205 Awesome Rhetorical Analysis Topics For Essays

Would you have to prepare a rhetorical analysis essay? Are you struggling to come up with interesting rhetorical analysis topics for your assignment? Don’t worry! In this blog post, we have composed a list of the best rhetorical analysis essay topics and ideas that will help you boost your academic scores. Also, from here, you can learn how to write an outstanding rhetorical analysis essay on a good rhetorical analysis topic. To gain more ideas about rhetorical analysis, continue reading.

What is a Rhetorical Analysis Essay?

A rhetorical analysis essay is an academic essay type that explains the techniques implemented by literary authors to convince their readers. In simple, it is referred to as ‘writing about writing’ because it focuses only on how the authors have created a piece of work to influence the audience. This essay never analyzes the arguments or opinions in a book. Instead, it signifies how effectively the arguments are presented in the work.

The main purpose of rhetorical analysis is to determine the goals of the writers and the techniques they have used to convey their points persuasively. Usually, as a part of English assignments and composition exams, the instructors will ask you to write this analysis essay. You can perform rhetorical analysis to study the work such as novels, speeches, articles, TV shows, movies, plays, and advertisements.

Learn How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Till now, we have seen what rhetorical analysis means. Next, let us have a closer look at the steps for writing a rhetorical analysis paper.

1. First, identify the best rhetorical analysis topic that you are confident to write about.
2. Analyze and gather the necessary information about the topic or work you have selected. Say, for instance, perform a basic literary analysis and find out the details like the title, narrator of the work, target audience, the purpose of the work, and tone.
3. After collecting the basic information, find out the appeals or persuasive strategies the author has used in his/her work to attract the audience. Some common rhetorical strategies are Ethos (ethical values), Logos (logic), and Pathos (emotions).
4. Research the whole work and identify the literary styles such as figurative language, analogies, repetition, imagery, and analogies, etc. that authors have used.
5. Develop a complete analysis of the work based on the rhetorical situation. During the analysis, mainly find out the purpose of the content, its reason for existence, and the way it is written.
6. Sketch a neat outline based on your analysis.
7. Write an introduction chapter. In this section, mention background information on the topic and include a thesis statement.
8. Prepare body paragraphs. Here, in this section, explain in detail the appeals, rhetorical situations, and techniques the writers have used in their work. When explaining, make it a point to include relevant examples, data, quotes, or facts supporting your ideas.
9. Finally, wrap up the paper with a conclusion. In the conclusion paragraph, restate the thesis statement and summarize all the major points of discussion.
10. After writing the paper, proofread and edit the errors in it before submission.

Tips for Choosing a Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topic

By following all the steps shared above, you can write an outstanding rhetorical analysis paper. But out of all the steps, remember to give a high level of importance to topic selection. You can score an A+ grade, only if you have a good topic.

In general, there are limitless rhetorical analysis essay topics available online. Hence, you may face difficulties in choosing one good topic from them.

If you are asked to come up with a good rhetorical analysis topic, then make sure to keep the following tips in mind during topic selection.

• Pick a topic that matches your interest.
• Never force yourself to choose a popular non-impressive topic.
• Focus only on the topics that are trending.
• Give preference to the topic that has wide research opportunities.
• Avoid selecting a too-broad or too-narrow topic.
• Do background research and narrow the topic if it is too broad.
• Consider only the topic that is familiar to you.
• Go with the captivating topic, and you have strong knowledge of.
• Pick a topic that has the power to trigger the emotions of the readers.
• Finalize the topic only if it satisfies your instructor’s writing guidelines.

The topic selection is the first step in the rhetorical analysis paper writing process that you couldn’t skip. In case, you are asked to choose a topic of your choice, strictly follow the tips shared above, and identify a good topic for your assignment.

List of Interesting Rhetorical Analysis Topics and Ideas

As said earlier, there are endless rhetorical analysis essay topics available. But here, we have listed only a few interesting Rhetorical Analysis Topic ideas. If you are hunting for the best rhetorical topics, then dive into the whole list of ideas and pick any topic that fits you perfectly.

Simple Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

In case, you lack analytical abilities, instead of working on complex topics, take into account simple rhetorical analysis essay ideas so that you may effortlessly finish your task. The following are some easy rhetorical topics you may consider for writing an essay.

1. A rhetorical analysis of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.
2. Explore the different rhetorical devices used by presenters.
3. Conduct a rhetorical analysis of the Bible.
4. Analyze the rhetorical devices used in the famous portrait, Monalisa.
5. Research the rhetorical devices used to portray love and romance in plays.
6. Discuss the limitations of monologues in attracting the audience.
7. Analyze the use of rhetorical devices in the USA and Britain.
8. A thematic analysis of the ancient writing of the 19th century.
9. How can you point out the rhetorical richness of any speech?
10. How does television advertising use rhetorical devices?
11. Importance of theme of hope in literature
12. Issues of race and prejudice as the theme in a current novel
13. The importance symbolism plays in novels
14. Rhetorical strategies used in your favorite novel
15. Analyze the rhetorical strategies Florence Kelly uses in her speech to convey her message about child labor.

Rhetorical Analysis Topics for School Students

Are you unsure what rhetorical analysis essay topic to choose for your school assignments? If yes, then make use of the list suggested below. In the list, we have included some excellent rhetorical analysis essay titles for school students.

1. How the electronic media has impacted culture: A rhetorical analysis
2. Analyze the rhetorical power of social media in making the world a global village
3. Rhetorical analysis of the impact of the Olympics and World Cup
4. Rhetorically analyze the attitude of women towards fashion versus that of men.
5. How do women consume media advertisement messages as compared to men?
6. Conduct a rhetorical analysis of why the dog is the best keeper of the house
7. Provide a rhetorical analysis of the school principal’s speech on the farewell day.
8. A rhetorical analysis of the behavior of online consumers.
9. Analyze the primary themes present in “Alice in Wonderland”.
10. Analyze the rhetorical power of social media in making the world a global village.
11. A literary analysis of “The Animal Farm.”
12. Analyze “The Kite Runner.”
13. Rhetorically analyze the attitude of women towards fashion versus that of men.
14. Analyze and find the themes in “Pride and Prejudice” by William Shakespeare.
15. Analyze the speech of a Nobel Peace Prize winner you know.

Rhetorical Analysis Topics for College Students

For your literature assignments in college, your professor might ask you to submit an essay or research paper on rhetorical analysis topics. The following are some rhetorical analysis topic ideas that might be helpful for college students in creating an academic paper.

1. A rhetorical analysis of the environment and consumerism.
2. Explore the main literary devices in the Harry Porter.
3. The function of literary devices in poetry and plays.
4. How do blogs and other online writing content use rhetoric?
5. What are the popular marks of acceptance speeches?
6. How technology has made it possible and easy to manipulate rhetoric devices.
7. Discuss the usage of solitude in various works of literature.
8. What are the effects of camera movements on video quality?
9. Explain the issues of rhetoric in Plato’s, Republic.
10. Features of a magazine cover.
11. Do school life and the pressure of homework kill children’s creativity?
12. What is the meaning behind Mona Lisa’s smile?
13. Analyze the story of Romeo and Juliet
14. What is the significance of “The Last Supper” of Leonardo Da Vinci?
15. Critically analyze William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest”

Poetry Topics for Rhetorical Analysis

To persuade the readers or to impart information, the authors primarily use several rhetorical devices in poems. For your rhetorical analysis essay, you may choose any poem of your interest and conduct a study on it. Listed below are some poetry topics to consider for creating a rhetorical analysis essay.

1. TV campaigns for beauty products.
2. Explain the allegories used in Daddy by Sylvia Plath.
3. The rhetorical devices used by Walt Whitman in O, Captain! My Captain!
4. Analyze the main rhetorical devices in W. H. Auden’s Funeral Blues.
5. Self-acceptance in Maya Angelou’s Phenomenal Woman.
6. How does Stephen Crane characterize war in Fast Rode the Knight?
7. Analyze the Faces of Love in A Red, Red Rose by Robert Burns.
8. Symbolism in Walt Whitman’s Crossing Brooklyn Ferry.
9. Analyze the use of personification in William Butler Yeats’ Brown Penny.
10. Analyze Poe’s Poetry “The Raven”.
11. Analyze the meaning of the poem “The Road Not Taken” written by Robert Frost
12. Discuss the significance of “Ode to a Nightingale” written by John Keats
13. What rhetorical devices are used by Emily Dickinson in “Because I Could not Stop for Death”?
14. Compare and contrast Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven” and Emma Lazarus’s “The New Colossus”
15. Which rhetorical devices are mostly used by William Shakespeare?

Rhetorical Analysis Topics on Speeches

Some speakers smartly use rhetorical techniques in their speeches to influence the audience. When it comes to creating a rhetorical analysis essay, you may select any impactful speech of a famous political leader as a topic. The following are some rhetorical analysis essay prompts that are related to speeches.

1. Explain the themes of anger and darkness in William Blake’s A Poison Tree.
2. Analyze Jack Ma’s motivational speech.
3. Research the stylistic devices of Kamala Harris’ acceptance speech.
4. “Full Power of Women” by Priyanka Chopra.
5. The final speech of Donald Trump as the President of the United States.
6. “I Have a Dream” by Martin Luther King, Jr.
7. Speech from Finding Forrester.
8. “A Time for Choosing” by Ronald Reagan.
9. Analyze Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Pearl Harbor speech.
10. “I Am Prepared to Die” by Nelson Mandela.
11. Analyze President Biden’s speech on transgender.
12. Emma Goldman’s Address to the Jury.
13. Explain the rhetorical devices used in George Washington’s Resignation Speech.
14. Analyze the Nobel Peace Prize Speech by Malala Yousafzai.
15. Research 2005 Stanford Commencement Speech by Steve Jobs.

Fiction Topics for Rhetorical Analysis

If you are more interested in reading fictional books or watching fictional movies, then for creating a rhetorical analysis essay, you may take into account any of the topic ideas recommended here.

1. Discuss an influential political speech that is still referred to in the 21st century.
2. Explain the Author’s voice in “The Fault in Our Stars” by John Green.
3. Describe the delivery of the friendship theme in “Code Name Verity”.
4. Justice theme in “The Heretic’s Daughter”.
5. Analyze the Rhetorical features in “The Great Gatsby”.
6. Language of mystery in “The Secret Life of Violet Grant”.
7. Rhetorical devices used in “The Sense of an Ending”.
8. Discuss the main themes in “The Lottery”.
9. A rhetorical analysis of “The Phantom of the Opera.”
10. Explore the themes in Laura Hillenbrand’s “Unbroken.”
11. A rhetorical analysis of “The Revenant” By Michael Punke.
12. Analyze Sarah Orne Jewett’s “A White Heron”
13. Distinct rhetoric is featured in Arthur Miller’s “The Crucible.”
14. Explore civilization versus savagery in “The Lord of the Flies”.
15. Describe the elitism theme in “One Hundred Years of Solitude”.

Non-fictional Rhetorical Analysis Topics

Some non-fictional authors also employ rhetorical devices in their work to convince the readers to accept their arguments. In case, you wish to conduct rhetorical analysis on non-fictional material, then you will find this list helpful. In the list, we have included some interesting non-fictional topics to consider for preparing a rhetorical analysis essay.

1. Describe Crisis and Love in Mohsin Hamid’s Exit West.
2. Explain the Sympathy and abuse in “Cold Blood”.
3. Rhetorical analysis of trauma in “Hiroshima” by John Hersey.
4. Explore the persuasion theme in “Silent Spring”.
5. Rhetorical features in Isak Dinesen’s “Out of Africa”.
6. Analyze “Traveling Mercies” by Anne Lamott.
7. Explain the emotional appeal in “Goodbye to all that”.
8. What makes “Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl” terrifying?
9. Explore the theme of grief in “The Year of Magical Thinking.”
10. Analyze “A nation among nations” by Thomas H. Bender.
11. Analyze “The Ethics of Belief” by William Kingdon Clifford.
12. Analyze the movie monologue of Chris Evans in “Avengers: Endgame”.
13. Rhetorical analysis essay on Man of Steel.
14. Discuss the monologue of Charlie Chaplin in “The Great Dictator”.
15. Explore the monologue of Morgan Freeman in “The Shawshank Redemption”.

Rhetorical Analysis Topics on Movies

To communicate different ideas, filmmakers use some effective rhetorical techniques in movies. If you are a film enthusiast, then you may perform rhetorical analysis on movies. The following are some amazing rhetorical analysis topics related to movies on which you may create an informative essay.

1. Rhetorical analysis of Macbeth.
2. Explore the monologue of Salvatore Corsitta in “The Godfather”.
3. Analyze Jurassic Park.
4. Toy Story.
5. Research King Kong.
6. The Titanic.
7. Rhetorical analysis of Star Wars.
8. Rhetorical analysis of Almost Famous.
9. The Phantom of the Opera.
10. Bad Boys for Life.
11. The Matrix.
12. McDonald’s: The Simpler, the Better.
13. Red Bull: Red Bull gives you wings.
14. Apple: Think Different.
15. BMW: Designed for Driving Pleasure.

Excellent Rhetorical Analysis Topics

Would you like to fetch top grades for your rhetorical analysis research paper? If yes, then you may give preference to any of the excellent rhetorical topics listed below that are worth performing a deep examination.

1. Coca-Cola: Friendly Twist.
2. L’Oréal: Because You’re Worth It.
3. Disneyland: The Happiest Place on Earth.
4. Panasonic: Ideas for Life.
5. Nike: There Is No Finish Line.
6. M&M: Melts in Your Mouth, Not in Your Hands.
7. How does stereotyping blur the effective use of rhetorical devices?
8. The expression of the role of a man and a woman in literary texts.
9. The effect of an objective or subjective author’s approach.
10. The rhetorical analysis of the speech of any popular orator.
11. Discuss the patterns that exist in William Shakespeare’s choice of words.
12. How keywords, phrases, and ideas are used to communicate messages in literary texts.
13. The effect of formal or informal language on a speech.
14. A rhetoric analysis of Coca-Cola’s logo colors.
15. Analyze the visual arts in Hollywood movie productions.

Captivating Rhetorical Analysis Topics for Essays

The rhetorical analysis essay that you create should be engaging to your readers. So, choose a topic accordingly. If you are clueless about what topic to select for your essay, then take into account any of these rhetorical analysis essay topics.

1. Explain how theme and plot can turn a literary work into a masterpiece
2. What are the impacts of yellow journalism?
3. Explain how The Blind Side uses symbolism
4. Examine how food ads portray people.
5. Analyze the effects of slow motion in movies
6. Discuss the effects of soundtracks in films.
7. Prepare a rhetorical analysis essay on Success Strategies.
8. Analyze how TV campaigns use texts.
9. Analyze sermons by Jonathan Edwards
10. Rhetorically analyze a fiction work.

Amazing Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Every piece of writing uses rhetorical devices in some or the other way. For your rhetorical analysis essay, you may examine any literary works that were composed in a rhetorical situation. In this section, we have listed some amazing topics on which you may perform rhetorical analysis.

1. A rhetorical analysis of songs from pop culture.
2. The relevance of the themes of hope and love in most literary texts.
3. Explore the rhetorical devices used in the American national anthem.
4. The rhetorical composition of different religious texts.
5. Discuss the most valuable rhetorical strategies in Game of Thrones.
6. Explore the rhetorical devices in funeral messages.
7. When compared to men’s talks, what about women’s remarks sticks out the most?
8. Does the Pearl Harbor Address by Franklin D. Roosevelt include any significant rhetorical devices?
9. Analyze if the rhetorical strategies utilized in plays are effective for the speech’s intended audience.
10. How can the rhetorical depth of any utterance be identified?
11. Examine how rhetorical tactics are used in the USA and the UK.
12. Make a biblical rhetorical analysis.
13. Rhetorical techniques’ effects on how a reader interprets a non-fiction tale
14. Is there something about William Shakespeare’s writing style that appeals to you?
15. How does the audience’s impression of the tale be affected by the author’s credibility?

Interesting Topics for Rhetorical Analysis

If you are asked to conduct a rhetorical analysis, always choose any topic that is interesting to you. For instance, you may concentrate on any literary works or art forms that you are passionate about. Listed below are some rhetorical analysis topics that might excite you the most.

1. A rhetorical analysis of a TED talks speech.
2. Analyze the role of symbolism in novels.
3. Definition of heroism by different writers.
4. Analyze Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code.
5. Persuasive devices were used in Mississippi’s Corrections Reform by John Buntin.
6. Discuss the brand name and emotional appeal.
7. Rhetorical analysis on the impact of the Olympics and World Cup.
8. How does the use of stylistic devices in ancient times vary from that of today?
9. Why do concrete or abstract images matter in a literary text?
10. Discuss how rhetorical devices vary from classical to Rogerian texts.
11. An Examination of customer behavior on the internet using rhetoric
12. How culture has been impacted by the electronic media: a critique of the rhetoric
13. Examine rhetorically how social media is transforming the world into a global community.
14. How do writers plan for the audience’s response when they employ rhetorical strategies?
15. How can stereotypes impede the use of rhetorical strategies effectively?

Latest Rhetorical Analysis Topics

Instead of working on frequently discussed topics or popular essay ideas, give preference to the current rhetorical analysis essay prompts. Listed below are some latest topics on which you may write an impactful rhetorical analysis essay with valid examples.

1. Analysis of rhetoric on the effects of the Olympics and World Cup
2. During the Olympic games, playing national anthems has symbolic meaning.
3. William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet”: A Rhetorical Analysis of the Major Themes
4. Analyze the last address given by First Lady Melania Trump using your understanding of rhetorical strategies.
5. Examine the fundamental concepts of “Alice in Wonderland“
6. Rhetorical evaluation of President Biden’s inaugural address
7. Shakespeare’s use of language in his well-known play Romeo and Juliet
8. Compare and contrast President Trump’s inaugural address with that of President Obama.
9. a thorough examination of the speeches that made Martin Luther famous
10. Investigate the various rhetorical strategies employed by speakers and their effects on the intended audience.
11. Analyze the last address given by First Lady Melania Trump using your understanding of rhetorical strategies.
12. What are the drawbacks of using monologues to draw an audience?
13. When compared to men’s talks, what about women’s remarks sticks out the most?
14. Does the Pearl Harbor Address by Franklin D. Roosevelt include any significant rhetorical devices?
15. How does the audience’s perception of the story be affected by the author’s credibility?

Unique Rhetorical Analysis Essay Ideas

If you want your rhetorical analysis essay or a research paper to stand at the top in your class, then work on any original topic that has not been analyzed before. The following are some unique rhetorical analysis topics on which you may conduct a deep investigation and compose a brilliant academic paper.

1. Explain how Jane Austen uses literary devices in her work.
2. How important is home as a theme in literature?
3. Explain how your favorite ad campaign employs rhetoric
4. Discuss how the expression of males and females affects literary texts
5. Explain a speech or article that uses rhetorical devices better
6. Compare the variation of rhetorical devices between Rogerian and classical texts.
7. Discuss the essence of abstract images in literary texts
8. Analyze rhetorical devices in Edgar Allen’s The Raven
9. Rhetorical devices that make Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales relevant
10. How Harry Potter implements rhetorical strategies
11. The failure of charity, classism, victorian era, the folly of individualism: Charles Dickens’s Oliver Twist
12. How do the new Hollywood producers and show-runners address the issue related to diversity and inclusivity in the television and movie industry?
13. Analyze the  recurring effect of Misogyny in the real-life experiences of Malala Yousafzai
14. Discuss the impact of legislation on Birth Control pills in the growing cases of the untimely death of Women in rural areas
15. How do teen pregnancy, rape and delegitimization of abortion and birth control pills conjure to control women’s bodies?

The Bottom Line

If you are a literature student, then you can’t escape from submitting a rhetorical analysis essay. You may conduct a rhetorical analysis of a movie, novel, or speech for your assignment. In this blog, for your convenience, we have shared a list of excellent rhetorical analysis topics on various themes. Choose any topic of interest from the list and create a detailed essay after conducting an in-depth rhetorical analysis. Generally, to create a rhetorical analysis essay, you must possess good analytical skills and writing abilities.  In case, you experience difficulties with performing rhetorical analysis and creating an essay, approach our literature assignment helpers for support.