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How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay–Examples & Template

rhetorical essay titles

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.

Let Wordvice help you write a flawless rhetorical analysis essay! 

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And check out our editing services for writers (including blog editing , script editing , and book editing ) to correct your important personal or business-related work.

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Lindsay Ann Learning English Teacher Blog

70 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for Secondary ELA

rhetorical-analysis-essay

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.

rhetorical-analysis-essay-high-school

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

rhetorical-analysis-essay

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.

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-teaching-guide

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.

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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

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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

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

Helly Douglas

Helly Douglas

Cover image for article

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.

Image showing definitions

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.

Image showing rhetorical strategies

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.

Image showing 5 rhetorical situations

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.

Image showing how to structure an essay

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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Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Cathy A.

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

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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.

In a rhetorical analysis essay, the writer defines a problem, deeply analyzes it, makes a specific argument related to the topic, and supports it with strong evidence. It is a form of academic essay writing about a piece of literature, art, or a speech.

Writing a good rhetorical essay needs enough information that you analyze it quickly. This type of essay teaches you many skills and improves your thinking. The writer thinks critically and performs an objective analysis.

For essay writers, this essay becomes the most challenging task, and it requires that the writer evaluate the purpose of the original content. Writing a rhetorical analysis essay requires the ability to analyze the language.

Numerous analytical papers differ by the object of analysis like you can analyze the movie, book, phenomenon, etc. The papers’ structure will be the same, but the only difference is the context you provide.

This type of essay writing requires an understanding of the subject matter and intended audience. The rhetorical essay is not a narrative or a reflective piece of essay writing, but the writer’s opinion still matters.

If you are writing a rhetorical essay choosing the right topic is the first thing that makes your writing phase easier. It becomes a daunting task if you don’t know how to choose the right topic for a rhetorical essay.

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Rhetorical analysis essay topic selection becomes a difficult task for some writers. If you are looking for rhetorical analysis essay topics for your  college essay , then you are in the right place. Here are the best topics for a rhetorical analysis essay that you can use for your academic assignment. Choose from them and write an effective essay.

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Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics 2022

  • Obama’s Final Farewell Speech
  • Speech from President Trump
  • Analyze Edgar Allen Poe’s poem ‘Raven.’
  • The recipe for a happy life
  • Pride and Prejudice
  • A nation among nations
  • The Price of Inequality by Joseph Stiglitz
  • England in 1819” 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 Direction’s “Story of My Life”
  • Martin Luther King Jr.’s last speech
  • “Where the Red Fern Grows” by Wilson Rawls
  • Inaugural address by President Joseph R. Biden
  • Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.
  • Leonardo’s “The Last Supper” from 1497
  • Analysis of James Joyce’s Ulysses
  • “The Tempest” by William Shakespeare.
  • “Where the Red Fern Grows” 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 Yousafzai’s speech at the Youth Takeover of the United Nations
  • Queen Elizabeth’s intentions in Spanish Armada speech, 1588.
  • Chief Joseph “Surrender Speech”
  • Gettysburg Monologue in Remember the Titans
  • Virginia Woolf’s “A Room of One’s Own”
  • Analysis of the farewell address of a famous president
  • “Every Man a King” by Huey Pierce Long.

Easy Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

  • “The Lottery” 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
  • “The Canterbury Tales” 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: “I'm lovin' it”
  • 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
  • L’Oréal: Because You’re 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 audience’s attention.

The topic is the first thing that grabs the reader’s 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 viewpoints’ 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.

If you get better grades and need professional help from  CollegeEssay.org . Try our AI essay generator and get an essay in no time.

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How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay

How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay

3-minute read

  • 22nd August 2023

A rhetorical analysis essay is a type of academic writing that analyzes how authors use language, persuasion techniques , and other rhetorical strategies to communicate with their audience. In this post, we’ll review how to write a rhetorical analysis essay, including:

  • Understanding the assignment guidelines
  • Introducing your essay topic
  • Examining the rhetorical strategies
  • Summarizing your main points

Keep reading for a step-by-step guide to rhetorical analysis.

What Is a Rhetorical Strategy?

A rhetorical strategy is a deliberate approach or technique a writer uses to convey a message and/or persuade the audience. A rhetorical strategy typically involves using language, sentence structure, and tone/style to influence the audience to think a certain way or understand a specific point of view. Rhetorical strategies are especially common in advertisements, speeches, and political writing, but you can also find them in many other types of literature.

1.   Understanding the Assignment Guidelines

Before you begin your rhetorical analysis essay, make sure you understand the assignment and guidelines. Typically, when writing a rhetorical analysis, you should approach the text objectively, focusing on the techniques the author uses rather than expressing your own opinions about the topic or summarizing the content. Thus, it’s essential to discuss the rhetorical methods used and then back up your analysis with evidence and quotations from the text.

2.   Introducing Your Essay Topic

Introduce your essay by providing some context about the text you’re analyzing. Give a brief overview of the author, intended audience, and purpose of the writing. You should also clearly state your thesis , which is your main point or argument about how and why the author uses rhetorical strategies. Try to avoid going into detail on any points or diving into specific examples – the introduction should be concise, and you’ll be providing a much more in-depth analysis later in the text.

3.   Examining the Rhetorical Strategies

In the body paragraphs, analyze the rhetorical strategies the author uses. Here are some common rhetorical strategies to include in your discussion:

●  Ethos : Establishing trust between the writer and the audience by appealing to credibility and ethics

●  Pathos : Appealing to the audience’s emotions and values

●  Logos : Employing logic, reason, and evidence to appeal to the reader

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●  Diction : Deliberately choosing specific language and vocabulary

●  Syntax : Structuring and arranging sentences in certain ways

●  Tone : Conveying attitude or mood in certain ways

●  Literary Devices : Using metaphors, similes, analogies , repetition, etc.

Keep in mind that for a rhetorical analysis essay, you’re not usually required to find examples of all of the above rhetorical strategies. But for each one you do analyze, consider how it contributes to the author’s purpose, how it influences the audience, and what emotions or thoughts it could evoke in the reader.

4.   Summarizing Your Main Points

In your conclusion , sum up the main points of your analysis and restate your thesis. Without introducing any new points (such as topics or ideas you haven’t already covered in the main body of your essay), summarize the overall impact that the author’s rhetorical strategies likely had on their intended audience.

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How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis: Full Guide

rhetorical essay titles

Have you ever been completely fascinated by a speech or ad, wondering how it managed to convince you so effectively? From powerful political speeches to catchy commercials, persuasion is all around us, shaping our thoughts and choices every day.

In this guide, we'll explain all about a rhetorical analysis essay. We'll break down the clever tricks writers and speakers use to win over their audience, like how they choose their words carefully and play with our emotions. This article will give you the tools you need to understand and analyze texts more deeply. So, let’s jump right in and start by understanding the nature of this assignment first.

What is a Rhetorical Analysis Essay

A rhetorical analysis essay is a type of essay where you examine how authors or speakers use words, phrases, and other techniques to influence or persuade their audience. This type of essay focuses on analyzing the strategies used by the writer or speaker to achieve their purpose, whether it's to inform, persuade, entertain, or provoke.

You'll dissect the text or speech into its components, looking at how each part contributes to the overall message. This might involve examining the introduction, thesis statement, body paragraphs, evidence, and conclusion.

Once you've identified the strategies used, you'll assess their effectiveness in achieving the author's or speaker's purpose. This involves considering the intended audience, context, and the impact of the communication.

As per our essay writing service , some common topics for rhetorical analysis include analyzing speeches by influential leaders, dissecting political advertisements, or examining the rhetoric used in literary works.

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Rhetorical Analysis Topic Ideas

Now that we've grasped the essence of a rhetorical analysis essay let's explore some potential topics you might consider for your own analysis. Here are 15 specific ideas to get you started:

  • The Use of Metaphors in Barack Obama's 'Yes We Can' Speech
  • Visual Rhetoric in Dove's 'Real Beauty' Advertising Campaign
  • The Role of Irony in Jonathan Swift's 'A Modest Proposal'
  • The Manipulation of Emotions in Coca-Cola's 'Share a Coke' Campaign
  • The Repetition Technique in Winston Churchill's 'We Shall Fight on the Beaches' Speech
  • The Argument Structure in Michelle Obama's Speech on Education
  • The Use of Imagery in Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Raven'
  • Gender Stereotypes in Old Spice's 'The Man Your Man Could Smell Like' Ad
  • Satirical Elements in George Orwell's 'Animal Farm'
  • The Influence of Tone in Greta Thunberg's Climate Change Speeches
  • Political Symbolism in Banksy's Street Art
  • Humor as Persuasion in Ellen DeGeneres' Stand-Up Comedy
  • The Power of Silence in Emma Watson's UN Speech on Gender Equality
  • Ethical Appeals in ASPCA's Animal Rights Advertisements
  • The Cultural References in Super Bowl Commercials: A Case Study

How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis

Understanding how to start a rhetorical analysis essay involves dissecting a piece of communication to learn how it works and what effect it aims to achieve. This analytical process typically includes five paragraphs and three main parts: an introduction, three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Below, our analytical essay writing service will explain each in more detail

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

Major Rhetorical Elements

Before heading towards the analysis process, it's essential to grasp some key rhetorical concepts that will help guide your examination of the text or speech. These concepts provide a framework for understanding how authors and speakers use language to persuade and influence their audience.

Ethos, pathos logos in rhetorical analysis form the foundation of persuasive communication and are often intertwined in rhetorical strategies. Ethos refers to the credibility or authority of the speaker or author. Pathos involves appealing to the audience's emotions, while logos appeals to reason and logic.

There are also other rhetorical devices that are specific techniques or patterns of language used to convey meaning or evoke particular responses. Examples include metaphor, simile, imagery, irony, repetition, and hyperbole. Recognizing and analyzing these devices can provide insight into the author's intended message and its impact on the audience.

Tone and mood also play crucial roles in shaping the audience's perception and response to the communication. Tone refers to the author's attitude toward the subject matter, while mood describes the emotional atmosphere created by the text.

Whether you ask us - write my essay , or tackle the task yourself, familiarizing yourself with these concepts will help you analyze the text and persuade the audience more effectively.

Understanding Rhetorical Appeals

Understanding Rhetorical Appeals

First off, what is ethos in rhetorical analysis? Well, it revolves around establishing the credibility and authority of the speaker or author. This appeal seeks to convince the audience that the communicator is trustworthy, knowledgeable, and reliable. Ethos in rhetorical analysis can be built through various means, including:

  • Professional Credentials : Demonstrating expertise in the subject matter through relevant qualifications or experience.
  • Personal Character : Highlighting traits such as honesty, integrity, and sincerity to engender trust and respect.
  • Association : Aligning oneself with respected individuals, institutions, or causes to enhance credibility by association.

For instance, in a health-related speech, a doctor might leverage their medical expertise and professional experience (credentials) to establish ethos. Similarly, a celebrity endorsing a product is using their fame and reputation (association) to persuade consumers.

Now, let's understand what is pathos in rhetorical analysis. Pathos involves appealing to the audience's emotions, aiming to evoke feelings such as empathy, sympathy, joy, anger, or fear. This emotional connection can be a powerful tool for persuasion, as it resonates with the audience on a personal level. Strategies for employing pathos in rhetorical analysis include:

  • Vivid Imagery : Painting a vivid picture or narrative that elicits strong emotional responses from the audience.
  • Anecdotes : Sharing personal stories or anecdotes that evoke empathy or sympathy and make the message more relatable.
  • Language Choice : Using emotive language, sensory details, and rhetorical devices to evoke specific emotional reactions.

For example, in a charity advertisement for children in need, images of impoverished and suffering children coupled with heart-wrenching stories (anecdotes) are used to evoke feelings of compassion and a desire to help.

Lastly, what is logos in rhetorical analysis, you may ask. It appeals to reason and logic, aiming to persuade the audience through rational argumentation and evidence. This appeal relies on facts, statistics, logical reasoning, and sound arguments to convince the audience of the validity of the message. Strategies for employing logos in rhetorical analysis include:

  • Factual Evidence : Providing empirical data, research findings, or expert opinions to support the argument.
  • Logical Reasoning : Presenting a well-structured argument with clear premises and conclusions that logically follow one another.
  • Counterarguments : Addressing potential counterarguments and refuting them with logical reasoning and evidence.

For instance, in a persuasive essay advocating for environmental conservation, the author might present scientific data on climate change (factual evidence) and use logical reasoning to explain the consequences of inaction.

Text and Context

Text analysis involves closely examining the language, structure, and rhetorical devices employed within the communication. This includes identifying key themes, rhetorical appeals, persuasive strategies, and stylistic elements used by the author or speaker to convey their message.

For example, in a political speech advocating for healthcare reform, text analysis might involve identifying the use of rhetorical appeals such as ethos (e.g., highlighting the speaker's experience in healthcare policy), pathos (e.g., sharing anecdotes of individuals struggling with medical costs), and logos (e.g., presenting statistics on healthcare affordability).

Contextual analysis involves considering the broader social, cultural, and historical factors that shape communication and influence its reception. This includes examining the audience demographics, the political and cultural climate, the historical events surrounding the communication, and any relevant societal norms or values.

For instance, when analyzing a historical speech advocating for civil rights, contextual research paper writers might involve considering the social and political context of the time, including prevailing attitudes towards race, ongoing civil rights movements, and recent legislative developments.

Claims, Supports, and Warrants

A claim is a statement or assertion that the author or speaker is advocating for or seeking to prove. Claims can take various forms, including factual claims (assertions of fact), value claims (judgments about what is good or bad), and policy claims (proposals for action). For example, in an argumentative essay about the importance of exercise, the claim might be that regular physical activity is essential for maintaining good health.

Supports are the evidence, reasoning, or examples provided to substantiate and strengthen the claims being made. Supports can take many forms, including empirical data, expert testimony, personal anecdotes, logical reasoning, and analogies. The quality and relevance of the supports provided play a critical role in the persuasiveness of the argument.

Continuing with the example of the argumentative essay about exercise, supports might include scientific studies demonstrating the health benefits of physical activity, testimonials from fitness experts, and personal stories of individuals who have experienced positive changes from incorporating exercise into their routine.

Warrants are the underlying assumptions or principles that connect the supports to the claims. They provide the reasoning or justification for why the supports are relevant and valid evidence for supporting the claims. Warrants are often implicit rather than explicit and require careful analysis to uncover. In the context of the essay on exercise, the warrant connecting the supports to the claim might be the assumption that actions that promote good health are inherently valuable and worthy of pursuit.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

Whether you opt for the option to buy essay or start writing it yourself, it's important to use a clear plan to organize your thoughts well. This plan usually includes four main steps, each looking at different parts of your analysis.

Analyzing the Text

Before writing a rhetorical analysis, take the time to thoroughly analyze the text you'll be examining. This means more than just skimming through it; it requires a thorough understanding of its subtleties and complexities. Here are some questions to guide your analysis:

  • How does the text try to sway its audience? What methods does it use to convince or influence them?
  • Which rhetorical appeals—ethos (credibility), pathos (emotion), logos (logic)—does the author use, and how do they contribute to the overall argument?
  • What specific rhetorical devices and strategies does the author employ to effectively convey their message? Are there any patterns or recurring motifs?
  • How does the structure of the text contribute to its persuasive power or overall impact?
  • Are there any cultural, historical, or contextual factors that influence how the text is perceived or understood?

By scrutinizing the text in this manner, you'll gain a deeper understanding of how it functions and the techniques employed by the author to achieve their desired effect.

Rhetorical Analysis Introduction

The introduction sets the stage for your analysis by providing essential context and framing the discussion. Start by introducing the text you're analyzing, including the author's name and the title of the work. Provide some background information to give context to your analysis. For example, if you're analyzing a speech, mention the occasion or event where it was delivered.

Next, summarize the main arguments or claims made by the author. Highlight the rhetorical techniques they use to persuade their audience. Are they appealing to logic, emotion, credibility, or a combination of these? Use specific examples from the text to illustrate these techniques discussed by our dissertation service .

For instance, if you're analyzing a speech on climate change, mention the speaker's expertise in environmental science to establish credibility. Summarize the key points they make about the consequences of inaction and the urgent need for change.

Finally, conclude your introduction with a clear thesis statement. This statement should encapsulate the main argument or purpose of your analysis.

Rhetorical Analysis Body Paragraph

The body paragraphs form the crux of your analysis, where you delve into the details of the text and dissect its rhetorical strategies. Each paragraph should focus on a specific aspect of the text, such as the use of ethos, pathos, logos, or specific rhetorical devices.

Utilize Aristotle's rhetorical triangle and other key concepts introduced earlier to guide your analysis. Provide quotations or examples from the text to illustrate your points and explain why the author chose certain approaches. Evaluate the effectiveness of these strategies in achieving the author's goals and persuading the audience.

For instance, if you're discussing the use of pathos in a marketing campaign, analyze the emotional appeal of the imagery or language used and consider how it resonates with the target audience.

Rhetorical Analysis Conclusion

In the conclusion, it's crucial to reinforce your main arguments and evaluate the author's effectiveness in achieving their goals, whether you're writing an MLA or APA essay format . Reflect on the overall impact of the text on both its immediate audience and society at large, underscoring the importance of your analysis.

Resist the temptation to introduce new ideas in the conclusion. Instead, draw upon the points you've already explored in the body of your essay to strengthen your analysis. Conclude with a poignant statement that resonates with your readers, encapsulating the essence of your interpretation and leaving a lasting impression. This final remark should tie together the threads of your analysis, leaving the reader with a deeper understanding of the text's rhetorical strategies and significance.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

In this section, you'll discover two essay samples that skillfully demonstrate the application of rhetorical analysis. These examples offer insightful insights into the effective use of rhetorical techniques in writing.

5 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Tips

Here are five focused tips that will help you lay a solid foundation for your examination.

  • Dissect Rhetorical Strategies : Break down the text to identify specific rhetorical devices such as metaphor, simile, or parallelism.
  • Evaluate Tone and Diction : Pay attention to the author's tone and word choice. Analyze how these elements contribute to the overall mood of the text.
  • Probe Ethos, Pathos, Logos : Explore how the author establishes credibility (ethos), evokes emotions (pathos), and employs logic (logos) to sway the audience.
  • Contextualize Historical Significance : Consider the historical, cultural, and social backdrop against which the text was written.
  • Craft a Structured Analysis : Organize your essay with a clear introduction, body paragraphs focusing on specific rhetorical elements, and a conclusion that synthesizes your findings.

Final Words

As we near the end, it's important to analyze carefully whether you're examining a speech, an advertisement, or a story. Pay attention to the smart tactics that influence our thinking. It's all about revealing how we communicate and relate to one another. Ultimately, understanding rhetoric offers a fresh perspective on the world beyond just academic success.

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What is a Rhetorical Analysis Essay?

How to structure a rhetorical analysis essay, how to write a rhetorical analysis essay, related articles.

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Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Last updated on: Feb 9, 2023

Top Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for Students

By: Betty P.

Reviewed By: Rylee W.

Published on: Feb 25, 2020

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

A rhetorical analysis essay is a type of essay in which you write about a piece of literature, art, or speech. Most of the students find it extremely stressful and scary to write rhetorical essays. They have no idea what it is, how to write one because they are not into reading.

Are you one of those students?

We cannot help it because, If you want to get an A in this type of assignment. You need to read the book thoroughly. Also, analyze the literary devices employed in the book. But we can help you get some rhetoric essay ideas.

Many students are stuck at the very beginning of writing this type of essay. They don’t know how to select a topic or subject to analyze.

In this blog, you get a complete list of interesting topics to help you in your writing phase.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

On this Page

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.

So, place your order now and free yourself from the stress of strict deadlines and poor grades.

Betty P.

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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120 Rhetoric Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Rhetoric is the art of persuasion through language, and writing a rhetoric essay can help you improve your skills in crafting compelling arguments. To help you get started, here are 120 rhetoric essay topic ideas and examples to inspire your next assignment:

  • The role of rhetoric in political speeches
  • Analysis of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech
  • The use of ethos, pathos, and logos in advertising
  • How social media has changed rhetoric in modern society
  • The impact of language on shaping public opinion
  • The ethics of persuasion in rhetoric
  • The power of storytelling in persuasive communication
  • The role of rhetoric in shaping cultural norms
  • Rhetorical strategies in persuasive writing
  • The use of rhetorical devices in famous literature
  • The influence of rhetoric on public policy
  • The art of persuasion in debate
  • The use of rhetoric in historical speeches
  • The role of rhetoric in legal arguments
  • How rhetoric is used in marketing and branding
  • The impact of visual rhetoric in media messages
  • The use of rhetoric in public speaking
  • The role of rhetoric in shaping public perception of social issues
  • The influence of rhetoric on popular culture
  • The effectiveness of rhetorical appeals in argumentative writing
  • The role of rhetoric in shaping public discourse
  • The use of rhetoric in political campaigns
  • The influence of rhetoric on consumer behavior
  • The power of rhetoric in influencing public opinion
  • The use of rhetorical devices in persuasive essays
  • How rhetoric is used in propaganda
  • The impact of rhetorical devices on the reader's emotions
  • The role of rhetoric in shaping personal identity
  • The ethics of persuasive communication in rhetoric
  • The use of rhetorical questions in argumentative writing
  • The influence of rhetoric on interpersonal relationships
  • The power of rhetoric in changing minds and hearts
  • The role of rhetoric in shaping cultural values
  • The use of rhetorical appeals in ethical arguments
  • The impact of rhetoric on social justice movements
  • The effectiveness of rhetorical devices in political speeches
  • The role of rhetoric in shaping public policy debates
  • The ethics of persuasion in rhetorical communication
  • The power of storytelling in persuasive speeches
  • The use of rhetoric in shaping public perception of scientific issues
  • The influence of rhetoric on environmental activism
  • The role of rhetoric in shaping public opinion on healthcare
  • The impact of rhetorical devices on the reader's beliefs
  • The use of rhetorical questions in persuasive writing
  • The power of rhetoric in influencing decision-making
  • The role of rhetoric in shaping personal values
  • The influence of rhetoric on public speaking skills
  • The effectiveness of rhetorical appeals in argumentative essays
  • The use of rhetoric in social media activism
  • The role of rhetoric in shaping cultural narratives
  • The use of rhetoric in political satire
  • The power of storytelling in persuasive arguments
  • The influence of rhetoric on public perception of historical events
  • The role of rhetoric in shaping public discourse on race relations
  • The effectiveness of rhetorical devices in feminist writing
  • The use of rhetorical questions in persuasive speeches
  • The impact of rhetoric on educational policy debates
  • The power of rhetoric in changing public attitudes towards mental health
  • The use of rhetorical appeals in environmental advocacy
  • The influence of rhetoric on social justice movements
  • The effectiveness of rhetorical devices in political debates
  • The role of rhetoric in shaping public policy on immigration
  • The use of rhetoric in shaping public opinion on gun control
  • The power of rhetoric in influencing public health campaigns
  • The influence of rhetoric on personal relationships
  • The effectiveness of rhetorical appeals in persuasive essays
  • The role of rhetoric in shaping public perception of climate change
  • The influence of rhetoric on public perception of gender equality
  • The effectiveness of rhetorical devices in anti-racism writing
  • The use of rhetorical questions in persuasive arguments
  • The effectiveness of rhetorical appeals in feminist writing
  • The influence of rhetoric on public perception of economic inequality
  • The effectiveness of rhetorical devices in environmental advocacy
  • The use of rhetorical questions in argumentative essays
  • The power of rhetoric in changing public attitudes towards democracy
  • The effectiveness of rhetorical appeals in persuasive writing
  • The use of rhetoric in shaping public opinion on healthcare
  • The role of rhetoric in political campaigns
  • The role of rhetoric in shaping public opinion on climate change
  • The impact of rhetoric on social media activism
  • The power of rhetoric in influencing public opinion on gun control

These are just a few examples of the many rhetoric essay topics you can explore. Whether you are interested in politics, advertising, social issues, or literature, there is a wealth of material to analyze and discuss. So pick a topic that interests you, do some research, and start crafting your persuasive arguments. Happy writing!

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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 […]
  • ’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.
  • “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.
  • 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, […]
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • “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.
  • 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 […]
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 […]
  • 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 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.
  • 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 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.
  • 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 […]
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • “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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 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.
  • 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 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.
  • 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, […]
  • 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.
  • “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 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 […]
  • 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 […]
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 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.
  • 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 […]
  • 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: 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, […]
  • 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 […]
  • “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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 […]
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 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 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.
  • 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 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.
  • 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.
  • Barbie Product Advertisement: Rhetorical Analysis In addition, the ad promotes new Barbie Style which is also a new product and “all owners of the Barbie dolls should have it.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 […]
  • “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.
  • 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: “$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.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 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 […]
  • 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.
  • 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 […]
  • 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.
  • 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 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 […]
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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 […]
  • 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 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 […]
  • 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 So, the aim of this essay is to examine the essence of the rhetorical theory, its methods, and the results it gives to its user. White space is the advertising tool discussed in the article; […]
  • Mark Edmonson’s Rhetoric in “The Heart of Humanities” Mark Edmonson’s The Heart of Humanities: Reading, Writing, Teaching is a collection of works that explore the importance of the three components for those interested in pursuing humanities as a future study field.
  • 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.
  • Smoking Bans: Protecting the Public and the Children of Smokers The purpose of the article is to show why smoking bans aim at protecting the public and the children of smokers.
  • Women Suffrage in Carrie Chapman’s Rhetoric The paper is a bright example of the in-depth analysis of the problem and a perfect insight into the future of womens participation in the political life of the country.
  • Health Information Privacy Standards: Rhetoric Analysis It is easy to understand the purpose of the document, because the USDHHS provided enough information to explain the importance of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996.
  • 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”.
  • 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
  • Rhetorical Situations: Ethos, Pathos, Logos
  • 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
  • Political Rhetoric: Barack Obama’s March 18 Speech
  • Rhetorical Analysis of the Article”Digital Natives and Immigrants” by Nancy Herther
  • The Origin of Rhetoric
  • How TV Affects Your Child: Article Rhetoric
  • Cultural and Rhetorical Analysis of Presidential Debates
  • Rhetorical Analysis of Ethos in “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave”
  • 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
  • Rhetorical Situation of a Resume
  • Aspects of Rhetoric and Stereotype Image
  • Rhetorical Analysis of the Article
  • 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?
  • Chicago (A-D)
  • Chicago (N-B)

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122 Various Rhetorical Analysis Topics To Help Your Progress

rhetorical analysis topics

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.

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Home — Essay Types — Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Examples

How to choose the best rhetorical analysis topic.

Choosing the best topic for a rhetorical analysis essay is a crucial step that sets the stage for insightful and engaging writing. This process demands a thoughtful consideration of various factors to ensure that your essay not only demonstrates your analytical skills but also captivates your audience. Here's a more detailed guide to navigating this selection process, ensuring you pick a topic that is both meaningful and manageable.

Interest and Relevance

Begin by identifying topics that spark your interest or passion. Writing about something you find intriguing naturally leads to a more engaging and enthusiastic analysis. Furthermore, consider the relevance of the topic to current events or societal issues. Topics that touch on contemporary debates or ongoing cultural conversations tend to resonate more with readers and provide a richer ground for analysis.

Availability of Sources

Ensure there is enough material available to support your analysis. This could include speeches, texts, advertisements, or any media content that is rich in rhetorical strategies. A topic with ample sources allows for a deeper dive into various rhetorical techniques and their effectiveness.

Scope and Complexity

Choose a topic with a manageable scope. It should be neither too broad that it becomes overwhelming to cover in detail nor too narrow that it lacks sufficient content for analysis. The complexity of the topic should match your ability to dissect and understand the rhetorical strategies employed.

Impact on Society

Consider topics that have had a significant impact on society. Analyzing how rhetoric has influenced public opinion, shaped political discourse, or contributed to cultural shifts can provide insightful perspectives on the power of effective communication.

Originality

Strive for originality in your topic selection. While it's helpful to review examples of rhetorical essays or rhetorical analysis essay examples, choosing a unique angle or a less commonly analyzed text can make your essay stand out. This approach not only showcases your creativity but also your ability to apply analytical skills to new and diverse materials.

Audience Engagement

Think about your potential audience and select a topic that would engage them. Understanding your audience's interests and background can help tailor your analysis in a way that is both accessible and compelling.

🔥 30 Hot Rhetorical Analysis Essay Titles in 2024

The year 2024 is ripe with opportunities for rhetorical analysis, from political speeches addressing global challenges to influential social media campaigns reshaping public opinion. These topics not only reflect current trends but also offer a deep well of rhetorical techniques worth exploring.

  • Analyzing the Rhetoric of Climate Change in Political Speeches
  • The Power of Social Media Influencers: A Rhetorical Analysis
  • Rhetorical Strategies in "The Future We Choose" by Christiana Figueres and Tom Rivett-Carnac
  • "Why We Can't Wait" by Martin Luther King Jr.: A Rhetorical Examination
  • Dissecting the Appeals in Greta Thunberg's UN Speech
  • The Rhetoric of Hope in Barack Obama's "Yes We Can" Speech
  • Persuasion Techniques in Apple's Product Launches
  • "The Danger of a Single Story" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie: A Rhetorical Analysis
  • Rhetorical Devices in "Letter from Birmingham Jail"
  • Analysis of Rhetorical Strategies in "Lean In" by Sheryl Sandberg
  • Elon Musk's Vision for the Future: A Rhetorical Review
  • Rhetorical Elements in the #MeToo Movement Speeches
  • "A Time for Choosing" by Ronald Reagan: Rhetorical Analysis
  • The Art of Persuasion in Winston Churchill's War Speeches
  • Analyzing the Appeal in Malala Yousafzai's Nobel Prize Lecture

👍 10 Good Titles for Rhetorical Analysis Essays

A good rhetorical analysis essay title promises an insightful exploration of persuasive communication techniques. These topics are selected for their significant cultural, political, or social impact, providing a rich basis for analysis.

  • "I Have a Dream" Rhetorical Analysis
  • Analyzing the Pathos in "The Diary of Anne Frank"
  • Ethos, Pathos, and Logos in "The Audacity of Hope" by Barack Obama
  • A Rhetorical Examination of "The Bell Jar" by Sylvia Plath
  • The Power of Language in "Persepolis" by Marjane Satrapi
  • Rhetorical Strategies in "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison
  • Dissecting the Appeals in "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
  • "The Feminine Mystique" by Betty Friedan: A Rhetorical Critique
  • The Persuasive Language of "The Fire Next Time" by James Baldwin
  • Rhetorical Devices in "We Should All Be Feminists" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

🎯 10 Easy Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

For those new to rhetorical analysis or looking for more straightforward subjects, these topics offer a gentler introduction. They focus on popular media and public campaigns, where rhetorical strategies are both prominent and accessible to beginners.

  • Rhetorical Techniques in Super Bowl Commercials
  • Analyzing Rhetoric in Viral TED Talks
  • The Persuasive Power of Instagram Campaigns
  • Rhetoric in the "Share a Coke" Campaign
  • Speech Analysis: Steve Jobs' Stanford Commencement Address
  • Rhetorical Strategies in Movie Trailers
  • The Art of Persuasion in Children's Advertising
  • Rhetorical Elements in Presidential Inauguration Speeches
  • The Use of Pathos in Animal Rights Campaigns
  • Ethos, Logos, and Pathos in Health Awareness PSAs

🏫 Popular Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for College

College students can deepen their analytical skills by exploring these popular rhetorical analysis topics. They span a range of interests, from literature and advertising to social movements and media, reflecting the diverse ways rhetoric shapes our world.

  • The Rhetoric of American Dream in Modern Literature
  • Gender Roles and Rhetoric in 21st-Century Advertising
  • The Evolution of Rhetorical Strategies in Social Movements
  • Rhetorical Analysis of News Media's Coverage on Climate Change
  • The Use of Rhetoric in Legalizing Marijuana Debates
  • Ethical Persuasion Techniques in Non-Profit Organizations
  • The Influence of Rhetoric in Fashion Industry Marketing
  • Analyzing Rhetorical Appeals in Documentary Films
  • The Role of Rhetoric in Video Game Narratives
  • The Power of Rhetorical Questions in Political Discourse

💡 Insightful Speech Ideas for Rhetorical Analysis Topics

Speeches have long been a goldmine for rhetorical analysis, offering a direct insight into the speaker's persuasive techniques. These topics cover a range of speeches, from historical milestones to contemporary talks, each providing a unique perspective on effective rhetoric.

  • The Rhetorical Impact of "The Gettysburg Address"
  • Rhetorical Devices in "The Declaration of Independence"
  • Analyzing the Persuasive Techniques in Emma Watson's UN Speech for HeForShe
  • The Use of Rhetoric in Historic Farewell Addresses
  • Rhetorical Strategies in Nobel Peace Prize Acceptance Speeches
  • The Art of Rhetoric in Valedictorian Speeches
  • "Abigail Adams' Letter to John Quincy Adams
  • The Role of Ethos in Human Rights Advocacy Speeches
  • Pathos and Logos in Environmental Activist Speeches
  • Rhetorical Techniques in Award Acceptance Speeches

Each section offers a curated list of topics designed to spark interest and inspire deep analytical thought. Whether you're drawn to contemporary issues or historical speeches, these topics serve as a starting point for a compelling rhetorical analysis essay.

Crafting a rhetorical analysis essay involves dissecting how a writer or speaker uses words to influence an audience, focusing on the effectiveness and techniques rather than the content itself. This guide delves into the art of writing a compelling rhetorical essay, incorporating examples of rhetorical essays to illustrate key points.

What is a Rhetorical Analysis Essay

A rhetorical analysis essay dives deep into the artistry behind an author’s method of communication, scrutinizing the deliberate choice of words, structure, and overall rhetorical techniques used to sway or enlighten the audience. Unlike typical essays that might argue for or against the author’s position, a rhetorical essay takes a step back, focusing purely on the craftsmanship of the argument itself. How does the author appeal to the audience? What strategies are employed to make their message resonate more deeply or convincingly? This analytical approach is invaluable in academic environments, pushing students to not only observe and report but to critically evaluate the effectiveness of communication strategies. Doing so, sharpens critical thinking and analytical skills, equipping students with the ability to dissect complex arguments and understand the underlying mechanics of persuasive writing.

How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis

Writing a successful rhetorical analysis essay begins with thoroughly reading and understanding the text in question. Identify the author’s purpose, target audience, and the strategies used to achieve their goals. Highlighting direct quotes and examples of rhetorical essays can serve as a solid foundation for your analysis. This process allows you to dissect the text meticulously, revealing the nuances of the author’s strategies. Here’s a breakdown of the main points to consider when crafting your essay:

  • Thorough Reading : Start with a comprehensive reading of the text. Pay close attention to its overall structure, the tone of the writing, and the main themes presented. This initial step is crucial for gaining a deep understanding of the material you will analyze.
  • Identify the Purpose : Every text is written with a specific purpose in mind. Determine what the author intends to achieve. Are they trying to persuade, inform, entertain, or provoke thought? Understanding the purpose is key to analyzing the rhetorical strategies employed.
  • Understand the Audience : Who is the target audience of the text? Identifying the audience is essential because the rhetorical techniques used by the author are often tailored to the values, beliefs, or interests of this group. Knowing the audience helps in evaluating the effectiveness of these strategies.
  • Analyze the Strategies : Break down the specific strategies the author uses to reach their audience and fulfill their purpose. Look for examples of ethos (credibility), pathos (emotional appeal), and logos (logical argument) within the text. Each of these appeals plays a crucial role in persuasion and should be carefully examined.
  • Use Direct Quotes : Incorporate direct quotes from the text to support your analysis. These quotes serve as concrete evidence of the rhetorical strategies you identify. They also help to substantiate your claims about how the author’s choices impact the overall effectiveness of the text.

Following these points ensures a structured and comprehensive approach to writing a rhetorical analysis essay, enabling you to deliver a critique that is both insightful and substantiated.

As you craft your rhetorical analysis essay, integrating synthesis topics that challenge your analytical skills can significantly enhance your argumentation and understanding of the rhetorical strategies employed in your primary texts, leading to a more comprehensive and insightful analysis.

How to Structure a Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Structuring a rhetorical analysis essay follows a conventional essay format but with a focus on analysis rather than exposition. It typically includes an introduction that presents the text being analyzed, a thesis statement that outlines the main argument or findings, body paragraphs that dissect various rhetorical strategies, and a conclusion that summarizes the analysis and discusses the impact or importance of the rhetorical strategies used.

Infographic Effective Paragraph Structure for Rhetorical Essay

Major Rhetorical Elements

Understanding and identifying rhetorical elements are crucial. These include the rhetorical situation (author, audience, purpose), use of rhetorical appeals, and stylistic choices (language, tone, structure). A rhetorical analysis essay sample can show how these elements interact within a text.

Rhetorical appeals are strategies authors use to persuade their audience, including ethos, pathos, and logos.

  • Ethos  refers to the credibility or ethical appeal the writer establishes, convincing the audience of their reliability or authority on the subject matter.
  • Pathos appeals to the audience’s emotions, seeking to evoke feelings that support the author’s argument.
  • Logos involves logical reasoning, where the author uses facts, statistics, or logical arguments to appeal to the audience’s rationality.

Text and Context

Delving into the context surrounding a text enriches your rhetorical analysis, shedding light on the nuances that might affect its interpretation and impact. Historical conditions at the time of writing can reveal why certain rhetorical strategies were employed or why the text resonated with its audience in a particular way.

Social norms and values inform the ethos and pathos appeals, as what is considered credible or emotionally stirring can vary widely across different societies and eras. P

Political climate plays a crucial role too; a text might be responding to, challenging, or supporting prevailing political ideologies or policies. Understanding these layers of context allows you to not only analyze the text on a surface level but also to appreciate the depth and complexity of its rhetorical strategies.

This comprehensive approach adds a rich dimension to your analysis, offering a more nuanced view of the text’s persuasive power and its place within a broader historical, social, a

Claims, Supports, and Warrants

Identify the author’s main claims, the evidence or support provided, and the warrants, which are the underlying assumptions that connect the support to the claims.

Identifying the author’s main claims, the evidence or support provided, and the warrants—those underlying assumptions linking the evidence to the claims—is critical. These elements form the backbone of the argument, showcasing how the author constructs a logical, persuasive case. Unpacking these components reveals the argument’s strength and its persuasive appeal, offering insights into the author’s rhetorical skill and the argument’s potential impact on the audience.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

An outline organizes your thoughts and ensures your essay is coherent and focused.

  • Analyzing the Text. Begin with an in-depth examination of the text, noting the rhetorical strategies used.
  • Rhetorical Analysis Introduction. Introduce the text and provide background information. State your thesis, summarizing your main analytical points.
  • Rhetorical Analysis Body Paragraph. Each body paragraph should focus on a single rhetorical strategy, providing examples and explaining its effectiveness.
  • Rhetorical Analysis Conclusion. Conclude by summarizing your analysis and reflecting on the significance of the rhetorical strategies used, possibly considering their broader implications.

Including a rhetorical analysis essay sample  can significantly enhance understanding by demonstrating how to apply theoretical concepts in a practical context. For instance, analyzing a well-known speech, such as Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream,” could serve as an excellent example of rhetorical analysis. In this case, the essay might explore how King uses ethos to establish his credibility as a leader in the civil rights movement, pathos to evoke a deep emotional response from his audience, and logos to present logical arguments for racial equality and justice.

Another topic that could serve as a rhetorical analysis essay example is an analysis of a key advertising campaign by a famous brand, such as Nike’s “Just Do It” campaign. This example would illustrate how the company uses various rhetorical strategies to appeal to its target audience, motivate them, and ultimately persuade them to purchase their products.

A third example could be a detailed examination of an influential op-ed piece from a major newspaper, analyzing how the author constructs their argument to persuade readers on a controversial issue. This rhetorical essay example would delve into the use of evidence, the appeal to the readers’ values and beliefs, and the structure of the argument to maximize its persuasive impact.

By exploring these topics, readers can gain a clearer understanding of how to identify and analyze the rhetorical strategies used in different types of texts. These examples of rhetorical essays highlight the importance of context, audience, and purpose in shaping effective communication, providing valuable lessons for anyone looking to improve their analytical and persuasive writing skills.

5 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Tips

  • Always keep the rhetorical situation in mind. This means considering the relationship between the speaker, the audience, and the message to fully understand the effectiveness of the rhetorical strategies used.
  • Use direct quotes as evidence. Incorporating quotes directly from the text not only provides solid backing for your analysis but also demonstrates a precise understanding of the source material.
  • Avoid summarizing the text; focus on analysis.  While a summary can provide context, the primary goal is to delve into how the text works rhetorically, examining the strategies and their impact rather than recounting the content.
  • Be clear and concise in your argumentation.  Clarity and brevity ensure that your analysis is accessible and straightforward, making your arguments stronger and more persuasive to the reader.
  • Proofread for clarity and coherence.  A thorough review of your essay can help eliminate errors and ensure that your analysis flows logically from one point to the next, enhancing the overall quality of your work.

While delving into the intricacies of rhetorical analysis essays, embedding problem-solution essays that break down complex issues within your study can provide a multifaceted approach to your analysis, offering a deeper understanding of the text’s persuasive techniques and the broader implications of its arguments.

Final Words

In conclusion, mastering the art of writing a rhetorical analysis essay not only sharpens your critical thinking and analytical skills but also enhances your ability to engage deeply with various forms of communication. The use of examples of rhetorical essays plays a pivotal role in this learning process, serving as illuminating guides that showcase the application of theoretical concepts in real-world texts. By examining rhetorical essay examples, you gain valuable insights into effective analytical techniques, understanding not just the ‘what’ but the ‘how’ and ‘why’ behind rhetorical strategies.

We strongly encourage you to explore rhetorical analysis essay examples on our website. These resources can significantly aid in developing your analytical prowess, offering a diverse range of texts and contexts to study and learn from. These samples provide practical insights and inspiration for your writing.

Remember, every rhetorical analysis essay sample is an opportunity to delve into the intricacies of rhetorical communication, enhancing your appreciation for the subtleties of argumentation and persuasion. As you explore these examples on our website, you’re not just preparing to write your next essay; you’re building a foundation for more effective communication and critical engagement with the world around you. So, take this chance to enrich your understanding and skills in rhetorical analysis by reviewing the wealth of examples we have made available for you.

Rhetorical Analysis of Kennedy’s Inaugural Address

John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address is widely regarded as one of the most powerful speeches in American history. Delivered on January 20, 1961, it marked the beginning of Kennedy’s presidency and set the tone for his administration. The speech is remembered for its inspirational and…

Rhetorical Analysis of Anti-Smoking Quotes

Smoking has been a prevalent issue in society for decades, and despite the numerous health warnings and anti-smoking campaigns, it continues to be a significant public health concern. Anti-smoking quotes have been used as a powerful tool to raise awareness about the harmful effects of…

Rhetorical Analysis of FDR Inaugural Address

Franklin D. Roosevelt is remembered as one of the most influential presidents in American history. His inaugural address in 1933 marked the beginning of his presidency during a time of great economic turmoil and uncertainty. In this essay, we will analyze the rhetorical strategies employed…

Lord Chesterfield Rhetorical Analysis

Lord Chesterfield, a prominent figure in 18th-century English society, was known for his eloquence and persuasive language. His letters to his son, known as “Letters to His Son,” are a prime example of his rhetorical prowess. In this essay, we will conduct a rhetorical analysis…

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The Great Influenza Rhetorical Analysis

Infectious diseases have had a significant impact on human societies, shaping the course of events and influencing the development of public health policies. The Great Influenza, also known as the Spanish flu, was a devastating global pandemic that occurred in 1918 and 1919, infecting an…

Malala Rhetorical Analysis

Malala Yousafzai, a young Pakistani activist for female education, delivered a powerful speech at the United Nations in 2013. Her speech, commonly known as the “Malala Rhetorical Analysis,” is a prime example of effective rhetoric. In this essay, I will analyze the rhetorical strategies Malala…

Rhetorical Analysis of Margaret Thatcher’s Speech

Margaret Thatcher, the first female Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, was known for her strong leadership and impactful speeches. One of her most famous speeches is the “The Lady’s Not for Turning” speech, delivered at the Conservative Party Conference in 1980. This speech is…

Richard Nixon’s Speech Rhetorical Analysis

Richard Nixon, the 37th President of the United States, delivered his famous “Silent Majority” speech on November 3, 1969. This speech was a response to growing opposition to the Vietnam War and was a pivotal moment in Nixon’s presidency. In this essay, I will analyze…

Into The Wild: Rhetorical Analysis

Into the Wild, written by Jon Krakauer, is a non-fiction book that follows the journey of Christopher McCandless, a young man who gives up his possessions and money to live a life of solitude in the Alaskan wilderness. The book delves into McCandless’s motivations, experiences,…

On Being a Cripple Rhetorical Analysis

Author Nancy Mairs, in her essay “On Being a Cripple,” brings forth a compelling argument about the use of the word “cripple” and how it has shaped her identity and perception of herself. Mairs, who herself is disabled due to multiple sclerosis, uses various rhetorical…

What is a rhetorical essay?

Rhetorical essay writing is quite challenging since it is necessary to provide an explanation of how an author uses words to have an impact on the target audience. In most cases, rhetorical essay examples represent an already existing set of ideas where an author has provided a certain writing style. The topics of rhetorical writing will vary from the dangers of smoking to the role of teachers in the classroom.

How to write rhetorical essays?

Start your essay with an analysis of the content that you work with. Once a certain argumentation is studied, analyze how a certain verbal effect has been achieved. See our free rhetorical analysis essay as a reference to see how the ethos, logos, and pathos elements are analyzed by citing parts of the original text. Do not give an opinion regarding the content itself but focus on the rhetoric alone.

What’s the goal of a rhetorical analysis?

The goal of a rhetorical analysis is to examine how an author or speaker persuades their audience using various rhetorical strategies and techniques. It involves identifying the purpose, audience, context, and methods of communication to evaluate the effectiveness of the argument.

What are logos, ethos, and pathos?

Logos refers to logical appeal or reasoning, ethos to the speaker's credibility or trustworthiness, and pathos to emotional appeal. These are the three pillars of persuasion identified by Aristotle, used to persuade and influence an audience's beliefs or actions.

What are claims, supports, and warrants?

Claims are statements or assertions that the writer or speaker wants the audience to accept. Supports are the evidence or reasons provided to back up those claims. Warrants are the underlying assumptions or principles that connect the supports to the claims, often implicitly, making the argument coherent and persuasive.

What is the “rhetorical triangle”?

The rhetorical triangle is a model that outlines three essential components of persuasive communication: ethos (credibility or ethical appeal), pathos (emotional appeal), and logos (logical appeal). These elements work together to influence an audience effectively.

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200 rhetorical analysis topics for students in 2023.

rhetorical analysis topics

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

More Topics on Rhetorical Analysis

There are varieties of different kinds of rhetorical analysis topics that it is unlikely that one can run out of ways to craft rhetorical analysis topics for any essay at all.

Since the majority of these rhetoric topics are mostly within the arts, there’s a wide range of sources and inspiration to draw your essay topic from. This is because art is an interesting field that keeps on giving.

These topics can be relevant for high school and for college students. Here are a handful of rhetorical analysis example topics to consider for rhetorical analysis.

  • A comparative analysis of non-fictional novels and fictional novels
  • Analysis: Obama’s Farewell speech
  • Rhetorical analysis of Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre
  • The Failure of Charity, Classism, Victorian era, the folly of Individualism: Charles Dickens’s Oliver Twist .
  • Joseph Conrad’s Heart of Darkness and Joyce Cary’s Mister Johnson : an Anthropological exploration
  • The realism of 11th century Scotland and how it’s portrayed in William Shakespeare’s Macbeth
  • The Surrealism of the 20th-century art and Literary explorations with that era
  • F.Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby and how it’s an indictment to the “American Dream”
  • Rhetorical Analysis of James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room and Another Country
  • Why Movie adaptations can never measure up to Books
  • The social and economic implications of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman
  • The story of Leonardo da Vinci and the Monalisa painting
  • Painting, Artistry and how Paul Cézanne’s art interrogates the subject of late-blooming
  • What the use of mostly women for domestic Ads suggests
  • How new Hollywood producers and showrunners address the issue of inclusivity and diversity in TV.
  • What the use of the omniscient narrator in books suggests
  • The Monalisa painting: Why is it Talked about so much?
  • The rhetorical device in D.H Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover
  • This is why best-seller books are called best-sellers
  • Why kids avoid watching the news at all cost
  • How the presence of social media impacts mental illness negatively
  • The Role of Tv and Popular in promoting Misogyny and Misogynoir
  • A call to Love: the recurring theme within James Baldwin’s works
  • How reality Tv shows obscure actual reality
  • How racism permeates Langston Hughes I, Too
  • What is the distinction between Symbolism and Imagery
  • The recurring effect of Misogyny in Malala Yousafzai’s real-life experiences
  • Why documentaries on Minimalism should be encouraged
  • Minimalism: a direct response to Late Capitalism
  • The wide distinction between Liberalism and NeoLiberalism

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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Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

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Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

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Looking for the right rhetorical analysis essay topic can be a tough challenge for some people!

It’s a well-established fact that for such essays, you need to have an excellent grip on the topic you choose.

For that purpose, we have created a comprehensive list of rhetorical analysis essay topics, so you can pick the topic that matches your interest perfectly. 

Before coming to the topic ideas, let’s briefly discuss what is a rhetorical analysis essay.

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  • 1. Introduction to Rhetorical Analysis Essay Writing
  • 2. Good Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics
  • 3. How to Choose a Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topic?
  • 4. Professional Tips to Write Rhetorical Analysis Essay Fast
  • 5. Elevate Your Analytical Skills with Rhetorical Analysis Essay Questions 

Introduction to Rhetorical Analysis Essay Writing

In a rhetorical analysis essay , a writer deeply analyzes a work of literature, art, or film, takes a stance, and thoroughly evaluates the purpose of the original content.

The goal is to ensure effective delivery to the audience.

Having said that, a rhetorical analysis essay finds out how effective the message of the original content was. And how the author or speaker uses rhetorical advice and strategies to convey their message.   

Now, let’s move on to the handpicked list of topics! 

Good Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Being aware of a student’s academic struggles, we have gathered some interesting topics for your rhetorical analysis essay needs. So if you are looking for rhetorical essay ideas, you’ve landed at the perfect place! 

Choose the best rhetorical topics from the list below and draft a compelling essay.

Easy Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

  • “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen.
  • “The Revenant” by Michael Punke.
  • “Witches' Loaves” by O. Henry.
  • “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain.
  • “Unbroken” by Laura Hillenbrand.
  • “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson.
  • “Yes Please” by Amy Poehler.
  • “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee.
  • “Fight Club” by Chuck Palahniuk.
  • “A White Heron” by Sarah Orne Jewett.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for High School

  • “And Then There Were None” by Agatha Christie.
  • “Beloved” by Toni Morrison.
  • “The Canterbury Tales” by Geoffrey Chaucer.
  • “Death of a Salesman” by Arthur Miller.
  • “An Enemy of the People” by Henrik Ibsen.
  • “Frankenstein” by Mary Shelley.
  • “Young Goodman Brown” by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
  • “The Waves” by Virginia Woolf.
  • “Their Eyes Were Watching God” by Zora Neale Hurston.
  • “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for Middle School

  • "Yes, Please" By Amy Poehler
  • "The Revenant" By Michael Punke
  • The Primary Themes In "Alice's Adventures In Wonderland"
  • "Huckleberry Finn" Rhetorical Analysis
  • "Witches Loaves" By O'Henry
  • Discuss My Philosophy for a Happy Life by Sam Berns.
  • The Painted Veil.
  • Analyze Romeo and Juliet.
  • Analyze the “The Power of Introverts” by Susan Cain.
  • Amy Poehler. “Yes, Please.”

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Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for College Students

  • “Antigone” by Sophocles.
  • “The Birthmark” by Nathaniel Hawthorne.
  • “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller.
  • “Dubliners” by James Joyce.
  • “East of Eden” by John Steinbeck.
  • “Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury.
  • “A Yellow Raft in Blue Water” by Michael Dorris.
  • “Where the Red Fern Grows” by Wilson Rawls.
  • “The Tempest” by William Shakespeare.
  • “Song of Solomon” by Toni Morrison.

Non-Fictional Topics for Rhetorical Analysis Essay

  • “Mini Habits: Smaller Habits, Bigger Results” by Stephen Guise.
  • “The Ethics of Belief” by William Kingdon Clifford.
  • “Easter Island's End” by Jared Diamond.
  • “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards.
  • “Traveling Mercies” by Anne Lamott.
  • “A nation among nations” by Thomas H. Bender.
  • “Guns, Germs, and Steel” by Jared Diamond.
  • “The Price of Inequality” by Joseph Stiglitz.
  • “The Spirit Level” by Kate Pickett and Richard G. Wilkinson.
  • “The Status Syndrome” Michael Marmot.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics About Speeches

  • “I Have a Dream” by Martin Luther King, Jr.
  • “Letter from Birmingham Jail” by Martin Luther King, Jr.
  • Inaugural Address of President John F. Kennedy.
  • Emma Goldman’s Address to the Jury.
  • League of Nations Final Address by Thomas Woodrow Wilson.
  • “Every Man a King” by Huey Pierce Long.
  • “The Evil Empire” by Ronald Reagan.
  • “Mercy for Leopold and Loeb” by Clarence Seward Darrow.
  • “A Time for Choosing” by Ronald Reagan.
  • “The Struggle for Human Rights” by Anna Eleanor Roosevelt.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Movies

  • Manhattan Project.
  • Jurassic Park.
  • The Phantom of the Opera.
  • Rhetorical analysis of Almost Famous.
  • A Streetcar Named Desire.
  • Rhetorical analysis of Romeo + Juliet.
  • Rhetorical analysis essay on Man of Steel.
  • Rhetorical analysis of Macbeth.
  • Wuthering Heights.

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.
  • The Price of Inequality by Joseph Stiglitz
  • “The Price Of Inequality” By Joseph Stiglitz
  • "Cri De Coeur” By Romeo Dallier
  • "Traveling Mercies” By Anne Lamott
  • "A Nation Among Nations"

Visual Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

  • Analyze Poe's Poetry, “The Raven.”
  • A favorite poem written by William Shakespeare.
  • Analysis of James Joyce’s Ulysses.
  • Martin Luther King Jr.’s last speech.
  • Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.
  • Clifford's "The Ethics Of Belief" Summary And Analysis
  • "Easter Islands' End" By Jared Diamond
  • "Success Strategies” Analysis
  • Jonathan Edwards’ Sermons
  • "Guns, Germs, And Steel” By Jared Diamond

Literary Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

  • “I Am Prepared to Die” by Nelson Mandela
  • Gettysburg Monologue in Remember the Titans
  • “Full Power of Women” by Priyanka Chopra
  • Speech from Finding Forrester
  • Red’s Parole Hearing from Shawshank Redemption
  • The movie industry.
  • The insider.
  • Enough of the movie.

Funny Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

  • Maximus’ Speech to Commodus from Gladiator
  • “Inside the Mind of a Master Procrastinator” by Tim Urban
  • Harvard Graduation Speech by Donovan Livington
  • Obama’s Final Farewell Speech
  • Pink’s VMA acceptance speech
  • Do you love your family members or not?
  • Do all people grow old?
  • A rhetoric analysis of Coca-Cola’s logo colors
  • What is your opinion of prequels and remakes?
  • Payment of college athletes

Comparative Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

  • The lottery vs. the hunger games
  • Non-fictional novels and fictional novels
  • President Obama’s speech at the inauguration compared to that of President Trump
  • Religious texts and their rhetorical composition.
  • Medicines vs. natural remedies
  • Social sciences vs. humanities
  • Economic upliftment vs. better standard of living
  • Compare movies based on Stephen King’s works versus his novels
  • Hurricanes vs. tornadoes
  • Football vs. basketball

Argumentative Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics 

  • Political Speeches and Rhetoric
  • Advertising Influence on Consumer Behavior
  • Climate Change Communication
  • Social Media Persuasion
  • Rhetoric in Gun Control Debates
  • Fake News and Rhetorical Techniques
  • Environmental Activism and Rhetoric
  • Healthcare Debates and Persuasion
  • Rhetoric in Civil Rights Movements
  • Rhetorical Strategies in Literature

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How to Choose a Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topic?

The first thing in any writing that attempts to grab the reader’s interest is an engaging topic. Every writer aims to make his writing readable and exciting for the audience. 

Coming up with an interesting and engaging topic for your essay can be a tough job. The following are some tips to consider while selecting the topics for your rhetorical analysis paper.

Deliberate your Interest

The fundamental trick of making writing impressive and exciting is to focus on the topic of your interest. Before you start writing a rhetorical analysis essay, try to pick the topic that catches your attention and interest. Also, ensure that it has scope for research and writing.

Choosing something not to have any broad scope or data will not be an ideal topic for your essay.

Do not force yourself to write about a topic that seems popular and promising but not impressive. At least find a rhetorical question that interests you and has good research opportunities.

Reflect on your Knowledge

The second important thing to consider while choosing analytical essay topics is that you have little knowledge about them. Selecting something entirely unfamiliar will not help you. 

Remember that you need to provide insight into the writing style of the author while doing the analysis. Word choice also depicts your strength. Gather knowledge about the rhetorical devices and literary critics used in the work, which you can discuss and explain in your essay. 

Most of the time, you decide to pick topics you have discussed in class. Reflect on the level of your knowledge before finalizing your options.

Do Background Research

Another vital trick to consider while picking the topic is to do background research. You can compile a list of topics, which seem captivating. After that, narrow down the list and select the final topic by researching the topic’s available information.

Do not forget to make notes of the background research. In case you forget the points while writing your essay, you will have the notes for reference.

Get the Suggestions of your Instructor

After going through all the above options, if you cannot make a decision. Prepare a list of suitable topics and ask your instructor to provide you with suggestions. 

It is much better than contemplating on your own. You will have a fixed path to walk on, and you will research the points presented in your paper.

Professional Tips to Write Rhetorical Analysis Essay Fast

Students always look for tips and tricks to make their academic assignments perfect. Below are some professional tips gathered by the writers at MyPerfectWords.com to help you write your essay in no time:

  • Identify the target audience to choose a good topic for your rhetorical essay.
  • Define the purpose of the work chosen. Grab your reader’s attention by drafting a catchy opening for your essay.
  • Provide a structure to the content by drafting an excellent  rhetorical analysis essay outline . The outline should divide your information into the introduction,  thesis statement , main body, and conclusion sections.
  • Use simple sentences. The strength of a rhetorical essay is the clarity of the content that comes from using simple sentences.
  • Avoid using narrow terminologies. Make sure that the vocabulary used compliments the theme and context of the content.
  • Gather information from credible sources. Use references from journals, articles, books, and research papers to make the content of the essay authentic.

Elevate Your Analytical Skills with Rhetorical Analysis Essay Questions 

Queries are present in rhetorical analysis essays, meant to help the writer. These questions aid the writer in further sharpening their writing proficiency.

As a plus, the questions serve the purpose of motivating writers to become actively involved in understanding the outlook of a rhetorical essay.

  • What methods do you plan to employ to engage your readers?
  • Does the conclusion of the argument resonate with your audience?
  • How has the author employed stylistic devices within the narrative?
  • Defining satire: How has the author used it, and what impact does it have
  • How does the author build credibility, evoke emotions, and use logic in the text?
  • Do cultural or historical references in the text support the author's argument?
  • Do repeat words or phrases for emphasis in the text have a noticeable impact?
  • Does the tone impact the author's credibility, and how?
  • How is the audience likely to receive the message?
  • How has the author engaged the audience in their discourse?

To conclude, writing a rhetoric paper can be challenging. It is suggested to take a professional’s help for your academic writing assignments and not risk your grades.

To get professional assistance, get help from the expert analytical essay writing service at MyPerfectWords.com. Our qualified writers draft 100% original content for the students and guarantee better grades. 

Visit our legit essay writing service  now and push your essay writing game to new heights.

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Nova Allison is a Digital Content Strategist with over eight years of experience. Nova has also worked as a technical and scientific writer. She is majorly involved in developing and reviewing online content plans that engage and resonate with audiences. Nova has a passion for writing that engages and informs her readers.

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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

Many of you ask a common question: "what is a good topic for a rhetorical analysis essay?" Feel inclined to utilize any rhetorical analysis topics highlighted in this blog article to write a top-notch essay.   Hopefully, you have found a suitable topic. Feel free to browse our blog for more analytical essay topics and writing tips. From process analysis essay topics to critical analysis essay writing suggestions, we have a bunch of useful guides for students. 

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How to Write Rhetorical Analysis

Rhetorical Analysis Sample Essay

Harriet Clark

Ms. Rebecca Winter

13 Feb. 2015

Not Quite a Clean Sweep: Rhetorical Strategies in

Grose's "Cleaning: The Final Feminist Frontier”

A woman’s work is never done: many American women grow up with this saying and feel it to be true. 1 One such woman, author Jessica Grose, wrote “Cleaning: The Final Feminist Frontier,” published in 2013 in the New Republic, 2 and she argues that while the men recently started taking on more of the childcare and cooking, cleaning still falls unfairly on women. 3 Grose begins building her credibility with personal facts and reputable sources, citing convincing facts and statistics, and successfully employing emotional appeals; however, toward the end of the article, her attempts to appeal to readers’ emotions weaken her credibility and ultimately, her argument. 4

In her article, Grose first sets the stage by describing a specific scenario of house-cleaning with her husband after being shut in during Hurricane Sandy, and then she outlines the uneven distribution of cleaning work in her marriage and draws a comparison to the larger feminist issue of who does the cleaning in a relationship. Grose continues by discussing some of the reasons that men do not contribute to cleaning: the praise for a clean house goes to the woman; advertising and media praise men’s cooking and childcare, but not cleaning; and lastly, it is just not fun. Possible solutions to the problem, Grose suggests, include making a chart of who does which chores, dividing up tasks based on skill and ability, accepting a dirtier home, and making cleaning more fun with gadgets. 5

Throughout her piece, Grose uses many strong sources that strengthen her credibility and appeal to ethos, as well as build her argument. 6 These sources include, “sociologists Judith Treas and Tsui-o Tai,” “a 2008 study from the University of New Hampshire,” and “P&G North America Fabric Care Brand Manager, Matthew Krehbiel” (qtd. in Grose). 7 Citing these sources boosts Grose’s credibility by showing that she has done her homework and has provided facts and statistics, as well as expert opinions to support her claim. She also uses personal examples from her own home life to introduce and support the issue, which shows that she has a personal stake in and first-hand experience with the problem. 8

Adding to her ethos appeals, Grose uses strong appeals to logos, with many facts and statistics and logical progressions of ideas. 9 She points out facts about her marriage and the distribution of household chores: “My husband and I both work. We split midnight baby feedings ...but ... he will admit that he’s never cleaned the bathroom, that I do the dishes nine times out of ten, and that he barely knows how the washer and dryer work in the apartment we’ve lived in for over eight months.” 10 These facts introduce and support the idea that Grose does more household chores than her husband. Grose continues with many statistics:

[A]bout 55 percent of American mothers employed full time do some housework on an average day, while only 18 percent of employed fathers do. ... [W]orking women with children are still doing a week and a half more of “second shift” work each year than their male partners. ... Even in the famously gender-neutral Sweden, women do 45 minutes more housework a day than their male partners. 11

These statistics are a few of many that logically support her claim that it is a substantial and real problem that men do not do their fair share of the chores. The details and numbers build an appeal to logos and impress upon the reader that this is a problem worth discussing. 12

Along with strong logos appeals, Grose effectively makes appeals to pathos in the beginning and middle sections. 13 Her introduction is full of emotionally-charged words and phrases that create a sympathetic image; Grose notes that she “was eight months pregnant” and her husband found it difficult to “fight with a massively pregnant person.” 14 The image she evokes of the challenges and vulnerabilities of being so pregnant, as well as the high emotions a woman feels at that time effectively introduce the argument and its seriousness. Her goal is to make the reader feel sympathy for her. Adding to this idea are words and phrases such as, “insisted,” “argued,” “not fun,” “sucks” “headachey,” “be judged,” “be shunned” (Grose). All of these words evoke negative emotions about cleaning, which makes the reader sympathize with women who feel “judged” and shunned”—very negative feelings. Another feeling Grose reinforces with her word choice is the concept of fairness: “fair share,” “a week and a half more of ‘second shift’ work,” “more housework,” “more gendered and less frequent.” These words help establish the unfairness that exists when women do all of the cleaning, and they are an appeal to pathos, or the readers’ feelings of frustration and anger with injustice. 15

However, the end of the article lacks the same level of effectiveness in the appeals to ethos. 16 For example, Grose notes that when men do housework, they are considered to be “’enacting “small instances of gender heroism,” or ‘SIGH’s’—which, barf.” 17 The usage of the word “barf” is jarring to the reader; unprofessional and immature, it is a shift from the researched, intelligent voice she has established and the reader is less likely to take the author seriously. This damages the strength of her credibility and her argument. 18

Additionally, her last statement in the article refers to her husband in a way that weakens the argument. 19 While returning to the introduction’s hook in the conclusion is a frequently-used strategy, Grose chooses to return to her discussion of her husband in a humorous way: Grose discusses solutions, and says there is “a huge, untapped market ... for toilet-scrubbing iPods. I bet my husband would buy one.” 20 Returning to her own marriage and husband is an appeal to ethos or personal credibility, and while that works well in the introduction, in the conclusion, it lacks the strength and seriousness that the topic deserves and was given earlier in the article. 21

Though Grose begins the essay by effectively persuading her readers of the unfair distribution of home-maintenance cleaning labor, she loses her power in the end, where she most needs to drive home her argument. Readers can see the problem exists in both her marriage and throughout the world; however, her shift to humor and sarcasm makes the reader not take the problem as seriously in the end. 22 Grose could have more seriously driven home the point that a woman’s work could be done: by a man. 23

Works Cited

Grose, Jessica. “Cleaning: The Final Feminist Frontier.” New Republic. The New Republic, 19 Mar. 2013. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.

  • Article author's claim or purpose
  • Summary of the article's main point in the second paragraph (could also be in the introduction)
  • Third paragraph begins with a transition and topic sentence that reflects the first topic in the thesis
  • Quotes illustrate how the author uses appeals to ethos
  • Analysis explains how the quotes show the effective use of ethos as noted in the thesis
  • Transition and topic sentence about the second point from the thesis
  • Quote that illustrates appeals to logos
  • Analysis explains how the quotes show the effective use of logos, as noted in the thesis
  • Transition and topic sentence about the third point from the thesis
  • Quotes that illustrate appeals to pathos
  • Analysis explains how the quotes show the effective use of pathos, as noted in the thesis
  • Transition and topic sentence about fourth point from the thesis
  • Quote illustrates how the author uses appeal to ethos
  • Analysis explains how quote supports thesis
  • Transition and topic sentence about fourth point from thesis
  • Conclusion returns to the ideas in the thesis and further develops them
  • Last sentence returns to the hook in the introduction

Learn more about the " Rhetorical Analysis Graphic Organizer ."

Learn more about " Pathos, Logos, and Ethos ."

Recognizing Rhetorical Appeals in Persuasion and Argumentation

This essay about rhetorical appeals explores ethos, pathos, and logos as foundational elements in persuasive communication. It delves into their individual mechanics and collective influence, citing examples from politics, literature, and advertising. By understanding these appeals, individuals can better analyze and construct persuasive arguments, fostering critical thinking and effective communication skills. Ethos establishes credibility, pathos appeals to emotions, and logos relies on logic and evidence. Through their judicious application, communicators can enhance discourse and catalyze positive change.

How it works

The art of persuasion, honed by orators, writers, and leaders across epochs, hinges on rhetorical appeals, core instruments in this craft. Originating from the wisdom of ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, these appeals—ethos, pathos, and logos—serve as pillars guiding the construction of compelling arguments. Delving into their mechanics enhances our capacity for critical analysis and the crafting of persuasive messages. These appeals, operating singly or in concert, wield influence over opinions, behaviors, and choices, underscoring their potency and limitations.

Ethos, an appeal to the speaker or writer’s credibility and character, endeavors to foster trust and authority, thus facilitating audience acceptance of the message.

Through ethos, communicators establish themselves as trustworthy sources, a feat often achieved through credentials, experience, or reputation. In his speeches, former President Barack Obama frequently underscored his dedication to national unity and his extensive public service background to cultivate ethos, positioning himself as a credible leader meriting attention. Similarly, in scientific research, the credentials of researchers—such as academic achievements or professional affiliations—lend credence to their findings. Armed with the knowledge that the author is a recognized authority, readers are more inclined to embrace the presented argument.

Pathos, by contrast, targets the audience’s emotions, aiming to evoke sentiments that reinforce the argument’s core message. Advertisements commonly employ pathos to spur consumers into purchasing products or services. Charitable organizations, for instance, often employ poignant imagery and narratives depicting individuals in need to evoke empathy and inspire donations. In literature, pathos suffuses narratives to elicit empathy or sorrow, as seen in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, with the affecting tale of Lennie and George. Similarly, in political rhetoric, pathos emerges following calamities or tragedies, as politicians appeal to emotions of grief and optimism, advocating unity and resilience. While potent, pathos must be wielded judiciously, as excessive emotional manipulation may elicit skepticism or backlash.

Logos, the third appeal, relies on logic and reason, presenting cogent arguments supported by evidence, data, and rational analysis. It finds frequent employment in academic discourse and formal debates, where the strength of an argument hinges on sound reasoning. An exemplary instance of logos is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “Letter from Birmingham Jail,” wherein he systematically expounds arguments for civil rights activism, citing historical precedents, philosophical tenets, and constitutional principles. Meticulously, he establishes that the quest for racial justice is a moral imperative grounded in rational scrutiny. In everyday scenarios, logos manifests in product comparisons that spotlight features and prices, appealing to consumers’ penchant for logical and economical choices.

These rhetorical appeals seldom operate in isolation; instead, they intertwine to fashion a more compelling argument. A writer may deploy logos to present statistical evidence while leveraging ethos to establish credibility and pathos to emotionally engage the reader. Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring aptly illustrates this fusion, amalgamating these elements to expose the perils of pesticides. Carson marshaled scientific studies (logos), drew upon her credentials as a biologist (ethos), and recounted poignant instances of wildlife harm (pathos), thereby catalyzing the environmental movement.

It behooves us to remain cognizant of rhetorical appeals in our daily lives, as they permeate advertising, politics, and media. By discerning their application, we can cultivate a more discerning approach to information consumption, recognizing instances of emotional manipulation or logical fallacies. Understanding the functioning of these appeals also equips us to construct more potent arguments, be it for scholarly pursuits, business endeavors, or personal communication.

In essence, rhetorical appeals constitute the bedrock of persuasive discourse, furnishing frameworks that fortify arguments and deepen connections with our audience. However, their deployment demands integrity and equilibrium, respecting the intellect of the audience. When wielded adeptly, these tools possess the potential to elevate discourse and effectuate substantive change.

Please bear in mind that this post serves as a springboard for inspiration and further inquiry. For tailored guidance and assurance that your essay adheres to academic standards, consider consulting professionals at EduBirdie.

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Recognizing Rhetorical Appeals in Persuasion and Argumentation. (2024, May 12). Retrieved from https://papersowl.com/examples/recognizing-rhetorical-appeals-in-persuasion-and-argumentation/

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PapersOwl.com. (2024). Recognizing Rhetorical Appeals in Persuasion and Argumentation . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/recognizing-rhetorical-appeals-in-persuasion-and-argumentation/ [Accessed: 15 May. 2024]

"Recognizing Rhetorical Appeals in Persuasion and Argumentation." PapersOwl.com, May 12, 2024. Accessed May 15, 2024. https://papersowl.com/examples/recognizing-rhetorical-appeals-in-persuasion-and-argumentation/

"Recognizing Rhetorical Appeals in Persuasion and Argumentation," PapersOwl.com , 12-May-2024. [Online]. Available: https://papersowl.com/examples/recognizing-rhetorical-appeals-in-persuasion-and-argumentation/. [Accessed: 15-May-2024]

PapersOwl.com. (2024). Recognizing Rhetorical Appeals in Persuasion and Argumentation . [Online]. Available at: https://papersowl.com/examples/recognizing-rhetorical-appeals-in-persuasion-and-argumentation/ [Accessed: 15-May-2024]

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Essay Title Generator

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Essay titles are not the easiest things to come up with on your own. We know. That’s why we developed our Essay Title Generator to help you create the title your paper deserves. How does it work? Simple. Just enter the topic you’re interested in researching and a random title will be generated from our database based on the parameters you provide.

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COMMENTS

  1. 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. ...

  2. 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 ...

  3. 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.

  4. 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 ...

  5. 70 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

    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 ...

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay

    4. Summarizing Your Main Points. In your conclusion, sum up the main points of your analysis and restate your thesis. Without introducing any new points (such as topics or ideas you haven't already covered in the main body of your essay), summarize the overall impact that the author's rhetorical strategies likely had on their intended audience.

  9. How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis

    A rhetorical analysis essay is a type of essay where you examine how authors or speakers use words, phrases, and other techniques to influence or persuade their audience. ... As per our essay writing service, some common topics for rhetorical analysis include analyzing speeches by influential leaders, dissecting political advertisements, ...

  10. 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 ...

  11. How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay in 6 Steps

    How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay in 6 Steps. Written by MasterClass. Last updated: Sep 2, 2021 • 3 min read. In a rhetorical analysis essay, a writer will examine the rhetoric and style of another author's work. If you want to write your own rhetorical analysis essay, we've developed a step-by-step guide to lead you through the ...

  12. 120 Rhetoric Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

    To help you get started, here are 120 rhetoric essay topic ideas and examples to inspire your next assignment: The role of rhetoric in political speeches. Analysis of Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. The use of ethos, pathos, and logos in advertising. How social media has changed rhetoric in modern society.

  13. 227 Rhetoric Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

    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.

  14. 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.

  15. Free Rhetorical Analysis Essay Examples. Best Topics, Titles

    🔥 30 Hot Rhetorical Analysis Essay Titles in 2024. The year 2024 is ripe with opportunities for rhetorical analysis, from political speeches addressing global challenges to influential social media campaigns reshaping public opinion. These topics not only reflect current trends but also offer a deep well of rhetorical techniques worth exploring.

  16. 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 ...

  17. 20+ Best Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example & Sample Papers

    This article will find some examples that will help you with your rhetorical analysis essay writing effortlessly. On This Page. 1. Good Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example. 2. Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example AP Lang 2023. 3. Rhetorical Analysis Essay Examples for Students. 4.

  18. 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.

  19. 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.

  20. Rhetorical Analysis Sample Essay

    Rhetorical Analysis Sample Essay. Harriet Clark. Ms. Rebecca Winter. CWC 101. 13 Feb. 2015. Not Quite a Clean Sweep: Rhetorical Strategies in. Grose's "Cleaning: The Final Feminist Frontier". A woman's work is never done: many American women grow up with this saying and feel it to be true. 1 One such woman, author Jessica Grose, wrote ...

  21. Rhetorical Analysis Essay Titles

    The title does not have to reveal everything, but it should at least tell what the essay will be about. Titles that are ambiguous or vague or intentionally mysterious should be avoided. The best approach to writing a title for this kind of paper is to be direct. See the titles below for some examples. Rhetorical Analysis Essay Titles 1.

  22. Rhetorical analysis essay tips (how I got a 5!)

    The AP rubric lists three ways you can earn the sophistication point: "Explaining the significance or relevance of the writer's rhetorical choices (given the rhetorical situation).". "Explaining a purpose or function of the passage's complexities or tensions.". "Employing a style that is consistently vivid and persuasive.".

  23. Recognizing Rhetorical Appeals in Persuasion and Argumentation

    Essay Example: The art of persuasion, honed by orators, writers, and leaders across epochs, hinges on rhetorical appeals, core instruments in this craft. Originating from the wisdom of ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle, these appeals—ethos, pathos, and logos—serve as pillars guiding

  24. Essay Title Generator

    1. Select your "essay topic" or "type of essay" from drop down menu. 2. Click the button for "Generate Essay Title." 3. Read the title that our auto-generating system produces. 4.