical analysis of the film, Black Panther
Analyze the speech writing power in George Washington’s speeches
Rhetorical devices and their use in television advertising
Analyzing the rhetorical analysis devices in the Monalisa portrait
Literary devices and their function in plays and poetry
Rhetorical devices in Harry Porter
Analyzing the September 11 speech- Which rhetorical devices stand out?
How online content like blogs use rhetoric
Analyze your favorite book and show how it affected your life
Analyze rhetorical devices in your preferred political speech of the 21st century
How technology facilitates the manipulation of rhetoric devices
Analyzing rhetorical devices in Charles Spurgeon’s sermons
Rhetorical analysis of The Great Dictator by Charlie Chaplin
Critical analysis of a scene from your favorite movie- Highlight rhetoric devices
What marks acceptance speeches, and how do speakers use rhetorical devices
Rhetoric in preaching- How preachers impact the congregation
Discuss how authors use solitude in literature

These college-level rhetorical analysis ideas allow you to investigate different aspects of writing. Also, they provide a detailed perspective that helps you understand how to approach the assignments.

Good Rhetorical Analysis Topics For High School Learners

Maybe you’re in high school, and the teacher wants you to write a rhetorical analysis essay. If so, this list has ideal titles to consider for your paper.

Can a real friendship exist between a dog and a man?
Language is crucial to society- A detailed rhetorical analysis
The dog is the best housekeeper- A rhetorical analysis of this phrase
A comparison of how men and women consume ad messages
Rhetorical analysis of women’s attitudes towards fashion compared to men
Consumerism and environment- A rhetorical analysis
Analysis and summary of “The Kite Runner.”
The Animal Farm- A detailed rhetorical analysis of this book
Write a rhetorical analysis essay on your favorite birthday
A detailed rhetorical analysis of a speech by the school’s head teacher on graduation day
Rhetorical analysis of the inaugural address by your favorite teacher
Rhetorical analysis of a Nobel Peace Prize Winner’s speech
Rhetorical analysis and themes of William Shakespeare’s Pride and Prejudice
Online consumers- A detailed rhetorical analysis of their behavior
A rhetorical analysis of the electronic media’s impact on culture
Social media and its power- A rhetorical analysis of its power in turning the world into a global village
Olympics and World Cup- A detailed rhetorical analysis
National anthem in Olympic games- A rhetorical analysis
A rhetorical analysis of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet
Primary themes in Alice in the Wanderland- A rhetorical analysis

These are good topics to write a rhetorical analysis on if you’re in high school. However, you may want to read some books or study the works to write informative and winning papers.

Easy Rhetorical Analysis Topics

Maybe you don’t have adequate time to read or investigate somebody else’s work and write about it. In that case, the following ideas could be excellent for your titles.

The Hunger Games- What are this work’s most practical rhetorical strategies?
How ancient and modern stylistic devices differ
A Room of One’s Own by Virginia Woolf- Exploring the primary rhetorical devices
Rhetorical analysis of the class representative’s speech on the Memorial Day
The Picture of Dorian Gray- Investigating the critical stylistic devices
Develop a rhetorical composition of varying religious texts
Rhetorical analysis of Mona Lisa’s smile and its meaning
A detailed rhetorical analysis of pop-culture songs
Rhetorical analysis of Les Demoiselles d’Avignon by Pablo Picasso
Heroism as a theme- How does it come out in different literary works?
How authors handle race and prejudice in their works
Rhetorical strategies in Harry Potter’s work
Rhetorical analysis of a speech by Alexander the Great
Themes and their relevance in literary texts about love and hope
Rhetorical analysis of Louisa May Alcott in promoting feminism
Investigating the American National Anthem- What are the vital rhetorical devices?
Does the Fight Song by Rachel Platten mark creativity and art?
Why do Ted Talks attract so many listeners?
How advertisers curate poster and billboard language in advertising
The impact of vivid description and symbols on literary work’s visual impression

These rhetoric topics are relatively easy to write about, but some may require a little research. Nevertheless, most learners will find working on these subjects straightforward.

Rhetoric Research Paper Topics

Maybe you’re writing a research paper and need a rhetorical title. If so, consider these ideas for your project or thesis from professional dissertation writers .

How has the definition of rhetoric changed over time?
What are the different types of rhetoric?
How do persuasive and argumentative rhetorics differ?
What are the ethical implications of rhetoric?
How does rhetoric affect society?
How can authors use rhetoric for good or evil?
How art uses rhetoric
Creative ads and symbolism
Game of Thrones- How does the film use visual arts?
Rhetorical devices in digital media campaigns
How does the film/television show portray its characters?
What is the purpose of the film/television show?
Who is the target audience for this piece?
What methods does the film/television show use to persuade its audience?
What are the implications of the film/television show?
Is the film/television show’s rhetoric effective? Why or why not?
Works about GMO and human health- A rhetorical analysis
Automated system use and rhetorical devices
Sports segregation by gender- a rhetorical analysis
Data privacy and social media- A detailed rhetorical analysis
College athletes’ payment- A rhetorical analysis
Investigating gun legalization- Rhetorical analysis of this topic

These are some of the best rhetorical analysis example topics to consider for your essay or paper. Choose a title that interests you and investigate it to present a detailed perspective.

Get Custom Essay Help Online

Maybe you have a title for your paper but not the time or skills to write a quality essay. In that case, get help from our experts to write a winning piece or undergraduate thesis . We’re professional writers with a proven track record of helping learners across the academic levels. Our crew makes completing a writing assignment an awesome experience. You will realize that writing a rhetorical paper is fun with our assistance. We will deliver a masterpiece even if you need help with an advanced essay.

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227 Rhetoric Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best rhetoric topic ideas & essay examples, 👍 good essay topics on rhetoric, 🔎 simple & easy rhetoric essay titles, 💡 interesting topics to write about rhetoric, ✍️ rhetoric essay topics for college, ❓ questions about rhetoric.

Steve Jobs Commencement Speech Analysis In his speech, Jobs demonstrates the virtuous use of the rhetoric appeals in the development and presentation of one of the most persuasive commencement speeches in order to draw the students’ attention to the significant […]
Rhetoric in “12 Angry Men” Film by Sidney Lumet In the same manner, he points to the fact that some of the information presented as incriminating the boy is insufficient for establishing the personality of a killer. We will write a custom essay specifically for you by our professional experts 808 writers online Learn More
’A More Perfect Union’ Barack Obama Rhetorical Analysis In his speech, Obama is very conscious and aware of his audience. The message contained in his speech is that of peace and unity.
Crest Toothpaste Advertisement’s Rhetorical Analysis The purpose of the advertisement is to increase the popularity of the brand’s anti-cavity toothpaste. Throughout the text, Crest Cool Mint Gel is referred to as the product recommended by the majority of professional dentists, […]
The Rhetorical Devices of George Orwell This essay discusses the rhetoric devices George Orwell uses to convince the audience of the credibility of his arguments regarding the ambiguity of political language.
“Letter From Birmingham Jail” Rhetorical Analysis Essay He supports his argument in the next paragraph, where he puts it across that they have been governed by a combination of unjust and just law whereby there is a need to separate the two.
A Rhetorical Analysis: “Chevy Commercial 2014” The subtext of this advertisement is that a Company tries to force the relationship between Maddie and the products in attempting to stress that they can be trusted like Maddie.
Rhetorical Analysis of Patricia Ryan’s Speech “Don’t Insist on English” The main idea Patricia Ryan’s wants to deliver to the audience in her speech is that the globalization of English language does not give an opportunity for English-speaking countries to notice the entire knowledge of […]
Rhetorical Analysis of an Image The audience of this cartoon is difficult to define, because it can include every person who is interested in the political, social, and economic life of the country.
Rhetorical Analysis of an Essay by Matt de la Peña In Sometimes the “Tough Teen” Is Quietly Writing Stories, Matt de la Pe a presents his personal experiences that shaped his purpose in life and in the essay.
Rhetoric of “The ‘Other Side’ Is Not Dumb” by Blanda The author uses rhetorical approaches to increase the engagement of the reader with the text. In the “The ‘Other Side’ Is Not Dumb” article, the author effectively uses various rhetorical techniques to grab the reader’s […]
Rhetorical Analysis of “On Being a Cripple” by Mairs Mairs delineates her areas of expertise throughout the essay and indicates that she has the required background in the topic at hand to develop ethos.
“Angela’s Ashes” by Frank McCourt: Rhetorical Devices The principal purpose of the deployment of metaphors and figurative language in the work of literature is to emphasize the emotional intensity of the characters’ experiences.
The Book “Common Sense” by Thomas Paine: Rhetorical Analysis In Thomas Paine’s Common Sense, the primary example of logos is the title of the literary work itself due to the fact that Paine tries to appeal to the audience.
Rhetoric of The Declaration of Independence Other than appealing to ethics, Jefferson and the founding fathers required the audience to have an emotional attachment to the Declaration of Independence.
Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death: Rhetoric Appeals in Patrick Henry The use of rhetoric appeals to strengthen the message is a common instrument for many orators, and Patrick Henry is no exception to the rule.
Rhetoric in “A Modest Proposal” by Jonathan Swift Swift does conduct some math to establish the number of miscarriages, deaths, and the number of children born in a year.
Classical and Modern Rhetoric On the other hand, modern rhetoric is the contemporary form of rhetoric that exists to reexamine provisions of classical rhetoric providing a more cooperative form of communication between a speaker and his/her audience.
Sports Impact on Teenagers: Rhetorical Appeals Participating in any form of sports is of great significance as it helps to utilize, maintain, and improve an individual’s physical capabilities and develop advanced skills in that particular game.
Aristotle’s and Plato’s Views on Rhetoric One of the points that Plato expresses in this philosophical work is that rhetoric should be viewed primarily as the “artificer of persuasion”. This is one of the similarities that can be distinguished.
Michele Obama’s Speech: A Rhetorical Analysis The main message of the First Lady was to draw attention to the suppression of the advertising of unhealthy food to minors.
A Rhetorical Analysis of the Titanic Film The close-up shots used in the scene add to the emotional effect of the scene and create a sense of intimacy between the audience and characters, making the intended viewers experience the scene as if […]
Rhetoric in “Is Google Making Us Stupid” by Carr An overview of the essay revealed the application of a careful appeal to the reader’s emotions, the establishment of the writer’s credibility, logical presentation of relevant information, and the subtle entreaty using shared experiences.
“Come September” by Arundhati Roy: Rhetorical Analysis The author admits that she is going to read her speech out loud and stresses the two reasons for reading: first, she is a writer and she feels more comfortable when she writes and not […]
A Rhetoric Analysis of Economic Discourses in the Climate – Change Debate With a view to untangling some of the complexity of climate-change argumentation, the proposed paper presents a rhetoric analysis of the use of economic discourse in the climate-change controversy.
Rhetorical Analysis of Basketball In this aspect, it is worth considering basketball not only from an emotional and ethical point of view but also from a logical one, thus, the logos.
Rhetorical Theory Applied to Michelle Obama’s Speech The next step was the discussion of the candidate’s history, her skills, and the nature of the election. In conclusion, this rhetorical analysis reveals the strengths and weaknesses of Michelle Obama’s speech at the Democratic […]
Rhetorical Analysis of the Communist Manifesto A famous philologist and linguist Bakhtin described the use of language in its relation to the particular circumstances and he emphasized the process of subject formation: “pre-empts the phenomenological theory of the subject by producing […]
The Rhetoric of the Image by Barthes’ Approach Proper consideration of all these levels of the image analysis, provides the analyst with a comprehensive picture of what the image actually presents, what are the hidden, or implicit, meanings it is intended to render, […]
Rhetoric in Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple” It can be argued that the purpose of Walker’s appeals to her audience is to instill a sense of pride and confidence in them.
Rhetoric and Propaganda: How Far Is Rhetoric From Propaganda? In order to understand the essence of the two terms, it is important to consider the available definitions and meanings assigned to rhetoric and propaganda in the modern world.
Rhetorical Analysis of Articles on Sweatshops Ravisankar specifically appeals to the ideals and emotions of the audience by exposing the businesses’ desire to maximize profits at any cost and outlining the horrifying workplace conditions at sweatshops.
“The Myth of Multitasking” by Rosen: Rhetorical Analysis By the end of the article, Rosen persuades the reader that the benefits of multitasking are overrated and that human brains are wired to focus on one single task.
King’s “I Have a Dream” Speech: Rhetorical Analysis The speech is full of outrage and contains allusions to the Bible and the US Declaration of Independence. The main theses of King’s political speeches were not only the equalization of the rights of Whites […]
The Film “Soul” by Pixar: Understanding Plato’s Rhetoric Plato believes that the function of the soul in the conception of noble rhetoric is the ability of the orator to understand other people and execute the art of rhetoric.
Rhetorical Theory: Robert Ivie’s Argument Therefore, there is a need to find a rhetorical sense of balance between the leadership-enabled opinion and policy juxtaposed by the underlying culture of beliefs, values, and accepted behaviors.”Negotiating the precarious line between division and […]
Rhetorical Techniques in “Letter From Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King His flawless use of metaphors and parallelism allows the reader or the audience to empathize with King and support him in his fight against racial injustice.
Barack Obama’s Speech as a Rhetorical Example The main message of the speech was clearly understood – the president outlined his further steps in the development of the country, he would make.
Rhetoric in “This Boat Is My Boat” Article by Taylor The author uses this anecdote to illustrate the visitors’ pollution and willingness to exert themselves in an activity that ultimately would result in their demise.”Means of transportation and survival” of the Natives should not be […]
Rhetoric Methods and Their Analysis The essay frequently tells the story of a momentous event in the first person, and it may be written in a variety of genres, including formal essays and creative non-fiction.
Rhetorical Devices in America’s Opioid Crisis Documentary In addition, the interview with the mother of an athlete, who was prescribed painkillers and found dead because of overdose, persuades the target audience to think about the opioid crisis.
Analysis of Rhetorical Techniques of “The Book of Questions” by Pablo Neruda On the one hand, poetry can and should be enjoyable; on the other hand, however, it needs to compel the reader to critically examine the world order and the nature of things.
Rhetoric: “Millennials: The Me Me Me Generation” Lastly, the author of the article chose to include rhetorical questions as one of the strategies. Later in the article, the author makes a hasty generalization about the modern workforce adapting to millennials.
Stick and Stones and Sports Team Names: Rhetorical Analysis The author constantly relies on the emotional appeal to the readers throughout the development of the whole argument. In addition, using pathos is often characterized as a common fallacy, and in Estrada’s argument, appeal to […]
Rhetorical Devices in the Famous Speeches There is no doubt that the persuasiveness and vigor of the speech are created due to the message that is conveyed by it: support of German people who wanted to be free, and due to […]
Rhetorical Triangle of Infinity Q50 Advertisement In advertising, the rhetorical triangle has particular importance because each of the mentioned components is necessary for invoking different types of appeal between the target audience and the presenter of a message.
Syllogism and Enthymeme in Aristotle’s Rhetoric One of the implications of syllogism to audiences is in regards to the possibility of creating offensive conclusions from an argument’s statements.
Steve Jobs’ Stanford Speech Rhetorical Strategies Speaking of the goals which Steve Jobs pursued when having a public speech in front of the students of the Stanford University, one has to mention that these goals had nothing to do with Jobs’ […]
Rhetorical Analysis: Roosevelt’s Inaugural Address The major aim of the President was to encourage people to take certain steps. The President’s speech was successful as Roosevelt obtained the necessary support of the Americans.
Rhetorical Analysis This is well demonstrated in the web page of the Double Cola Company, a web page that is committed to targeting and attracting the young audience of the high-end economic status.
Harris’s “Can We Build AI…?” Talk: Rhetorical Analysis These statements are examples of the use of logos since they are logically intuitive to the point that any member of the general audience can understand.
Rhetoric of Wineburg and Ziv’s Article on Education The authors urge for a drastic change in the national approach to credibility education, which is evident from the appeal to public endangerment at the very end of the editorial.
Ocean Dumping Issue and Rhetorical Rationale Therefore, the goal of this paper is to prove that the poster in question manages to accomplish an impressive goal of subverting the audience’s expectation and encouraging them to shift from an ironic perception of […]
Rhetorical Analysis: Effective Communication He also directs the audience’s attention to the government’s wrongdoings and the consequences of the ANC’s movement. Both speakers employ pathos to appeal to their audience’s emotions and be part of the desired change.
The Nuclear Power Passages: Rhetorical Analysis At that, the writer also provides some data utilized by the former vice president and some information to show the negative side of power plants.
Messaris’s Theory: Images Application in Rhetoric To prove this point, this paper will explore Messaris’s theory of visual rhetoric and claim that images can be persuasive because of their immediacy and the absence of syllogistic construction.
Rhetoric in “Women in the Nineteenth Century” by Margaret Fuller In her essay, she described women as holly and righteous as can be seen from the examples she gave about the knight who had the name of the Virgin on his lips.
Rhetoric: Chief Seattle’s Enviromental Statement The repetition is used in this speech to emphasize the major themes that Chief Seattle uses to draw the listener’s attention: the sacredness of the earth, the difference between the white man and the Indian, […]
Rhetorical Analysis of Obama’s Speech In his speech, Barack Obama makes a magnificent attempt to address the issues of racial dishonesty and white privilege that is still observed in America, to describe the “black anger” that is inherent to the […]
Rhetorical Analysis of the Article”Digital Natives and Immigrants” by Nancy Herther The assertions of Herther, which explain the use of technology by children and the classification of individuals into clusters such as digital natives, digital explorers, and digital addicts, substantiate the motivation of the author in […]
Rhetorical Analysis of the Article Having further introduced the main thesis of the essay and having given some background information, the writer moves smoothly to the body of the piece.
“Is Google Making Us Stupid?” Article by Carr: Rhetorical Analysis The analysis will be centered on the rhetorical means which help the author convey the main idea and attract the readers’ attention to the particular argument.
Communication and Rhetoric by Burke The social aspect is central to rhetoric, according to Burke, who stressed that the system of symbols used for communication was to be common for the speaker and the listeners.
Rhetorical Theory: Ideological Criticism These include cultural studies, which of course helps in identifying the changes that take place to the meaning and application of various ideographs. These transitions also lead to changing meaning and application of the ideographs.
Rhetoric: “The Morality of Birth Control” by Margaret Sanger In her speech, Sanger supports the argument that the American women should have the right to learn more about the birth control because of their responsibility for the personal health and happiness in contrast to […]
Rhetorical Analysis: “$350,000 a Year, and Just Getting By” Lowry’s claim that the explanation is the insulation of richness and resulting lack of awareness is fairly convincing and supplemented with effective use of ethos and logos as well as occasional pathos.
Rhetoric Definition by Socrates and Gorgios Doubting the existence of the reliable criteria of seeking the truth, the sophistic paid more attention to a more accessible object of cognition – to the human, to the humans mind, and to the humans […]
Rhetorical Problem of George H.W. Bush Speech Descriptive Analysis However, a closer look at the speech putting into consideration the consequences of the gulf war on the United States and the global community may give us a different and clear picture of the events […]
Rhetoric: “Cho Seung-Hui’s Killing Rampage” by Tao Lin Lin does not find a connection of their suffering to the deceased. Lin argues that it is “due to the automatic acceptance of a pre-existing sort of guideline or suggestion”.
Barack Obama’s Inaugural Speech and Rhetoric Obama seems to be talking from a point of experience and his understanding of the challenges he articulates is a proof to his assertion.
Political Rhetoric: Barack Obama’s March 18 Speech The context of the speech was reassuring white voters that they did not stand a chance to lose anything based on a statement of a renown Black American Pastor. The speech used the pattern of […]
“A Proposal for an Invitational Rhetoric” by Foss and Griffin In their article, “A proposal for an invitational rhetoric”, Foss and Griffin have discussed on both traditional rhetorical theories and invitational rhetoric; their aim is to offer an understanding of the above approaches.
Rhetorical Analysis of Ethos in “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave” While making rhetorical analysis of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, I would like to point out that his memoir is recognized to be one of greatest narratives of the nineteen century in the […]
Rhetorical Situation of a Resume The audience for the resume is the employer who has to make a decision whether the writer of the chosen work deserves a chance to take the position offered.
Rhetorical Situations: Ethos, Pathos, Logos A rhetorical situation is a context that constitutes a given issue, the audience, and the constraints that might make it hard for the speaker to persuade the audience to share his or her viewpoint.
Rhetoric: Oral Presentations Comparison In the case of Kleinhans, these techniques involve the application of stress and intonation to convey information to the listener better.
Importance of Self-Care: Rhetoric and Persuasion Taking care of oneself and taking care of health is a serious way to maintain well-being. And therefore, it is more important for one’s well-being not to read the news but to devote time to […]
Public Speaking and Rhetorical Implications The speaker makes connections between the audience and the topic of his speech a few times. The speaker recognizes some relationships between himself and the audience at some points in his lecture.
Rhetoric Analysis of Nike’s Advert The use of ethos and pathos in this advert mainly brings a new scope to the game and creates a new dimension for women.
Progress in Cancer Control: Rhetorical Analysis According to their study, these behaviors are more likely to lead to cancer, and the authors’ goal is to convince the audience that they should take responsibility for their health and strive to minimize the […]
Rhetorical Analysis of Socialism vs. Capitalism by Thompson In order to convey this message, the author uses several rhetorical devices, the discussion of which is part of this analysis.
Rhetorical Modes Anthology: Rugby It is a game that turns boys into men and teaches the art of protecting one another in the field. The rugby game teaches discipline as it involves a high level of preparation, and involvement […]
Rhetorical Analysis of The Advertised Infant by Corbeil In the text, the author tries to present the consequences of delegating parental roles to baby products. The thesis sets the foundation and can be used to determine the focus of the essay.
Gasper’s “Marxism, Morality…” Rhetorical Analysis Despite the positive impact that the use of hypophora as a rhetorical device has on Gasper’s argument in “Marxism, morality, and human nature,” the logical fallacy of the appeal to authority reduces the extent of […]
Rhetorical Modes to Use When Discussing Soccer The advancement of urbanization and industrialization led to a reduced leisure period coupled with constant violence that undermined and slowed the game’s development. The team that outscores the rival is the winner, while scoring the […]
Rhetoric in Culture: Latino Traditions in America Rhetoric communication is a special feature of linguistics that enables the speaker to persuade the audience and influence them to act in a given way.
Rhetorical Modes Anthology on Attention Deficit Disorder It clearly outlines the origin and early symptoms of the disorder and the scientist who discovered attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Summary & Validity: This article describes the causes of hyperactivity disorder and the potential factors […]
Rhetorical Analysis of Jean-François Lyotard’s The Postmodern Condition The author does not call on the audience to reconsider the concepts and the state of knowledge, which he defines as ‘postmodern,’ but reflects on changing the paradigm of knowledge in society.
The Rhetorical Analysis of the Organic Fable by Cohen In the article “Organic Fable,” Cohen used ethos, logos, and pathos to reveal his opinion and contract of organic foods effectively.
Rhetoric in Obama’s 2008 Speech on Racism When the audience became excited, it was Obama’s responsibility to convey his message in a more accessible form. To conclude, Obama’s speech in 2008 facilitated his election as the first African American President in history.
“The Rhetoric & Poetics of Aristotle” Book This is necessary to feed more meaning to the language used and contributes to the ability of rhetoric in interpersonal communication. Human interaction is a continuous communication and going back and forth in the rhetoric […]
The Philosophy and Rhetoric Journal Analysis The evolving nature of the auditor inside the profession’s legitimization narratives shows the changes in the function of auditing, the economic climate, and American society’s values.
Dogs in the Military: Articles’ Rhetorical Analysis Despite the different pathetic natures of the two compared articles about dogs in the industry, their comparison proves that the utilitarian and ethical utility of a scientific article is detectable regardless of the level of […]
Rhetorical Modes of the “Billions” TV Show On the one hand, the attorney is desperate to reveal the secrets and wrongdoings of Axe Capital, which would help the legal system battle all evil.
Rhetoric of Article on Health Risks Posed by Energy Drinks This is a factual statement which the authors used to illustrate their premise on the consequences of drinking energy drinks to the health of the user.
Rhetorical Analysis of a “Fitness ABC’s Certification Manual” For instance, the prevalence of the white color and the scarce number of images and illustrations contribute to the sense of the ordinary.
Charismatic Rhetoric of Barack Obama’s Acceptance Speech For example, Obama’s rhetoric and custom linguistic strategies allowed him to appeal to the values of the majority of American citizens.
Binge-Watching as an Issue for a Rhetorical Situation The topic is important due to the common phenomenon of binge-watching correlating with the abundance of streaming platforms. A possible repercussion linked to binge-watching is the time-consuming effect of the behavior.
Think Before Judge: Rhetorical Analysis of Image The audience to which this image is directed is as diverse as the object itself, that is, both a child and an adult can understand the meaning of the hidden one.
Employing Rhetoric Strategies in Writing Most of the time, if you are going to employ this rhetorical device, you will want to compare and contrast both similarities and differences.
The Application of Rhetoric Devices The primary purpose of rhetoric is to provoke the audience to think while allowing the author to stance in an argument.
Rhetorical Strategies of Conquest The Four Voyages of Columbus by Columbus, The Chronicle of The Discovery and Conquest of Guinea by Azurara, and Letters from Mexico by Cortes report the colonial exploits back to the Portuguese and Spanish royalty.
Rhetorical Elements of PayPal Online Commercial Aside from the actors, the imagery used in the commercial shows how easy it is to use PayPal as a payment option through the on-screen emulation of the app’s user interface. It is a clear […]
Rhetoric: Kurzweil’s “How to Create a Mind” and Gardner’s “Creating Minds” Huge shifts in the intellectual climate caused by the dialogue of two cultures – natural and technical, on the one hand, and humanitarian and social, on the other, attracted the attention of researchers and gave […]
Rhetorical Analysis of Paypal’s Online Payments Commercial The commercial assures its clients of privacy which is a tactical use of the rhetorical appeal that contributes to the commercial’s persuasive nature.
Rhetoric and Philosophy of Socrates and Gorgias Socrates argues that oratory practices that became popular among sophists in Athens pursue convincing and persuading rather than speaking the truth.”And the same will be true of the orator and the oratory in relation to […]
Burke’s Pentad: Public Relations, Social Theory, and Rhetoric On the example of one of Jeff Wall’s photographs, it is illustrated how the motivation of an actor in this paradigm can be described in different ways in terms of the viewer’s focus.
Rhetorical Analysis: Logos and Pathos in Trump’s Truth In the third chapter, “The Truth Is the Greatest Enemy of the State,” attention is paid to Trump’s speeches and promises.
Rhetorical Analysis of Gender-Based Violence Against Women In the abstract, the author disapproves of the notion that GBV is steered by poverty and poor government programs to combat this violence.
Analysis of Visual Rhetoric in Business Due to the use of its unique colors and the incorporation of simple visuals representative of the main idea, namely, price tags with time markers on them, IKEA has managed to introduce the idea of […]
Dark Window on Human Trafficking: Rhetorical Analysis In this essay, Ceaser utilized his rhetorical skills to dive into the dark world of human trafficking, which severely hits Latin America and the USA, through the usage of images and forms of different societal […]
Rhetoric vs. Dialectic: Finding Differences It is more honest and flexible than a mere defending of some point of view that a person can even not share.
Rhetoric and Reality of Human Rights Protection For example, the prohibition of homosexuality in many countries of Africa and the Middle East, the restriction of China and Russia’s citizen’s freedoms, and the dictatorship of Africa and Latin America.
Rhetorical Argument in the Community Gardens The community garden ensured a large and growing community partnership that is incredibly committed to student development, nutrition, and food sustainability.
Rhetorical Analysis of the Distance Education The essay can be addressed both to the children and parents for whom the issues of health and psychology are important.
Rhetoric of Anti-Vaccination Comments by Joe Rogan The argument by Joe Rogan relied on the logic that young people who exercise and eat a healthy diet are not likely to get the disease.
Rhetorical Analysis of “Leave Fat Kids Alone” Article by Gordon In the second part of the article, Gordon provides statistical information about overweight and the emergence of the war on childhood obesity.
Rhetorical Analysis: The Criteria of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos In general, the latter presents the description of the company and the specifics of the scientific field, which is the focus of the explorations.
The Power and Effect of Rhetoric in King’s Speech “I Have a Dream” King’s 1963 speech at Lincoln Memorial portrays the significance and power of rhetoric in persuading the audience.”I Have a Dream” symbolizes the perfect utilization of rhetorical strategies and devices to influence the masses.
Rhetorical Strategies: A Natural History of Four Meals To begin with, one should explain that Pollan relies on ethos to claim that the industrial food chain implies essential disadvantages for consumers and the whole planet.
Rhetorical Analysis: Elements and Concepts Myles Allen himself is “Professor of Geosystem Science in the School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford and Head of the Climate Dynamics Group in the University’s Department of Physics”.
Rhetorical Analysis of Academic Communities Comparing the individual articles published in the journals as examples of the discourse in the field of finance, it is possible to note that such a reputable source as The Journal of Finance is characterized […]
The Rhetoric of Bob Fosse: Eroticism and Humor in a Musical This was originally a musical produced by Fosse in 1966 and he translated it into the big screen. However, the credit for creating a new style in musical belongs to Fosse.
Communication and Rhetoric: Concepts of Fish and Thaler Rhetoric can be marked by a significant development since the beginning of the 20th century as literary theorists began to reconsider and elaborate on the ideas of ancient and medieval scholars.
Communication & Rhetoric: Stanley Fish Speech Analysis One of the most striking and valuable insights related to Stanley Fish’s position is related to the way rhetoric ‘transgresses’ the limits of the real world.
Rhetorical Analysis on Healthy Food and Labeling Problem This approach of the author is a manifestation of logos since the explanations rationalize the existence of the problem. This article has three parts, in which the author explains the cult of “healthy” unprocessed food, […]
Rhetorical Critique Article Analysis: Banning Cell Phones and Laptops in the Class Lucy Morsen, the author of the practical proposal concerning the banning of cell phones and laptops in the class, successfully used rhetorical strategies and approaches supported by arguments and results of the recent researches proving […]
Rhetoric. The Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle by Upton The objective of this essay is to analyze the rhetorical strategies in the article, “The Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle” by Emily Upton.
Analysis of Upton’s “The Truth About the Bermuda Triangle” From a Rhetorical Perspective The objective of this essay is to analyse the use of some rhetorical appeals and devices in the article, “The Truth about the Bermuda Triangle”.
Clyde Prestowitz. “Apple Has an Obligation to Help Solve America’s Problems”. Analysis of Rhetorical Strategies Reflecting on the article’s presentation, it should be stated that the author has developed a solid piece of information on the issue of jobs creation in the United States using the art of rhetoric effectively […]
Masaccio’s Holy Trinity: Analysis of Visual Rhetoric It is necessary to outline that his work presents a great interest due to the number of reasons: it was one of the first frescos to contain features of realism and humanism, the work poses […]
The Importance of the Rhetorical Triangle The speaker must be able to maintain the interest and enthusiasm of the audience. The audience must be alert, have an interest in the presentation, and feel as they are an important part of the […]
Analyzing Visual Rhetoric Masaccio’s 1427 Trinity There are two prospective points of the triangles in the picture: one is at the top of the ceiling and the other is behind the dirt mound at the foot of crucified Jesus.
The Role of Islamic Rhetoric in the Afghanistan-Soviet War of 1979 – 1989 It is the resilience of the people and harshness of the terrain that made it difficult to conquer the country that borders Pakistan to the South, Iran to the West, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan to the east.
Visual Rhetoric: The Iraq War and Torture of Abu Ghraib Prisoners Those photos were then given out as evidence of torture that was being done by the American soldiers on the detainees of Abu Ghraib.
Bhopal Disaster Report’s Rhetorical Analysis The website is devoted for the analysis of the aftermath of the tragedy and its effects on the residents. The main attempt of the communication is to show the initial affects on the children of […]
Rhetoric Analysis: ”Targeted Killing and Drone Warfare” by Anderson In this article, Anderson justifies the use of unmanned drone airstrikes as part of the concerted efforts of NATO allies to seek out and destroy suspected Al-Quadi hideouts in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Rhetoric and Stereotypes of Social Groups The stereotypes connected with tattooed people can be seen more related to particular groups such as criminals, delinquent people and bikers.
Presentation Delivery Modes and Rhetorical Triangle What is characteristic of a lecture is that the information is transmitted one way only, from the speaker to the audience.
Toyota Corporation’s Ad: Rhetorical Triangle The rhetorical triangle is used to analyze the attributes of a presentation in bringing out the intended message to the audience and consists of the ethos, logos and pathos.
Common Stereotypes and Reinforcing Rhetoric It is safe to assume that due to this stereotype of lies, the members of the public are not willing to listen to politicians anymore because they expect these politicians to be feeding them with […]
Personal Rhetoric in Books It is not but before the first few lines of each piece in which the author establishes a personal foundation for the rest of the article to be built on.
Aristotle’s Influence on History of Rhetoric: Treatise Rhetoric and the Concept of the Rhetorical Triangle Aristotle has written works in a number of subjects, such as ethics, poetry, politics, music, biology, physics, etc, but among these, his contributions into rhetoric are the most valuable; within this field, Aristotle is known […]
Rhetoric in “The Land Before Time” by M. T. Kelly Since the author is keenly aware of the magnitude of the landscape and the topic he describes, Kelly makes the structure of the essay one of the means of disclosure of the theme of the […]
Modern Language: Personal-Critical-Rhetorical Perception The primary concern of Rochelle Harris’ article “Encouraging Emergent Moments: The Personal, Critical and Rhetorical in the Writing Classroom” is to explore a new approach to teaching composition classes to students so that they become […]
Targeted Rhetoric: The Advertisements of Coca-Cola To familiarize the audience with the examples of the application of the rhetorical strategies and visual argument in advertising, let us resort to one of the classical cases of successful advertising the advertisements of Coca-Cola.
Rhetorical Persuasion – Appeals to Logos, Pathos and Ethos In his book “A New History of Classical Rhetoric”, George Kennedy provides us with the insight on the art of persuasion as not only some abstract concept, but also as a very practical instrument of […]
Persuasive Techniques and Rhetorical Proofs in Articles However, only a profound analysis of the article can throw light on whether the article has credibility or ethical appeal, which is the kind of appeal that the article arouses in the emotions of the […]
Rhetoric. “Is Music Piracy Stealing?” by Moore The slogan of the MPAA campaign is originally a statement of the Association that digital copying is the violation of the law equaled with the stealing crime.
Logic Dialectic and Rhetoric: Compare and Contrast In addition, the prominent thinker estimated rhetoric in the context of logic, because logic, as well as rhetoric and dialectic, point out the studying of persuasion methods.
Barack Obama: The Rhetoric of Political Words Rhetoric is a part of the language. This use is done to achieve some intentions that the speaker, user of rhetoric, has.
Political Rhetoric and Marketing Industry: Communication in Today’s World By referring to the idea of the “bourgeois public sphere” of Jurgen Habermas I will try to address the present state of communication in the present moment of history.
Advertisement Rhetoric Analysis Occasionally, the effect a particular advertisement might have on the public is the primary focus of the ad with the product a perceived secondary reference.
Rhetoric of Social Movements. The Black Panthers It analyzes the forms of public address and popular resistance associated with the social movement, specifies the formal nature of the organization, and gives an analysis of the effectiveness of the official means of public […]
Rhetoric. “Oedipus” Play by Sophocles In the play, Oedipus sought his own origins because he understands the importance of knowing his own family. The theme of destiny is also important in the play Oedipus.
Rhetoric. Sophocles’ “Oedipus The King” Oedipus as a ruler is supposed to solve a problem of the disaster that fell upon his state and thus invites a blind prophet, Tiresias, expecting to clarify the causes of the plague.
Forgive Wolfowitz: Article Rhetoric The subject of the article is to convey us that the mistakes made by Paul Wolfowitz at the World Bank resulting crisis and hunger should be forgiven as the person is concern had only noble […]
Phillis Wheatley: Rhetoric Theory in Retrospective The term African American engages the issues closely associated with the writings of the Americans and their place in the literary context: What role they have in the literature and what importance they exert in […]
Analyzing Visual Rhetoric: Images Analysis The gun point is actually in the upper half of the picture and the aim is at the viewer’s eye level.
Rhetorical Strategies in “The Blind Assassin” by Margaret Atwood The novel relates the events that happened in the 1930’s and refers to the personal angst of the narrator. Iris had a sister called Laura who killed herself after the Second World War and it […]
Rhetoric & Professional Communication: Advertising
Mark Edmonson’s Rhetoric in “The Heart of Humanities”
Smoking Bans: Protecting the Public and the Children of Smokers
Women Suffrage in Carrie Chapman’s Rhetoric
Health Information Privacy Standards: Rhetoric Analysis
Barbie Product Advertisement: Rhetorical Analysis
The Art of Rhetoric
Advertising: Rhetoric or Propaganda?
Rhetoric in Baldwin’s and Naylor’s Linguistics Articles
Rhetoric: Social Issues’ Influences on US Children
Salem Cigarettes Ads and Rhetorical Appeals
Rhetorical Figure in “Fond Memories of Home” Poem
Utilitarianism in Ron Paul’s Rhetoric
The Rhetoric of Violence in Rap
Isocrates and Aristotle Views on Rhetorical Devices
Rhetoric: Never Judge a Book by Its Cover
Rhetoric Analysis of The Mind’s Eye by Oliver Sacks
The Origin of Rhetoric
How TV Affects Your Child: Article Rhetoric
Cultural and Rhetorical Analysis of Presidential Debates
Rhetoric Philosophy and Shapiro’s Criticism on the Dworkin’s Work
Social Constructionism and Its Impact on Cultural Identity in a Society Ruled by a Strong Rhetoric of Risk and Health and Safety Regulations
Rhetoric as an Art
Orientalist Constructions of Muslim Bodies and the Rhetoric of the «War on Terror»
Comparing and contrasting Rhetoric: Tabbi and Thomas Friedman
Rhetoric Situation in Articles
Rhetorical Stance Of Articles
Rhetorical situation and solution to a business
Rhetoric Devices in Art and Design
Critique and Rhetorical Analysis
The Art of Conversation: Rhetorical Devices
The Rhetorical Analysis: Nuclear Wastes Challenges
Rhetorical Analysis: Chinese Zodiac Movie Poster
Rhetorical Analysis: “The Pack Rat among Us”
Rhetoric in American Politics
Rhetorical Criticism of the Titanic
Rhetorical Analysis of Wal-Mart: The Cost of Low Prices
Analyzing The Rhetorical Aspect In Dexter
Watts, James Washington. Ritual and Rhetoric in Leviticus: From Sacrifice to Scripture
Rhetorical situations in the Experiences and Goals Letter
The Negative Effects of Wealth in Society: Rhetorical Analysis
Aspects of Rhetoric and Stereotype Image
What Are the Main Rhetorical Strategies?
How Is Visual Rhetoric Related to the Case of Intellectual Capital?
What Are the Types of Rhetoric?
What Is Rhetoric and Why Is It Important?
How Does Rhetoric Affect Our Life?
What Are the Features of Questions and Rhetoric in the Greek New Testament?
Why Do People Use Rhetoric?
What Makes the Millennial Bashing Rhetoric?
How Does Machiavelli Use Persuasive Rhetoric?
Is Rhetoric Just Persuasion?
How Is Rhetoric Used Instead of Physical Play?
What Are the Characteristics of Rhetoric?
How Did the Context of Rome Influence the Role of Rhetoric During Roman?
How Do One Use Rhetoric in Your Everyday Life?
Where Is Rhetoric Most Commonly Used?
What Is Modern-Day Rhetoric?
Where Is Rhetoric Used Today?
What Are the Elements of Rhetoric?
How to Use Rhetorical Situations to Examine and Improve Communication?
Which Rhetoric Is Most Effective?
What Are the Modes of Rhetoric?
What Is the Main Purpose of Rhetoric?
What Are the Rhetorical Devices?
What Is the Strongest Rhetorical Appeal?
What Is the Main Purpose of Rhetorical Question?
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How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay–Examples & Template

What is a Rhetorical Analysis Essay?

A rhetorical analysis essay is, as the name suggests, an analysis of someone else’s writing (or speech, or advert, or even cartoon) and how they use not only words but also rhetorical techniques to influence their audience in a certain way. A rhetorical analysis is less interested in what the author is saying and more in how they present it, what effect this has on their readers, whether they achieve their goals, and what approach they use to get there.

Its structure is similar to that of most essays: An Introduction presents your thesis, a Body analyzes the text you have chosen, breaks it down into sections and explains how arguments have been constructed and how each part persuades, informs, or entertains the reader, and a Conclusion section sums up your evaluation.

Note that your personal opinion on the matter is not relevant for your analysis and that you don’t state anywhere in your essay whether you agree or disagree with the stance the author takes.

In the following, we will define the key rhetorical concepts you need to write a good rhetorical analysis and give you some practical tips on where to start.

Key Rhetorical Concepts

Your goal when writing a rhetorical analysis is to think about and then carefully describe how the author has designed their text so that it has the intended effect on their audience. To do that, you need to consider a number of key rhetorical strategies: Rhetorical appeals (“Ethos”, “Logos”, and “Pathos”), context, as well as claims, supports, and warrants.

Ethos, Logos, and Pathos were introduced by Aristotle, way back in the 4th century BC, as the main ways in which language can be used to persuade an audience. They still represent the basis of any rhetorical analysis and are often referred to as the “rhetorical triangle”.

These and other rhetorical techniques can all be combined to create the intended effect, and your job as the one analyzing a text is to break the writer’s arguments down and identify the concepts they are based on.

Rhetorical Appeals

Rhetorical appeal #1: ethos.

Ethos refers to the reputation or authority of the writer regarding the topic of their essay or speech and to how they use this to appeal to their audience. Just like we are more likely to buy a product from a brand or vendor we have confidence in than one we don’t know or have reason to distrust, Ethos-driven texts or speeches rely on the reputation of the author to persuade the reader or listener. When you analyze an essay, you should therefore look at how the writer establishes Ethos through rhetorical devices.

Does the author present themselves as an authority on their subject? If so, how?

Do they highlight how impeccable their own behavior is to make a moral argument?

Do they present themselves as an expert by listing their qualifications or experience to convince the reader of their opinion on something?

Rhetorical appeal #2: Pathos

The purpose of Pathos-driven rhetoric is to appeal to the reader’s emotions. A common example of pathos as a rhetorical means is adverts by charities that try to make you donate money to a “good cause”. To evoke the intended emotions in the reader, an author may use passionate language, tell personal stories, and employ vivid imagery so that the reader can imagine themselves in a certain situation and feel empathy with or anger towards others.

Rhetorical appeal #3: Logos

Logos, the “logical” appeal, uses reason to persuade. Reason and logic, supported by data, evidence, clearly defined methodology, and well-constructed arguments, are what most academic writing is based on. Emotions, those of the researcher/writer as well as those of the reader, should stay out of such academic texts, as should anyone’s reputation, beliefs, or personal opinions.

Text and Context

To analyze a piece of writing, a speech, an advertisement, or even a satirical drawing, you need to look beyond the piece of communication and take the context in which it was created and/or published into account.

Who is the person who wrote the text/drew the cartoon/designed the ad..? What audience are they trying to reach? Where was the piece published and what was happening there around that time?

A political speech, for example, can be powerful even when read decades later, but the historical context surrounding it is an important aspect of the effect it was intended to have.

Claims, Supports, and Warrants

To make any kind of argument, a writer needs to put forward specific claims, support them with data or evidence or even a moral or emotional appeal, and connect the dots logically so that the reader can follow along and agree with the points made.

The connections between statements, so-called “warrants”, follow logical reasoning but are not always clearly stated—the author simply assumes the reader understands the underlying logic, whether they present it “explicitly” or “implicitly”. Implicit warrants are commonly used in advertisements where seemingly happy people use certain products, wear certain clothes, accessories, or perfumes, or live certain lifestyles – with the connotation that, first, the product/perfume/lifestyle is what makes that person happy and, second, the reader wants to be as happy as the person in the ad. Some warrants are never clearly stated, and your job when writing a rhetorical analysis essay is therefore to identify them and bring them to light, to evaluate their validity, their effect on the reader, and the use of such means by the writer/creator.

bust of plato the philosopher, rhetorical analysis essay

What are the Five Rhetorical Situations?

A “rhetorical situation” refers to the circumstance behind a text or other piece of communication that arises from a given context. It explains why a rhetorical piece was created, what its purpose is, and how it was constructed to achieve its aims.

Rhetorical situations can be classified into the following five categories:

Asking such questions when you analyze a text will help you identify all the aspects that play a role in the effect it has on its audience, and will allow you to evaluate whether it achieved its aims or where it may have failed to do so.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

Analyzing someone else’s work can seem like a big task, but as with every assignment or writing endeavor, you can break it down into smaller, well-defined steps that give you a practical structure to follow.

To give you an example of how the different parts of your text may look when it’s finished, we will provide you with some excerpts from this rhetorical analysis essay example (which even includes helpful comments) published on the Online Writing Lab website of Excelsior University in Albany, NY. The text that this essay analyzes is this article on why one should or shouldn’t buy an Ipad. If you want more examples so that you can build your own rhetorical analysis template, have a look at this essay on Nabokov’s Lolita and the one provided here about the “Shitty First Drafts” chapter of Anne Lamott’s writing instruction book “Bird by Bird”.

Analyzing the Text

When writing a rhetorical analysis, you don’t choose the concepts or key points you think are relevant or want to address. Rather, you carefully read the text several times asking yourself questions like those listed in the last section on rhetorical situations to identify how the text “works” and how it was written to achieve that effect.

Start with focusing on the author : What do you think was their purpose for writing the text? Do they make one principal claim and then elaborate on that? Or do they discuss different topics?

Then look at what audience they are talking to: Do they want to make a group of people take some action? Vote for someone? Donate money to a good cause? Who are these people? Is the text reaching this specific audience? Why or why not?

What tone is the author using to address their audience? Are they trying to evoke sympathy? Stir up anger? Are they writing from a personal perspective? Are they painting themselves as an authority on the topic? Are they using academic or informal language?

How does the author support their claims ? What kind of evidence are they presenting? Are they providing explicit or implicit warrants? Are these warrants valid or problematic? Is the provided evidence convincing?

Asking yourself such questions will help you identify what rhetorical devices a text uses and how well they are put together to achieve a certain aim. Remember, your own opinion and whether you agree with the author are not the point of a rhetorical analysis essay – your task is simply to take the text apart and evaluate it.

If you are still confused about how to write a rhetorical analysis essay, just follow the steps outlined below to write the different parts of your rhetorical analysis: As every other essay, it consists of an Introduction , a Body (the actual analysis), and a Conclusion .

Rhetorical Analysis Introduction

The Introduction section briefly presents the topic of the essay you are analyzing, the author, their main claims, a short summary of the work by you, and your thesis statement .

Tell the reader what the text you are going to analyze represents (e.g., historically) or why it is relevant (e.g., because it has become some kind of reference for how something is done). Describe what the author claims, asserts, or implies and what techniques they use to make their argument and persuade their audience. Finish off with your thesis statement that prepares the reader for what you are going to present in the next section – do you think that the author’s assumptions/claims/arguments were presented in a logical/appealing/powerful way and reached their audience as intended?

Have a look at an excerpt from the sample essay linked above to see what a rhetorical analysis introduction can look like. See how it introduces the author and article , the context in which it originally appeared , the main claims the author makes , and how this first paragraph ends in a clear thesis statement that the essay will then elaborate on in the following Body section:

Cory Doctorow ’s article on BoingBoing is an older review of the iPad , one of Apple’s most famous products. At the time of this article, however, the iPad was simply the latest Apple product to hit the market and was not yet so popular. Doctorow’s entire career has been entrenched in and around technology. He got his start as a CD-ROM programmer and is now a successful blogger and author. He is currently the co-editor of the BoingBoing blog on which this article was posted. One of his main points in this article comes from Doctorow’s passionate advocacy of free digital media sharing. He argues that the iPad is just another way for established technology companies to control our technological freedom and creativity . In “ Why I Won’t Buy an iPad (and Think You Shouldn’t, Either) ” published on Boing Boing in April of 2010, Cory Doctorow successfully uses his experience with technology, facts about the company Apple, and appeals to consumer needs to convince potential iPad buyers that Apple and its products, specifically the iPad, limit the digital rights of those who use them by controlling and mainstreaming the content that can be used and created on the device .

Doing the Rhetorical Analysis

The main part of your analysis is the Body , where you dissect the text in detail. Explain what methods the author uses to inform, entertain, and/or persuade the audience. Use Aristotle’s rhetorical triangle and the other key concepts we introduced above. Use quotations from the essay to demonstrate what you mean. Work out why the writer used a certain approach and evaluate (and again, demonstrate using the text itself) how successful they were. Evaluate the effect of each rhetorical technique you identify on the audience and judge whether the effect is in line with the author’s intentions.

To make it easy for the reader to follow your thought process, divide this part of your essay into paragraphs that each focus on one strategy or one concept , and make sure they are all necessary and contribute to the development of your argument(s).

One paragraph of this section of your essay could, for example, look like this:

One example of Doctorow’s position is his comparison of Apple’s iStore to Wal-Mart. This is an appeal to the consumer’s logic—or an appeal to logos. Doctorow wants the reader to take his comparison and consider how an all-powerful corporation like the iStore will affect them. An iPad will only allow for apps and programs purchased through the iStore to be run on it; therefore, a customer must not only purchase an iPad but also any programs he or she wishes to use. Customers cannot create their own programs or modify the hardware in any way.

As you can see, the author of this sample essay identifies and then explains to the reader how Doctorow uses the concept of Logos to appeal to his readers – not just by pointing out that he does it but by dissecting how it is done.

Rhetorical Analysis Conclusion

The conclusion section of your analysis should restate your main arguments and emphasize once more whether you think the author achieved their goal. Note that this is not the place to introduce new information—only rely on the points you have discussed in the body of your essay. End with a statement that sums up the impact the text has on its audience and maybe society as a whole:

Overall, Doctorow makes a good argument about why there are potentially many better things to drop a great deal of money on instead of the iPad. He gives some valuable information and facts that consumers should take into consideration before going out to purchase the new device. He clearly uses rhetorical tools to help make his case, and, overall, he is effective as a writer, even if, ultimately, he was ineffective in convincing the world not to buy an iPad .

Frequently Asked Questions about Rhetorical Analysis Essays

What is a rhetorical analysis essay.

A rhetorical analysis dissects a text or another piece of communication to work out and explain how it impacts its audience, how successfully it achieves its aims, and what rhetorical devices it uses to do that.

While argumentative essays usually take a stance on a certain topic and argue for it, a rhetorical analysis identifies how someone else constructs their arguments and supports their claims.

What is the correct rhetorical analysis essay format?

Like most other essays, a rhetorical analysis contains an Introduction that presents the thesis statement, a Body that analyzes the piece of communication, explains how arguments have been constructed, and illustrates how each part persuades, informs, or entertains the reader, and a Conclusion section that summarizes the results of the analysis.

What is the “rhetorical triangle”?

The rhetorical triangle was introduced by Aristotle as the main ways in which language can be used to persuade an audience: Logos appeals to the audience’s reason, Ethos to the writer’s status or authority, and Pathos to the reader’s emotions. Logos, Ethos, and Pathos can all be combined to create the intended effect, and your job as the one analyzing a text is to break the writer’s arguments down and identify what specific concepts each is based on.

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Are you having trouble thinking of rhetorical analysis topics to explore? Selecting a title for such an essay is an excellent place to start. Afterward, proceed to introduction, body, and then conclusion. In this section, we have compiled a short list of greatest topics for rhetorical analysis to help you improve your grades. Through the catalog, you will discover how to create best topics for rhetorical analysis essay about a worthwhile issue. Need professional essay help online ? Visit StudyCrumb! Simply share your instructions and get your rhetorical analysis or any other essay completed by a pro.

What Are Rhetorical Analysis Topics?

Rhetorical analysis essay topics refer to the subject matter in which researchers examine how different parts of a work produce a specific effect on the reader. They then develop an argument and find compelling evidence to support their opinion. Such topics focus on a particular work of literature, discourse, or art. Unlike a literary analysis , rhetorical analysis paper topics are intended to analyze works from a rhetorical standpoint. Thus, the tricks used to convince readers are assessed. Rhetorical analysis ideas and topics are designed to evaluate students' reasoning ability for close attention to detail. Given this, you should dissect literary work into its elements and assess the author's effective strategies.

Basics of Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Characteristics of Good Rhetorical Analysis Topics

Pick a subject that interests you when selecting topics for analysis. Additionally, it requires adequate information to be used in research. What are good rhetorical analysis topics ? This is one of the questions that students keep asking themselves. Below is a listing of characteristics of good topics for rhetorical analysis. The subject matter must consider the scenario's target audience, goal, and background.

It should be broad with plenty of information.
A good topic ought to be fascinating. That is to say, it should capture reader’s attention.
It must also give an excellent choice for research.

How to Choose a Rhetorical Analysis Topic?

An exciting rhetorical analysis essay topic is the first element in any writing that aims to pique the reader's curiosity. All writers strive to ensure their work is professional and appealing to the audience. Furthermore, the titles must be engaging to make your essay solid. Since finding subjects that are compelling and fascinating might be problematic, here are some tips to keep in mind when deciding on good rhetorical analysis essay topics.

Pick a subject that appeals to you. Before composing an analysis paper, choose a topic that interests you. Moreover, make sure there is room for research.
Consider your understanding of the topic. Selecting familiar rhetorical essay topics will be helpful in your writing. Remember to reveal your understanding of the author's writing technique when conducting the review.
Carry out background research. Make a list of subjects that catch your attention. After that, whittle down the selection and choose an ideal topic. You can achieve this by investigating the information that is already accessible on it.
Seek help from your instructor. Ask your lecturer for assistance if you are still unsure of the subject. Compile a list of appropriate rhetorical analysis topics to make it easy for the educator.

Best Rhetorical Analysis Topics List

The best rhetorical analysis topics are pertinent to tasks and have sufficient information for use. When handling these essays, choose an engaging subject to make the assignment more doable. Topics for study are not limited to speeches from notable presidents or popular poems. Investigate these interesting rhetorical analysis essay ideas related to cinema, artwork, prompt, and current affairs.

Justification of vengeance in The Odyssey .
The meaning underlying Mona Lisa’s smile.
Literary techniques used in The Chronicles of Narnia .
The primary theme in Winston Churchill's We Shall Fight on the Beaches .
How stylistic tactics affect a reader's impression of non-fiction material.
Purpose of literary devices in Oscar Wilde 's works.
How a creative topic and storyline might make a blockbuster.
What was the main point in president Trump's speech?
How to tell if a play uses the right rhetorical tactics.
What prevents speeches from garnering bigger crowds?

Good Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Perhaps you are seeking good topics to write rhetorical analysis on for your academic article. Good topics for rhetorical analysis essay are listed here.

How the use of casual and formal language influences speech.
Different rhetorical techniques used by Classical and Rogerian authors.
How preconceptions might limit successful application of rhetorical techniques.
Significance of abstract images within classical literature.
How literary works communicate information via words, expressions, and concepts.
Slavery, as discussed in Beloved by Toni Morrison.
What do Pepsi's logo colors symbolize?
How President Joe Biden utilized alliteration in his speech on democracy.
Linguistic trends in William Shakespeare's publications.
How former president Barack Obama applied logos, pathos, and ethos in his farewell speech.
A comprehensive rhetorical analysis of The Odyssey .
How to use stylistic techniques in a way that can foresee the audience's response.
Visual components of Hollywood filmmaking.
A criticism of the hyperbole of how innovation has affected culture.
Analysis of president Joe Biden's speech on democracy.

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Easy Rhetorical Analysis Topics

Do you wish to focus on easy rhetorical analysis topics? If so, you will discover some of the most effective suggestions in this paragraph. These subjects are easy to write about since information is readily available on the web. Nevertheless, you must be prepared to devote time and resources to studying and composing your easy rhetorical analysis essay topics.

How the American national anthem employs literary techniques.
TED's presentations and how they embrace rhetorical devices to entice viewers.
How writers approach themes of ethnicity and discrimination in their writing.
Differences between employment of stylistic elements in historical and contemporary cultures.
How linguistic strategies are used in religious books.
The difficulty of captivating an audience to a monologue.
Various rhetorical strategies that media presenters employ.
How can rhetorical depth of any discourse be identified?
How various authors handle heroism topics when it comes to their writing.
The significance of symbolism with regards to literature.
How Michael Scott applies rhetorical techniques.
R&B songwriting strategies.
Advertiser-selected terminologies on billboards and posters.
Creative methods used in the renowned portrait of Mona Lisa .
Rhetoric elements used in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.

Excellent Topics for Rhetorical Analysis

If you wish to focus on excellent rhetorical essay topics, below are a few you can select from. You only need to decide which rhetorical topics for essays to use.

How successful was Barack Obama’s speech during his presidency?
Use of stylistic devices in Nike’s Just Do It ad.
How does education stifle creative thinking?
A speech or piece that uses oratorical tactics.
How authors characterize heroism.
Rhetorical analysis of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen.
The effect of rhetorical techniques on reader’s comprehension of a non-fiction story.
Brand identity and emotional appeal of Monster drink.
Impact of President Trump's tweets.
Literary devices utilized in eulogy speeches.
Relationship between racial discrimination and sexism in America.
Pepsi's marketing ideas.
A billboard that got your attention.
A rhetorical review of President Trump's tweets.

Did you spot a fitting topic? Now it’s time to see how to write a rhetorical analysis essay .

Visual Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Visual rhetorical analysis topic ideas might help readers recollect your paper. Consider the author's objective and demographics of the intended audience, as it will aid you in conducting complete research. The visual rhetoric essay topics suggestions below can help you achieve that aim.

Effects of soundtracks on movies.
Newspaper covers using rhetoric aspects.
How innovative advertising employs symbols.
Rhetorical evaluation of exhibits in art galleries.
How slow motion affects films.
Use of symbolism in Avatar .
William Shakespeare's best poems.
How Black Panther utilizes symbolism.
Use of arts in The Square .
How TV commercials employ texts.
Author's utilization of personification in Bluebird by Charles Bukowski.
Usage of audio, music, and narrative in presentations.
How does John Curran utilize imagery in The Painted Veil .
Ways in which Michael Lewis uses cinematography and soundtracks in The Blind Side .
How Jurassic Park transformed special effects.

Need more rhetorical topics? Give our Essay Title Creator a shot!

Controversial Topics for Rhetorical Analysis

If you consider debate intriguing, this part includes the best suggestions for rhetorical topics for essay. When composing scholarly articles, these rhetorical analysis topics are outstanding. Just do some research on the piece carefully and comprehend the debate.

Use of stereotypes and racial tropes in films.
Representation of science and technology in science fiction.
Religion and spirituality in Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life.
The portrayal of mental health issues in popular culture.
Violence and its impact on society in Avatar.
Propaganda in the Triumph of the Will .
The Notebook and its illustration of love and friendships.
Schindler’s List and how it explains the Holocaust.
Dark humor as used in Catch-22 .
Police brutality and racial injustice in Copwatch .
Immigration and border control in A Better Life .
Rhetorical techniques affect how a reader interprets a non-fiction story.
Plot twist in The Titanic .
Is there something about William Shakespeare's writing style that really appeals to you?
How does the audience's impression of the story be affected by the author's credibility?

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Ideas for Students

The success of all academic writing depends on utilizing rhetorical analysis ideas efficiently. This is because the foundation of everything undertaken within schools is to influence thought patterns through speech application. Since language is typically hypnotic, it aims to educate. It is uncommon for students to avoid writing research papers on rhetorical analysis, as they appear as projects, articles, and term papers. Here are a few essay propositions for high school and university learners.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for High School Students

Topics for a rhetorical analysis essay are many. If you are a secondary school student having problems deciding on rhetorical analysis topics to select from, you are in the right place. Here are 15 essay topics for high school.

Use of metaphor in a speech from your school director on graduation day.
Main themes used in Alice in Wonderland .
Rhetorical devices used in The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin .
How Arthur Miller uses foreshadowing in Death of a Salesman .
Literary elements used in An Enemy of the People .
Central concepts within William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet.
Theme of social class in The Canterbury Tales .
Power of tradition as illustrated in The Lottery.
Fundamental concepts of Jordan Peele's Get Out .
Literary elements used in Frankenstein by Mary Shelley.
How Virginia Woolf utilizes the stream-of-consciousness tactic in The Waves .
How analogy is used in the inauguration speech of my math teacher.
Guilt and justice as discussed in And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie.
Synopsis of The Godfather by Francis Ford Coppola.
Major theme in Gone With The Wind .

Rhetorical Analysis Topics for College Students

College students can choose from a wide range of rhetoric research paper topics. They will greatly gain from these analysis paper ideas in the last year of school. Below are essential topics that college learners can select for their essays.

How solitude is demonstrated within works of literature.
Poetic devices in performances and poems.
How does rhetoric function in websites and other digital writing?
Methods that can be used to evaluate a scene from a popular film.
Main themes in The Matrix .
Strength of speech writing in Barack Obama's speeches.
Michael Scott's primary writing techniques.
A movie that had a massive impact on your life.
A significant political discourse that is still discussed today.
How Rick Bragg uses comedy in his article The Guiltless Pleasure .
What justifications does David Grann make in The Mark of a Masterpiece ?
Stylistic devices used in The Crucible by Arthur Miller.
How using literary techniques has been streamlined thanks to technology.
What elements are commonly found in acceptance speeches?
How evangelists utilize rhetoric to engage their audiences.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics in Different Fields

There are many distinct and good topics to write a rhetorical analysis on. It is improbable that one could ever run out of ideas for them when writing any paper. Aside from the topics mentioned above, numerous other fields, for instance, speeches and fiction work, can be explored. Arts are the primary focus of the bulk of these rhetorical subjects. In addition, there are many resources to choose your topics for rhetorical analysis. This section provides examples of other fields that can be traversed.

Rhetorical Analysis Speech Topics

There have been many famous speeches throughout history. To analyze one, you need to consider different aspects of rhetoric topics. For example, the speaker's goals, the speech's historical text, and viewer's aspirations. Here are a handful of topics that can be explored for rhetorical analysis of a speech .

Quit India speech by Mahatma Gandhi.
How President Donald Trump utilized personification in his final speech.
Figures of speech that Richard Nixon employed in his resignation speech.
President Biden 's remarks on transgender issues.
Malala Yousafzai's acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Dark and vengeful undertones in William Blake's A Poison Tree .
How to get people to pay attention to Franklin Roosevelt's inaugural speech.
The majority of TED speeches use rhetorical tactics.
Literary devices used within the speech from Finding Forrester .
Discursive strategies used in Jack Ma's inspiring speech.
Tones used in Theodore Roosevelt's Duties of American citizenship .
Rhetorical devices utilized in JF. Kennedy's inauguration speech.
What were the goals of Ronald Reagan's Speech in Address to the Nation on the Challenger ?
Oprah's appraisal of Golden Globes' discourse.
How does Sam Bern’s outlook on life affect his ability to communicate in My Philosophy for a Happy Life ?

Rhetorical Analysis Ideas on Movies

Do you enjoy watching movies? Has your teacher given you freedom to select them as one of the rhetorical analysis essay ideas? If yes, you can look into some of the points on this list, which provide rhetorical analysis article ideas. In certain films, an individual makes a speech that everybody remembers. Whatever the case, taking observations is necessary for performing rhetorical assessment of movies discourse.

Black Panther’s application of literary devices.
How the film's author employs a rhetorical tactic in How To Train Your Dragon .
Salvatore Corsitta's remarks from The Godfather .
Use of imagery by Zack Snyder.
The Hunger Games’ use of figurative language.
Rhetorical devices used in Pursuit of Happiness .
Theme of hope in The Ultimate Gift .
The movie Get Out racial theme.
Moral standards as depicted in Gone Baby Gone .
How racism led to different issues in A Soldier's Story .
Concept of posttraumatic stress disorder as illustrated in Fearless movie .
Lessons from Life of a King movie.
Ethical behaviors as encapsulated by Charles Ferguson.
Main themes of Mind, Body, and Soul .
Power theme in My Kingdom .

Poetry Topics for Rhetorical Analysis

A plethora of topics to write a rhetorical analysis on is available online, and poem is among the unique subjects that can be explored. To analyze poetry, you need to consider the speaker, rhyme’s meaning, and structure. The following are distinct rhetorical analysis paper topics that students can use.

Primary metaphors used by Sylvia Plath .
Theme of rage and evil in A Poison Tree .
Primary rhetorical strategies employed by W.H.Auden.
How personification is used in Bluebird.
Concept of nature in Mary Oliver's Fall .
Function of contrast in I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings .
Role of street jargon as illustrated by Langstone Hughes.
Stylistic elements used by Jane Kenyon.
Poetic devices used in Disillusionment of Ten O'clock .
Primary theme in Love Song .
How the author employed poetic devices in Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night .
Self-acceptance as illustrated in Phenomenal Woman .
Characteristics of the speaker as explained by Claude McKay.
Illustration of love in A Red, Red Rose .
Artistic devices used by William Shakespeare in Venus and Adonis .

Literature Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Are you searching for rhetorical analysis essay topics that will make your instructor smile? If that is the case, here are some fantastic ideas for rhetorical analysis.

Early literature from the 17th century.
Faith and religion in the Quran.
How to tell if a drama employs correct figures of speech.
An in-depth review of rhetorical tactics used in France and Europe.
Techniques used in Michelle Obama's Our Diversity Makes Us Who We Are .
Literary tactics used by Melania Trump in her farewell address as the first lady.
Textual analysis of A Lover's Complaint by William Shakespeare.
Theme of misogyny in Hamlet .
Central message in Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.
Impact of heroes' personal lives on the society in Oedipus and contemporary America.
Myth's influence on culture as explained in Adam and Eve’s story.
Metaphors used in the legendary speech made by Martin Luther.
What figurative language stands out in The Pearl Harbor Address ?
Humanity vs. Nature in Their Eyes Were Watching God .
Justice in Scott Fitzgerald's Great Gatsby .

Rhetorical Analysis Topics on Fiction

Like all rhetorical topics, fiction has a point it wants to convey. You might consider how you reacted to the fiction content as a reader. Therefore, if you enjoy reading or watching fictional characters, feel free to choose any rhetorical analysis essay topic below.

One Hundred Years of Solitude's elitist theme.
Central themes in Into Thin Air by Jon Krakauer .
How The Alchemist presents character growth.
How Erin Morgenstern created varied personalities in The Night Circus .
Behavior as illustrated by Jesse Stuart.
How Code Name Verity delivers its message of friendship.
Depiction of war in Men At Arms .
Significance of dreams in Of Mice and Men .
How relevant is Macbeth in the modern era?
What linguistic techniques does Ayn Rand use?
What distinguishes A Room of One's Own from other books?
Major themes in To Kill a Mockingbird.
Mysterious language as used by Beatriz Williams.
How The Lord of the Flies explores conflict between civilization and barbarism.
Writing styles used in The Midnight Library .

Non-Fictional Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Non-fiction works are those that are fact-based. When analyzing them, examine the environmental components surrounding rhetorical analysis paper topics. If you enjoy non-fictional topics for a rhetorical analysis, consider using these ideas.

Rhetorical techniques in Cold Blood .
What was the plot in Charlie Chaplin's speech from The Great Dictator ?
Use of allegory in Avengers: Endgame .
Traveling Mercies ' rhetoric techniques.
How Someday Maybe utilizes personification.
Theme of racism in Absolute Beginners .
How Ron Chernow explores the concept of triumph in Alexander Hamilton .
Stylistic elements in Out of Africa .
John Hersey's linguistic interpretation of the suffering in Hiroshima .
Themes explored in the Sermons .
Religious beliefs according to The Ethics of Belief by William Kingdom.
How Mohsin Hamid explores themes of love and turmoil in Exit West .
Stylistic techniques in A Brief History of Time .
What motivates bibliophiles to read Beloved?
Theme of fanaticism in Fever Pitch .

Rhetorical Analysis Topics About Advertisements

The main goal of any advertisement is to convince the audience. Therefore, a successful campaign forges a bond between the client and the product. When exploring rhetorical analysis essay topics, consider the general appeal of the advertisement. Additionally, take into account the target audience and rhetorical techniques. You can choose rhetorical analysis topic ideas from this list.

Examples of innovative and powerful advertising.
BluBlocker Sunglasses marketing campaign.
Advertising's ability to reach a particular audience.
Impact of advertising on brand recognition.
Effectiveness of Coca-Cola’s share a coke advertisements of 2018.
Central idea behind Red Bull's Giving Life to the Night ad.
How effective is Apple's Think Different ad.
Was Toyota Moving Forward campaign a success?
Success behind Disney's The happiest place on Earth tagline.
How does Samsung advertise products?
How are rhetorical tactics used in television advertising?
Effectiveness of Pepsi's video campaigns.
Use of logos, ethos, and pathos in MacBook commercials.
How do advertisers choose the language that appears on billboards and posters?
History of Fanta's effective utilization of advertising.

>> Read more: Marketing Topics for Research

Bottom Line on Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

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625 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics & Good Ideas

18 January 2024

last updated

Rhetorical analysis essay topics can revolve around a range of intriguing subject areas. They involve dissecting the persuasive methods employed by authors in their works, such as written texts, objects, sculptures, visuals, advertisements, arts, or speeches. Some themes may span from analyzing landmark political speeches to unraveling the rhetoric in renowned advertising campaigns. Topics also may delve into the rhetoric of iconic literature, dissecting the persuasive language techniques utilized by authors. Others probe into social media’s influence, critiquing the strategies influencers use to sway public opinion. Moreover, topics may explore historical documents or manifestos, scrutinizing the influential rhetoric in shaping societal views. As a result, rhetorical analysis essay topics allow students to improve their critical thinking skills, master the art of persuasion, and understand the impact of effective communication in molding societal perceptions.

Best Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Examining Metaphors in Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream”
Pathos and Humor: A Look at Satire in Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal”
Rhetoric in Political Speeches: Analysis of Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address
Influence of Persuasive Language in Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”
Orwellian Doublethink: Studying “1984” and its Rhetorical Devices
Decoding Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address”: A Rhetorical Perspective
Unraveling Biblical Allusions in Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick”
Speech Patterns and Influence: Examining Hitler’s Rhetoric
Deconstructing the Rhetoric of Fear in McCarthy Era Propaganda
Inspirational Rhetoric in JFK’s Moon Speech: An Analysis
Breaking Down Patriotic Appeals in “Star Spangled Banner” Lyrics
Visual Rhetoric: Analyzing Iconic Photographs of the Vietnam War
Unpacking Anti-War Sentiments in Wilfred Owen’s “Dulce et Decorum Est”
Ethos, Pathos, and Logos in “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Rhetoric in Advertisements: Analyzing Nike’s “Just Do It” Campaign
Metaphorical Language in Emily Dickinson’s Poetry: A Rhetorical Study
Euphemisms and Political Correctness: A Rhetorical Analysis
Social Media Influence: Rhetorical Strategies in Influencer Marketing
Dissecting Irony in Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest”
Shakespeare’s “Julius Caesar”: Analyzing Antony’s Funeral Speech
Rhetorical Power in Winston Churchill’s “We Shall Fight on the Beaches”
Analyzing Patriotic Appeals in the Lyrics of National Anthems

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics & Good Ideas

Easy Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Roles of Rhetoric in Advertising: The Case of Apple Inc.
Repetition and Rhetoric in Langston Hughes’ “A Dream Deferred”
Manipulative Language: The Rhetoric of Cult Leaders
Propaganda Analysis: Rhetorical Techniques in World War II Posters
Visual Rhetoric in Political Cartoons: A Comprehensive Study
A Rhetorical Study of Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise”
Reviewing the Power of Silence: A Rhetorical Analysis of “A Quiet Place”
Persuasive Language in Health Campaigns: Rhetorical Analysis of “5 a Day”
J.K. Rowling’s “Harry Potter” Series: A Study of Magical Rhetoric
Rhetorical Devices in Horror Films: The Case of “Psycho”
Rhetorical Elements in George Washington’s Farewell Address
Persuasion in Fashion Marketing: A Rhetorical Analysis
Studying Rhetoric in Social Movements: The Case of #MeToo
Rhetoric of Social Media Memes: A Linguistic Analysis
Rhetoric in Documentaries: Unraveling “An Inconvenient Truth”
Rhetoric in Graphic Novels: A Study of “Maus” by Art Spiegelman
“A Tale of Two Cities”: A Rhetorical Analysis of Dickens’ Narrative
Medical Rhetoric: Analyzing Pharmaceutical Advertisements
Dystopian Rhetoric: A Study of Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale”
The Art of War: A Rhetorical Analysis of Sun Tzu’s Tactics
Analyzing Pathos in Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species”

Interesting Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Decoding the Rhetoric of Comic Strips: A Look at “Calvin and Hobbes”
Unveiling Rhetoric in Public Service Announcements: An Analysis
The Rhetoric of Children’s Books: A Study of Dr. Seuss
Analyzing Rhetorical Strategies in “Schindler’s List”
Iconic Advertisements: A Rhetorical Analysis of Coca-Cola’s Campaigns
Rhetorical Devices in Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”
Deconstructing Dramatic Irony in Sophocles’ “Oedipus Rex”
Rhetorical Strategies in Supreme Court Decisions: A Study
Revealing Environmental Rhetoric in Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring”
Rhetoric in Self-Help Books: A Look at “The Secret” by Rhonda Byrne
Analyzing Persuasion in Abraham Maslow’s “Hierarchy of Needs”
Rhetoric in the Workplace: A Study of Corporate Communication
Unpacking Rhetoric in College Admission Essays: An Analysis
Rhetoric in Video Games: A Study of “The Last of Us”
Revealing Rhetoric in Pulitzer Prize-Winning News Articles
Decoding Rhetoric in Climate Change Reports: A Study
Analyzing the Rhetoric of Conspiracy Theories: A Case Study
Rhetoric in Infographics: A Comprehensive Analysis
The Rhetoric of Online Dating Profiles: An Analysis
Revealing Rhetoric in UN Speeches: A Look at Malala Yousafzai
The Power of Rhetoric in Comic-Con Panels: A Study
Rhetoric in Animation: A Look at Disney’s “Moana”

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for High School

Evaluating Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” Speech: An Examination of Rhetoric
Rhetoric in Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address: A Comprehensive Analysis
Impacts of Winston Churchill’s “We Shall Fight on the Beaches” Speech on World War II
Persuasion Techniques in John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address: An Insight
Assessing the Rhetorical Power of Mahatma Gandhi’s “Quit India” Speech
Delving Into Susan B. Anthony’s Speech on Women’s Rights: A Rhetorical Analysis
Power and Persuasion: Analyzing Rhetoric in Nelson Mandela’s “I Am Prepared to Die” Speech
Speech Analysis: The Rhetoric of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Pearl Harbor Address
Examining Barack Obama’s “Yes We Can” Speech: A Study in Effective Rhetoric
Influence of Rhetoric in Ronald Reagan’s “Tear Down This Wall” Speech
Dissecting the Persuasive Techniques in Theodore Roosevelt’s “Duties of American Citizenship” Speech
Elucidating Rhetoric in George W. Bush’s Post 9/11 Speech
Explicating the Impact of Rhetoric in Eleanor Roosevelt’s “The Struggle for Human Rights” Speech
The Rhetoric of Hope: A Study on Aung San Suu Kyi’s Nobel Lecture
Impacts of Rhetoric in Malala Yousafzai’s Speech to the United Nations
Deconstructing the Rhetoric in Maya Angelou’s “On the Pulse of Morning”
Rhetoric in Action: Analysis of Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman” Speech
Examining the Rhetorical Devices in Jimmy Carter’s “Crisis of Confidence” Speech
The Art of Persuasion: Analyzing Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s “The Solitude of Self” Speech
Revealing the Power of Rhetoric in Angela Davis’s “On Violence” Speech
Rhetoric’s Roles in Indira Gandhi’s “True Liberation of Women” Speech

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for Middle School

Dissecting Rhetoric in Dalai Lama’s Acceptance Speech for the Nobel Peace Prize
The Rhetoric of Justice: A Study on Thurgood Marshall’s “Speech on the Constitution”
Articulating the Rhetoric in Vladimir Putin’s Munich Security Conference Speech
Rhetoric in Pablo Neruda’s Nobel Lecture: An Analysis
Elucidating Rhetoric in Hillary Clinton’s “Women’s Rights are Human Rights” Speech
Scrutinizing the Rhetorical Devices in Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” Speech
Investigating the Rhetoric in Vaclav Havel’s “The Power of the Powerless” Speech
The Rhetoric of Freedom: Analysis of Simon Bolivar’s “Cartagena Manifesto”
Unraveling Rhetoric in Emmeline Pankhurst’s “Freedom or Death” Speech
Assessing Rhetorical Strategies in Fidel Castro’s “History Will Absolve Me” Speech
Analyzing the Rhetoric in Che Guevara’s “Message to the Tricontinental”
Reviewing the Rhetorical Techniques in Bill Clinton’s “I Have Sinned” Speech
Dissecting the Rhetoric in Emma Watson’s “HeForShe” Campaign Speech
Analyzing Rhetoric in Michelle Obama’s “When They Go Low, We Go High” Speech
The Rhetorical Power of J.K. Rowling’s Harvard Commencement Speech
Persuasion Techniques in Steve Jobs’ Stanford Commencement Address: An Analysis
Examining Rhetoric in Malcolm X’s “The Ballot or the Bullet” Speech
Elucidating the Rhetoric in Charles de Gaulle’s “Appeal of 18 June” Speech
Impacts and Analysis of Rhetoric in Benazir Bhutto’s “Democracy Is the Best Revenge” Speech
Rhetoric in Action: Examining Richard Nixon’s “Checkers” Speech
Unraveling the Power of Rhetoric in Dwight Eisenhower’s “Farewell” Speech
The Influence of Rhetoric in Desmond Tutu’s “We the People of South Africa” Speech

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for College Students

The Rhetoric and Power of Language in George Orwell’s “1984”
Examining Martin Luther King’s “I Have a Dream” Speech: A Rhetorical Analysis
How Does Shakespeare Utilize Rhetoric in “Julius Caesar”?
Use of Rhetoric in Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address
Analysis of Pathos, Ethos, and Logos in “To Kill a Mockingbird”
Persuasive Techniques in John F. Kennedy’s “Moon Speech”
Evaluating Rhetoric in the Age of Social Media
The Impact of Rhetorical Devices in J.K. Rowling’s Harvard Commencement Address
Rhetoric and Reality in “Brave New World”
Impacts of Rhetorical Strategies in Jonathan Swift’s “A Modest Proposal”
Understanding the Rhetorical Power of Winston Churchill’s Speeches
The Role of Rhetoric in Advertising: An Analysis
Deconstructing the Rhetorical Elements in Virginia Woolf’s “A Room of One’s Own”
How Does Rhetoric Shape Public Opinion in Politics?
Rhetorical Strategies in Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address”
The Rhetorical Purpose of Humor in Mark Twain’s Works
Analyzing Rhetorical Devices in “The Diary of Anne Frank”
The Rhetoric of Resistance in Henry David Thoreau’s “Civil Disobedience”
How Do “The Simpsons” Series Use Rhetoric to Satirize Contemporary Issues?
Influence of Rhetoric in Charles Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species”
Impacts of Rhetoric in Campaign Speeches and Its Effect on Voter Perception

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for University

“Harry Potter”: A Study in Rhetorical Analysis and Narrative Technique
Power of Rhetoric in Environmental Awareness Campaigns
The Rhetoric of Horror: An Analysis of Stephen King’s “The Shining”
Examining the Rhetorical Approach of Feminism in Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Rhetorical Strategies Employed in “The Godfather” Movies
Understanding Rhetorical Techniques in Cult Recruitment
Analysis of the Rhetoric in Cybersecurity Debates
The Rhetoric of Rebellion in George R. R. Martin’s “Game of Thrones”
Roles of Rhetoric in the Anti-Vaccination Movement: An Analysis
The Art of Rhetoric in Steve Jobs’ Stanford Commencement Address
Use of Rhetoric in Hip-Hop Lyrics: A Study of Kendrick Lamar’s Music
Understanding the Rhetorical Power in Oprah Winfrey’s Speeches
Rhetoric and Symbolism in Banksy’s Artwork: An Analysis
Dissecting the Rhetoric of Manifestos: An Exploration
The Rhetoric of Space Exploration in Neil deGrasse Tyson’s Speeches
Analysis of Rhetorical Techniques in Climate Change Denial Arguments
Use of Rhetoric in TED Talks: A Case Study of Brene Brown’s Presentations
How Does “The Catcher in the Rye” Use Rhetoric to Discuss Adolescence?
Rhetorical Strategies in “The Fault in Our Stars” to Portray Tragedy
Rhetoric in Fashion: How Do Designers Communicate Through Clothing?
The Rhetoric of Protest: A Study of Greta Thunberg’s Speeches
Roles of Rhetoric in “Star Wars”: Persuasion in a Galaxy Far, Far Away

Advertisements Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Social Awareness Through Advertising: Examining the Truth Anti-Smoking Campaign
Environmental Consciousness: A Rhetorical Analysis of Patagonia’s “Don’t Buy This Jacket” Advertisement
Unveiling Beauty Standards: Decoding Calvin Klein’s “My Calvins” Campaign
Emotional Appeal in Advertising: Analyzing Budweiser’s “Lost Dog” Commercial
Redefining Luxury: Interpreting Chanel’s “Coco Mademoiselle” Advertisement
Inspiring Dreams: Dissecting the BMW “The Hire” Film Series
Empathy and Connection: Unpacking Google’s “Parisian Love” Advertisement
Breaking Barriers: A Rhetorical Analysis of Under Armour’s “I Will What I Want” Campaign
Capturing Adventure: Analyzing GoPro’s “Be a Hero” Advertisement
Social Impact through Storytelling: Decoding the P&G “Thank You, Mom” Campaign
Innovation and Technology: Examining IBM’s “Watson” Commercial
Unleashing Creativity: Interpreting Lego’s “Imagine” Ad Campaign
Bold and Fearless: Dissecting Red Bull’s “Gives You Wings” Slogan
Inspiring Philanthropy: Analyzing the Coca-Cola Foundation’s “It’s Beautiful” Advertisement
The Art of Storytelling: Unpacking John Lewis’ Christmas Advertisements
Raising Environmental Awareness: Decoding the Volkswagen “Think Small” Campaign
Authenticity and Self-Expression: Examining Levi’s “Live in Levi’s” Advertisements
Cultural Impact: Interpreting Nike’s “Kaepernick” Campaign
Emotional Resonance: Dissecting the Budweiser “Whassup?” Commercial
Empowering Youth: Analyzing Nike’s “Find Your Greatness” Ad Campaign
Inclusion and Acceptance: A Rhetorical Analysis of Coca-Cola’s “Pool Boy” Advertisement

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Cultural Manifestos

The Power of Artistic Manifestos: Catalysts for Cultural Movements
Exploring Rhetorical Strategies in Feminist Manifestos: Challenging Gender Norms
Decoding the Manifesto of Surrealism: Unlocking the Depths of the Subconscious
Analyzing Environmental Manifestos: Inspiring Ecological Consciousness
Revolutionary Language: Unveiling the Black Arts Movement Manifestos
Postcolonial Manifestos: Reclaiming Cultural Identity Through Rhetoric
LGBTQ+ Manifestos: Advocating for Equality and Acceptance
Analyzing Cyberpunk Culture: The Rhetoric of Subverting Technological Paradigms
Unpacking Indigenous Manifestos: Empowering Native Voices Through Rhetoric
Anti-Consumerism in Culture Jamming Manifestos: A Rhetorical Perspective
Pop Art Manifestos: Redefining Popular Culture Through Rhetoric
Hip Hop Manifestos: Empowering Marginalized Communities Through Rhetoric
Riot Grrrl Movement Manifestos: Amplifying Feminist Voices
Rhetorical Strategies in Dogme 95 Manifesto: Redefining Filmmaking Conventions
Unveiling Dada Manifestos: Embracing Chaos and Nihilism
Afrofuturism Manifestos: Imagining New Cultural Realities
Minimalism in Design Manifestos: Embracing Simplicity and Functionality
Beat Generation Writers’ Manifestos: Embracing Spontaneity and Nonconformity
Punk Manifestos: Channeling Anger and Rebellion
Postmodernist Manifestos: Challenging Grand Narratives

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Environmental Campaigns

The Impact of the “Save the Whales” Campaign on Global Marine Conservation
Analyzing the Rhetoric of the “Keep America Beautiful” Anti-Littering Campaign
The Power of Greenpeace’s Rhetorical Strategies in the Fight Against Deforestation
Examining the Effectiveness of the “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle” Slogan in Promoting Sustainability
Unveiling the Rhetorical Techniques of the “Go Green” Movement
Assessing the Language of the “Ban Plastic Bags” Campaign and Its Environmental Implications
The Influence of Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” on Environmental Awareness
Analyzing the Rhetorical Impact of the “Ditch the Car, Go Green” Initiative
Rhetoric of the “Beyond Coal” Campaign and its Role in Promoting Renewable Energy
Examining the Effectiveness of the “Water Is Life” Campaign in Advocating for Clean Water Access
Unveiling the Rhetorical Strategies of the “Earth Hour” Movement and its Call for Energy Conservation
The Power of Indigenous Voices in Environmental Advocacy: A Case Study of the “Standing Rock” Campaign
Analyzing the Rhetoric of the “Beyond Plastic” Initiative in Fighting Single-Use Plastics
The Rhetorical Techniques of the “Earth Day” Movement and Its Contributions to Environmental Awareness
Addressing the Language of the “Clean Air Act” and Its Impact on Air Pollution Control
The Influence of Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” on the Environmental Movement
Analyzing the Rhetorical Impact of the “Save the Rainforests” Campaign in Biodiversity Conservation
Unveiling the Rhetorical Strategies of the “No More Straws” Initiative and Its Fight Against Plastic Waste
The Power of Visual Rhetoric in the “Before It’s Too Late” Climate Change Campaign

Funny Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Analyzing Humor in Charlie Chaplin’s Silent Films
Unwrapping the Absurdity in “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”
Deconstructing the Wit in Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being Earnest”
Satirical Elements in Mark Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”
Dissecting the Humor in “The Office”: A Study of Workplace Comedy
Lessons From “Looney Tunes”: Anthropomorphism and Absurdity
“Parks and Recreation”: A Study in Political Satire
Sarcasm and Social Commentary in “South Park”
Unveiling Irony in “The Big Bang Theory”
Dark Humor in Tim Burton’s Movies: A Case Study
Reading Between the Lines: Puns in Shakespeare’s Works
Humor in Comic Strips: A Critical Analysis of “Calvin and Hobbes”
Unraveling Humor in Classic “Tom and Jerry” Episodes
Laughter Behind “The Mask”: Jim Carrey’s Unique Comedy Style
Double Entendre and Innuendo in British Comedy Shows
Understanding Satire in ‘The Onion’ News Articles
Humor in Tragedy: An Analysis of Dark Comedy in “Breaking Bad”
Laughter in Horror: A Study of Comedy Elements in Stephen King’s Works
Humor in Advertising: Analysis of Old Spice Commercials
Paradox and Absurdity in Douglas Adams’ “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”
Elements of Humor in Superhero Comic Books: A Close Look at “Deadpool”

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Historical Documents

Founding Fathers’ Use of Persuasion in the Declaration of Independence
Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation: A Call for Equality
Washington’s Farewell Address: Shaping America’s Foreign Policy
Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Fireside Chats: Mobilizing the Nation in Crisis
Thomas Paine’s Common Sense: Propelling the American Revolution
Susan B. Anthony’s Speech on Women’s Suffrage: Empowering the Movement
John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address: Instilling Hope and Unity
The Federalist Papers: Defending the US Constitution
Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman?” Speech: Advocating for Gender and Racial Equality
Woodrow Wilson’s Fourteen Points: Crafting a Vision for World Peace
Elizabeth Cady Stanton’s “Declaration of Sentiments”: Demanding Women’s Rights
The Gettysburg Address: Honoring the Fallen and Reaffirming the Nation’s Purpose
Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin: Influencing the Abolitionist Movement
Ronald Reagan’s “Tear Down This Wall” Speech: Challenging Soviet Authority
Elizabeth I’s “Tilbury Speech”: Encouraging English Troops against the Spanish Armada
The Seneca Falls Declaration: Propelling the Women’s Rights Movement
Nelson Mandela’s Rivonia Trial Speech: Defending Equality in South Africa
The Monroe Doctrine: Asserting US Influence in the Western Hemisphere
Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring: Igniting the Environmental Movement
The US Bill of Rights: Safeguarding Individual Liberties

Literary Works Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

The Role of Foreshadowing in Emily Bronte’s “Wuthering Heights”
Understanding the Theme of Identity in Ralph Ellison’s “Invisible Man”
The Use of Alliteration in Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven”
Exploring the Symbolism of the Conch in William Golding’s “Lord of the Flies”
The Rhetorical Effect of Repetition in Maya Angelou’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings”
Analyzing the Role of Imagery in John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men”
Theme of Social Injustice in Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities”
Literary Strategies in Virginia Woolf’s “Mrs. Dalloway”
Analyzing the Use of Similes in Langston Hughes’ Poetry
Rhetorical Impact of Personification in William Shakespeare’s Sonnets
Understanding the Theme of Freedom in Margaret Atwood’s “The Handmaid’s Tale”
Exploring the Symbolism of the Yellow Wallpaper in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Story
The Figurative Devices Employed in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s “The Scarlet Letter”
The Role of Irony in Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”
Investigating the Theme of Love in Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice”
Rhetorical Effect of Hyperbole in Jonathan Swift’s “Gulliver’s Travels”
Recognizing the Symbolism of the Mockingbird in Harper Lee’s “To Kill a Mockingbird”
Exploring the Theme of Power in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm”
The Artistic Techniques in Alice Walker’s “The Color Purple”

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Marketing Campaigns

Analysis of the Impact: Nike’s “Just Do It” Campaign
Examining Rhetoric: Coca-Cola’s “Share a Coke” Campaign
Unveiling Persuasive Techniques: Apple’s “Think Different” Campaign
Decoding Messaging Strategies: Dove’s “Real Beauty” Initiative
Evaluating Effectiveness: Old Spice’s “The Man Your Man Could Smell Like” Advertisements
Investigating Rhetorical Devices: Red Bull’s “Gives You Wings” Marketing Approach
Dissecting Emotional Appeal: Always’ “Like a Girl” Initiative
Unraveling Storytelling Techniques: Airbnb’s “Belong Anywhere” Promotions
Analyzing Ethical Appeals: Patagonia’s “Don’t Buy This Jacket” Messaging
Explaining Symbolic Language: McDonald’s “I’m Lovin’ It” Advertising Campaign
Persuasive Strategies: Volkswagen’s “Think Small” Marketing Drive
Investigating Cultural Significance: Starbucks’ “Race Together” Initiative
Rhetorical Tactics in P&G’s “Thank You, Mom” Ad Campaign
Dissecting Humor and Wit: Geico’s “15 Minutes Could Save You 15% or More” Commercials
Unraveling the Message: Nike’s “Equality” Marketing Approach
Analyzing Visual Rhetoric: Pepsi’s “Live for Now” Advertising Strategy
Examining Social Commentary: Ben & Jerry’s “If It’s Melting, It’s Mishandling” Campaign
Investigating Storytelling Techniques: Airbnb’s “We Accept” Promotional Campaign
Scrutinizing Persuasive Appeals: Coca-Cola’s “Open Happiness” Marketing Drive
Emotional Impacts: Always’ “End Period Poverty” Initiative

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Movies

Captivating Portrayal: Analyzing the Character Development in “The Shawshank Redemption”
Cinematic Artistry: Evaluating the Visual Storytelling Techniques in “Inception”
Sociopolitical Commentary: Examining the Symbolism in “Get Out”
Emotional Impact: Decoding the Narrative Structure of “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind”
Gender Dynamics: Unraveling the Power Dynamics in “Mad Max: Fury Road”
Psychological Depth: Scrutinizing the Mental Journey of the Protagonist in “Black Swan”
Cultural Representation: Assessing the Portrayal of Identity in “Crazy Rich Asians”
Aesthetic Choices: Dissecting the Cinematography and Set Design in “Blade Runner 2049”
Social Inequality: Analyzing Class Divisions in “Parasite”
Genre Subversion: Unpacking the Narrative Twists in “Fight Club”
Historical Accuracy: Evaluating the Depiction of Events in “Schindler’s List”
Moral Dilemmas: Examining the Ethical Choices in “The Dark Knight”
Environmental Themes: Interpreting the Allegory of Nature in “Avatar”
Symbolic Motifs: Decoding the Repetitive Elements in “Pulp Fiction”
Subtextual Meanings: Unraveling the Hidden Messages in “The Matrix”
Cultural Impact: Assessing the Influence of “Star Wars” on Popular Culture
Artistic Collaboration: Scrutinizing the Director-Cinematographer Relationship in “Birdman”
Historical Context: Analyzing the Political Commentary in “V for Vendetta”
Visual Metaphors: Examining the Use of Imagery in “Pan’s Labyrinth”
Psychological Thrills: Dissecting the Mind Games in “Gone Girl”
Representation of Love: Interpreting the Romantic Relationships in “La La Land”

Poetry Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Nature’s Elegy: Exploring the Symbolism of the Wandering River
Hope’s Resurgence: Analyzing the Metaphorical Wings of Freedom
Solitude’s Symphony: Unraveling the Rhetoric of Isolation and Reflection
Resilient Whispers: Decoding the Personification of Autumn Leaves
Endless Tides: A Rhetorical Study of the Ocean’s Eternal Dance
Serenity’s Riddle: Unveiling the Metaphorical Depths of a Calm Lake
Echoes of Time: Dissecting the Symbolism of Ancient Ruins
Whispering Zephyrs: Unraveling the Language of Gentle Breezes
Forgotten Melodies: Analyzing the Metaphorical Allure of Abandoned Music
Shattered Reflections: Exploring the Symbolism of Broken Mirrors
Enigmatic Shadows: A Rhetorical Study of Darkness and Mystery
A Dying Flame: Decoding the Metaphorical Language of Fading Passion
Captive Stars: Unveiling the Symbolism of a Moonlit Night
Illusion’s Veil: Dissecting the Rhetoric of Deceptive Appearances
Silent Embers: Analyzing the Metaphorical Depth of Ashen Memories
Forgotten Footsteps: Exploring the Symbolism of a Deserted Path
Murmuring Whispers: A Rhetorical Study of the Language of Wind
The Phoenix’s Flight: Decoding the Symbolism of Rebirth and Transformation
Vanishing Horizons: Unraveling the Metaphorical Language of Fading Dreams
Enchanted Murmurs: Analyzing the Symbolism of a Whispering Forest

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Political Speeches

The Language of Leadership: Analyzing Margaret Thatcher’s “The Lady’s Not for Turning”
Communicating Unity: Examining Jacinda Ardern’s Response to the Christchurch Mosque Shootings
Shaping History: Analyzing Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address
The Power of Hope: Exploring John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Speech
Navigating Crisis: Evaluating George W. Bush’s Address After 9/11
Inspiring Action: A Rhetorical Analysis of Malala Yousafzai’s Speech to the United Nations
Crafting a Vision: Analyzing Ronald Reagan’s “Tear Down This Wall” Speech
A Call for Justice: Examining Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Dissenting Opinions
Defending Equality: Analyzing Emma Watson’s UN Speech on Gender Equality
Uniting a Nation: A Rhetorical Analysis of Abraham Lincoln’s Second Inaugural Address
Communicating Change: Evaluating Greta Thunberg’s Speeches on Climate Action
The Language of Freedom: Analyzing Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” Speech
Championing Civil Rights: A Rhetorical Analysis of Lyndon B. Johnson’s “We Shall Overcome” Speech
Raising Awareness: Exploring Michelle Obama’s Speech on Childhood Obesity
The Power of Perseverance: Analyzing Steve Jobs’ Stanford Commencement Address
Communicating Diplomacy: Evaluating Kofi Annan’s United Nations Speeches
Inspiring Patriotism: A Rhetorical Analysis of Ronald Reagan’s “Morning in America” Campaign Commercial
The Voice of Resistance: Analyzing Aung San Suu Kyi’s Speeches During Myanmar’s Struggle for Democracy
Challenging Injustice: Examining Clarence Darrow’s Closing Argument in the Scopes Monkey Trial
Speaking Truth to Power: A Rhetorical Analysis of Elizabeth Warren’s Senate Speech on Wealth Inequality
The Art of Negotiation: Analyzing Henry Kissinger’s Diplomatic Speeches

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Presidential Debates

The Impact of Presidential Debate Format on Voter Perception
Rhetorical Devices: Analyzing Their Effectiveness in Presidential Debates
Nonverbal Communication: Its Role in Presidential Debates
Moderator Questions: Influence on Presidential Debate Outcomes
Emotional Appeals in Presidential Debates: An Investigation
Strategies Used by Presidential Candidates in Addressing Social Issues: A Critique
The Power of Persuasive Language in Presidential Debates
Fact-Checking: Understanding Its Role in Presidential Debates
Deceptive Rhetoric in Presidential Debates: Ethical Implications
Humor as a Rhetorical Strategy in Presidential Debates: Evaluating Its Use
Audience Engagement in Presidential Debates: An Analysis
Closing Statements in Presidential Debates: Assessing Their Effectiveness
Body Language and Voter Perception in Presidential Debates: Investigating the Impact
Rhetorical Fallacies in Presidential Debates: Evaluating Their Influence
Public Speaking Skills in Presidential Debates: Unpacking Their Role
Power Dynamics in Presidential Debates: Understanding Their Significance
Media Coverage and Presidential Debate Outcomes: Analyzing the Influence
Historical References in Presidential Debates: Examining Their Use
Gender and Language in Presidential Debates: Critiquing the Role
Candidate Debates and Voter Decision-Making: Assessing the Impact

Public Debates Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Government Regulation of Big Tech Companies: Pros and Cons
Environmental Activism: Analyzing Climate Change Debates
Gun Control: Examining the Second Amendment in Modern Society
The Rhetoric of Immigration Policy: Balancing Security and Compassion
Analyzing the Racial Justice Movement: Black Lives Matter vs. All Lives Matter
Debating Healthcare: Universal Coverage vs. Private Insurance
Analyzing the Rhetoric of Feminism in the #MeToo Movement
Education Reform: Traditional Teaching Methods vs. Progressive Approaches
The Rhetoric of LGBTQ+ Rights: Equality vs. Religious Freedom
Focusing on the Rhetoric of Economic Inequality: Capitalism vs. Socialism
Free Speech on College Campuses: Protecting Diversity of Thought vs. Ensuring Safety
The Rhetorical Strategies Used in Political Campaigns and Elections
Analyzing the Rhetoric of Police Brutality and Law Enforcement
The Debate on Affirmative Action: Equality vs. Meritocracy
The Rhetoric of Vaccination: Public Health vs. Personal Freedom
Explaining the Rhetoric of Nationalism and Globalism in International Relations
Expanding on the Rhetoric of Protests and Civil Disobedience
Animal Rights: Ethical Treatment vs. Human Interests
Analyzing the Rhetoric of Capital Punishment: Justice vs. Human Rights
The Rhetoric of Drug Policy: Criminalization vs. Harm Reduction
Understanding the Rhetoric of Privacy: National Security vs. Individual Liberty

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Scientific Articles

Persuasive Techniques in Scientific Papers on Alternative Energy Sources
Exploring Rhetorical Appeals in Articles Addressing the Link Between Diet and Health
Assessing the Influence of Rhetoric in Studies on Artificial Intelligence
Strategies in Articles on Stem Cell Research and Ethics
Investigating Persuasive Tactics in Papers on Mental Health Treatments
Analyzing Devices Used to Communicate Climate Change Risks
Examining the Effectiveness of Rhetoric in Articles on Ocean Conservation
Shaping Public Opinion on Genetic Cloning
Analyzing Techniques in Articles on Environmental Pollution
Addressing Strategies in Papers on Neurological Disorders
Influence of Rhetoric on Public Perception of Nanotechnology in Research
Explaining Rhetorical Appeals in Articles on Evolutionary Biology
Language and Argumentation in Papers on Artificial Intelligence Ethics
Persuasive Tactics Used in Articles on Sustainable Development
Communicating Risks of Nuclear Energy
Good Strategies in Articles on Human Genome Editing
Analyzing the Effectiveness of Rhetoric in Papers on Cancer Treatments
Assessing the Influence of Rhetoric in Articles on Climate Change Mitigation
Exploring Appeals in Studies on Genetic Disorders

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Social Justice Movements

The Evolution of Feminism: Analyzing the Impact on Social Justice Movements
Examining the Rhetoric of the Civil Rights Movement: Strategies and Outcomes
The Power of Language: Analyzing Speeches in LGBTQ+ Rights Activism
Environmental Justice Advocacy: A Rhetorical Analysis of Climate Change Activism
Analyzing the Rhetoric of Indigenous Rights Movements: Representation and Resistance
Nonviolent Communication in Anti-War Activism: A Rhetorical Analysis
Analyzing the Rhetoric of Disability Rights: Breaking Barriers and Promoting Inclusion
Examining the Language of Immigration Justice Movements: Identity, Belonging, and Equality
The Power of Visual Rhetoric in Social Justice Advocacy: Analyzing Protest Art
Expanding on the Rhetoric of the Black Lives Matter Movement: Mobilization and Media Discourse
Persuasion and Women’s Suffrage: A Rhetorical Analysis of Suffragette Activism
The Rhetoric of Workers’ Rights: Empowering Laborers for Equality
Analyzing the Language of Human Rights Advocacy: Voices of Justice and Empathy
Understanding the Rhetoric of Prison Reform: Restorative Justice and Rehabilitation
Analyzing the Rhetoric of Anti-Discrimination Campaigns: Promoting Equality and Social Change
Indigenous Land Rights Movements: A Rhetorical Analysis of Cultural Preservation and Sovereignty
Rhetorical Analysis of Gun Control Advocacy: Safety, Freedom, and Responsibility
Intersectionality in Social Justice Campaigns: Analyzing Voices of Marginalized Communities
Rhetorical Strategies in Animal Rights Activism: Analyzing Language and Ethical Appeal
Analyzing the Rhetoric of Disability Justice: Empowering Disabled Individuals

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Social Media Posts

Rhetorical Strategies in Political Campaigns on Social Media
Analyzing Anti-Bullying Campaigns’ Persuasive Techniques Online
Environmental Activists’ Language and Strategies on Social Media Posts
Emotional Language in Online Activism
Ethical Implications of Sponsored Content on Social Media
Social Media Celebrity Endorsements: Unveiling the Strategies
Hashtag Movements: Effectiveness in Promoting Social Change
Cyberbullying Rhetoric and Its Impact on Victims
Online Fundraising Campaigns: Language and Appeals Evaluation
Rhetorical Devices in Political Satire on Social Media
The Power of Memes as Persuasive Tools in Online Communication
Language and Strategies in Online Dating Profiles
Brand Advertising on Social Media: Analyzing Techniques
Social Media’s Role in Shaping Public Opinion and Political Discourse
Manipulative Language in Online Clickbait Articles: Critique
Rhetorical Techniques in Online Product Reviews
Rhetoric of Online Activism for Gender Equality
Health and Wellness Influencers’ Language on Social Media
Personal Narratives in Social Media Advocacy
Rhetoric of Conspiracy Theories on Social Media

Speeches Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Examining Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Fireside Chat on the New Deal
Analyzing Aung San Suu Kyi’s Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speech
Evaluating Theodore Roosevelt’s “The Man in the Arena” Speech
Decoding Angela Merkel’s Address on Refugee Crisis and European Solidarity
Unveiling the Rhetoric in Michelle Obama’s Democratic National Convention Speech
Breaking Down Mahatma Gandhi’s “Quit India” Speech
Assessing John F. Kennedy’s Moon Landing Speech at Rice University
Investigating Emma Gonzalez’s Speech on Gun Control: “We Call BS”
Critiquing Ronald Reagan’s Challenger Disaster Address
Interpreting Sojourner Truth’s “Ain’t I a Woman?” Speech
Dissecting Winston Churchill’s “The Few” Speech on the Battle of Britain
Examining Nelson Mandela’s “An Ideal for Which I Am Prepared to Die” Speech
Analyzing Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Supreme Court Confirmation Hearing Statement
Uncovering the Rhetorical Strategies in Elizabeth Warren’s “Nevertheless, She Persisted” Speech
Evaluating Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter From Birmingham Jail”
Exploring Malala Yousafzai’s Speech to the United Nations Youth Assembly
Understanding Barack Obama’s Speech on Race: “A More Perfect Union”
Focusing on Susan Rice’s Commencement Address: “Stay Awake and Be Woke”
Interpreting Angela Merkel’s Speech on Germany’s Energy Transition
Addressing Patrick Henry’s “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” Speech

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Sports Commentary

The Impact of Sports Commentators on Viewer Engagement
Rhetorical Strategies Employed in Football Commentary
Language Techniques Used in Tennis Broadcasts
Effectiveness of Basketball Commentators in Creating Narrative
Persuasive Techniques of Soccer Commentators
The Use of Metaphors in Golf Commentary
Roles of Sports Commentators in Shaping Public Perception
Critiquing the Rhetoric of Baseball Commentators
Influence of Language on Hockey Broadcasts
Verbal Strategies of Motorsport Commentators
Emotional Appeal in Sports Commentaries
Ethical Responsibility of Commentators in Sports Broadcasting
Language Devices Used in Boxing Commentaries
Roles of Commentators in Enhancing Sports Spectatorship
Rhetorical Tactics of Rugby Commentators
Persuasive Techniques in Olympic Games Commentary
Language Choices in Cricket Broadcasts
Narrative Building in Track and Field Commentaries
Influence of Rhetoric on Cycling Broadcasts
Verbal Strategies of Winter Sports Commentators
Impacts of Commentators on Women’s Sports Representation

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Stand-Up Comedy Specials

Humor and Social Commentary: “The Manifesto of Hilarity”
Exploring Cultural Stereotypes in “Laughing Across Borders”
Analyzing Satire and Political Critique: “Comic Revolution”
The Power of Irony: “Jokes and Paradoxes”
Deconstructing Gender Roles: “Breaking the Mold of Laughter”
Examining Dark Comedy and Taboo Topics: “Shadows of Laughter”
Unveiling the Art of Timing: “The Perfect Punchline”
The Use of Personal Narratives: “Unveiling Comedy”
Linguistic Techniques: “The Language of Laughter”
The Role of Improvisation: “Unleashing Spontaneity”
Exploring Wordplay: “Laughter With Language”
Focusing on the Comedian-Audience Relationship: “Creating Laughter’s Connection”
Comedy as a Coping Mechanism: “Finding Laughter in Darkness”
The Social Impact of Stand-Up Comedy: “Changing Minds, One Joke at a Time”
Deconstructing Comedy Styles: “The Evolution of Laughter”
The Art of Physical Comedy: “Body Language and Hilarity”
Examining Cultural Appropriation: “Laughter Across Boundaries”
Unveiling the Role of Silence: “The Power of Pauses”
Exploring Comedic Timing and Delivery: “Cue the Laughs”
The Use of Exaggeration: “Amplifying the Absurd”

Ted Talks Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

The Power of Vulnerability: Analyzing Brene Brown’s Persuasive Techniques
Decoding Body Language: Unraveling Amy Cuddy’s Impactful Presentation
Unleashing Creativity: Examining Elizabeth Gilbert’s Artful Rhetoric
Science of Happiness: Dissecting Shawn Achor’s Compelling Argument
Crafting an Inspiring Narrative: Assessing Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Storytelling Techniques
Harnessing the Potential of Introverts: Evaluating Susan Cain’s Convincing Arguments
The Art of Storytelling: Analyzing Andrew Stanton’s Captivating Presentation
Redefining Success: Unpacking Arianna Huffington’s Persuasive Messaging
Exploring the Surprising Science of Motivation: Dissecting Dan Pink’s Convincing Evidence
Tapping Into the Power of Introversion: Assessing Matthew Walker’s Compelling Talk
The Transformative Power of Education: Evaluating Sir Ken Robinson’s Persuasive Appeal
The Future of Technology: Analyzing Elon Musk’s Visionary Rhetoric
Impacts of Emotional Intelligence: Unraveling Daniel Goleman’s Persuasive Argument
Challenging Stereotypes: Assessing Jamila Lyiscott’s Powerful Presentation
Navigating Cultural Differences: Evaluating Pico Iyer’s Compelling Insights
Overcoming Fear and Embracing Change: Analyzing Jia Jiang’s Persuasive Journey
Redefining Leadership: Examining Simon Sinek’s Inspiring Rhetorical Strategies
Fostering Global Understanding: Dissecting Hans Rosling’s Compelling Data
Raising Awareness on Climate Change: Assessing Al Gore’s Persuasive Discourse
The Influence of Music: Analyzing Benjamin Zander’s Persuasive Interpretation
Unleashing the Potential of Introverted Thinkers: Unpacking Susan Cain’s Convincing Argument
The Real Story of Rosa Parks
Tiny Robots With Giant Potential
What Ocean Microbes Reveal About the Changing Climate
Imaginative Sculptures That Explore How We Perceive Reality
How Teachers Can Help Students Navigate Trauma
It’s OK to Feel Overwhelmed
How Virtual Reality Turns Students Into Scientists
How the Magic of Kindness Helped Me Survive the Holocaust
What We Do (and Don’t) Know About the Coronavirus
Dictators Hate Political Cartoons – So I Keep Drawing Them
What a Nun Can Teach a Scientist About Ecology
The Health Benefits of Clowning Around
What If the Poor Were Part of City Planning
The Tyranny of Merit
How Do Daily Habits Lead to Political Violence
Big Data, Small Farms and a Tale of Two Tomatoes
Dear Facebook, This Is How You’re Breaking Democracy
A Brief Tour of the Last 4 Billion Years
Why Specializing Early Doesn’t Always Mean Career Success
What It Means to Be Intersex
The Science of Friction
How Bees Can Keep the Peace
A New Type of Medicine
Parasitic Worms Hold Back Human Progress
Online Predators Spread Fake Porn of Me
Can You Really Tell If a Kid Is Lying
The Next Outbreak? We’re Not Ready
My Son Was a Columbine Shooter. This Is My Story.
The Orchestra in My Mouth
How Animals and Plants Are Evolving in Cities
A Simple Way to Break a Bad Habit
Dignity Isn’t a Privilege. It’s a Worker’s Right.
What Makes a Good Life? Lessons From the Longest Study on Happiness
4 Steps to Ending Extreme Poverty
10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation
What Saturn’s Most Mysterious Moon Could Teach Us
Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator
The Power of Vulnerability
My Escape From North Korea
Your Body Language May Shape Who You Are
How to Spot a Liar
Strange Answers to the Psychopath Test
The Art of Misdirection
How I Held My Breath for 17 Minutes
Looks Aren’t Everything. Believe Me, I’m a Model
How to Speak So That People Want to Listen
Everything You Think You Know About Addiction Is Wrong
The Future We’re Building – and Boring
Your Brain Hallucinates Your Conscious Reality

Visual Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

The Impact of Color Symbolism on Contemporary Advertising
Exploring the Use of Body Language in Political Campaigns
Analyzing Visual Metaphors in Environmental Awareness Campaigns
Unveiling Gender Stereotypes in Fashion Magazine Covers
The Rhetoric of Power: Visual Representations of Historical Leaders
Decoding the Role of Typography in Brand Identity Design
Visualizing Social Inequality: A Critical Analysis of Infographics
The Art of Persuasion: Analyzing Visual Elements in Propaganda Posters
Representations of Beauty Standards in Cosmetics Advertisements
Environmental Activism Through Visual Storytelling
Visualizing Global Climate Change: The Role of Data Visualization
Analyzing Visual Framing in News Media Coverage of Social Issues
The Subtle Language of Minimalism: Analyzing Design Principles in Modern Architecture
Visualizing Cultural Identity: An Examination of National Flag Designs
The Power of Imagery in Political Cartoons
Analyzing the Use of Symbols in Corporate Logos
Deconstructing Visual Narratives in Film Posters
Analyzing the Portrayal of Women in Magazine Advertisements
The Politics of Visual Representation: A Comparative Analysis of Political Campaign Posters
Decoding Persuasive Techniques in Infographic Design

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Visual Art Installations

Impact of Color: Analyzing the Rhetorical Strategies in a Vibrant Sculpture Installation
Deconstructing Identity: Examining the Symbolism and Semiotics of a Contemporary Art Installation
Unveiling Power Dynamics: A Rhetorical Analysis of Political Commentary in a Visual Art Installation
Evoking Emotion: Exploring the Rhetorical Devices in a Moving Photography Installation
Disrupting Boundaries: Investigating the Rhetorical Tactics of an Interactive Video Art Installation
Challenging Social Norms: Analyzing the Subversive Messaging in a Street Art Installation
Transforming Spaces: Rhetorical Strategies in an Immersive Multimedia Installation
Capturing the Essence: An In-Depth Analysis of Symbolism in a Site-Specific Art Installation
Reclaiming History: Uncovering the Rhetoric of Memory in a Public Art Installation
Questioning Reality: Examining the Persuasive Techniques in a Surrealist Art Installation
Confronting Environmental Crisis: A Rhetorical Analysis of a Sculptural Installation on Climate Change
Reshaping Perceptions: Analyzing the Rhetoric of Gender in a Contemporary Art Installation
Amplifying Voices: Investigating the Rhetorical Power of Collective Identity in an Installation Artwork
Provoking Contemplation: A Critical Analysis of Minimalist Art Installations
Celebrating Diversity: Rhetorical Strategies in a Mosaic Installation Representing Cultural Heritage
Illuminating Truths: Examining the Persuasive Tactics of Light Art Installations
Conveying Social Commentary: A Rhetorical Analysis of a Public Sculpture Installation
Eliciting Empathy: Analyzing the Rhetoric of Compassion in a Participatory Art Installation
Shaping Space: Unveiling the Rhetorical Significance of Installation Art in Architecture
Navigating Time: A Critical Analysis of Historical References in a Time-Based Art Installation
Blurring Boundaries: Investigating the Rhetorical Devices in an Abstract Installation Artwork

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Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics & Ideas for Students

10 min read

Published on: Jul 23, 2020

Last updated on: Jan 29, 2024

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics 2022

Obamaâs Final Farewell Speech
Speech from President Trump
Analyze Edgar Allen Poeâs poem âRaven.â
The recipe for a happy life
Pride and Prejudice
A nation among nations
The Price of Inequality by Joseph Stiglitz
England in 1819â by Percy Bysshe Shelley.
A popular song
William Shakespeare. King Lear.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Movies

Analyze a famous historical movie
The insider
Write an analysis of Romeo and Juliet
Sam Worthington in Avatar
The Great Gatsby
A Streetcar Named Desire.
Gregory Peck in To Kill a Mockingbird
Octavia Spencer in the Help

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for College Students

One Directionâs âStory of My Lifeâ
Martin Luther King Jr.âs last speech
âWhere the Red Fern Growsâ by Wilson Rawls
Inaugural address by President Joseph R. Biden
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.
Leonardoâs âThe Last Supperâ from 1497
Analysis of James Joyceâs Ulysses
âThe Tempestâ by William Shakespeare.
âWhere the Red Fern Growsâ by Wilson Rawls.
Animal Farm

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics about Speeches

Speech from Finding Forrester
Charlie Chaplin The Great Dictator
How does Mahatma Gandhi persuade the listener to Quit India, 1942?
Malala Yousafzaiâs speech at the Youth Takeover of the United Nations
Queen Elizabethâs intentions in Spanish Armada speech, 1588.
Chief Joseph âSurrender Speechâ
Gettysburg Monologue in Remember the Titans
Virginia Woolfâs âA Room of Oneâs Ownâ
Analysis of the farewell address of a famous president
âEvery Man a Kingâ by Huey Pierce Long.

Easy Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

âThe Lotteryâ by Shirley Jackson.
Web of fries
Enough movie
A favorite poem was written by William Shakespeare.
Silent Voices In Three Poems
"The Picture Of Dorian Gray" Analysis
Importance of theme of hope in literature
An impactful new writer
"Huckleberry Finn" Rhetorical Analysis
The importance symbolism plays in novels

Funny Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Do you love your family members or not?
Bananas are delicious fruit for children.
Are vegetables rich in the winter or summer season?
The fact does not support the rhetorical questions.
Do you like your friends or not?
How do the monkeys live in the zoo?
"Yes, Please" By Amy Poehler
"Witches Loaves" By O'Henry
Commonly used rhetorical devices
Do bees bring honey or not?
Flowers are the eyes of nature

Visual Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Yellow journalism
Culture and arts
Art through history
Analyze a piece of work from the Parks library
Show the use of sound, music, and narration in presentations
Is advertising making people materialistic
Art comparison over decades
âThe Canterbury Talesâ by Geoffrey Chaucer.
The rhetoric of blogs and online writing.
The Painted Veil

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics about Advertisements

California Milk Processor Board: Got Milk?
Disneyland: The Happiest Place on Earth.
Macdonald: âI'm lovin' itâ
Apple: Think Different.
M&M: Melts in Your Mouth, Not in Your Hands
Pepsi: That's What I Like
Panasonic: Ideas for Life
Harley Davidson: All for Freedom. Freedom for All
LâOrÃ©al: Because Youâre Worth It
Nike: There Is No Finish Line.

How to Choose a Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topic?

A rhetorical analysis essay might be a problem for students, especially if they choose a tough topic for the essay. Pick a good topic for an essay, and solve several writing problems.

Every writer wants to make their writing piece interesting and encourage the reader to read the entire essay. It all depends on the essay topic; if the topic is good, it automatically grabs the target audienceâs attention.

The topic is the first thing that grabs the readerâs attention. The topic of the essay should be strong and effective.

Choosing the right topic for an essay becomes a difficult job for some writers. Here are the few tips that every writer should follow when selecting the topic for a rhetorical essay.

Firstly define your objective before choosing the topic. Choose the topic that interests you and make sure that the topic has scope for research or writing. Write on something that you have no idea about or no wider scope; it makes your writing process tough.

Never write about something that is not interesting and boring. If you make your writing phase easier, choose a good interesting topic, and start researching it.

Brainstorming helps the writer in the topic selection phase. Never choose a topic that is too narrow, and you have no resources. Brainstorm the ideas and note down on the paper, choose the one you find interesting, and have enough information.

But one thing to keep in mind if you have so much information, it will take weeks to learn what you need to compose your analysis.

Choose the topic carefully after brainstorming and create a well-crafted essay.

When choosing the topic for an essay, one thing to keep in mind is that you have little knowledge about it. Write about something unfamiliar to you will not make your essay a successful one.

Gather data for the essay from the relevant sources, and you know about the topic. Otherwise, it becomes a strenuous task for you.

If your teacher gives you a choice to choose the topic, then reflect your interest in the topic.

Research is another way of picking the right topic for essays. Make a list of topics that you find interesting in the brainstorming phase. When you finally choose the topic for the essay, start the research process.

Do some background research and gather relevant information about the topic. If you collect enough information that you want, then make this topic final for your essay.

Choose the topic by knowing your opposing viewpoints, and you must have an argument. If you gather information, then collect from sources with different audiences for truly opposing viewpoints.

Never choose a topic that you do not know about anything; otherwise, you will spend months learning the opposing viewpointsâ background details.

Choose a topic that shows the present viewpoints and beliefs in the essay through analysis.

After some research, you will be still unable to choose a topic for an essay, then consult your teacher for guidance. The list you prepare in the brainstorming phase shows them to your teacher and asks them for help. They guide you better in the essay topic section phase and reduce your stress.

Uncommon topics are hard to write and become difficult for the reader to understand. If you choose a topic that is not so common, then you will never get relevant data. Uncommon topics are not a good way of choosing a topic; it makes your writing phase tough.

Tips for Writing the Best Rhetorical Essay

Writers always follow tips and create a successful essay. Here are some tips that give your essay a professional touch, and you can get grades from your teacher.

The essay topic should be catchy and attention-grabbing, so the reader reads the whole essay.
The opening paragraph of the essay should be catchy and interesting.
Use correct transitions in the body paragraphs.
Summarize the main points in the conclusion section.
Use simple sentences and try to avoid obscure words or sentences.
Gather information from relevant sources such as research papers, articles, books, journals, and government/organization websites.
Make your essay authentic and not add fake information.

Writing a rhetorical paper is not a difficult task if you follow proper guidelines. The topic of the essay also plays a vital role in a good essay.

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AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay Practice

35 min read • february 2, 2021

Rhetorical Analysis practice is one of the most important ways to prepare for the exam! Review student writing practice samples and corresponding feedback from TA Brandon Wu! While you don't need to memorize every rhetorical device for the exam, you should take some time to familiarize yourself with them. To help out, we created this list of 40 rhetorical devices for AP Lang!

The Rhetorical Analysis Practice Prompt

Use the image below to answer the following questions:

https://firebasestorage.googleapis.com/v0/b/fiveable-92889.appspot.com/o/images%2F-Vfk2QtYdpkoO.png?alt=media&token=721979fa-3aae-4a99-89cc-5932e2fc90fc

In your response, make sure to include:

A thesis statement or claim that addresses the prompt
1-2 body paragraphs with specific evidence & commentary (how many devices or sentences of commentary is up to you)
Elements of sophistication - Significance/relevance of rhetorical choices (“SOC”) and/or Purpose of complexities or tensions (“POC”)

Writing Samples & Feedback

Short essay practice submission 1.

As a sole female ruler of a growing and powerful nation during the fourteenth century, Queen Elizabeth I faced the hesitance of rulers and a people who doubted in her ability to overcome the weakness of her femininity and rule her nation to prosperity. In order to establish her power and the prove her worth as successful leader, Elizabeth I creates a tone of loyalty and confidence that serves to persuade her subjects that she is the ruler they deserve and need. In order to maintain her position as queen, Elizabeth uses comparisons and assertive diction throughout her “Speech to the Troops at Tilbury.”

As a ruler, Elizabeth I must establish a sense of loyalty between herself and her people. In order to achieve this common ground of trust, Elizabeth “assures” her people that she knows she has the characteristics of a leader she needs to "be [the people’s] general. and protect them. Through her use of assertive diction, Elizabeth is guaranteeing her people that this victory was not a fluke and she is the ruler they need. If they decide to remove her from her throne, they will suffer because they will not longer have her vigorous loyal devotion to protect them. She compares herself to a general in order to prove to her people that her loyalty is sincere. Although a “feeble woman”, she has the strength of a general to overcome the weakness of her feminine side to be the king that the people deserve.

While proving herself to be a loyal leader is important, Elizabeth also takes into account that she must be a confident leader who believes in her people’s and own ability to be victorious. In her speech, she claims herself to “know” the strengths of her soul and weaknesses of her body. She recognizes that she may not be the strongest, allowing for a sincerity to shine that establishes trust, but she believes so strongly in the cause of Britain, has so much confidence in their inevitable success, that she is willing to take up arms herself and fight. She creates a sense of courage and valor that is not common in a women and further convinces her subjects that she has the soul of a confident king who can lead them well. Without asserting her knowledge of weakness and confidence in her abilities to overcome those weaknesses, Elizabeth could not reasonably convince her subjects that she was a good leader. Without addressing the aspects of her nature that could make her feeble, her confidence could not shine in the persuasive way it did in this speech.

TA Feedback

Thesis - 1 point. I think you definitely include a defensible thesis and answer the prompt adequately by talking about Queen Elizabeth’s purpose. Great job with context in the intro paragraph!

Evidence & Commentary - 3 points. Great embedding of evidence throughout this first body paragraph. I really like your analysis about Elizabeth’s loyal devotion; it shows that you aren’t summarizing! What’s keeping you from the fourth point here in my opinion is that to get four points in E&C, College Board says that you should “Explain how multiple rhetorical choices in the passage contribute to the writer’s argument, purpose, or message” and while it does provide a caveat that “the response may observe multiple instances of the same rhetorical choice if each instance further contributes to the argument, purpose, or message of the passage.” However, I think your representation of diction and tone in the last paragraph does not quite meet that threshold of “further contributing” to the argument, purpose, or message, given the similar commentary. For instance, you say that Elizabeth has the strength of a general to “overcome the weakness of her feminine side” and sort of repeat that later on when you say she creates a “sense of courage and valor that is not common in a woman”. I feel like both of your body paragraphs sort of link to the same argument you make that she is strong, confident, and will fight for Britain. While this is typically something that is good (linking back to a central thesis), unfortunately, your two body paragraphs reference the same literary device (diction) and thus you earn only three points. My advice is to look for other literary devices, such as perhaps an appeal to emotion (live and die amongst you all) or an appeal to authority (under God/references to religious authority). Having multiple devices compared to multiple instances of the same device with accompanying analysis that links the appeals to emotion/religious authority to your thesis (loyalty/confidence) would have likely earned you the fourth point.

Sophistication - 0 points. I think there isn’t enough consistency here to grant you sophistication. While you do mention the hesitance of rulers and people who doubted in the ability of her femininity as context, your references the two other times (although a “feeble woman” & "creates a sense of courage and valor that is not common in a woman) don’t really demonstrate how you are explaining the significance or relevance of the writer’s rhetorical choices given the rhetorical situation . They also seem kind of contradictory to me (is she feeble or is she courageous?) Think of the Madeline Albright student sample where it brings up the thematic idea of how women could do things in the broader context (seek out problems and fix them); I feel like your references to context seem to just be in the realm of Elizabeth’s leadership when they should have been more of a reference to women’s role in society as a whole.

Overall Score : 4/6 - Great job!

Short Essay Practice Submission 2

Queen Elizabeth showed herself as a strong leader during the threat of the Spanish Armada, taking over England, a major country, in 1588. As she addresses the land forces at TIlbury she reminds them that they need to trust her, and they shouldn’t fear. She enforces the trust by saying that she will place her life in danger, by being a general, if the Spanish Armada succeeds in attacking England. While saying this she is conveying that even though England is being threatened and a very significant event in world history could happen, the land forces should not fear because even though she is a woman she still has,”the heart and stomach of a king”.

At the beginning of Queen Elizabeth’s speech she recognizes the call from some people that she and other individuals holding a high office should be very careful of their safety. She disagrees with this thought because she is one with the people. By specifically telling the land forces, in Tilbury, she is empowering them by not giving up and retreating to a safer place, just because she is a queen. This gives the forces lots of strength because they know that their queen has their back and will not lose hope in the country or them. This trust alongside military power is what allowed the forces to defeat the biggest world power, of the time.

These empowering speeches are given all the time by world leaders in times of crisis. While the Covid pandemic may not be a battle like the land forces had with the Spanish Armada, it is a battle because people are fearing that the way of life they know will be taken away from them. To quell the fear of all battles or pandemics leaders will give speeches, or press conferences in modern day, it also helps their re-election if they showed strength during crisis. Another way Queen Elizabeth specifically empowers the land forces during their crisis is by saying that she will be their general if the Spanish Armada do gain control of English land. When she does this she immediately makes the country feel much more comfortable in that their queen will not leave them, even if her own city is invaded. This gives not just hope to the land forces they may have to directly battle the Spanish Armada but also the common citizens whose homes could be destroyed and families killed by warfare. This is very important because, as we saw with the Vietnam War in 1970, if the citizens don’t back the war it is very unlikely that you will win because it is the citizens who have to fight and produce warfare materials.

In conclusion, even though Queen Elizabeth was a woman she had the grit and determination of a man. This significantly helped the land forces respond to the strongest world power of the time. As she addresses the land forces at Tilbury she reminds them that they need to trust her, and they shouldn’t fear. She enforces the trust by saying that she will place her life in danger, by being a general, if the Spanish Armada succeeds in attacking England. While saying this she is conveying that even though England is being threatened and a very significant event in world history could happen, the land forces should not fear because even though she is a woman she still has, ”the heart and stomach of a king”.

Thesis - 1 point - I couldn’t find your thesis in the intro, so I ended up going to the conclusion. I honestly think it is much better to have your thesis as the last sentence of your intro paragraph . Your introduction paragraph feels much more like a summary of what happened in the speech as opposed to a rhetorical analysis of how she used devices to help achieve her purpose. This does get answered though in the conclusion, but I would advise you to have an explicit thesis in the introduction.

Evidence & Commentary - 2 points - Your evidence is pretty general, but at times it is specific which connects to your thesis of how Queen Elizabeth was helping support the land forces and demonstrating her grit and determination. To increase your evidence & commentary score, I would highly recommend you quote (use embedded quotes) rather than paraphrase to help create a line of reasoning (which is how your argument flows / the structure of your thesis & body paragraphs). Moreover, I think you need to be answering why the author used the specific rhetorical device & how it specifically contributes to the author’s purpose. Using words to guide the AP reader like “this supports the author’s purpose…” will help you here.

Sophistication - 0 Points - While I think you do a great job bringing in outside context and talking about pandemics/re-elections, I think you need to be very careful here with how you incorporate sophistication. Remember, SOC = significance (or relevance) of the writer’s rhetorical choices in the context of the rhetorical situation , and it seems that you are moreso talking about other rhetorical situations (Vietnam War, COVID, etc.). Also, I’m not very clear as to which rhetorical devices/techniques you’re talking about (details? diction? imagery? what kind of diction?) so I don’t think I can give you sophistication here.

Overall Score - 3 Points. I think this is an instance where it is definitely more important to work on evidence & commentary and find specific evidence of rhetorical techniques and devices to support your overarching thesis statement; then you can work on sophistication and talking about the significance/relevance of such rhetorical devices.

Short Essay Practice Submission 3

Ruler of England, Queen Elizabeth I, in her speech to the troops of tilbury, addresses the land forces during a threat of invasion by the Spanish Armada. Queen Elizabeth I purpose is to convince the Troops of Tilbury to stand by her side during the threat of invasion by the Spanish Armada and fight with her. Queen Elizabeth I, establishes her purpose through the application of diction, and the repetition of the word I. Queen Elizabeth I begins her speech by stating, “My loving people.” Starting the speech off like this, Queen Elizabeth I is creating a bond with the audience, she is implying that she cares for her people and stands by them. Queen Elizabeth I emphasizes the fight for her England as she applies strong diction to engender patriotism from the soldiers. She states “Your valor in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory over those enemies of God, of my kingdom, and of my people.” Here Queen Elizabeth is utilizing the soldier’s sense of patriotism for their country to convince them to fight. “Valor” and “Victory” inspire the soldier to fight for their country and gives them a sense of purpose to fight for what is right. Queen Elizabeth establishes her reasoning through the repetition of the word “I.” Queen Elizabeth begins by stating, “I know that I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman,” by calling her self “weak” and “feeble” Queen Elizabeth is setting up a counterargument to defend herself because she knows that this is how many of the following troops see her. She is stating the thoughts of many and then counteracts it by stating, “I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a King of England.” Queen Elizabeth is establishing her status to the troops, as well as establishing her credibility. When Elizabeth states, “I Myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general…” She is implying that she is no different from her. She is emphasizing that if she is willing to fight for her country, then they should stand by herself and fight with her. In her speech, Queen Elizabeth is inspiring a sense of patriotism and hope to influence the Troops to protect England from Spain. Queen Elizabeth doesn’t speak to the Soldiers as if she was a queen, but she speaks to them like a friend. She tugs on their sense of patriotism to achieve her purpose of convincing the troops of Tilbury to fight against the Spanish Armada. She applies the rhetorical devices of diction and repetition to imply her purpose to the people around her.

Thesis - 1 Point - I love your explicit mention of Queen Elizabeth’s purpose and the rhetorical devices you emphasize. Make sure though that you specify what the diction is - every author has an application of diction, but include an adjective before to describe what the diction is (emotional? nostalgic? uplifting? etc) . Evidence & Commentary - 4 Points - I think you do a very good job at analyzing the strong diction and anaphora (repetition of beginning words) and linking this to your thesis. Thus, I would give you four points for your consistent commentary in addition to your specific evidence.

Sophistication - 0 Points - There isn’t necessarily discussion here of the significance/relevance of the rhetorical choices Queen Elizabeth made nor is there a discussion of complexities/tensions. I don’t think I am a fair judge of ‘excellent prose style’, so thus I can’t really reward points on that metric.

Great job overall with a 5/6 on this rhetorical analysis essay!

Short Essay Practice Submission 4

Queen Elizabeth I faced many challenges throughout her reign, but by far the largest was her ongoing battle with the Spanish Armada. In 1588, Queen Elizabeth was awaiting an impending attack from the Armada and needed to rally her citizens to fight against something much bigger and much stronger than themselves. By abating her audience’s concerns about her gender and raising the spirits of the soldiers, Queen Elizabeth I unites the British people under a common goal of defeating the Spanish Armada.

In her speech, Queen Elizabeth tackles the stigma of her womanliness to display herself as a powerful leader that will fight hand-in-hand with the country’s front lines. She begins by saying “I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and a king of England too,…”. Here, Queen Elizabeth is being open with her audience and acknowledging her physical weaknesses while displaying her determination and passion for her country. Her direct reference to herself as having qualities of a king of England puts the listener’s worries at bay, as the kings in the past have been strong and capable of creating the large British empire that ruled during that time. Queen Elizabeth elaborates even further on her obligation to her country, saying that “[any country] should dare to invade the borders of my realm… I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field.” Though she is a woman, Queen Elizabeth’s determination and passion shines through and erases the worries of her gender. By not ignoring her gender and weaknesses, she is building credibility with the listeners and making herself more trustworthy. Britain could be facing a dark time ahead, and her words calm the listener and give them confidence and pride in their country, something that is necessary when fighting an army that is much more powerful than theirs.

Queen Elizabeth also raises the spirits of the soldiers and citizens in several ways. Near the beginning of her speech, Queen Elizabeth assures her people that she has “placed [her] chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of [her] subjects”. This is important, as committing to fight a much mightier army without complete support from a noble leader would be demoralizing to the members fighting. Another way that Queen Elizabeth lifts the morale of her citizens is by promising pay: “We do assure you in the word of a prince, [rewards and crowns] should be duly paid you.” If Queen Elizabeth had not done this, she would be left with many unmotivated soldiers who needed this money from the Crown to support their families. To conclude her speech, she with the most confident line yet: “we shall shortly have a famous victory over those enemies of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people.” With this line, Queen Elizabeth evokes the listeners’ emotions because of her references to personal ideas such as religion and patriotism, thus showing the reasons why she is willing to fight the battle as the underdog.

For many soldiers that had been fighting without pay and were scared by the sheer power of the Spanish Armada, Queen Elizabeth put their concerns aside and allowed soldiers to fight without other worries. She also gives other British citizens (non-soldiers) a reason to support a fight that seemed impossible to be won by the British if analyzed by the size of the armed forces. However, Queen Elizabeth was right: this fight is not about quantity of forces, but about heart. And by making her subjects sympathize with this belief, Queen Elizabeth successfully rallied her people and defeated the Spanish Armada.

Great job with the thesis point here - very explicit at the end of the introduction paragraph that tells me what the author’s purpose is and Queen Elizabeth’s rhetorical choices. In your evidence & commentary paragraphs, you did a great job of mentioning Queen Elizabeth’s gender and how she built credibility. I really enjoy your line of reasoning here in the second body paragraph while you mention her lifting morale and how she was able to motivate people. For sophistication, I think you do mention context “kings in the past have been strong and capable of creating the large British empire” and your analysis of how soldiers and non-soldiers alike were impacted (tied to your rhetorical devices) gives you credence to earn the sophistication point under the “significance or relevance of rhetorical choices” category. Great job on the 6/6 essay!

Short Essay Practice Submission 5

In 1588, Queen Elizabeth faced one of the most imminent threats of her career: the invasion by the Spanish Armada. Elizabeth had the task of not only rallying up her forces but also ensuring that they place trust in her and her plans to come out of the threat victorious. In order to increase confidence in her troops and cast aside their doubts of having a woman leader during this time of male domination, Elizabeth emphasizes that she will be making sacrifices alongside her troops to make and acknowledges and rebuttals her downsides that were associated with having a female leader at the time.

In the first two sentences, Elizabeth expresses her trust in her troops, saying “I have placed my chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts and good-will of my subjects”. These words of encouragement aid in pulling together the army as one; the leader has faith in them, so they should have faith in themselves. She continues on to say that she comes as a leader ready “to live and die amongst you all”, and lay down her body for her “God”, “kingdom”, and “people”. This is exactly what she is encouraging her troops to do: give everything they have to ensure the safety of their country and the victory during her war. As a fighter, you want to hear that your leader is in the fight with you, and that you are not alone. It holds even more weight as a woman leader, as women did not fight during that time period. If a woman, dainty and proper, is willing and pledging to lay down her life, the army is left with the thought that they are expected and must be capable of doing the same. This also serves as a warning sign for anyone who should “dare to invade the borders of [her] realm”; she is increasing the esteem of her army, making them a stronger threat, and is warning them that while she may be a woman, she is adept and strong enough to lead a country and mobilize a strong response.

In the next sentence, Elizabeth takes the argument that she is a “feeble woman” who is not expected to nor capable of leading an army of men head-on. She responds saying, “I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too”. By equating herself to the previous successful English kings, she is emphasizing the fact that while she may be a woman, she is just as mentally strong as any other successful ruler that preceded her. She wants the army to trust her, just as they had placed trust in King Henry and King Edward years prior. Not only is she increasing her troop’s trust in herself by underscoring her mental toughness, but she is also being open with her troops by acknowledging her perceived downsides as a woman ruler. Despite her being a woman, she will do the best she can to have “a famous victory over those enemies”. And, this statement serves as a “heads-up” for foreign invaders as well–She is strong, she is capable, and she is ready to fight, regardless of her gender.

Good job here with the the thesis - I would include something along the lines of “Elizabeth uses rhetorical devices and techniques to emphasize…” in order to help your essay flow later. Still, you aren’t restating the prompt and answering with something that can be proven by evidence, so you earn the thesis point. For evidence & commentary, I think you have great analysis about women during that time period and how she is “increasing the esteem of her army”. Moreover, I appreciate your analysis of King Henry and King Edward adding some useful context. Ultimately though, I feel as if you are really only talking about diction in these two paragraphs and College Board says that you need to mention more than one rhetorical device (with the caveat that I mentioned in Perla’s post). Thus, I think you earn 3 points here in evidence & commentary.

In terms of sophistication, I’m a bit borderline on this, but I’ll award it to you because I think you do mention multiple times (and incorporate it into your argument) that women during that time period didn’t really have leading positions and she demonstrated her committed leadership both in your second and third paragraph. So in total, you earned five out of six points!

There is something that every country needs to be successful: a great leader. A great leader is not just someone who makes the decisions, a great leader respects their people. A great leader loves their people. A great leader inspires their people. Queen Elizabeth I proves that she is a great leader during her speech to her land forces in 1588. There was a threat of invasion by the Spanish Armada and Queen Elizabeths duty as a leader was to make sure that this invasion does not happen. By establishing a sense of trust with her people and appealing to her audiences patriotism, Elizabeth successfully inspires her people which provokes them to fight for their country with their whole heart.

Queen Elizabeth opens up her speech with an compassionate tone, which helps her establish a sense of loyalty with her people. Her first words were “My loving people” which provokes emotion from her audience. She continues to express that she “does not desire to live to distrust my faithful and loving people.” This continues to establish a sense of trust between her and her audience. She also goes on to say that she will “live and die amongst you all; to lay down for my God, and for my kingdom, my honor and my blood, even the dust.” By sharing that she will stand by her people no matter what, her audience can clearly see how loyal Queen Elizabeth was and how much she loved her people. Queen Elizabeth’s tone and her affectionate word choice towards her people, gave her audience someone to trust during this scary and unknown time, which proves that she was a great leader overall.

After establishing a sense of trust, Queen Elizabeth now focuses on her power and shifts into a more urgent and patriotic tone in order to inspire her people and army to protect England with all they have. She acknowledges that she has “the body but of a weak and feeble woman” but she also highlights that she has the “heart and stomach of a king.” This imagery provokes her audience to see outside of her gender and more into how much she loves her people and how far she will go to protect them. She continues with a forceful tone, claiming that if any prince “should dare invade the borders of my realm”, she herself “will take up arms”. By revealing that she is one with them in this battle, Queen Elizabeth inspires her army to do the same. She ends her speech by claiming that “we shall shortly have a famous victory,” which identifies how confident she is that they will win. Queen Elizabeths powerful use of imagery and tone at the end of her speech, arouses the audience and gives them a sense of duty to England. She proves that she is a exemplary leader again when she successfully conveys that she is not just the queen of England, she is also a soldier for her country.

Queen Elizabeths passionate speech for her country demonstrated she was a great leader. During her time, it was men who dominated society, but she was the one who bought England into its Golden Age, not a man. She had to convince her country, that even as a woman, she was going to bring victory to England. She crafted her speech with passion and inspiration in order to convey that she loved her people and that she was ready to do anything to prevent the threat of the Europe Prince as well as provoke a sense of patriotism and trust. During this threat, Queen Elizabeth proved that she was a great leader, and because of that, England was able to rise.

Good thesis! I would maybe briefly mention rhetorical devices “Elizabeth successfully inspires her people using rhetorical devices…” to tie in to the prompt more specifically and “respond to it” persay. If your teacher told you to write it as you have written it here, then just keep writing as you have been I think your reference of a tone shift and imagery coupled with strong analysis of Queen Elizabeth’s loyalty and inspiration of army contributes to a strong line of reasoning and therefore I think you earn four points on evidence & commentary. Make sure Queen Elizabeth's has an apostrophe

Good job with the conclusion that brings in relevance of her rhetorical choices, something that I think you also tie in throughout the essay (“proves that she is a[n] exemplary leader again”). Fantastic 6 / 6 essay!

Short Essay Practice Submission 6

As a female ruler of the time, Queen Elizabeth I broke established societal rules for women and was able to successfully rule and protect England during difficult times. She united the nation through her speech and assured them they would be protected by their country. Through the use of anaphora and juxtaposition, Queen Elizabeth I was able to unite and grant confidence in England under her subjects.

The possessive pronoun “my”, takes responsibility for the actions and the influence of the speaker. Here, Queen Elizabeth I uses “my” repetitively in the same sentence as a form of anaphora. She says, “to lay down for my God, my kingdom, and my people, my honour and my blood.” As a ruler, these would be Queen Elizabeth I’s, yet the use of anaphora also emphasizes each of these things. Putting her kingdom and her people after God but before her honor and blood show that their safety is almost more important to God in her eyes and their harm would, therefore, affect her honor. She also may be implying that she is instilling the power and influence of God himself, as Queen Elizabeth I was Protestant. Through this, she can provide deeper confidence toward her subjects, showing she will protect them through God and her power no matter what, or else it will deeply transform her. Queen Elizabeth I was emphasizing personal responsibility as if her belongings and identities themselves had a responsibility in the protection of her subjects whom she needed to establish trust with. Queen Elizabeth I also uses anaphora with “my” when she concludes her speech, saying “of my God, of my kingdom, and of my people.” Queen Elizabeth I is ensuring to her subjects that through the influence of her identities and possessions, England and its subjects will be successful in the Spanish Armada as they eventually were. Again, repeating “my” emphasizes that she will put all she can towards defeating Spain and protecting her people and their religion. As Spain was trying to bring Catholicism, Queen Elizabeth I wanted to protect the Protestant church in England. This is also why she emphasizes God being hers, not the Catholic God, and the beliefs of the Catholic church. With many subjects also being Protestant, this would have been a strong appeal of support, which was Queen Elizabeth I’s ultimate goal of the speech. The use of “my” also separates herself from the “majestic plural” of “our” which would have also been used to refer to herself. This again places a deeper sense of personal responsibility onto Queen Elizabeth I. While “we” may seem simple, it ultimately can possess a significant load of power in its use.

A powerful statement made by Queen Elizabeth I was when she used juxtaposition when she compared herself to a king. She said, “I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king.” This quote is ironic yet true, as Queen Elizabeth I was able to successfully rule and protect England for 45 years. Here, Queen Elizabeth I compares women to kings in drastically different ways, yet can justify how they can work together towards success, like a ying-yang. Being a feeble woman allows her to have a peaceful, soft way about her while being king-like allows her to be a firm ruler and make potent decisions. This blend of the two extremes in one ruler allows her to be able to appeal to more subjects who will instill their trust in her. She also uses this to put down any unnecessary doubts established by society about her in charge as a woman to again gain their support and unite them to protect England. Queen Elizabeth I was able to be a just yet firm leader, allowing her to defeat Spain and protect the subjects of England, even as a woman.

Queen Elizabeth I had a strong influence over England, even as a female ruler over 400 years ago. Her power and control over her kingdom were met with her soft, feminine side, allowing her to take personal responsibility for her subjects and further unite them with support. Without Queen Elizabeth I, England may not have entered the Golden Age or had the influence in history it has.

Great job mentioning author’s purpose and rhetorical devices in the thesis. You earn the thesis point. Good job with noting anaphora and tying in relevance to religion! I think you do a great job of juxtaposition to show Queen Elizabeth’s complexities. Great job with historical context at the end. You have a great line of reasoning and an argument that flows very nicely with specific evidence and great commentary to supplement. Four points here in evidence & commentary.

You do a great job at tackling sophistication! You mention the significance/relevance of certain rhetorical choices such as the reference towards God and the complexities of that seemingly contradictory quote. Great 6/6 essay!

Short Essay Practice Submission 7

Before England’s Golden Age, it had successfully defeated the Spanish Armada under Queen Elizabeth I. Although she lived in a male-dominated society, she was able to prepare her countrymen for the attack of the Spanish Armada so that they were able to stop it before it reached the shore. In order to achieve this purpose of preparing the citizens of England for the possible invasion by the Spanish Armada, she wrote a speech to the land forces at Tilbury in which she creates a loving and optimistic tone as well as explains that she is as mentally and emotionally strong as a king even though she is a woman.

Elizabeth begins her speech by using friendly diction to create a loving tone. She addresses her audience with the phrase “my loving people.” This creates the feeling that they are all in one family that is supporting and taking care of each other. It also implies that Elizabeth wants everyone to unite and feel connected so that they can work together to defeat Spain. Her audience feels a sense of security which decreases any anxiety or fear that they might have regarding the threat of the attack. They realize that she is not a kind of a ruler that applies force to get people to obey her orders, but instead loves her countrymen dearly and speaks to them softly. By hearing this at the very beginning of her speech, her audience will feel more inclined to listen to her and follow her suggestions during the rest of the speech.

Elizabeth goes on to juxtaposing her feminine body and a “heart and stomach of a king.” This means that even though she is a woman, she has a manly personality and has the same feelings and thoughts as a king would. Through this contrast, she succeeds in alleviating her audience’s fears that she will not be a capable ruler due to the fact that she is a woman. This was extremely important for her audience to understand since they were living in a society where women were viewed as inferior and simple-minded compared to men. During the second half of the 16th century, many people thought that women were meant to do only domestic jobs like cooking and cleaning, and only men were capable of governing society. Women were discouraged from expressing their opinions about their husband’s responsibilities like politics and getting a solid education. By admitting that she has a body “of a weak and feeble woman,” she acknowledges this view of women shared by her audience. However, she tries to indicate that she is a special instance and should not be considered the same as other women. Therefore, her land forces her to trust and follow her orders as if they had come from a king.

In 1558, Queen Elizabeth I wrote a letter to her land forces at Tilbury regarding the threat of the Spanish Armada. She proceeded to explain that it is her honorable duty to serve everyone in England. She does this by creating a loving tone right from the beginning of her speech and emphasizing that she is as capable as a king of England. She reminds us that love and support for each other triumphs above the weaknesses of a woman.

Good job mentioning the purpose and mentioning tone as a literary device - I think you aren’t restating the prompt here so as a result you get the thesis point

In terms of evidence & commentary, I think your reference to diction and tone here is great analysis - it’s very specific and also ties in to your commentary about decreasing anxiety. Moreover, your contextual application of the 16th century and women here is useful and definitely brings in a more in-depth area of analysis. I think your argument about trust is valid. Four points for evidence & commentary.

You did great with SOC!! I think you would earn sophistication in this instance, although it wouldn’t hurt to also maybe tie in her role as a woman in the first body paragraph although that’s not required. Great 6/6 essay.

Short Essay Practice Submission 8

Queen Elizabeth I was a strong female leader, the first of her kind in England. When her country went to war, many citizens were hesitant that a woman could bring the, then all-powerful, country the victory and guide them just as well as a male counterpart. In her speech to the commonfolk, Queen Elizabeth I uses impactful diction/syntax and metaphors throughout in an effort to convince her audience of her dedication to her people and to convince them of her own qualifications.

Queen Elizabeth I first opens by laying out the situation to her pupils. By using intense word choices and impactful images, she “assure[s]” them that “in the midst and heat of the battle,” she will “live and die amongst you all.” She uses this intense moment of climax, perhaps full of fear, to steer the citizen’s attention toward her own devotion to the war effort. By using such intense word usage, she is able to better hit home her point that despite a dreadful sitaution, she will not waver in the time of fear. The people will best respond to such a confident leader, and Elizabeth hopes that these tactics will instill confidence in themselves as well. She closes with another impactful statement that “by your obedience to my general, by your concord in the camp, and your valor in the field, we shall shortly have a famous victory.” The Queen uses the repetitive sentence structure and parallelism exemplified here throughout her speech to best grasp the attention of her audience and builds their attention to the final point of her statement, in this case, a most famous victory. This directs her people away from the opening remarks of “treachery” and towards the ultimate win, all along the way attempting to boost the troops’ confidence.

Often in the wild, to make themselves appear more intimidating, animals will create an image or make themselves appear larger. Queen Elizabeth I uses this exact tactic in her own speech. By using metaphors for herself, she conveys herself to the people as a most powerful jack of all trades, creating a sense of security in her own image. First, she addresses that despite having “the body but of a weak and feeble woman”, she has “the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too.” She reassures the people that even though she may be a female, she knows what is expected of her and she insists she is able to withstand the pressures and responsibilities the title holds. She even uses this sentiment to uplift her mother country, implying that the King of England is not like that of any common King. Elizabeth places herself atop of her throne and creates an air of royalty to her people in this metaphor allowing the people to place trust in her words and actions, and encouraging them towards victory. She further promotes herself when she states that “I myself will be your general, judge, and rewarder of every one of your virtues in the field.” This shows the people that the Queen understands that her role is beyond that of a title, a figurehead. She will rise to the occasion and bring to them a required responsibility of all of these well-respected titles. By using this metaphor, Queen Elizabeth I instills a sense of purpose in herself and will to fight in those listening to her. Without her insistence of everyone’s role and her own ability to fulfill all these she lists, the people are discouraged and frankly, unconvinced of her and their own all-encompassing power.

To hit home her dedication to her country and her belief in her people, Queen Elizabeth goes as far as to join her people in their square. To initially create her sense of power, dressed in armor, Queen Elizabeth delivers a most awe-inspiring speech filled with impactful diction, climactic parallelism, and metaphors creating qualifying images of herself and the troops in an effort to inspire them and instill a level of confidence in all for themselves and England. Without such a historical speech, the people of England may not have been motivated to fight for a “feeble” Queen and may not have had confidence in their own recently endangered country. With her wise words, the troops go forth with a sense of importance and newfound appreciation for thier ruler.

Love the thesis with references to rhetorical devices and a purpose. You earn the thesis point. I love the specific evidence that is incorporated in your evidence & commentary. You bring in a great argument about how Queen Elizabeth instills a sense of purpose in herself and rises to the occasion. You earn all four points in evidence & commentary in my opinion. In terms of sophistication, this is a bit harder line to draw. I don’t necessarily think that you talk about the relevance or significance of rhetorical choices. You reference to complexities is not really pursued (comparing the body of a week/feeble woman + heart/stomach of king). Thus, you end with a 5/6! Great job.

Short Essay Practice Submission 9

During times of predicaments, the leaders’ abilities are truly tested. And their failure or success could be the difference between the countries’ triumph and annihilation. In 1588, England’s fate lay in peril as the threat of Spanish Armada’s invasion seemed inevitable. And the leader of this male dominated nation in crisis was a woman: Queen Elizabeth I. In her address to Tilbury land forces, Queen Elizabeth proved to be an effective leader that could not only lead the nation but also transcend any gender barriers that existed at the time. By appealing to national identity and by refuting the notion that her sex will hinder her ability to lead, Queen Elizabeth implores the land forces at Tilbury to unite under her leadership to defeat the Spanish. Doing so encourages the Tilbury land forces, who are all men, to follow Queen Elizabeth’s leadership, even if she is a woman, for the good of England.

Queen Elizabeth commences her address about the need to unite in the time of crisis by appealing to the national identity, specifically noting her reliance on her subjects, as she placed her “chiefest strength and safeguard in the loyal hearts” of her subjects. Given that Queen Elizabeth, a noble, is addressing soldiers, who are common men, at Tilbury, her appeal to national identity remains particularly poignant as it reveals that that despite her title, Queen Elizabeth needs the help of her subjects in order to persevere through this national crisis. And by doing so, Queen Elizabeth makes herself more relatable to the soldiers as they begin to view the queen as just another concerned individual who is fighting for England. Having thoroughly established her argument that she needs the help of her subjects, Queen Elizabeth furthers her appeal to national identity by emphasizing her readiness to “live and die amongst” the soldiers and fight for her “God”, her “kingdom”, and her “people”. And by doing so, Elizabeth further breaks down the notion that she will sit idly by and let the commons do the dirty work. Which in turn, enhances her credibility to the soldiers, who are common men, who now recognizes Queen Elizabeth is a leader who is willing to lead from the frontlines. Therefore, it is imperative for each member of the Tilbury land forces to do their part and unite under Queen Elizabeth to fight for their homeland.

Queen Elizabeth continues to convey her ability to lead England during this time of crisis by refuting the notion that her sex will hinder her ability to lead, particularly emphasizing that she may have a body of “a weak and feeble women”, but she has the “heart and stomach of a king”. Given that Queen Elizabeth is a woman addressing a group of men during a time of patriarchy, this dichotomy proves potent in challenging any unspoken reservations about her ability to lead due to her gender. Queen Elizabeth furthers breaks down the notion of her sex being a hinderance in her leadership by saying “I myself will take up arms, I myself will be your general, judge…” And by repeating the phrase “I myself” in front of actions and positions that are synonymous with masculinity and matriarchy, Queen Elizabeth skillfully demonstrates that she will take it upon herself to move past gender stereotypes and crown herself to assume positions that are held by men for the good of England. Which in turn, will force the land forces at Tilbury, who are all men, to view Queen Elizabeth not as a “weak and feeble women”, but as a “king” who will protect her “God”, her “kingdom”, and her “people”.

Great thesis statement and introduction paragraph that brought in context. I think your evidence and commentary is strong, as you talk about how Queen Elizabeth has made herself “more relatable” and how it convined the Tilbury land forces to unite. Your commentary and line of reasoning is strong throughout the two body paragraphs, and thus I give you four points on evidence & commentary. Moreover, your analysis of the masculine vs feminine conflict is very in-depth and earns you the sophistication point here in my opinion. Great 6/6 essay!

Short Essay Practice Submission 10

Queen Elizabeth I, under imminent threat of invasion by the Spanish Armada, makes a speech to her army and through the use of rhetorical strategies aims to inspire faith in her as their leader in order to rally her forces to fight against the Spanish.

Throughout her speech Queen Elizabeth emphasizes her god given right to be queen. She states “I have always so behaved myself that, under God,” she has made her decision. That she enters this battle to “lay down for my God,” and assures that their army will have victory “over those enemies of my God.” Her repeated allusions to God serve as a reminder to the soldiers that as a British monarch she has a god given right to rule and lead her people. She utilizes these reminder of her divinity in order to build the army’s trust in her and their faith in her decisions.

Queen Elizabeth moves to connect herself with her soldiers and emphasizes that she is on the field fighting with them. She appeals to the camaraderie of her forces by explaining that she has “come amongst you all” to “live and die amongst you all,” and that she “will take up arms, I myself will be your general.” She emphasizes her involvement in the battle in order to appeal to ethos and allow her soldiers to trust her by going far enough to join them in their fight. This works to inspire the soldier’s faith in her as their leader as they understand she believes in their cause so much as to join them in the fight. She continues this appeal to camaraderie through the use of the first person. She begins almost every clause with the word “I”, she says “I have always behaved myself”, “I know already,” “I have the heart ad stomach of a king” and many more instances of using the word “I”. She is emphasizing that all her decisions are her own and she truly believes in their cause, she is combating the image of an aloof monarch with no stake in her people. Her display in faith to her military works to build on the soldier’s trust in her.

As a female queen in the 16th century, Queen Elizabeth faced a lot of doubt in her ability to be a strong leader and make good decisions for the prosperity of her people due to the misogynistic and patriarchal ideals in society at the time. On this day in 1588 on the fields of Tilbury, it was vital that the queen convince her soldiers of her strength as their leader and that the her decisions that brought them to this battle were for the the good of England, so that her soldier might fight valiantly and they will defeat the Spanish.

Good job with the thesis point - very straightforward with mention of rhetorical devices and author’s purpose; this is how I wrote my thesis In terms of evidence & commentary, your reference/argument about God is very intriguing and the god-given right argument is great context that demonstrates significance. Moreover, I think your argument about seeming relatable is very strong with the mention of I. Thus, you earn all four evidence & commentary points. In terms of sophistication, I think you do earn it because you expound about the relevance of God and mention the significance of the time period. Great 6/6 essay!

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How to Write the AP Lang Rhetorical Essay

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What is the ap lang rhetorical essay, tips for writing the ap lang rhetorical essay.

AP Lang Rhetorical Essay Example

How Will AP Scores Affect College Chances?

The AP English Language Exam is one of the most common AP exams you can take. However, the average score on the exam in 2020 was a 2.96 out of 5. While this may seem a bit low, it is important to note that over 550,000 students take the exam annually. With some preparation and knowing how to study, it is totally possible to do well on this AP exam.

The AP Lang Rhetorical Essay is one section of the AP English Language Exam. The exam itself is 3 hours and 15 minutes long, and is broken into two sections. The first part of the exam is a 60 minute, 45-question multiple-choice section. The questions on this part of the exam will test your ability to read a passage and then interpret its meaning, style, and overall themes. After the multiple-choice section, there is a section lasting 2 hours and 15 minutes with three “free response” essays. This includes the synthesis essay, the rhetorical analysis essay, and the argument essay.

In the synthesis essay , you will have to develop an argument using pieces of evidence provided to you.
The argumentative essay will have you pick a side in a debate and argue for or against it.
The rhetorical essay requires that you discuss how an author’s written passage contributes to a greater meaning or theme.

The rhetorical essay is perhaps the most unique of all AP Lang exam essays because it requires the test taker to analyze and interpret the deeper meanings of the passage and connect them to the author’s writing style and writing syntax in only 40 minutes. This essay can be the trickiest because it requires you to have knowledge of rhetorical strategies and then apply them to a passage you’ve never seen before.

1. Outline Your Essay Before Writing

One of the most important parts of the AP Lang essays is structuring your essay so that it makes sense to the reader. This is just as important as having good content. For this essay in particular, you’ll want to read the passage first and write a brief outline of your points before you begin the essay. This is because you will want to write the essay using the passage chronologically, which will be discussed in detail below.

2. Understand Rhetorical Strategies

If you feel like you don’t know where to start as you prepare to study for the rhetorical essay portion of the exam, you aren’t alone. It is imperative that you have a grasp on what rhetorical strategies are and how you can use them in your essay. One definition of rhetoric is “language carefully chosen and arranged for maximum effect.” This can include types of figurative language (metaphor, simile, personification, pun, irony, etc.) elements of syntax (parallelism, juxtaposition, anthesis, anaphora, etc), logical fallacies, or persuasive appeals. Overall, there are many elements that you can analyze in an essay and having a good grasp on them through practice and memorization is important.

3. Keep the Essay Well Structured

Even if you understand the various rhetorical strategies you can use, where do you begin? First of all, you’ll want to write a strong introduction that outlines the purpose of the piece. At the end of this introduction, you will write a thesis statement that encapsulates all the rhetorical strategies you discuss. Perhaps these are style elements, tone, or syntax. Be sure to be specific as you list these.

Next, you will create your body paragraphs. As you discuss the rhetorical elements in the piece and tie them back to the work’s meanings, be sure to discuss the points in chronological order. You don’t have to discuss every single strategy, but just pick the ones that are most important. Be sure to cite the line where you found the example. At the end of the essay, write a short conclusion that summarizes the major points above.

4. Be Sure to Explain Your Examples

As you write the essay, don’t just list out your examples and say something like “this is an example of ethos, logos, pathos.” Instead, analyze how the example shows that rhetoric device and how it helps the author further their argument. As you write the rhetorical essay, you’ll want to be as specific and detail-focused as possible.

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AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

Below is a prompt and example for a rhetorical essay, along with its score and what the writer did well and could have improved:

The passage below is an excerpt from “On the Want of Money,” an essay written by nineteenth-century author William Hazlitt. Read the passage carefully. Then write an essay in which you analyze the rhetorical strategies Hazlitt uses to develop his position about money.

Student essay example:

In his essay, Hazlitt develops his position on money through careful use of adjectives and verbs, hypothetical situations, and images. His examples serve to impress upon the reader the highly negative consequences of being in “want of money.”

Hazlitt’s word choice in his opening phrase provides an example of his technique in the rest of the essay. It is not necessary to follow “literally” with “truly” yet his repetition of the same ideas emphasizes his point. In his next sentence, one that lasts forty-six lines, Hazlitt condignly repeats similar ideas, beating into his audience the necessity of having money in this world. The parallelism throughout that one long sentence, “it is not to be sent for to court, or asked out to dinner…it is not to have your own opinion consulted or sees rejected with contempt..” ties the many different situations Haziltt gives together. What could have become a tedious spiel instead becomes a melodious recitation, each example reminding you of one before it, either because of the similarities in structure or content. Hazlitt addresses many different negative effects of not having money but manages to tie them together with his rhetorical strategies.

The diction of the passage fully relays Hazlitt’s position about money. In every example he gives a negative situation but in most emphasizes the terrible circumstance with strong negative adjectives or verbs. “Rejected,” “contempt,” “disparaged,” “scrutinized,” “irksome,” “deprived,” “assailed” “chagrin;” the endless repetition of such discouragement shows how empathetically Hazlitt believes money is a requisite for a happy life. Even the irony of the last sentences is negative, conveying the utter hopelessness of one without money. Through one may have none in life, pitiless men will proceed to mock one’s circumstances, “at a considerable expense” after death!

In having as the body of his essay one long sentence, Hazlitt creates a flow that speeds the passage along, hardly giving the reader time to absorb one idea before another is thrown at him. The unceasing flow is synonymous with Hazlitt’s view of the life of a person without money: he will be “jostled” through life, unable to stop and appreciate the beauty around him or to take time for his own leisure.

The score on this essay was a 6 out of 6. This essay started out very strong as the student had a concrete thesis statement explaining the strategies that Hazlitt used to develop his position on money as well as Hazlitt’s belief on the topic. In the thesis statement, the student points out that adjectives, verbs, hypothetical situations, and images help prove Hazlitt’s point that wanting money can be problematic.

Next, the student broke down their points into three main subsections related to their thesis. More specifically, the student first discusses word choice of repetition and parallelism. When the student discusses these strategies, they list evidence in the paragraph that can be found chronologically in Hazlitt’s essay. The next paragraph is about diction, and the student used specific adjectives and verbs that support this idea. In the last paragraph, the student emphasized how the speed and flow of the essay helped describe Hazlitt’s viewpoint on life. This last concluding sentence is particularly thoughtful, as it goes beyond the explicit points made in the essay and discusses the style and tone of the writing.

It is important to remember that in some ways, the rhetorical essay is also an argumentative essay, as the student must prove how certain rhetorical strategies are used and their significance in the essay. The student even discussed the irony of the paragraph, which is not explicit in the passage.

Overall, this student did an excellent job organizing and structuring the essay and did a nice job using evidence to prove their points.

Now that you’ve learned about the AP Lang rhetorical essay, you may be wondering how your AP scores impact your chances of admission. In fact, your AP scores have relatively little impact on your admissions decision , and your course rigor has much more weight in the application process.

If you’d like to know your chances of admission, be sure to check out our chancing calculator! This tool takes into account your classes, extracurriculars, demographic information, and test scores to understand your chances at admission at over 600 schools. Best of all, it is completely free!

How to Write the AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay (With Example)

November 27, 2023

how to write AP Lang rhetorical analysis essay example

Feeling intimidated by the AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay? We’re here to help demystify. Whether you’re cramming for the AP Lang exam right now or planning to take the test down the road, we’ve got crucial rubric information, helpful tips, and an essay example to prepare you for the big day. This post will cover 1) What is the AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay? 2) AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Rubric 3) AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis: Sample Prompt 4) AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example 5)AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example: Why It Works

What is the AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay?

The AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay is one of three essays included in the written portion of the AP English Exam. The full AP English Exam is 3 hours and 15 minutes long, with the first 60 minutes dedicated to multiple-choice questions. Once you complete the multiple-choice section, you move on to three equally weighted essays that ask you to synthesize, analyze, and interpret texts and develop well-reasoned arguments. The three essays include:

Synthesis essay: You’ll review various pieces of evidence and then write an essay that synthesizes (aka combines and interprets) the evidence and presents a clear argument. Read our write up on How to Write the AP Lang Synthesis Essay here.

Argumentative essay: You’ll take a stance on a specific topic and argue your case.

Rhetorical essay: You’ll read a provided passage, then analyze the author’s rhetorical choices and develop an argument that explains why the author made those rhetorical choices.

AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Rubric

The AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay is graded on just 3 rubric categories: Thesis, Evidence and Commentary, and Sophistication . At a glance, the rubric categories may seem vague, but AP exam graders are actually looking for very particular things in each category. We’ll break it down with dos and don’ts for each rubric category:

Thesis (0-1 point)

There’s nothing nebulous when it comes to grading AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay thesis. You either have one or you don’t. Including a thesis gets you one point closer to a high score and leaving it out means you miss out on one crucial point. So, what makes a thesis that counts?

Make sure your thesis argues something about the author’s rhetorical choices. Making an argument means taking a risk and offering your own interpretation of the provided text. This is an argument that someone else might disagree with.
A good test to see if you have a thesis that makes an argument. In your head, add the phrase “I think that…” to the beginning of your thesis. If what follows doesn’t logically flow after that phrase (aka if what follows isn’t something you and only you think), it’s likely you’re not making an argument.
Avoid a thesis that merely restates the prompt.
Avoid a thesis that summarizes the text but does not make an argument.

Evidence and Commentary (0-4 points)

This rubric category is graded on a scale of 0-4 where 4 is the highest grade. Per the AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis rubric, to get a 4, you’ll want to:

Include lots of specific evidence from the text. There is no set golden number of quotes to include, but you’ll want to make sure you’re incorporating more than a couple pieces of evidence that support your argument about the author’s rhetorical choices.
Make sure you include more than one type of evidence, too. Let’s say you’re working on your essay and have gathered examples of alliteration to include as supporting evidence. That’s just one type of rhetorical choice, and it’s hard to make a credible argument if you’re only looking at one type of evidence. To fix that issue, reread the text again looking for patterns in word choice and syntax, meaningful figurative language and imagery, literary devices, and other rhetorical choices, looking for additional types of evidence to support your argument.
After you include evidence, offer your own interpretation and explain how this evidence proves the point you make in your thesis.
Don’t summarize or speak generally about the author and the text. Everything you write must be backed up with evidence.
Don’t let quotes speak for themselves. After every piece of evidence you include, make sure to explain your interpretation. Also, connect the evidence to your overarching argument.

Sophistication (0-1 point)

In this case, sophistication isn’t about how many fancy vocabulary words or how many semicolons you use. According to College Board , one point can be awarded to AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis essays that “demonstrate sophistication of thought and/or a complex understanding of the rhetorical situation” in any of these three ways:

Explaining the significance or relevance of the writer’s rhetorical choices.
Explaining the purpose or function of the passage’s complexities or tensions.
Employing a style that is consistently vivid and persuasive.

Note that you don’t have to achieve all three to earn your sophistication point. A good way to think of this rubric category is to consider it a bonus point that you can earn for going above and beyond in depth of analysis or by writing an especially persuasive, clear, and well-structured essay. In order to earn this point, you’ll need to first do a good job with your thesis, evidence, and commentary.

Focus on nailing an argumentative thesis and multiple types of evidence. Getting these fundamentals of your essay right will set you up for achieving depth of analysis.
Explain how each piece of evidence connects to your thesis.
Spend a minute outlining your essay before you begin to ensure your essay flows in a clear and cohesive way.
Steer clear of generalizations about the author or text.
Don’t include arguments you can’t prove with evidence from the text.
Avoid complex sentences and fancy vocabulary words unless you use them often. Long, clunky sentences with imprecisely used words are hard to follow.

AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis: Sample Prompt

The sample prompt below is published online by College Board and is a real example from the 2021 AP Exam. The prompt provides background context, essay instructions, and the text you need to analyze. For sake of space, we’ve included the text as an image you can click to read. After the prompt, we provide a sample high scoring essay and then explain why this AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis essay example works.

Suggested time—40 minutes.

(This question counts as one-third of the total essay section score.)

On February 27, 2013, while in office, former president Barack Obama delivered the following address dedicating the Rosa Parks statue in the National Statuary Hall of the United States Capitol building. Rosa Parks was an African American civil rights activist who was arrested in 1955 for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated bus in Montgomery, Alabama. Read the passage carefully. Write an essay that analyzes the rhetorical choices Obama makes to convey his message.

In your response you should do the following:

Respond to the prompt with a thesis that analyzes the writer’s rhetorical choices.
Select and use evidence to support your line of reasoning.
Explain how the evidence supports your line of reasoning.
Demonstrate an understanding of the rhetorical situation.
Use appropriate grammar and punctuation in communicating your argument.

AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

In his speech delivered in 2013 at the dedication of Rosa Park’s statue, President Barack Obama acknowledges everything that Parks’ activism made possible in the United States. Telling the story of Parks’ life and achievements, Obama highlights the fact that Parks was a regular person whose actions accomplished enormous change during the civil rights era. Through the use of diction that portrays Parks as quiet and demure, long lists that emphasize the extent of her impacts, and Biblical references, Obama suggests that all of us are capable of achieving greater good, just as Parks did.

Although it might be a surprising way to start to his dedication, Obama begins his speech by telling us who Parks was not: “Rosa Parks held no elected office. She possessed no fortune” he explains in lines 1-2. Later, when he tells the story of the bus driver who threatened to have Parks arrested when she refused to get off the bus, he explains that Parks “simply replied, ‘You may do that’” (lines 22-23). Right away, he establishes that Parks was a regular person who did not hold a seat of power. Her protest on the bus was not part of a larger plan, it was a simple response. By emphasizing that Parks was not powerful, wealthy, or loud spoken, he implies that Parks’ style of activism is an everyday practice that all of us can aspire to.

AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example (Continued)

Even though Obama portrays Parks as a demure person whose protest came “simply” and naturally, he shows the importance of her activism through long lists of ripple effects. When Parks challenged her arrest, Obama explains, Martin Luther King, Jr. stood with her and “so did thousands of Montgomery, Alabama commuters” (lines 27-28). They began a boycott that included “teachers and laborers, clergy and domestics, through rain and cold and sweltering heat, day after day, week after week, month after month, walking miles if they had to…” (lines 28-31). In this section of the speech, Obama’s sentences grow longer and he uses lists to show that Parks’ small action impacted and inspired many others to fight for change. Further, listing out how many days, weeks, and months the boycott lasted shows how Parks’ single act of protest sparked a much longer push for change.

To further illustrate Parks’ impact, Obama incorporates Biblical references that emphasize the importance of “that single moment on the bus” (lines 57-58). In lines 33-35, Obama explains that Parks and the other protestors are “driven by a solemn determination to affirm their God-given dignity” and he also compares their victory to the fall the “ancient walls of Jericho” (line 43). By of including these Biblical references, Obama suggests that Parks’ action on the bus did more than correct personal or political wrongs; it also corrected moral and spiritual wrongs. Although Parks had no political power or fortune, she was able to restore a moral balance in our world.

Toward the end of the speech, Obama states that change happens “not mainly through the exploits of the famous and the powerful, but through the countless acts of often anonymous courage and kindness” (lines 78-81). Through carefully chosen diction that portrays her as a quiet, regular person and through lists and Biblical references that highlight the huge impacts of her action, Obama illustrates exactly this point. He wants us to see that, just like Parks, the small and meek can change the world for the better.

AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example: Why It Works

We would give the AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis essay above a score of 6 out of 6 because it fully satisfies the essay’s 3 rubric categories: Thesis, Evidence and Commentary, and Sophistication . Let’s break down what this student did:

The thesis of this essay appears in the last line of the first paragraph:

“ Through the use of diction that portrays Parks as quiet and demure, long lists that emphasize the extent of her impacts, and Biblical references, Obama suggests that all of us are capable of achieving greater good, just as Parks did .”

This student’s thesis works because they make a clear argument about Obama’s rhetorical choices. They 1) list the rhetorical choices that will be analyzed in the rest of the essay (the italicized text above) and 2) include an argument someone else might disagree with (the bolded text above).

Evidence and Commentary:

This student includes substantial evidence and commentary. Things they do right, per the AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis rubric:

They include lots of specific evidence from the text in the form of quotes.
They incorporate 3 different types of evidence (diction, long lists, Biblical references).
After including evidence, they offer an interpretation of what the evidence means and explain how the evidence contributes to their overarching argument (aka their thesis).

Sophistication

This essay achieves sophistication according to the AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis essay rubric in a few key ways:

This student provides an introduction that flows naturally into the topic their essay will discuss. Before they get to their thesis, they tell us that Obama portrays Parks as a “regular person” setting up their main argument: Obama wants all regular people to aspire to do good in the world just as Rosa Parks did.
They organize evidence and commentary in a clear and cohesive way. Each body paragraph focuses on just one type of evidence.
They explain how their evidence is significant. In the final sentence of each body paragraph, they draw a connection back to the overarching argument presented in the thesis.
All their evidence supports the argument presented in their thesis. There is no extraneous evidence or misleading detail.
They consider nuances in the text. Rather than taking the text at face value, they consider what Obama’s rhetorical choices imply and offer their own unique interpretation of those implications.
In their final paragraph, they come full circle, reiterate their thesis, and explain what Obama’s rhetorical choices communicate to readers.
Their sentences are clear and easy to read. There are no grammar errors or misused words.

AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay—More Resources

Looking for more tips to help your master your AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay? Brush up on 20 Rhetorical Devices High School Students Should Know and read our Tips for Improving Reading Comprehension . If you’re ready to start studying for another part of the AP English Exam, find more expert tips in our How to Write the AP Lang Synthesis blog post.

Considering what other AP classes to take? Read up on the Hardest AP Classes .

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Christina Wood

Christina Wood holds a BA in Literature & Writing from UC San Diego, an MFA in Creative Writing from Washington University in St. Louis, and is currently a Doctoral Candidate in English at the University of Georgia, where she teaches creative writing and first-year composition courses. Christina has published fiction and nonfiction in numerous publications, including The Paris Review , McSweeney’s , Granta , Virginia Quarterly Review , The Sewanee Review , Mississippi Review , and Puerto del Sol , among others. Her story “The Astronaut” won the 2018 Shirley Jackson Award for short fiction and received a “Distinguished Stories” mention in the 2019 Best American Short Stories anthology.

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Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example - Free Samples

11 min read

Good Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

The step-by-step writing process of a rhetorical analysis essay is far more complicated than ordinary academic essays. This essay type critically analyzes the rhetorical means used to persuade the audience and their efficiency.

The example provided below is the best rhetorical analysis essay example:

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Sample

In this essay type, the author uses rhetorical approaches such as ethos, pathos, and logos . These approaches are then studied and analyzed deeply by the essay writers to weigh their effectiveness in delivering the message.

Let’s take a look at the following example to get a better idea;

The outline and structure of a rhetorical analysis essay are important.

According to the essay outline, the essay is divided into three sections:

Introduction
Ethos
Logos

A rhetorical analysis essay outline is the same as the traditional one. The different parts of the rhetorical analysis essay are written in the following way:

Rhetorical Analysis Introduction Example

The introductory paragraph of a rhetorical analysis essay is written for the following purpose:

To provide basic background information about the chosen author and the text.
Identify the target audience of the essay.

An introduction for a rhetorical essay is drafted by:

Stating an opening sentence known as the hook statement. This catchy sentence is prepared to grab the audience’s attention to the paper.
After the opening sentence, the background information of the author and the original text are provided.

For example, a rhetorical analysis essay written by Lee Jennings on“The Right Stuff” by David Suzuki. Lee started the essay by providing the introduction in the following way:

Analysis of the Example:

Suzuki stresses the importance of high school education. He prepares his readers for a proposal to make that education as valuable as possible.
A rhetorical analysis can show how successful Suzuki was in using logos, pathos, and ethos. He had a strong ethos because of his reputation.
He also used pathos to appeal to parents and educators. However, his use of logos could have been more successful.
Here Jennings stated the background information about the text and highlighted the rhetorical techniques used and their effectiveness.

Thesis Statement Example for Rhetorical Analysis Essay

A thesis statement of a rhetorical analysis essay is the writer’s stance on the original text. It is the argument that a writer holds and proves it using the evidence from the original text.

A thesis statement for a rhetorical essay is written by analyzing the following elements of the original text:

Diction - It refers to the author’s choice of words and the tone
Imagery - The visual descriptive language that the author used in the content.
Simile - The comparison of things and ideas

In Jennings's analysis of “The Right Stuff,” the thesis statement was:

Example For Rhetorical Analysis Thesis Statement

Rhetorical Analysis Body Paragraph Example

In the body paragraphs of your rhetorical analysis essay, you dissect the author's work, analyze their use of rhetorical techniques, and provide evidence to support your analysis.

Let's look at an example that analyzes the use of ethos in David Suzuki's essay:

Rhetorical Analysis Conclusion Example

All the body paragraphs lead the audience towards the conclusion.

For example, the conclusion of “The Right Stuff” is written in the following way by Jennings:

In the conclusion section, Jennings summarized the major points and restated the thesis statement to prove them.

Rhetorical Essay Example For The Right Stuff by David Suzuki

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example AP Lang 2023

Writing a rhetorical analysis for the AP Language and Composition course can be challenging. So drafting it correctly is important to earn good grades.

To make your essay effective and winning, follow the tips provided by professionals below:

Step #1: Understand the Prompt

Understanding the prompt is the first thing to produce an influential rhetorical paper. It is mandatory for this academic writing to read and understand the prompt to know what the task demands from you.

Step #2: Stick to the Format

The content for the rhetorical analysis should be appropriately organized and structured. For this purpose, a proper outline is drafted.

The rhetorical analysis essay outline divides all the information into different sections, such as the introduction, body, and conclusion. The introduction should explicitly state the background information and the thesis statement.

All the body paragraphs should start with a topic sentence to convey a claim to the readers. Provide a thorough analysis of these claims in the paragraph to support your topic sentence.

Step #3: Use Rhetorical Elements to Form an Argument

Analyze the following things in the text to form an argument for your essay:

Language (tone and words)
Organizational structure
Rhetorical Appeals ( ethos, pathos, and logos)

Once you have analyzed the rhetorical appeals and other devices like imagery and diction, you can form a strong thesis statement. The thesis statement will be the foundation on which your essay will be standing.

AP Language Rhetorical Essay Sample

AP Rhetorical Analysis Essay Template

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example AP Lang

AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Examples for Students

Here are a few more examples to help the students write a rhetorical analysis essay:

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example Ethos, Pathos, Logos

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example Outline

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example College

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example APA Format

Compare and Contrast Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

Comparative Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

How to Start Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example High School

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example APA Sample

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example Of a Song

Florence Kelley Speech Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example MLA

Writing a Visual Rhetorical Analysis Essay with Example

The visual rhetorical analysis essay determines how pictures and images communicate messages and persuade the audience.

Usually, visual rhetorical analysis papers are written for advertisements. This is because they use strong images to convince the audience to behave in a certain way.

To draft a perfect visual rhetorical analysis essay, follow the tips below:

Analyze the advertisement deeply and note every minor detail.
Notice objects and colors used in the image to gather every detail.
Determine the importance of the colors and objects and analyze why the advertiser chose the particular picture.
See what you feel about the image.
Consider the objective of the image. Identify the message that the image is portraying.
Identify the targeted audience and how they respond to the picture.

An example is provided below to give students a better idea of the concept.

Simplicity Breeds Clarity Visual Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Writing Tips

Follow the tips provided below to make your rhetorical writing compelling.

Choose an engaging topic for your essay. The rhetorical analysis essay topic should be engaging to grab the reader’s attention.
Thoroughly read the original text.
Identify the SOAPSTone. From the text, determine the speaker, occasions, audience, purpose, subject, and tone.
Develop a thesis statement to state your claim over the text.
Draft a rhetorical analysis essay outline.
Write an engaging essay introduction by giving a hook statement and background information. At the end of the introductory paragraph, state the thesis statement.
The body paragraphs of the rhetorical essay should have a topic sentence. Also, in the paragraph, a thorough analysis should be presented.
For writing a satisfactory rhetorical essay conclusion, restate the thesis statement and summarize the main points.
Proofread your essay to check for mistakes in the content. Make your edits before submitting the draft.

Following the tips and the essay's correct writing procedure will guarantee success in your academics.

We have given you plenty of examples of a rhetorical analysis essay. But if you are still struggling to draft a great rhetorical analysis essay, it is suggested to take a professional’s help.

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Developing a Thesis for Rhetorical Analysis: Strategies and Examples

This essay about the development of a thesis for rhetorical analysis provides a comprehensive exploration of strategies and examples drawn from various rhetorical discourses. It emphasizes the importance of identifying rhetorical devices, understanding contextual nuances, and maintaining clarity and specificity in thesis formulation. Through examples such as Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech and contemporary political rhetoric, the essay illustrates how effective theses encapsulate the essence of discourse and its persuasive intent. It underscores the significance of honing analytical skills to navigate the complexities of rhetoric and shape discourse with precision.

How it works

As a diligent student of rhetoric, I find myself perpetually immersed in the intricate art of persuasion. Central to this endeavor is the crafting of a compelling thesis for rhetorical analysis. In this essay, I aim to dissect the strategies and exemplify the process of developing such a thesis, drawing from the rich tapestry of rhetorical discourse.

At its core, a rhetorical analysis thesis serves as the fulcrum upon which the entire analysis pivots. It encapsulates the essence of the discourse, delineating the rhetorical strategies employed by the author to convey their message effectively.

Crafting such a thesis requires a meticulous approach, intertwining keen observation with insightful interpretation.

One strategy essential to the formulation of a robust thesis is the identification of the rhetorical devices employed within the text. These devices serve as the building blocks of persuasion, enabling the author to wield language with precision and efficacy. From ethos, pathos, and logos to metaphor, simile, and irony, the rhetorical arsenal is vast and multifaceted. As a discerning student, it is imperative to unravel these devices, discerning their purpose and impact on the audience.

For instance, consider a thesis centered on Martin Luther King Jr.’s iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. By dissecting the text, one may identify King’s adept use of pathos through emotive language and vivid imagery. A thesis could thus assert: “Through the strategic deployment of pathos, Martin Luther King Jr. invokes a profound emotional resonance, galvanizing his audience towards the pursuit of racial equality.” Here, the thesis not only identifies the rhetorical strategy employed but also hints at its broader implications within the socio-political context of the Civil Rights Movement.

Furthermore, a nuanced understanding of rhetorical context is indispensable in thesis development. Context encompasses the myriad factors surrounding the discourse, including the historical backdrop, the intended audience, and the author’s overarching purpose. By contextualizing the text within its temporal and socio-cultural milieu, one can glean deeper insights into the rhetorical strategies at play.

Returning to our example of King’s speech, a contextualized thesis might elucidate: “Against the backdrop of pervasive racial injustice in 1960s America, Martin Luther King Jr. strategically harnesses the power of rhetoric to catalyze a movement for social change.” Here, the thesis not only acknowledges the historical context but also underscores the transformative potential of rhetorical discourse in precipitating societal shifts.

Moreover, a successful thesis for rhetorical analysis transcends mere identification of rhetorical elements; it delves into their cumulative effect on the audience and the broader discourse. This necessitates a nuanced analysis of tone, argumentative structure, and the author’s stance vis-à-vis the subject matter.

Consider the formulation of a thesis pertaining to a contemporary political speech. By dissecting the speaker’s tone, one may discern underlying nuances indicative of their rhetorical intent. A thesis could thus posit: “Through a combination of assertive rhetoric and appeals to national identity, the speaker constructs a compelling argument aimed at garnering public support for their policy agenda.” Here, the thesis not only scrutinizes the rhetorical strategies employed but also interprets their persuasive implications within the realm of public discourse.

In addition to strategic formulation, the efficacy of a rhetorical analysis thesis hinges on its clarity and specificity. A well-crafted thesis not only outlines the overarching rhetorical strategies but also articulates a clear analytical stance. Ambiguity or vagueness can dilute the potency of the thesis, rendering the subsequent analysis unfocused and disjointed.

To illustrate, consider a thesis that lacks specificity: “The author employs rhetorical devices to convey their message.” While technically accurate, this thesis falls short in providing a discernible analytical standpoint. Conversely, a refined thesis might assert: “Through the juxtaposition of statistical evidence and anecdotal narratives, the author constructs a persuasive argument in favor of healthcare reform.” Here, the thesis not only identifies the rhetorical strategies at play but also offers a precise interpretation of their persuasive intent.

Ultimately, the process of developing a thesis for rhetorical analysis is a dynamic interplay between observation, interpretation, and synthesis. As a diligent student of rhetoric, I am continually inspired by the transformative power of persuasive discourse. By honing the craft of thesis development, we equip ourselves with the analytical tools necessary to navigate the labyrinthine realm of rhetoric and shape discourse with precision and efficacy.

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70 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics
Before we get to the rhetorical analysis essay prompts (a.k.a. tons of ready-to-analyze texts at your fingertips), let's take a time-out to lay the groundwork for understanding a rhetorical analysis essay using ethos, pathos, and logos. Rhetoric is Defined As… Put simply, rhetoric refers to any technique an author uses to persuade an audience.
120+ Interesting Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics (2024)
Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for 2023. "An Irish Airman Foresees His Death" by William Butler Yeats. "The Epic" by Alfred Lord Tennyson. "Shakespeare's Sonnets" by William Shakespeare. "The Rape of the Lock" by Alexander Pope. "England in 1819" by Percy Bysshe Shelley.
200 Engaging Rhetorical Analysis Topics For Your Paper
Rhetorical Essay Topics to Choose From. In any rhetorical essay, what the writer does is highlight a problem, carry out extensive analysis on the listed problem to make a strong-base argument on the subject matter. A rhetorical essay isn't complete without sound backup evidence to the highlighted problem. Carrying out an essay writing of this ...
Top 210 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics [with Tips]
Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Culture. Culture-specific rhetorical strategies contribute to the unique characteristics of different societies. And studying them encourages the development of critical thinking and analytical skills. Through language, you will learn how cultural norms, values, and traditions are conveyed and reinforced. ...
40 Unique Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics
Choosing your rhetorical analysis topic can be a real nail biter. To help you choose the best topic, explore these 40 unique rhetorical analysis essay topics covering media, movies, speeches, and literature.
How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis
A rhetorical analysis is a type of essay that looks at a text in terms of rhetoric. This means it is less concerned with what the author is saying than with how they say it: their goals, techniques, and appeals to the audience. A rhetorical analysis is structured similarly to other essays: an introduction presenting the thesis, a body analyzing ...
160 Rhetorical Essay Topics
Rhetorical Essay Topics About Speeches. The "I Have A Dream" speech by Martin Luther King Jr. The "Second Inaugural Address" by Abraham Lincoln. The "Eulogy for Rosa Parks" by Bill Clinton. The "Inaugural Address" by Barack Obama. The "Farewell Address" by George Washington. The "I Am Somebody" speech by Jesse Jackson.
100 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics That'll Inspire You
Rhetorical analysis essay topics always stood out from other tasks of similar nature. There are many assignments students get at college, but this one is more difficult, largely because few people understand what it even means. Rhetorical analysis means writing an essay where you research a specific text or speech and determine what elements it ...
100 Amazing Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics
Good Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for Students. A good topic is the key to a perfect essay. Here is a list of topics for essays that assist you in making the right choice. Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for College Students "The Odyssey" And "Beowulf" "The Prince" Summary; The symbolism of Bullfighting In "The Sun Also Rises" by ...
120 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics
120 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics. When examining a non-fiction piece of content, be it literature, advertising, media promotions, or some other element of the written word, the term rhetorical analysis essay may be used. This essay format examines the creator's intentions and techniques to persuade the audience of a particular course of ...
How to Write a Great Rhetorical Analysis Essay: With Examples
Name the author of the text and the title of their work followed by the date in parentheses. Use a verb to describe what the author does, e.g. "implies," "asserts," or "claims". Briefly summarize the text in your own words. Mention the persuasive techniques used by the rhetor and its effect.
122 Interesting Rhetorical Analysis Topics For Students
Data privacy and social media- A detailed rhetorical analysis. College athletes' payment- A rhetorical analysis. Investigating gun legalization- Rhetorical analysis of this topic. These are some of the best rhetorical analysis example topics to consider for your essay or paper.
227 Rhetoric Topic Ideas to Write about & Essay Samples
Rhetorical Analysis of The Advertised Infant by Corbeil. In the text, the author tries to present the consequences of delegating parental roles to baby products. The thesis sets the foundation and can be used to determine the focus of the essay. Gasper's "Marxism, Morality…". Rhetorical Analysis.
How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay-Examples & Template
Rhetorical appeal #2: Pathos. The purpose of Pathos-driven rhetoric is to appeal to the reader's emotions. A common example of pathos as a rhetorical means is adverts by charities that try to make you donate money to a "good cause". To evoke the intended emotions in the reader, an author may use passionate language, tell personal stories ...
200+ Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics & Ideas for Students
Rhetorical analysis essay topics refer to the subject matter in which researchers examine how different parts of a work produce a specific effect on the reader. They then develop an argument and find compelling evidence to support their opinion. Such topics focus on a particular work of literature, discourse, or art.
625 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics & Good Ideas
Rhetorical analysis essay topics can revolve around a range of intriguing subject areas. They involve dissecting the persuasive methods employed by authors in their works, such as written texts, objects, sculptures, visuals, advertisements, arts, or speeches. Some themes may span from analyzing landmark political speeches to unraveling the ...
Top 80 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for Students
Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics & Ideas for Students. Rhetorical essay is a challenging task for some students, and it requires proper planning and time. In this type of essay, topic selection is the main thing, and many writers confuse it when choosing a topic for the essay. This blog will help you in selecting a topic for a rhetorical essay.
AP Lang
The Rhetorical Analysis Practice Prompt. Use the image below to answer the following questions: In your response, make sure to include: A thesis statement or claim that addresses the prompt. 1-2 body paragraphs with specific evidence & commentary (how many devices or sentences of commentary is up to you)
How to Write the AP Lang Rhetorical Essay
AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example Below is a prompt and example for a rhetorical essay, along with its score and what the writer did well and could have improved: The passage below is an excerpt from "On the Want of Money," an essay written by nineteenth-century author William Hazlitt. Read the passage carefully.
How to Write the AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay (With Example)
Rhetorical essay: You'll read a provided passage, then analyze the author's rhetorical choices and develop an argument that explains why the author made those rhetorical choices. AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Rubric . The AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay is graded on just 3 rubric categories: Thesis, Evidence and Commentary, and Sophistication.
20+ Best Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example & Sample Papers
Step #2: Stick to the Format. The content for the rhetorical analysis should be appropriately organized and structured. For this purpose, a proper outline is drafted. The rhetorical analysis essay outline divides all the information into different sections, such as the introduction, body, and conclusion.
Developing a Thesis for Rhetorical Analysis: Strategies and Examples
Central to this endeavor is the crafting of a compelling thesis for rhetorical analysis. In this essay, I aim to dissect the strategies and exemplify the process of developing such a thesis, drawing from the rich tapestry of rhetorical discourse. At its core, a rhetorical analysis thesis serves as the fulcrum upon which the entire analysis pivots.
AP English Language and Composition Past Exam Questions
Download free-response questions from past exams along with scoring guidelines, sample responses from exam takers, and scoring distributions. If you are using assistive technology and need help accessing these PDFs in another format, contact Services for Students with Disabilities at 212-713-8333 or by email at [email protected].
PDF Rhetorical Analysis Prompt
passage carefully. Write an essay that analyzes the rhetorical choices Johnson makes to achieve her purpose of paying tribute to Eleanor Roosevelt. In your response you should do the following: • Respond to the prompt with a thesis that analyzes the writer's rhetorical choices. • Select and use evidence to support your line of reasoning.

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