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• How to write a rhetorical analysis | Key concepts & examples

How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis | Key Concepts & Examples

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

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

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Table of contents

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

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

Appeals: Logos, ethos, pathos

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

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

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

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

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

Text and context

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

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

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

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

Claims, supports, and warrants

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

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

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

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

For example, look at the following statement:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis Essay–Examples & Template

What is a Rhetorical Analysis Essay?

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

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

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

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

Key Rhetorical Concepts

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

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

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

Rhetorical Appeals

Rhetorical appeal #1: ethos.

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

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

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

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

Rhetorical appeal #2: Pathos

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

Rhetorical appeal #3: Logos

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

Text and Context

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

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

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

Claims, Supports, and Warrants

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

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

What are the Five Rhetorical Situations?

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

Rhetorical situations can be classified into the following five categories:

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

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

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

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

Analyzing the Text

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rhetorical Analysis Introduction

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

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

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

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

Doing the Rhetorical Analysis

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

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

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

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

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

Rhetorical Analysis Conclusion

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

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

Frequently Asked Questions about Rhetorical Analysis Essays 

What is a rhetorical analysis essay.

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

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

What is the correct rhetorical analysis essay format?

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

What is the “rhetorical triangle”?

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

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

Helly Douglas

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

What is a Rhetorical Analysis Essay?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Rhetorical Strategy 1: Ethos

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

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

Aristotle breaks ethos down into three further categories:

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

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

Rhetorical Strategy 2: Pathos

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

Common use of pathos includes:

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

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

Rhetorical Strategy 3: Logos

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

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

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

The rhetorical situations are:

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

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

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

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.

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

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

1: Introduction

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

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

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

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

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

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

3: Conclusion

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

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

Before You Submit

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

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.

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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70 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for Secondary ELA

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

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

Rhetoric is Defined As…

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

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

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

That’s why political figures have speech writers.

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

Rhetoric is important.

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

The Rhetorical Analysis Essay

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

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

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

The BEST Rhetoric Topics

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

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

Your future English-teacher-self will thank you. 

47 Rhetoric Examples in Speeches

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

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

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

Rhetoric in Advertising: 23 Examples

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

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

Rhetoric Commercials & Print Advertisements

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

Rhetoric of the Image

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

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

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

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

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

Next, identify rhetorical appeals . 

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

Look for rhetorical devices & patterns in the text.

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

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

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

Six Strategies for Teaching Rhetorical Analysis

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

Rhetorical Analysis Essay FAQ’s

How do you write a rhetorical analysis essay.

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

What does it mean to write a rhetorical analysis?

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

What are the three rhetorical strategies?

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

About Lindsay Ann

Lindsay has been teaching high school English in the burbs of Chicago for 18 years. She is passionate about helping English teachers find balance in their lives and teaching practice through practical feedback strategies and student-led learning strategies. She also geeks out about literary analysis, inquiry-based learning, and classroom technology integration. When Lindsay is not teaching, she enjoys playing with her two kids, running, and getting lost in a good book.

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Reader Interactions

January 9, 2023 at 9:38 am

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

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

Teachers have to help each other out 🙂

Best, Nikkee

January 9, 2023 at 5:44 pm

Thank you so much for letting me know, Nikkee!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

November 27, 2023

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

What is the AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay?

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

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

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

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

AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Rubric

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

Thesis (0-1 point)

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

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

Evidence and Commentary (0-4 points)

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

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

Sophistication (0-1 point)

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

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

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

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

AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis: Sample Prompt

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

Suggested time—40 minutes.

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

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

In your response you should do the following:

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

AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

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

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

AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example (Continued)

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

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

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

AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example: Why It Works

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

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

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

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

Evidence and Commentary:

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

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

Sophistication

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

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

AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay—More Resources

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

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

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

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Rhetorical Analysis 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

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How to write a rhetorical analysis

What is a rhetorical analysis?

What are the key concepts of a rhetorical analysis, rhetorical situation, claims, supports, and warrants.

• Step 1: Plan and prepare
• Step 2: Write your introduction
• Step 3: Write the body
• Step 4: Write your conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions about rhetorical analysis

Related articles.

Rhetoric is the art of persuasion and aims to study writers’ or speakers' techniques to inform, persuade, or motivate their audience. Thus, a rhetorical analysis aims to explore the goals and motivations of an author, the techniques they’ve used to reach their audience, and how successful these techniques were.

This will generally involve analyzing a specific text and considering the following aspects to connect the rhetorical situation to the text:

• Does the author successfully support the thesis or claims made in the text? Here, you’ll analyze whether the author holds to their argument consistently throughout the text or whether they wander off-topic at some point.
• Does the author use evidence effectively considering the text’s intended audience? Here, you’ll consider the evidence used by the author to support their claims and whether the evidence resonates with the intended audience.
• What rhetorical strategies the author uses to achieve their goals. Here, you’ll consider the word choices by the author and whether these word choices align with their agenda for the text.
• The tone of the piece. Here, you’ll consider the tone used by the author in writing the piece by looking at specific words and aspects that set the tone.
• Whether the author is objective or trying to convince the audience of a particular viewpoint. When it comes to objectivity, you’ll consider whether the author is objective or holds a particular viewpoint they want to convince the audience of. If they are, you’ll also consider whether their persuasion interferes with how the text is read and understood.
• Does the author correctly identify the intended audience? It’s important to consider whether the author correctly writes the text for the intended audience and what assumptions the author makes about the audience.
• Does the text make sense? Here, you’ll consider whether the author effectively reasons, based on the evidence, to arrive at the text’s conclusion.
• Does the author try to appeal to the audience’s emotions? You’ll need to consider whether the author uses any words, ideas, or techniques to appeal to the audience’s emotions.
• Can the author be believed? Finally, you’ll consider whether the audience will accept the arguments and ideas of the author and why.

Summing up, unlike summaries that focus on what an author said, a rhetorical analysis focuses on how it’s said, and it doesn’t rely on an analysis of whether the author was right or wrong but rather how they made their case to arrive at their conclusions.

Although rhetorical analysis is most used by academics as part of scholarly work, it can be used to analyze any text including speeches, novels, television shows or films, advertisements, or cartoons.

Now that we’ve seen what rhetorical analysis is, let’s consider some of its key concepts .

Any rhetorical analysis starts with the rhetorical situation which identifies the relationships between the different elements of the text. These elements include the audience, author or writer, the author’s purpose, the delivery method or medium, and the content:

• Audience: The audience is simply the readers of a specific piece of text or content or printed material. For speeches or other mediums like film and video, the audience would be the listeners or viewers. Depending on the specific piece of text or the author’s perception, the audience might be real, imagined, or invoked. With a real audience, the author writes to the people actually reading or listening to the content while, for an imaginary audience, the author writes to an audience they imagine would read the content. Similarly, for an invoked audience, the author writes explicitly to a specific audience.
• Author or writer: The author or writer, also commonly referred to as the rhetor in the context of rhetorical analysis, is the person or the group of persons who authored the text or content.
• The author’s purpose: The author’s purpose is the author’s reason for communicating to the audience. In other words, the author’s purpose encompasses what the author expects or intends to achieve with the text or content.
• Alphabetic text includes essays, editorials, articles, speeches, and other written pieces.
• Imaging includes website and magazine advertisements, TV commercials, and the like.
• Audio includes speeches, website advertisements, radio or tv commercials, or podcasts.
• Context: The context of the text or content considers the time, place, and circumstances surrounding the delivery of the text to its audience. With respect to context, it might often also be helpful to analyze the text in a different context to determine its impact on a different audience and in different circumstances.

An author will use claims, supports, and warrants to build the case around their argument, irrespective of whether the argument is logical and clearly defined or needs to be inferred by the audience:

• Claim: The claim is the main idea or opinion of an argument that the author must prove to the intended audience. In other words, the claim is the fact or facts the author wants to convince the audience of. Claims are usually explicitly stated but can, depending on the specific piece of content or text, be implied from the content. Although these claims could be anything and an argument may be based on a single or several claims, the key is that these claims should be debatable.
• Support: The supports are used by the author to back up the claims they make in their argument. These supports can include anything from fact-based, objective evidence to subjective emotional appeals and personal experiences used by the author to convince the audience of a specific claim. Either way, the stronger and more reliable the supports, the more likely the audience will be to accept the claim.
• Warrant: The warrants are the logic and assumptions that connect the supports to the claims. In other words, they’re the assumptions that make the initial claim possible. The warrant is often unstated, and the author assumes that the audience will be able to understand the connection between the claims and supports. In turn, this is based on the author’s assumption that they share a set of values and beliefs with the audience that will make them understand the connection mentioned above. Conversely, if the audience doesn’t share these beliefs and values with the author, the argument will not be that effective.

Appeals are used by authors to convince their audience and, as such, are an integral part of the rhetoric and are often referred to as the rhetorical triangle. As a result, an author may combine all three appeals to convince their audience:

• Ethos: Ethos represents the authority or credibility of the author. To be successful, the author needs to convince the audience of their authority or credibility through the language and delivery techniques they use. This will, for example, be the case where an author writing on a technical subject positions themselves as an expert or authority by referring to their qualifications or experience.
• Logos: Logos refers to the reasoned argument the author uses to persuade their audience. In other words, it refers to the reasons or evidence the author proffers in substantiation of their claims and can include facts, statistics, and other forms of evidence. For this reason, logos is also the dominant approach in academic writing where authors present and build up arguments using reasoning and evidence.
• Pathos: Through pathos, also referred to as the pathetic appeal, the author attempts to evoke the audience’s emotions through the use of, for instance, passionate language, vivid imagery, anger, sympathy, or any other emotional response.

To write a rhetorical analysis, you need to follow the steps below:

With a rhetorical analysis, you don’t choose concepts in advance and apply them to a specific text or piece of content. Rather, you’ll have to analyze the text to identify the separate components and plan and prepare your analysis accordingly.

Here, it might be helpful to use the SOAPSTone technique to identify the components of the work. SOAPSTone is a common acronym in analysis and represents the:

• Speaker . Here, you’ll identify the author or the narrator delivering the content to the audience.
• Occasion . With the occasion, you’ll identify when and where the story takes place and what the surrounding context is.
• Audience . Here, you’ll identify who the audience or intended audience is.
• Purpose . With the purpose, you’ll need to identify the reason behind the text or what the author wants to achieve with their writing.
• Subject . You’ll also need to identify the subject matter or topic of the text.
• Tone . The tone identifies the author’s feelings towards the subject matter or topic.

Apart from gathering the information and analyzing the components mentioned above, you’ll also need to examine the appeals the author uses in writing the text and attempting to persuade the audience of their argument. Moreover, you’ll need to identify elements like word choice, word order, repetition, analogies, and imagery the writer uses to get a reaction from the audience.

Once you’ve gathered the information and examined the appeals and strategies used by the author as mentioned above, you’ll need to answer some questions relating to the information you’ve collected from the text. The answers to these questions will help you determine the reasons for the choices the author made and how well these choices support the overall argument.

Here, some of the questions you’ll ask include:

• What was the author’s intention?
• Who was the intended audience?
• What is the author’s argument?
• What strategies does the author use to build their argument and why do they use those strategies?
• What appeals the author uses to convince and persuade the audience?
• What effect the text has on the audience?

Keep in mind that these are just some of the questions you’ll ask, and depending on the specific text, there might be others.

Once you’ve done your preparation, you can start writing the rhetorical analysis. It will start off with an introduction which is a clear and concise paragraph that shows you understand the purpose of the text and gives more information about the author and the relevance of the text.

The introduction also summarizes the text and the main ideas you’ll discuss in your analysis. Most importantly, however, is your thesis statement . This statement should be one sentence at the end of the introduction that summarizes your argument and tempts your audience to read on and find out more about it.

After your introduction, you can proceed with the body of your analysis. Here, you’ll write at least three paragraphs that explain the strategies and techniques used by the author to convince and persuade the audience, the reasons why the writer used this approach, and why it’s either successful or unsuccessful.

You can structure the body of your analysis in several ways. For example, you can deal with every strategy the author uses in a new paragraph, but you can also structure the body around the specific appeals the author used or chronologically.

No matter how you structure the body and your paragraphs, it’s important to remember that you support each one of your arguments with facts, data, examples, or quotes and that, at the end of every paragraph, you tie the topic back to your original thesis.

Finally, you’ll write the conclusion of your rhetorical analysis. Here, you’ll repeat your thesis statement and summarize the points you’ve made in the body of your analysis. Ultimately, the goal of the conclusion is to pull the points of your analysis together so you should be careful to not raise any new issues in your conclusion.

After you’ve finished your conclusion, you’ll end your analysis with a powerful concluding statement of why your argument matters and an invitation to conduct more research if needed.

A rhetorical analysis aims to explore the goals and motivations of an author, the techniques they’ve used to reach their audience, and how successful these techniques were. Although rhetorical analysis is most used by academics as part of scholarly work, it can be used to analyze any text including speeches, novels, television shows or films, advertisements, or cartoons.

The steps to write a rhetorical analysis include:

Your rhetorical analysis introduction is a clear and concise paragraph that shows you understand the purpose of the text and gives more information about the author and the relevance of the text. The introduction also summarizes the text and the main ideas you’ll discuss in your analysis.

Ethos represents the authority or credibility of the author. To be successful, the author needs to convince the audience of their authority or credibility through the language and delivery techniques they use. This will, for example, be the case where an author writing on a technical subject positions themselves as an expert or authority by referring to their qualifications or experience.

Appeals are used by authors to convince their audience and, as such, are an integral part of the rhetoric and are often referred to as the rhetorical triangle. The 3 types of appeals are ethos, logos, and pathos.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

Top 15+ Rhetorical Analysis Essay Examples for Students

Published on: Mar 10, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 29, 2024

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Writing a rhetorical analysis essay can be tough. You want to engage your reader, but you also need to provide clear and concise analysis of the text. 

It's hard to know where to start, what information is important, and how to make your argument clear. 

Don't fret! We've got you covered. 

In this blog post, we'll give you 15+ Rhetorical analysis essay examples to help you craft a winning essay. Plus, we'll give you some tips on how to make your essay stand out.

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Good Rhetorical Analysis Essay Examples

Examples help the readers to understand things in a better way. They also help a writer to compose an essay just like professionals.

Here are some amazing rhetorical analysis examples on different topics. Use them as a helping hand to understand the concept and write a good essay.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example: AP Language

Rhetorical analysis done in AP Language and Composition is one of the biggest tasks a student can ever get. On the same hand, drafting it in a proper way is also necessary to get good grades.

Look at these rhetorical analysis essay example AP language given below to see how a well-written rhetorical essay is written.

AP Rhetorical analysis essay example

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example Ap Lang 2020

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example Ap Lang 2021

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example AP Lang 2022

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example AP Lang 2023

These rhetorical analysis essay example college board will help you to win over your panel in no time!

Want to start from the basics? Head over to our Rhetorical essay guide to solidify your base.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example: Ted Talk

A rhetorical analysis can be done on nearly anything. Here is a good example of a rhetorical essay in which a ted talk is being analyzed.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example: Ethos, Pathos, Logos

The first impression of these three terms sounds just like a conjuration in some kind of a magical story. But in fact, these elements of persuasion were created by Aristotle and have been used for a very long time.

According to Aristotle, they were the primary persuasive strategies that authors should use in their papers. These elements are further elaborated as follows:

• The ethos appeals to ethics.
• Pathos appeals to emotions.
• Logos mean the use of rational thinking.

Here is an example of a rhetorical essay written using these elements.

Understand Ethos,Pathos and Logos to write a compelling essay.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example for College

College students often get to write a rhetorical analysis essay. They find it hard to write such an essay because it is a bit more technical than other essay types.

Here is an example of a well-written rhetorical essay for college students.

Comparative Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

A rhetorical analysis essay can be written to show a comparison between two objects. Here is a compare-and-contrast rhetorical analysis essay example.

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Visual Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

The visual rhetorical essay determines how pictures and images communicate messages and persuade the audience. Usually, visual rhetorical essays are written for advertisements. They use strong images to convince the audience to behave in a certain way.

Visual Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example Pdf

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example: Letter from Birmingham Jail

Here is another good example of a rhetorical essay. Most of us know about the history of “letter from a Birmingham jail”. Read the given example to see how rhetorical analysis is done on it.

Struggling for a similar good topic? Check out our amazing rhetorical essay topics to select the perfect theme for your essay.

Great Influenza: Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

Influenza has been one of the scariest pandemics the world has faced in history. Here is a rhetorical essay on great influenza.

Great influenza: Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

Condoleezza Rice Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

The speech given by Condoleezza Rice has become a classic example of effective oratory. Here is an example of a rhetorical analysis essay on the speech given by Condoleezza Rice at a commencement ceremony.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example: Condoleezza Rice’s Commencement Speech

This example explores the effectiveness of Rice's speech and features an in-depth analysis. 

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example High School

High school essays involve the analysis of different texts and the application of rhetorical tools to those texts. Here is an example that focuses on a high school essay about the effects of television on society. 

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example (Pdf)

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example MLA

MLA format is one of the most commonly used formats for essays. Here is an example of a rhetorical essay written in MLA format that focuses on the effectiveness of advertisements. 

MLA Rhetorical Analysis Essay PDF

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example Outline

Outline helps to organize the ideas and arguments that you want to present in your essay. Here is a sample outline that can help you write an effective rhetorical analysis essay.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example Outline sample

Hop on to our rhetorical essay outline guide to learn the step-by-step process of crafting an exemplary outline.

How to Start a Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example

When starting a rhetorical analysis essay, it is important to provide a brief overview of the topic that you are analyzing. This should include the overall message being conveyed, the target audience and the rhetorical devices used in the text. 

Here is a rhetorical analysis introduction example for your ease.

Thesis Statement Example for Rhetorical Analysis Essay

The thesis statement of a rhetorical analysis essay should explain the primary argument being made in the text. Here is an example of a thesis statement for a rhetorical analysis essay for your ease.

Example of Rhetorical Analysis Thesis Statement

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example Conclusion

The conclusion of a rhetorical analysis essay is an important part of the overall essay. It should summarize your main points and provide some final thoughts on the topic. 

Here is an example of conclusion for a rhetorical analysis essay for your ease.

Download this  Rhetorical Analysis Essay Writing Manual to help gather all the relevant guidance for your rhetorical essay.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Writing Manual (PDF)

Watch this video to understand how to select Rhetorical analysis essay evidences.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Writing Tips

To write a rhetorical analysis essay, you must have good writing skills. Writing a rhetorical essay is a technical task to do. This is why many students find it really difficult.

There are the following things that you should do to write a good rhetorical analysis essay. Those important things are as follows:

• Determine the Rhetorical Strategy

To write a rhetorical essay, the writer needs to follow a specific method for research. The typical research methods used for this particular essay are as follows:

• Choose a Topic

For any essay type, it is very important to have a good topic. A good topic seeks the readers of attention and convinces them to read the complete essay.

• Create a Rhetorical Analysis Outline

An outline is an essential part of essay writing. The outline provides a definite structure to the essay and also guides the reader throughout the essay. A  rhetorical analysis outline  has the following elements in it:

• Introduction
• Body paragraphs

These three elements let you describe the entire idea of your rhetorical analysis essay. These three elements are further written with the help of sub-elements.

• Develop a Thesis Statement

The  thesis statement is yet another important part of essay writing. It is the essence of the entire essay. It may be a sentence or two explaining the whole idea of your essay. However, not give background information about the topic.

• Proofread and Edit

The formal terminology used for essay revision is known as proofreading. To make sure that your essay is error-free, repeat this process more than once.

Now let's wrap up , shall we?

So far we have provided you with the best rhetorical analysis examples that are sure to win over your panel. With our help, you can surely sfe guard your academic success journey in no time!

In case you think you can not write such an essay on your own, consult an essay writing service.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the 3 parts of rhetorical analysis.

The three parts of rhetorical analysis are: 

• Ethos 
• Logos 
• Pathos 

What are the elements of a rhetorical analysis?

The main elements of a rhetorical analysis essay are: 

• Situation 
• Audience 
• Purpose 
• Medium 
• Context 

Is there any difference between AP lang rhetorical analysis essay example 2020 and AP lang rhetorical analysis essay example 2021?

Yes, there are differences between 2020 and 2021 AP Language and Composition rhetorical analysis essay examples.

• In 2020 the essay prompts revolved around various social issues related to public discourse. In 2021 they mainly focused on the ideas of justice or progress. 
• In 2020 students were encouraged to write a multi-paragraph essay shifting back and forth between creative devices of rhetoric. While in 2021 more emphasis was placed on analyzing how well an author's argument is structured.

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200 rhetorical analysis topics for students in 2023.

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

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

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

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

Rhetorical Essay Topics to Choose From

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

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

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

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

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.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

Crafting an Effective Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline - Free Samples!

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Have you ever stared at a blank page, wondering how to begin your rhetorical analysis essay?

You're not alone. Many students find the first step, creating an outline, to be a challenge. 

The truth is - tackling a rhetorical analysis without a well-structured outline can lead to confusion and disorganization. But fear not because there's a solution.

In this blog, we will show you how you can create a rhetorical analysis essay outline. By the end, you’ll have a thorough understanding of what your outline should look like. 

So, keep reading to find out how you can beat the blank pages!

• 1. What Is Rhetorical Analysis Essay?
• 2. Why Create a Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline?
• 3. Components of a Rhetorical Analysis Outline
• 4. Steps to Create a Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline
• 5. Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline Examples

What Is Rhetorical Analysis Essay?

A rhetorical analysis essay is a type of analytical essay that examines how an author uses language and persuasion to get their message across.

It involves analyzing speeches or essays to understand how authors use strategies within the rhetorical triangle to influence their intended audience. These techniques usually involve logical appeal, moral argument, and vivid imagery that appeals to the listener. 

Key Elements to Analyze

In a rhetorical analysis essay, you would be analyzing the text keeping these key rhetorical concepts in mind:

• Ethos: This concerns the credibility of the author or speaker.
• Logos: This focuses on the logical aspects of the argument.
• Pathos: Pathos explores the emotional appeal of the discourse.
• Style and Tone: This involves analyzing the author's writing style and the overall tone of the text.

These elements provide a structured approach to rhetorical analysis, revealing how effective communication is achieved.

Why Create a Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline?

Writing a rhetorical analysis essay requires a writer to draft a structured piece of writing. This essay type is one of the most challenging tasks students are assigned to do for their academics. 

Apart from conducting a strong analysis, a rhetorical analysis essay depends on how perfectly the essay outline is drafted. 

An outline organizes the raw information and makes it understandable for the readers. It serves as your compass, ensuring you stay on course throughout the rhetoric essay. It helps you structure your ideas and arguments, adding clarity to your essay writing process. 

Moreover, an outline works as a checklist for your essay. It assures you that nothing important is missed in the content.

Components of a Rhetorical Analysis Outline

Now that we've explored why creating an essay outline is essential, it's important to explore the different components of a rhetorical analysis outline. 

Here’s a detailed rhetorical analysis essay outline:

Each element plays a crucial role in crafting a well-structured and persuasive analysis, so let's explore them in detail:

Introduction

The introduction of your rhetorical analysis essay serves as the gateway to your analysis. It's where you captivate your reader's interest, provide essential background information, and present your thesis statement. 

Here are the elements typically included in an introduction paragraph:

• Hook The " hook " is a sentence or two designed to grab the reader's attention. It could be a thought-provoking quote, a surprising fact, or a compelling question. The purpose is to make your reader interested in what you're about to discuss—how an author uses rhetorical devices.
• Background Information After the hook, provide some context. Here, you briefly introduce the text you're analyzing, the author or speaker, and the overall topic. It's like giving your reader a map to navigate through your analysis.
• Thesis Statement The thesis statement is the main argument, your "claim." This concise sentence outlines what you'll be analyzing and what your main points will be. Your thesis should tell the reader what to expect in your analysis.

The body of your essay is where you dissect the author's persuasive techniques and reveal their impact on the audience. It contains sections dedicated to each rhetorical strategy you're examining. 

In these sections, you'll explain the strategies, provide evidence from the text, and offer your insightful analysis of their effectiveness. 

Section for Each Rhetorical Strategy

In the body paragraphs, you'll have sections dedicated to each rhetorical strategy you're analyzing. These sections each will focus on a different aspect of the text. For each strategy, you'll do three things:

• Explanation of the Strategy Start by explaining what the rhetorical technique is. Define it clearly for your reader. This is like providing a dictionary definition.
• Examples from the Text Next, provide examples from the text you're analyzing. These are specific quotes or passages where the author or speaker uses the strategy you're discussing. It's like showing your reader the evidence.
• Analysis of the Effectiveness Finally, analyze how effective the strategy is. This is where you dive deep into the text and explain how and why the strategy persuades the audience. 

The conclusion should leave your readers with a sense of closure and a clear understanding of your analysis. 

You don't introduce new information or arguments in this section; instead, you tie everything together. Here are the three essential elements of an impactful essay conclusion:

• Restate Thesis Start by restating your thesis to remind readers of your main argument. Repeating your main argument clearly helps the reader tie in all they have read in your essay.
• Summarize Main Points Summarize the main points from each section of your analysis. This serves as a reminder of the highlights of your arguments made throughout the essay.
• Final Thoughts Conclude by sharing your thoughts on how the author's strategies affect the audience and the text's broader importance. Encourage readers to consider these strategies' impact and the text's relevance.

This structure in your rhetorical analysis outline ensures that your analysis is clear, well-organized, and persuasive. Each component plays a crucial role in guiding your reader through your analysis.

Steps to Create a Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

Creating an essay outline is a crucial step in organizing your thoughts and effectively analyzing a piece of rhetoric. Here are the steps to craft an outline for a rhetorical analysis essay:

Step 1 - Choose the Text

Select the piece of rhetoric that you will be analyzing. It could be a speech, a written essay, an advertisement, a political campaign, or any other form of communication.

Step 2 - Identify Rhetorical Devices and Rhetorical Appeals

Look for rhetorical devices such as metaphor, simile, analogy, hyperbole, and alliteration. Analyze how these devices contribute to the message. Identify any repetition, parallelism, or rhetorical questions used in the text.

Moreover, look for common rhetorical appeals i,e., ethos, pathos, and logos.

Step 3 -  Analyze Appeals and Strategies in Each Section

For each argument, dedicate a body paragraph that will analyze how the author/speaker uses ethos, pathos, and logos.

Note the specific rhetorical devices used in each section and their impact.

Step 4 -  Consider the Effect on the Audience

While outlining the last body paragraph, add points that analyze how the appeals are intended to affect the audience.

Consider whether the author/speaker is trying to persuade, inform, entertain, or provoke a specific emotional response. Include specific examples and quotations from the text to support your analysis.

Step 5 -  Filter Out Extra Information

It's important to know what parts of the arguments should be included and which should be filtered out. 

After having a sketch of the introduction and body paragraphs, remove any information that might feel irrelevant.

Step 6 -  Conclude and Summarize

For the ending, make sure to restate your thesis statement. Include points that directly support your arguments and sum up your analysis.

These steps help you plan your essay for a well-structured, clear, and cohesive essay.

Here's a sample rhetorical analysis essay outline template that analyzes ethos, pathos and logos :

Here’s a practice outline:

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline Fill In The Blanks

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline Examples

Here are some rhetorical analysis essay outline pdf that you can use as reference outlines:

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline Ethos Pathos Logos

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline Ap Lang

Visual Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

Comparative Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Introduction Outline

Need more help getting started? Check out these expert rhetorical analysis essay examples to get inspired!

In conclusion, you've got the tools and examples you need to ace your rhetorical analysis essay. The steps we've gone through provide a strong starting point for your academic journey into analyzing persuasive writing. 

But if you ever hit a wall or need help with tight deadlines, don't forget our essay writing service . Our skilled writers have helped lots of students like you get top-notch essays.

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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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Part 4: Rhetorical Modes

16 Rhetorical Analysis

What is a rhetorical analysis.

A Rhetorical analysis begins with the examination of the content and the style of the author. A rhetorical analysis is an examination of the topic, purpose, audience, and context of a piece of text.  A text can be written, spoken, or conveyed in some other manner.

Sometimes, the best way to learn how to write a good argument is to start by analyzing other arguments. When you do this, you get to see what works, what doesn’t, what strategies another author uses, what structures seem to work well and why, and more.

In the paragraphs that follow, you will learn about analyzing arguments for both content and rhetorical strategies. The content analysis may come a little easier for you, but the rhetorical analysis is extremely important. To become a good writer, we must develop the language of writing and learn how to use that language to talk about the “moves” other writers make.

When we understand the decisions other writers make and why, it helps us make more informed decisions as writers. We can move from being the “accidental” writer, where we might do well but are not sure why, to being a “purposeful” writer, where we have an awareness of the impact our writing has on our audience at all levels.

The ultimate goal of a rhetorical analysis is twofold:

• to analyze how well the rhetorical elements work together to create a fitting response, and
• to evaluate the overall effectiveness of that response.

To examine that goal, there are a couple of approaches that can be made in writing an analysis. The first is to ask some basic questions.

• How has the place affected the writing?
• How have the rhetorical elements (rhetorical appeals) affected the writing?
• Do the means of delivery, genre,  or medium impact the audience?

As you begin, search your answers for an idea that can serve as your claim or thesis. For example, you might focus on the declared goal—if there is one—of the creator of the text and whether it has been achieved.

You might evaluate how successfully that creator has identified the rhetorical audience, shaped a fitting response, or employed the best available means.

Or you might focus on the use of the rhetorical appeals and the overall success of their use.

Whether or not you agree with the text is beside the point. Your job is to analyze  how  and  how well  the text’s creator has accomplished the purpose of that text.

• HOW is the analysis of the parts
• HOW WELL is the overall evaluation

Thinking Rhetorically

To add to this trickiness, you can write a rhetorical analysis of any piece of information, not just an essay. You may be asked to write a rhetorical analysis of an ad, an image, or a commercial.

The key is to start now! Rhetorical analysis is going to help you think about strategies other authors have made and how or why these strategies work or don’t work. In turn, your goal is to be more aware of these things in your own writing.

When you analyze a work rhetorically, you are going to explore the following concepts in a piece:

• Style or Voice

You will be thinking about the decisions an author has made along these lines and thinking about whether these decisions are effective or ineffective.

Types of Argument

Just as there many types of essays you will write in college and many types of writing in general, argumentative essays come in many forms as well. There are three basic structures or types of an argument you are likely to encounter in college: the Toulmin  argument, the  Rogerian  argument, and the  Classical or Aristotelian  argument. Although the Toulmin method was originally developed to analyze arguments, some professors will ask you to model its components. Each of these serves a different purpose, and deciding which type to use depends upon the rhetorical situation: In other words, you have to think about what is going to work best for your audience given your topic and the situation in which you are writing.

Toulmin Argument

The Toulmin method, developed by philosopher  Stephen Toulmin ,  is essentially a structure for  analyzing  arguments. But the elements for analysis are so clear and structured that many professors now have students write argumentative essays with the elements of the Toulmin method in mind.

This type of argument works well when there are no clear truths or absolute solutions to a problem. Toulmin arguments take into account the complex nature of most situations.

There are six elements for analyzing, and, in this case, presenting arguments that are important to the Toulmin method.

These elements of a Toulmin analysis can help you as both a reader and a writer. When you’re analyzing arguments as a reader, you can look for these elements to help you understand the argument and evaluate its validity. When you’re writing an argument, you can include these same elements to ensure your audience will see the validity in your claims.

The  claim  is a statement of opinion that the author is asking her or his audience to accept as true.

There should be more laws to regulate texting while driving in order to cut down on dangerous car accidents.

The  grounds  are the facts, data, or reasoning upon which the claim is based. Essentially, the grounds are the facts making the case for the claim.

The National Safety Council estimates that 1.6 million car accidents per year are caused by cell phone use and texting.

The  warrant  is what links the grounds to the claim. This is what makes the audience understand how the grounds are connected to supporting the claim. Sometimes, the warrant is implicit (not directly stated), but the warrant can be stated directly as well. As a writer, you are making assumptions about what your audience already believes, so you have to think about how clear your warrant is and if you need to state it directly for your audience. You must also think about whether or not a warrant is actually an unproven claim.

The  backing  gives additional support for the claim by addressing different questions related to your claim.

The  qualifier  is essentially the limits to the claim or an understanding that the claim is not true in all situations. Qualifiers add strength to claims because they help the audience understand the author does not expect her or his opinion to be true all of the time or for her or his ideas to work all of the time. If writers use qualifiers that are too broad, such as “always” or “never,” their claims can be really difficult to support. Qualifiers like “some” or “many” help limit the claim, which can add strength to the claim.

The  rebuttal is when the author addresses the opposing views. The author can use a rebuttal to pre-empt counter-arguments, making the original argument stronger.

Aristotelian Argument

The Aristotelian or classical argument is a style of argument developed by the famous Greek philosopher and rhetorician,  Aristotle . In this style of argument, your goal as a writer is to convince your audience of something. The goal is to use a series of strategies to persuade your audience to adopt your side of the issue. Although  ethos ,  pathos , and  logos  play a role in any argument, this style of argument utilizes them in the most persuasive ways possible.

Of course, your professor may require some variations, but here is the basic format for an Aristotelian, or classical, argumentative essay:

• Introduce your issue.  At the end of your introduction, most professors will ask you to present your thesis. The idea is to present your readers with your main point and then dig into it.
• Present your case  by explaining the issue in detail and why something must be done or a way of thinking is not working. This will take place over several paragraphs.
• Address the opposition.  Use a few paragraphs to explain the other side. Refute the opposition one point at a time.
• Provide your proof.  After you address the other side, you’ll want to provide clear evidence that your side is the best side.
• Present your conclusion.  In your conclusion, you should remind your readers of your main point or thesis and summarize the key points of your argument. If you are arguing for some kind of change, this is a good place to give your audience a call to action. Tell them what they could do to make a change.

For a visual representation of this type of argument, check out the Aristotelian infographic below.

Rogerian Argument

When most of us think of arguments, we think about winners of arguments and losers of arguments. Arguments, even sometimes academic arguments, can be strong and forceful. An Aristotelian or classical argument is a strong, “this is my assertion and here’s why I am right” kind of argument. But that kind of argument isn’t going to work in all situations. When your audience is a really difficult one in the sense that you know your audience isn’t going to completely agree with your side of the issue, it can be a good idea to try to find a middle ground. The Rogerian argument finds that middle ground.

Based on the work of psychologist  Carl Rogers   (pictured on the right), a Rogerian argument focuses on finding a middle ground between the author and the audience. This type of argument can be extremely persuasive and can help you, as a writer, understand your own biases and how you might work to find common ground with others.

Here is a summary of the basic strategy for a Rogerian argument, and the infographic on the following page should be helpful as well.

• In your essay, first,  introduce the problem .
• Acknowledge the other side  before you present your side of the issue. This may take several paragraphs.
• Next, you should carefully  present your side  of the issue in a way that does not dismiss the other side. This may also take several paragraphs.
• You should then work to  bring the two sides together . Help your audience see the benefits of the middle ground. Make your proposal for the middle ground here, and be sure to use an even, respectful tone. This should be a key focus of your essay and may take several paragraphs.
• Finally, in your conclusion,  remind your audience of the balanced perspective  you have presented and make it clear how both sides benefit when they meet in the middle.

For a visual representation of this type of argument, check out the Rogerian infographic below.

Types of Argument Activity

This interaction will give you a chance to practice what you have learned about the different types of argument and when it might be most appropriate to use one type over another. Read the scenarios and, then, choose a rhetorical style. You will be told if you are correct or not, and which type of argument would work best in that scenario, and why.

After completing this activity, you may download or print a completion report that summarizes your results.

Analyze This

You have learned about some of the most common organizational structures for academic arguments and learned about the benefits of each one—as well as when it might be best to use each one.

Before you begin working with your own academic argument structure, it might be helpful to review another academic argument for its organizational structure.

In the following video, watch as one student analyzes a traditional academic argumentative essay ( Cheap Thrills: The Price of Fast Fashion ), one that most closely follows the Aristotelian structure.

See It in Practice

Although there are many options for organizing your argument, understanding these three basic argumentative types can help you make a good decision about which type of argument would work best given your topic and audience.

Watch as our student writer makes notes and comes to a decision about which type of argument she’ll use as she works with a controversial topic and a potentially difficult audience.

Thinking About Content

The  Toulmin method described in this learning area is a great tool for analyzing the content of an argument. In fact, it was developed as a tool for analyzing the content of an argument. Using the different concepts we learn in the Toulmin model, we are able to examine an argument by thinking about what claim is being made, what evidence is being used to support that claim, the warrants behind that evidence, and more.

When you analyze an argument, there is a good chance your professor will have you review and use the Toulmin information provided in the Excelsior OWL.

However, the lessons you have learned about  logical fallacies  will also help you analyze the content of an argument. You’ll want to look closely at the logic being presented in the claims and evidence. Does the logic hold up, or do you see logical fallacies? Obviously, if you see fallacies, you should really question the argument.

Basic Questions for a Rhetorical Analysis

What is the rhetorical situation?

• What occasion gives rise to the need or opportunity for persuasion?
• What is the historical occasion that would give rise to the composition of this text?

Who is the author/speaker?

• How does he or she establish ethos (personal credibility)?
• Does he/she come across as knowledgeable? fair?
• Does the speaker’s reputation convey a certain authority?

What is his/her intention in speaking?

• To attack or defend?
• To exhort or dissuade from certain action?
• To praise or blame?
• To teach, to delight, or to persuade?

Who makes up the audience?

• Who is the intended audience?
• What values does the audience hold that the author or speaker appeals to?
• Who have been or might be secondary audiences?
• If this is a work of fiction, what is the nature of the audience within the fiction?

What is the content of the message?

• Can you summarize the main idea?
• What are the principal lines of reasoning or kinds of arguments used?
• What topics of invention are employed?
• How does the author or speaker appeal to reason? to emotion?

What is the form in which it is conveyed?

• What is the structure of the communication; how is it arranged?
• What oral or literary genre is it following?
• What figures of speech (schemes and tropes) are used?
• What kind of style and tone is used and for what purpose?

How do form and content correspond?

• Does the form complement the content?
• What effect could the form have, and does this aid or hinder the author’s intention?

Does the message/speech/text succeed in fulfilling the author’s or speaker’s intentions?

• Does the author/speaker effectively fit his/her message to the circumstances, times, and audience?
• Can you identify the responses of historical or contemporary audiences?

What does the nature of the communication reveal about the culture that produced it?

• What kinds of values or customs would the people have that would produce this?
• How do the allusions, historical references, or kinds of words used place this in a certain time and location?

Sample Rhetorical Analysis

Seeing rhetorical analysis in action is one of the best ways to understand it. Read the sample rhetorical analysis of an article . If you like, you can read the original article the student analyzes: Why I won’t buy an iPad (and think you shouldn’t, either) .

Time to Write

Purpose:  This assignment will demonstrate the understanding of Rhetorical Analysis and Preliminary Research. This assignment will connect to the course competencies of writing for specific rhetorical contexts, using appropriate conventions in writing, an

This assignment frames the topic, purpose, audience, and context for the approved research topic from Research Prospectus 1.

At this time you will utilize two or three sources as in-text citations and on the References.

Choose a single source (selection) for rhetorical analysis that meets the following criteria.

• Is the text responding to an opportunity to make a change? (Does it look at solving a problem?)
• What is the rhetorical opportunity for change?
• How is it identified?
• How is it connected to your research proposal topic?

After you have selected a text, read it carefully, keeping in mind that the ultimate goal of a rhetorical analysis is twofold: (1) to analyze how well the rhetorical elements work together to create a fitting response, and (2) to assess the overall effectiveness of that response. Then, write answers to the following questions, citing material from the text itself to support each answer:

Are the available means anchored to the writer’s place?

• Who created the text? What credentials or expertise does that person or group have? Why is the creator of the text engaged with this opportunity? Is this an opportunity that can be modified through language? What opinions or biases did the person or group bring to the text?
• What is the place (physical, social, academic, economic, and so on) from which the creator of the text forms and sends the response? What are the resources of that place? What are its constraints (or limitations)?
• Who is the audience for the message? What relationship is the creator of the text trying to establish with the audience? What opinions or biases might the audience hold? How might the audience feel about this rhetorical opportunity? And, most important, can this audience modify or help bring about a modification of the rhetorical opportunity? How?

Do the available means include the rhetorical elements of the message itself?

• Identify the rhetorical elements of the message itself. In other words, where and how does the person or group employ the rhetorical appeals of ethos, pathos, and logos? How are credentials, goodwill, or good sense evoked to establish ethos? How is evidence (examples, statistics, data, and so forth) used to establish logos? And how is an emotional connection created to establish pathos? Keep in mind that the rhetorical appeals can sometimes overlap.
• What kind of language does the creator of the text use? Is it plain or specialized, slang or formal? How does the choice of language reveal how the person or group views the intended audience?

Do the available means deliver a message in a genre and medium that reaches the audience?

• Is the intended audience for the text a rhetorical audience? Draw on evidence from the text to support your answer.
• If the audience is a rhetorical one, what can it do to resolve the problem?
• Does the response address and fit the rhetorical opportunity? How exactly? If not, how might the response be reshaped so that it does fit?
• Is the response delivered in an appropriate medium that reaches its intended audience? Why is that medium appropriate? Or how could it be adjusted to be appropriate?
• Can you think of other responses to similar rhetorical situations? What genre is commonly used? Does the creator of this text use that genre? If not, what is the effect of going against an audience’s expectations?

Now that you have carefully read the text and answered all of the questions, you are ready to write your rhetorical analysis. How does your analysis of the use of the available means reveal

• How well the rhetorical elements work together to create a fitting response to an opportunity for change?
• How effective the response is?

As you begin, search your answers for an idea that can serve as your claim or thesis. For example, you might focus on the declared goal—if there is one—of the creator of the text and whether it has been achieved. You might assess how successfully that creator has identified the rhetorical audience, shaped a fitting response, or employed the best available means. Or you might focus on the use of the rhetorical appeals and the overall success of their use.

Whether or not you agree with the text is beside the point.

Your job is to analyze an essay, examining how, and how well, the text’s creator has accomplished the purpose of that text.

Key Grading Considerations

• The intro provides context for the rest of the paper
• The thesis is explicit, specific, and clear
• The thesis is analytical in nature
• The conclusion recasts the thesis and provides cohesion to the whole paper
• rhetorical triangle (audience, author, purpose)
• and rhetorical appeals (logos, ethos, pathos)
•  focus is on an analysis (not a summary or the author’s own ideas of the issue)
• Smooth flow of ideas ordered in a logical sequence that effectively guides the reader
• Each paragraph has a well-supported clearly-stated main point
• The topic sentences focus on analysis
• There is an effective use of transitions.
• Uses the Rhetorical Triangle to Target the Audience
• Language Use & Mechanics
• Fully in APA Format

ATTRIBUTIONS

• Content Adapted from Excelsior Online Writing Lab (OWL). (2020).  Excelsior College. Retrieved from https://owl.excelsior.edu/ licensed under a  Creative Commons Attribution-4.0 International License .
• Basic Questions for Rhetorical Analysis.  Authored by : Gideon O. Burton.  Provided by : Brigham Young University.  Located at :  http://rhetoric.byu.edu .  Project : Silva Rhetoricae.  License :  CC BY: Attribution
• Original Content from  Christine Jones. (2021). Rhetorical Analysis. Licensed under a CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication .

English 102: Journey Into Open Copyright © 2021 by Christine Jones is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Rhetorical Analysis

Almost every text makes an argument. Rhetorical analysis is the process of evaluating elements of a text and determining how those elements impact the success or failure of that argument. Often rhetorical analyses address written arguments, but visual, oral, or other kinds of “texts” can also be analyzed. 

Rhetorical Features—What to Analyze

Asking the right questions about how a text is constructed will help you determine the focus of your rhetorical analysis. A good rhetorical analysis does not try to address every element of a text; discuss just those aspects with the greatest [positive or negative] impact on the text’s effectiveness. 

The Rhetorical Situation

Remember that no text exists in a vacuum. The rhetorical situation of a text refers to the context in which it is written and read, the audience to whom it is directed, and the purpose of the writer. 

The Rhetorical Appeals

A writer makes many strategic decisions when attempting to persuade an audience. Considering the following rhetorical appeals will help you understand some of these strategies and their effect on an argument. Generally, writers should incorporate a variety of different rhetorical appeals rather than relying on only one kind. 

Ethos (appeal to the writer’s credibility)

• What is the writer’s purpose (to argue, explain, teach, defend, call to action, etc.)?
• Do you trust the writer? Why?
• Is the writer an authority on the subject? What credentials does the writer have?
• Does the writer address other viewpoints?
• How does the writer’s word choice or tone affect how you view the writer?

Pathos (appeal to emotion or to an audience’s values or beliefs)

• Who is the target audience for the argument?
• How is the writer trying to make the audience feel (i.e., sad, happy, angry, guilty)?
• Is the writer making any assumptions about the background, knowledge, values, etc. of the audience?

Logos (appeal to logic)

• Is the writer’s evidence relevant to the purpose of the argument? Is the evidence current (if applicable)? Does the writer use a variety of sources to support the argument?
• What kind of evidence is used (i.e., expert testimony, statistics, proven facts)?
• Do the writer’s points build logically upon each other?
• Where in the text is the main argument stated? How does that placement affect the success of the argument?
• Does the writer’s thesis make that purpose clear?

Kairos (appeal to timeliness)

• When was the argument originally presented?
• Where was the argument originally presented?
• What circumstances may have motivated the argument?
• Does the particular time or situation in which this text is written make it more compelling or persuasive?
• What would an audience at this particular time understand about this argument?

Writing a Rhetorical Analysis Essay

No matter the kind of text you are analyzing, remember that the text’s subject matter is never the focus of a rhetorical analysis. The most common error writers make when writing rhetorical analyses is to address the topic or opinion expressed by an author instead of focusing on how that author constructs an argument.

You must read and study a text critically in order to distinguish its rhetorical elements and strategies from its content or message. By identifying and understanding how audiences are persuaded, you become more proficient at constructing your own arguments and in resisting faulty arguments made by others.

A thesis for a rhetorical analysis does not address the content of the writer’s argument. Instead, the thesis should be a statement about specific rhetorical strategies the writer uses and whether or not they make a convincing argument.

Incorrect: Smith’s editorial promotes the establishment of more green space in the Atlanta area through the planting of more trees along major roads.

This statement is summarizing the meaning and purpose of Smith’s writing rather than making an argument about how – and how effectively – Smith presents and defends his position.

Correct: Through the use of vivid description and testimony from affected citizens, Smith makes a powerful argument for establishing more green space in the Atlanta area.

Correct: Although Smith’s editorial includes vivid descriptions of the destruction of green space in the Atlanta area, his argument will not convince his readers because his claim is not backed up with factual evidence.

These statements are both focused on how Smith argues, and both make a claim about the effectiveness of his argument that can be defended throughout the paper with examples from Smith’s text.

Introduction

The introduction should name the author and the title of the work you are analyzing. Providing any relevant background information about the text and state your thesis (see above). Resist the urge to delve into the topic of the text and stay focused on the rhetorical strategies being used.

Summary of argument

Include a short summary of the argument you are analyzing so readers not familiar with the text can understand your claims and have context for the examples you provide.

The body of your essay discusses and evaluates the rhetorical strategies (elements of the rhetorical situation and rhetorical appeals – see above) that make the argument effective or not. Be certain to provide specific examples from the text for each strategy you discuss and focus on those strategies that are most important to the text you are analyzing. Your essay should follow a logical organization plan that your reader can easily follow.

Go beyond restating your thesis; comment on the effect or significance of the entire essay. Make a statement about how important rhetorical strategies are in determining the effectiveness of an argument or text.

Analyzing Visual Arguments

The same rhetorical elements and appeals used to analyze written texts also apply to visual arguments. Additionally, analyzing a visual text requires an understanding of how design elements work together to create certain persuasive effects (or not). Consider how elements such as image selection, color, use of space, graphics, layout, or typeface influence an audience’s reaction to the argument that the visual was designed to convey.

This material was developed by the KSU Writing Center and is licensed under a  Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License . All materials created by the KSU Writing Center are free to use and can be adopted, remixed, and shared at will as long as the materials are attributed. Please keep this information on materials you adapt or adopt for attribution purposes. 

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100 Good Rhetorical Analysis Topics for Fiction, Non-Fiction, Speeches, Ads, and More

A rhetorical analysis is a type of paper that dissects the means by which the message was conveyed in a text, speech, or another medium. Rhetoric topics for an essay or research paper often focus on non-fiction writing and public speeches, which are easy to analyze through the lens of the rhetorical triangle, message, speaker vs. audience dynamic, artistic and inartistic proofs, etc. However, more broadly, rhetoric topics for essays can explore a variety of media: print advertisements, motion pictures, songs, and poetry.

Whether you look for inspirational rhetorical analysis topics for essay, you can make almost anything your object.

The structure of the rhetorical analysis is similar to other academic papers. In its most basic form, the analysis can be presented as a 5-paragraph formation familiar to every essay writer :

• Introduction
• Main body :
• Description : What is the text about? Who and when created it? How does it look like? What are the main rhetorical appeals?
• Analysis : How does the author convey rhetorical appeals? What is omitted and why? Did the perception of this text change over time?
• Evaluation : How effective is this text in conveying the message? Is it persuasive? is it ethical? What can be changed about it to make the message more powerful and clear?

There are several key points to concentrate your analysis on:

• Appeals : ways in which the author persuades the audience. There are three main appeals in classical rhetoric (also referred to as "rhetorical triangle" or "Aristotelian appeals" ):
• Logos – logical arguments, appeals to reason.
• Ethos – moral arguments, appeals to the sense of right and wrong.
• Pathos – emotional arguments, appeals to feelings (passion, anger, sympathy, etc.)
• Rhetorical situation : main elements of the communication and relationships among them.
• Audience – readers, listeners, viewers, either real, invoked, or imagined.
• Author – speaker, writer, artist, director; the creator of the text.
• Purpose – the reason why the text was created and its intended effect.
• Medium – how the text was conveyed: printed text, images, sounds, performance, multimedia (digital format incorporating text, video, and sound, performance, etc.)
• Context : time, place, public sentiment, and discourse surrounding the text at the moment of its creation and delivery.
• Claim – the main opinion, belief, or idea that the author sets out to communicate and prove.
• Support – evidence that backs up the claim (facts, statistics, the expert takes, emotional appeals, etc.)
• Warrant – values, beliefs, and experiences that the author assumes to share with the audience. Warrant creates a connection between the claim and the support.

James Joyce's Ulysses and a 20-second TikTok alike can be broken down into these components and analyzed, so the possibilities for rhetorical analysis are pretty much endless. To help you choose, we have put together this list of 100 rhetorical analysis paper topics divided into five major categories:

• Personal rhetorical analysis topics.
• Speeches and political discourse topics.
• Advertisements and brand voice topics.
• Non-fiction rhetorical analysis topics.
• Fiction rhetorical analysis topics.

While you are looking for good topics to write a rhetorical analysis on, you may notice that some of them are linked to samples from our free library. You are welcome to read any number of those to familiarize yourself with the format. See how rhetorical analysis principles and tools were used by other students and applied to different objects. Happy learning!

Personal Rhetorical Analysis Topics List

This section contains topics for self-analysis or just things that might fascinate you personally: your diary, a family heirloom, favorite song. If you'd rather stay on familiar territory to dip your toes into the rhetoric analysis, choose one of these:

• Rhetoric in Everyday Life Essay
• My Writing Toolbox: The Rhetorical Triangle
• The Rhetorical Triangle In Discourse Analysis
• Rhetorical Self-Analysis of a Descriptive Writing Piece
• Rhetorical Self-Analysis and Reflection on Your Academic Paper
• Rhetorical Analysis of Your Business Writing
• Describe a Process of Applying Rhetorical Analysis
• How Did Rhetorical Analysis Influence Your Writing Style?
• Perform Rhetorical Analysis of Your Peers Essays (Two of Your Choosing)
• Perform Rhetorical Analysis of Your Texting Style
• Perform Rhetorical Analysis of Your Personal Journal
• Analyze the Speaking Style of a Family Member or Close Friend
• Perform Rhetorical Analysis of Your Speech Patterns (You May Want to Record Some Samples for This Task)
• Perform Rhetorical Analysis of Your Most Popular Social Media Post
• Perform Rhetorical Analysis of Your Favorite TikTok Personality
• Perform Rhetorical Analysis of Your Favorite YouTube Channel
• Analyze a Piece of Your Own Writing from Some Years Back
• Perform Rhetorical Analysis of the Lyrics for Your Favorite Song
• Perform Rhetorical Analysis of Your Favorite Blog on Tumblr
• Perform Rhetorical Analysis of a Letter from a Family Archive (Parents/Grandparents Correspondence, etc.)

Topics for Rhetorical Analysis of Speeches and Political Discourse

Public speeches and political addresses are the traditional objects of rhetorical analysis essays and for a reason. They make good material for practice since they are usually very clear and straightforward in their intent, context, and rhetorical situation.

• Perform Rhetorical Analysis of Martin Luther King's Speech I Have a Dream
• Perform Rhetorical Analysis of Your Public Speech/Civic Engagement Letter/etc.
• Analyze Frederick Douglass's Fourth of July Speech
• Frederick Douglass' Most Effective Rhetoric Strategy
• Situational Rhetoric: Obama's 2004 Democrats Convention Speech
• Compare and Contrast Two Speeches of Your Choice
• Rhetorical Analysis of Far-Right Extremism In Europe
• Rhetorical Analysis of the Statement to the Court Made by Eugene Victor Debs
• Rhetorical Analysis Of The Ku Klux Klan Website
• Rhetorical Analysis of a Political Advert by John Kerry
• Rhetorical Analysis of the Barack Obama's Speech Presented on March 18, 2008
• Rhetorical Analysis of The Victory Speech by Barrack Obama on November 4, 2012
• Fire and Ice: A Rhetorical Analysis of Malcolm X's The Ballot or the Bullet and J. F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address
• Rhetorical Analysis of What the Black Man Wants by Douglass Frederick
• Analyze and Compare Winston Churchill's We Shall Fight on the Beaches and Martin Luther King, Jr.'s I Have a Dream speeches
• Analysis of Political Speech in Linguistics: Obama's Inauguration Speech
• Analyze Speech by P.G. Keating launching the International Year for Indigenous People of Australia
• Analyze J.F. Kennedy's Inaugural Speech
• Analyze the Delivery and Rhetorical Devices of any TED Speaker of Your Choice
• Analyze and Compare Two Opposing Comments on a Polarizing Subject

Advertisements and Brand Voice Rhetorical Analysis Topic Ideas

An essay analyzing breakfast cereal commercial? Why not! Such an assignment is typical for business and marketing majors. Still, it can also attract artistic students and anyone who wants to be more mindful about ways we as consumers are persuaded to buy.

• McDonald's Twitter Campaign and H&M's Potential Copyright Infringement
• Pantene Chrysalis Ad Rhetorical Analysis
• Rhetorical Analysis of Viking Gylltur Beverage Commercial
• Rhetorical Analysis of Advertisements (Two of Your Choosing)
• Perform Rhetorical Analysis of a Consumer Goods Overview
• Analyze and Compare OTC Drug Commercials
• Analyze and Compare Two Most Memorable Commercials for You
• Comparing and Contrasting Rhetorical Devices Used in Japanese and American Commercials
• The Rhetorical Uses of Peace in TV Commercials
• The Role of Howard Nemerov's Santa Claus in Commercialization of Christmas
• Rhetorical Analysis of Budweiser: Lost Dog – the Bud Puppy Commercial You Can't Not Love Super Bowl Commercial
• Perform Rhetorical Analysis of a Commercial That Conflates Sexual Connotations With the Product Being Advertised
• Perform Rhetorical Analysis of an Ad for Toys
• Analyze and Compare Two Ads for Different Soft Drinks
• Analyze Shifting Rhetoric of Tabaco Products Through the Decades
• Analyze and Compare Two Ads for Bank Services. What Rhetorical Devices Are Used to Market the Same Services to Different Demographics
• Compare Rhetorical Devices Used by Apple Inc. vs. Microsoft Corp. to Market Similar Products
• Perform Rhetorical Analysis of a Sportswear Ads of Your Choice
• Perform Rhetorical Analysis of Luxury Goods Ads
• Analyze and Compare Two Ads for Different Perfumes

Non-Fiction Rhetorical Analysis Prompts

Non-fiction literature and film is another typical example of a rhetorical analysis essay subject. Clearness of context and authorial intend brings this category close to speeches. However, the scope of media and forms is much more varied, which makes for an exciting analysis.

• Rhetorical Analysis of The Pig Who Sang to the Moon by Jeffrey Masson
• Write a Detailed Rhetorical Analysis of an Article About Communication
• Rhetorical Analysis of Social Media
• Rhetorical Analysis of Childhood Experiences of Domestic Violence by Caroline McGee
• David Suzuki's Essay The Right Stuff: Rhetorical Analysis
• Rhetorical Analysis of the Documentary film Sicko by Michael Moore
• Rhetorical Analysis of the Article 9/11 Hard Facts, Hard Truth
• Rhetorical Analysis of the Technical Report Seawater pH and Anthropogenic Carbon Dioxide
• Rhetorical Analysis of Cannabis in Cancer Treatment Argument
• Rhetorical Analysis of The Ideal English Major by Mark Edmundson
• Rhetorical Analysis of Public Choice by William F. Shughart II
• Analyze the Usage of Informative and Conversational Tone in John McPhee's Non-Fiction Prose
• How Language Shapes Identity According to Amy Tan: A Rhetorical Analysis of the Essay
• Analyze and Compare Living Like Weasels by Annie Dillard Against Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell
• Rhetorical Analysis of Indian Creek Chronicles: A Winter Alone in the Wilderness by Peter Fromm
• Perform Rhetorical Analysis of a Popular Podcast (Your Choice)
• Write a Rhetorical Analysis of an Article on Poignant Social Issue
• Perform Rhetorical Analysis of a Self-Help Book of Your Choice
• Write a Rhetorical Analysis of a Memoir of Your Choice
• Perform a Rhetorical Analysis of 2020 Debates on Mask Wearing and Other Pandemic Restrictions

Fiction Rhetorical Analysis Example Topics

Works of fiction are often objects of literature analysis, but they can be subjected to rhetorical analysis too! Layers of metaphors, irony, stylistic choices, and unreliable narrators make such analysis a challenging but rewarding endeavor.

• Analyze Speeches of Socrates in Plato's Phaedrus
• Analyze A Modest Proposal by Jonathan Swift
• Rhetorical Analysis of the Short Story Cathedral By Raymond Carver
• Sherlock Holmes Of The Conan Doyle And Of The 21st Century Critical Thinking: Rhetorical Analysis
• Rhetorical Analysis of Do You Wanna Date My Avatar Music Performance
• Make a Quick Rhetorical Analysis of a Short Story, a Film, and an Article of Various Subjects
• Rhetorical Analysis of Tangled (Animated Film by Disney)
• Rhetorical Analysis of A Piece of Chalk by G.K. Chesterton
• Rhetorical Analysis of The Way to Rainy Mountain by N. Scott Momaday
• Analyze and Compare Styles of Narrators in Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights
• Perform Rhetorical Analysis of Coleridge's Poem Kubla Khan
• Perform Rhetorical Analysis of Citizen Kane 's Narrative Structure
• Perform Rhetorical Analysis of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Character's Speech (Any Character of Your Choice)
• Analyze How Romeo + Juliet (1996) Handles Shakespeare's Text to Create Contemporary Narrative
• Perform Rhetorical Analysis of a Popular YA Novel of Your Choice
• Analyze and Compare Two American Protest Song of Your Choice from Different Time Periods
• Analyze and Compare Rhetorical Devices Used by a Rap and a Spoken Word Performer of Your Choice
• Analyze and Compare Rhetorical Devices Used by Agatha Christie to Create the Unreliable Narrator in The Murder of Roger Ackroyd and Endless Night
• Perform Rhetorical Analysis of George Orwell's 1984
• Perform Rhetorical Analysis of a Comic Sketch of Your Choice

If you need more inspiration on a specific topic, just go to our free library and search topics you are interested in by keywords or use our topic generation tool . You can also request a custom-made sample on any topic of your choice. Our expert writers will prepare a model essay for you in no time!

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Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline: Examples & Strategies

Rhetorical analysis is never a simple task. This essay type requires you to analyze rhetorical devices in a text and review them from different perspectives. Such an assignment can be a part of an AP Lang exam or a college home task. Either way, you will need a solid outline to succeed with your writing. And we can help you nail it.

Our specialists will write a custom essay specially for you!

In this article by our custom-writing team, you will find:

• the structure of a rhetorical analysis essay;
• a detailed guide and tips for writing a rhetorical essay outline;
• an example and a template for you to download.
• 📚 Rhetorical Analysis Structure

Introduction

• Body Paragraphs
• 📑 Example Outline & Template

🔍 References

📚 structure of a rhetorical analysis essay: pre-writing.

The first thing you need to know before you start working on your essay is that the analysis in your paper is strictly rhetorical. In other words, you don’t need to discuss what the author is saying. Instead, it’s a take on how the author says it.

And to understand “how,” you need to find rhetorical appeals. An appeal is a technique that the author uses to convince the reader. The main ones are logos, ethos, and pathos.

The whole analysis is structured around them and divided into 3 parts: appeals in the text’s introduction, in the body paragraphs, and in its conclusion.

Remember that it’s essential to structure your essay in chronological order. To put it simply, it’s better not to describe the appeals from the conclusion before the ones in the introduction. Follow the structure of the text you’re analyzing, and you’ll nail it.

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Rhetorical Analysis Triangle

We’ve already mentioned ethos, pathos, and logos. The rhetorical triangle is another name for these 3 main appeals. Let’s examine them in more detail:

In your essay, it’s best to mention all 3 appeals. It’s also necessary to measure their effectiveness and give examples. A good strategy is to find the appeals in the text, underline them, and analyze them before writing the outline.

Each appeal can be characterized by the following:

• Diction. Diction is the words that the author uses to describe the idea. When analyzing diction, you want to find words that stand out in the text.
• Syntax. Simply put, syntax is the order of words used by the author. You can also look at the sentence length as a part of the syntax.
• Punctuation. This characteristic is all about the usage of punctuation marks. Aside from commas, it’s good to pay attention to colons and dashes. Authors can use them to focus the audience’s attention on something or create a dramatic disjunction.
• Tone. It’s the author’s attitude towards the discussed idea. The tone is a combination of diction, syntax, and punctuation. For example, you can tell if the author is interested or not by evaluating the length of sentences.

Remember that all 3 appeals are artistic proofs, and you shouldn’t confuse them with factual evidence. The difference between them lies in the amount of effort:

• Citing factual evidence requires no skill. You create proof just by mentioning the fact.
• In the case of artistic proof , you must use your knowledge of rhetoric to create it.

SOAPS: Rhetorical Analysis

SOAPS is a helpful technique for conducting a rhetorical analysis. It’s fairly popular and is recommended for AP tests. SOAPS stands for:

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Answering the questions above will make it easy for you to find the necessary appeals.

✍️ How to Write an Outline for a Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Now that you’ve found the appeals and analyzed them, it’s time to write the outline. We will explain it part by part, starting with the introduction.

How to Write an Introduction for a Rhetorical Analysis Essay

In a rhetorical analysis, the introduction is different from that of a regular essay. It covers all the necessary information about the author of the text:

• Name (or names, if there are several authors.)
• Genre and title of the reviewed work.

The author claims that cats are better pets than dogs.

• The target audience that the writer is aiming at.
• The context in which the text was produced, e.g. a specific event.

Aside from that, a rhetorical essay introduction should include a hook and a thesis statement. Want to know how to write them? Keep reading!

How to Write a Hook for a Rhetorical Analysis Essay

A hook is a sentence that grabs the reader’s attention. You can do it by presenting an interesting fact about the author. You may also use an inspiring or amusing quote. Make sure your hook is connected with the text you are writing about.

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For example, if you’re analyzing MLK’s I Have a Dream speech, you can hook the reader with the following sentence:

Martin Luther King is widely considered the most famous speaker in history.

Our article on hooks in writing can provide you with e great ideas.

Thesis Statement for Rhetorical Analysis Essay

In a rhetorical analysis essay, you don’t need to create a thesis statement in the usual sense. Instead, you describe the main point made by the author using a rhetorically accurate verb (such as “claims” or “asserts”) followed by a “that” clause.

For example, your thesis can focus on the techniques that the author uses to convince the audience. If we look at the I Have a Dream speech, we will notice several stylistic elements:

It’s not a complete list, but that’s enough to form a decent thesis.

We also need to mention the ideas behind the speech. The main idea is, obviously, equality. So, we’ll put it in our thesis as well. As a result, we have something like this:

Through the skillful usage of metaphor, repetition, and symbolism Martin Luther King effectively fills his audience’s hearts with the idea of unity and equality.

Rhetorical Analysis Body Paragraphs

If you are writing a generic 5-paragraph essay, you can divide your essay’s body into 3 parts:

• A paragraph about appeals in the text introduction.
• A section about rhetorical devices in the text’s body.
• A paragraph about rhetorical devices in the text’s conclusion.

Sometimes there is no distinct structure in a text. If that’s the case, just analyze the appeals in chronological order. You can also split the analysis based on the type of appeals. For example:

• A paragraph about emotional appeals.
• A section about logical appeals.
• A paragraph about ethical appeals.

Each of your essay’s body paragraphs should have 3 key elements:

• Topic sentence that shows what appeal you will discuss in the section.
• Examples that illustrate the rhetorical device you want to showcase.
• Your take on the effectiveness of the given device.

It’s good to remember that every appeal you talk about needs an example. If you can illustrate your claim about a strategy with more examples, then go for it. The more examples, the better.

Good Transition Words for Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Transition words allow you to follow up one idea with another. They also help build connections between paragraphs. Choosing correct transition words depends on the strategy you use. If you want to build a sequence of a cause and its effect, you will need words like “thus” or “hence.” If you’re going to clarify something, you should use a different set of words.

Here’s a list of helpful transition words suitable in different contexts:

Rhetorical Analysis Verbs to Use

A rhetorical analysis essay is a serious work that often touches on complex topics. Regular verbs like “tells us” or “shows” don’t always fit it. To make your paper more inclusive and precise, consider using strong verbs .

Strong verbs (or power verbs) are typically used when talking about the author. That includes their strategies, attitude, personality, or ideas.

For example, instead of “the author says,” you can use “suggests” or “clarifies,” depending on the context.

Some other rhetorically accurate verbs include:

• Sheds light

You don’t have to use strong verbs only. If you feel like “says” suits your point better than any strong verb, feel free to use it.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Conclusion

The conclusion is the ending of your paper. It sums your essay up and underlines the points you’ve made in the body paragraphs. A good conclusion should accomplish several things:

• Paraphrasing the thesis . You shouldn’t just rewrite the thesis from the introduction. The restatement is usually used to demonstrate a deeper understanding of your point.
• A summary of the body paragraphs . Again, simple repetition is not enough. We need to link the points to our thesis and underline the importance of our statements.
• Final thoughts . A powerful epilogue will leave a good impression about your work.

Make sure to avoid including any new ideas or statements. The conclusion is exclusively for summarizing. If you found yourself putting a new assertion in the ending, it’s probably a good idea to restructure your body paragraphs.

📑 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Example Outline & Template

To make the writing process even easier for you, we will show you what an outline for your essay can look like. As an example, we will outline a rhetorical analysis of MLK’s I Have a Dream speech. We are going to structure it according to the appeals.

Have a look:

• Hook . An interesting fact about the MLK or his quote. An emotional start about the importance and the lasting legacy of the speech will also work.
• The speaker’s name, occupation, and years of life.
• The context in which the subject of our essay was produced.
• The speech’s target audience.
• Thesis statement . Point out the appeals you are going to write about. Describe their impact on the author’s general argumentation.

Body paragraphs

• Underline the often use of metaphor. Set “lonely island of poverty” and “ocean of material prosperity” as examples.
• Talk about the usage of repetition. Use the constant repetition of “I have a dream…” as an illustration.
• Demonstrate the use of logos. Mention King citing President Lincoln as an authority for his argumentation.
• Showcase the ethos of the speech. Notice that MLK’s Civil Rights Movement logic correlates with social ethics at the time.
• Comparing segregation to a “bad check.”
• Referring to the Civil Rights Movement as “my people.”
• Comparing the acquisition of equality to “cashing a check.”
• Restate the thesis. Demonstrate a deeper understanding of the point made in the introduction.
• Summary of the body paragraphs. Connect them to the thesis statement. Give a final take on King’s rhetorical strategies and evaluate their effectiveness.
• Closing thought. Finish by stating the primary goal of your analysis.

Alternatively, you can structure your essay in chronological order. Below you’ll find a template you can use for this type of rhetorical analysis. Simply download the PDF file below and fill in the blanks.

Rhetorical Analysis Outline Template

(your essay’s title)

Introduction.

The speaker/author is (state the author’s name.) The purpose of the text is to (state the text’s purpose.) The text is intended for (describe the text’s intended audience.)

Check out the rhetorical analysis samples below to get some ideas for your paper.

• Greta Thunberg’s Speech: Rhetorical Analysis
• Rhetorical Analysis: “In Defense of the ‘Impractical’ English Major” by C. Gregoire and “Top 10 Reasons You’re Not Wasting Your Time as an English Major” by S. Reeves
• Siren et al.’s Study on Red Wines: Rhetorical Analysis
• Steve Jobs’ Commencement Speech Rhetorical Analysis
• Brooks’ “Reading Too Much Political News…” Rhetorical Analysis
• The Speech “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence” by Martin Luther King, Jr: Rhetorical Analysis
• Rhetorical Analysis Through Lyrics: “The Times They Are A-Changing” and “The Wind of Change”
• Roiphe’s Confessions of a Female Chauvinist Sow: Rhetorical Analysis
• “Snack Attack”: Rhetorical Analysis
• Rhetorical Analysis of “Hidden Intellectualism” by Gerald Graff

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

• Analyze rhetorical appeals of a Hallmark’s commercial  
• Rhetorical devices and the atmosphere of Hamlet’s To Be or Not to Be monologue   
• The author’s argument in Us film  
• Compare pathos, ethos, and logos in two advertisements   
• Google Analytics : rhetorical analysis 
• The background and the audience of the Gillette commercial short film  
• Rhetorical analysis of capitalism and socialism  
• What makes John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address iconic? 
• The significance of the historical parallel in Susan B. Anthony’s speech  
• Sarcasm and skepticism in Shikha Dalmia’s article  
• Rhetorical analysis of political debates between Biden, Harris, and Booker 
• What makes Letter From Birmingham Jail powerful? 
• Problems of the modern education in Moore’s Idiot Nation and Gatto’s Against School  
• Rhetorical techniques in Learning to Read and Write by Frederick Douglass  
• Compare and contrast Antigone and Creon  
• The word framing of Michelle Obama’s TED speech  
• James Q. Wilson’s arguments on gun ownership laws 
• Analyze ethos, pathos, and logos in a video advertisement  
• What makes the 2005 speech by Steve Jobs remarkable? 
• How does Jenna Berko convince readers in her essay? 
• Successful persuasion in the film Henry V  
• Margaret Fuller and Frederick Douglass : a rhetorical comparison 
• Characters, setting, and emotions in Of Mice and Men  
• Web blogs rhetorical analysis 
• Rhetorical devices in Barbara Holland’s collection of thoughts  
• Conduct a rhetorical analysis of Louis C. K.’s Shameless  
• What makes Claire Giordano’s essay convincing? 
• Biblical allusions in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas  
• Ali Siddiq’s ‘Prison Riot’ standup : a rhetorical analysis 
• Presentation of interracial romance in Get Out movie 
• Rhetoric Instruments in The Oxford Encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in the United States  
• How does Barack Obama try to change reality with his speech? 
• Target and purpose of L’Oreal EverCrème advertisement  
• Perform a rhetorical analysis of Pop Can: Popular Culture in Canada  
• The Myth of the Charioteer by Plato : rhetorical devices 
• Rhetorical goals of the authors of African-American history articles  
• The effectiveness of the Michelin advertising campaign  
• Rhetorical analysis of the Double Cola Company’s image 
• Compare the use of argument in Lincoln’s and Dickinson’s works  
• Rhetoric analysis of anti-communist and anti-Islam promotion 

We hope this article helped you with your assignment. Make sure to tell us what part helped you the most in the comments. And good luck with your studies!

Further reading:

• How to Write a Reflection Paper: Example & Tips
• How to Write a Narrative Essay Outline: Template & Examples
• What Is a Discourse Analysis Essay: Example & Guide
• How to Write a Critical Thinking Essay: Examples & Outline
• How to Write a Precis: Definition, Guide, & Examples
• How to Write a Process Analysis Essay: Examples & Outline

🤔 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Outline FAQs

According to SOAPS, the main 5 elements of a rhetorical analysis are:

1. Subject, or the author’s ideas. 2. Occasion, or the text’s background. 3. Audience, or the people who would find the text interesting. 4. Purpose, or the reasoning behind the writing. 5. Speaker’s characteristics, or the author’s personal beliefs.

1. Logos— the appeal to logic. It includes argumentation, statistics, and facts. 2. Ethos— the ethical appeal. Ethos appeal to the morality and ethical norms of the target audience. 3. Pathos —the appeal to the reader’s emotions. 4. Kairos— the time of the argument.

Every rhetorical analysis ends with a conclusion. A good conclusion should:

1. Restate the thesis. 2. Summarize the points and strategies described in the body paragraphs. 3. End with concluding thoughts on the analysis.

A thesis for a rhetorical analysis is a bit different from the usual one. It needs to include the author’s appeals and the main point the author is trying to make. Like any other thesis, it must structure the further analysis and be connected to every paragraph.

Kairos is the timeliness of the argument. It is the appeal of the right time. The usage of kairos usually means that the author’s text is relevant for a certain period of time only.

• Rhetorical Analysis: Miami University
• Rhetorical Analysis Essay: Formatting: California State University, East Bay
• The Rhetorical Triangle: Understanding and Using Logos, Ethos, and Pathos: Louisiana State University
• The Rhetorical Triangle: The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
• General Notes on Rhetorical Analysis: Deer Valley Unified School District
• SOAPS: Rhetorical Analysis of a Reading Source: Kent Campus
• How To Write a Rhetorical Analysis in 8 Simple Steps: Indeed
• Rhetorical Analysis: Texas A&M University
• Rhetorical Analysis Thesis Statements: Virginia Wesleyan University
• What Are Logos, Ethos, Pathos, and Kairos?: University of Louisville
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Extremely helpful. Gave me wonderful definitions of Pathos,Lagos and Ethos.Broke down how to use these points to write my analysis. Thank you

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625 Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics & Good Ideas

18 January 2024

last updated

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

Best Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

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

Easy Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

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

Interesting Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

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

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for High School

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

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for Middle School

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

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for College Students

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

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for University

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

Advertisements Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

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

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Cultural Manifestos

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

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Environmental Campaigns

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

Funny Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

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

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Historical Documents

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

Literary Works Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

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

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Marketing Campaigns

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

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Movies

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

Poetry Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

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

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Political Speeches

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

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Presidential Debates

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

Public Debates Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

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

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Scientific Articles

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

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Social Justice Movements

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

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Social Media Posts

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

Speeches Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

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

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Sports Commentary

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

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Stand-Up Comedy Specials

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

Ted Talks Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

• The Power of Vulnerability: Analyzing Brene Brown’s Persuasive Techniques
• Decoding Body Language: Unraveling Amy Cuddy’s Impactful Presentation
• Unleashing Creativity: Examining Elizabeth Gilbert’s Artful Rhetoric
• Science of Happiness: Dissecting Shawn Achor’s Compelling Argument
• Crafting an Inspiring Narrative: Assessing Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Storytelling Techniques
• Harnessing the Potential of Introverts: Evaluating Susan Cain’s Convincing Arguments
• The Art of Storytelling: Analyzing Andrew Stanton’s Captivating Presentation
• Redefining Success: Unpacking Arianna Huffington’s Persuasive Messaging
• Exploring the Surprising Science of Motivation: Dissecting Dan Pink’s Convincing Evidence
• Tapping Into the Power of Introversion: Assessing Matthew Walker’s Compelling Talk
• The Transformative Power of Education: Evaluating Sir Ken Robinson’s Persuasive Appeal
• The Future of Technology: Analyzing Elon Musk’s Visionary Rhetoric
• Impacts of Emotional Intelligence: Unraveling Daniel Goleman’s Persuasive Argument
• Challenging Stereotypes: Assessing Jamila Lyiscott’s Powerful Presentation
• Navigating Cultural Differences: Evaluating Pico Iyer’s Compelling Insights
• Overcoming Fear and Embracing Change: Analyzing Jia Jiang’s Persuasive Journey
• Redefining Leadership: Examining Simon Sinek’s Inspiring Rhetorical Strategies
• Fostering Global Understanding: Dissecting Hans Rosling’s Compelling Data
• Raising Awareness on Climate Change: Assessing Al Gore’s Persuasive Discourse
• The Influence of Music: Analyzing Benjamin Zander’s Persuasive Interpretation
• Unleashing the Potential of Introverted Thinkers: Unpacking Susan Cain’s Convincing Argument
• The Real Story of Rosa Parks
• Tiny Robots With Giant Potential
• What Ocean Microbes Reveal About the Changing Climate
• Imaginative Sculptures That Explore How We Perceive Reality
• How Teachers Can Help Students Navigate Trauma
• It’s OK to Feel Overwhelmed
• How Virtual Reality Turns Students Into Scientists
• How the Magic of Kindness Helped Me Survive the Holocaust
• What We Do (and Don’t) Know About the Coronavirus
• Dictators Hate Political Cartoons – So I Keep Drawing Them
• What a Nun Can Teach a Scientist About Ecology
• The Health Benefits of Clowning Around
• What If the Poor Were Part of City Planning
• The Tyranny of Merit
• How Do Daily Habits Lead to Political Violence
• Big Data, Small Farms and a Tale of Two Tomatoes
• Dear Facebook, This Is How You’re Breaking Democracy
• A Brief Tour of the Last 4 Billion Years
• Why Specializing Early Doesn’t Always Mean Career Success
• What It Means to Be Intersex
• The Science of Friction
• How Bees Can Keep the Peace
• A New Type of Medicine
• Parasitic Worms Hold Back Human Progress
• Online Predators Spread Fake Porn of Me
• Can You Really Tell If a Kid Is Lying
• The Next Outbreak? We’re Not Ready
• My Son Was a Columbine Shooter. This Is My Story.
• The Orchestra in My Mouth
• How Animals and Plants Are Evolving in Cities
• A Simple Way to Break a Bad Habit
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Visual Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

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

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Visual Art Installations

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

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How to Write a Rhetorical Analysis

Last Updated: April 2, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Megan Morgan, PhD . Megan Morgan is a Graduate Program Academic Advisor in the School of Public & International Affairs at the University of Georgia. She earned her PhD in English from the University of Georgia in 2015. There are 7 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 1,376,265 times.

A rhetorical analysis can be written about other texts, television shows, films, collections of artwork, or a variety of other communicative mediums that attempt to make a statement to an intended audience. In order to write a rhetorical analysis, you need to be able to determine how the creator of the original work attempts to make his or her argument. You can also include information about whether or not that argument is successful. To learn more about the right way to write a rhetorical analysis, continue reading.

Gathering Information

• The speaker refers to the first and last name of the writer. If the writer has any credentials that lend to his or her authority on the matter at hand, you should also briefly consider those. Note that if the narrator is different from the writer, though, it could also refer to the narrator.
• The occasion mostly refers to the type of text and the context under which the text was written. For instance, there is a big difference between an essay written for a scholarly conference and a letter written to an associate in the field.
• The audience is who the text was written for. This is related to the occasion, since the occasion can include details about the audience. In the example above, the audience would be a conference of scholars versus an associate in the field.
• The purpose refers to what the writer wants to accomplish in the text. It usually includes selling a product or point of view.
• The subject is simply the topic the writer discusses in the text.

• Ethos, or ethical appeals, rely on the writer's credibility and character in the garnering of approval. Mentions of a writer's character or qualifications usually qualify as ethos. For instance, if a family therapist with 20 years of practice writes an article on improving familial relations, mention of that experience would be using ethos. Despite their name, these appeals don't have anything to do with "ethics" as we usually think of them.
• Logos, or logical appeals, use reason to make an argument. Most academic discourse should make heavy use of logos. A writer who supports an argument with evidence, data, and undeniable facts uses logos.
• Pathos, or pathetic appeals, seek to evoke emotion in order to gain approval. These emotions can include anything from sympathy and anger to the desire for love. If an article about violent crime provides personal, human details about victims of violent crime, the writer is likely using pathos.

• Analogies and figurative language, including metaphors and similes, demonstrate an idea through comparison.
• Repetition of a certain point or idea is used to make that point seem more memorable.
• Imagery often affects pathos. The image of a starving child in a low income country can be a powerful way of evoking compassion or anger.
• Diction refers to word choice. Emotionally-charged words have greater impact, and rhythmic word patterns can establish a theme more effectively.
• Tone essentially means mood or attitude. A sarcastic essay is vastly different from a scientific one, but depending on the situation, either tone could be effective.
• Addressing the opposition demonstrates that the writer is not afraid of the opposing viewpoint. It also allows the writer to strengthen his or her own argument by cutting down the opposing one. This is especially powerful when the author contrasts a strong viewpoint he or she holds with a weak viewpoint on the opposing side.

• Ask yourself how the rhetorical strategies of appeals and style help the author achieve his or her purpose. Determine if any of these strategies fail and hurt the author instead of helping.
• Speculate on why the author may have chosen those rhetorical strategies for that audience and that occasion. Determine if the choice of strategies may have differed for a different audience or occasion.
• Remember that in a rhetorical analysis, you do not need to agree with the argument being presented. Your task is to analyze how well the author uses the appeals to present her or his argument.

Writing the Introduction

• By letting the reader know that your paper is a rhetorical analysis, you let him or her know exactly what to expect. If you do not let the reader know this information beforehand, he or she may expect to read an evaluative argument instead.
• Do not simply state, "This paper is a rhetorical analysis." Weave the information into the introduction as naturally as possible.
• Note that this may not be necessary if you are writing a rhetorical analysis for an assignment that specifically calls for a rhetorical analysis.

• The introduction is a good place to give a quick summary of the document. Keep it quick, though. Save the majority of the details for your body paragraphs, since most of the details will be used in defending your analysis.

• You do not necessarily need to mention these details in this order. Include the details in a matter that makes sense and flows naturally within your introductory paragraph.

• Try stating which rhetorical techniques the writer uses in order to move people toward his or her desired purpose. Analyze how well these techniques accomplish this goal.
• Consider narrowing the focus of your essay. Choose one or two design aspects that are complex enough to spend an entire essay analyzing.
• Think about making an original argument. If your analysis leads you to make a certain argument about the text, focus your thesis and essay around that argument and provide support for it throughout the body of your paper.
• Try to focus on using words such as "effective" or "ineffective" when composing your thesis, rather than "good" or "bad." You want to avoid seeming like you are passing value judgments.

Writing the Body

• The order of logos, ethos, and pathos is not necessarily set in stone. If you intend to focus on one more than the other two, you could briefly cover the two lesser appeals in the first two sections before elaborating on the third in greater detail toward the middle and end of the paper.
• For logos, identify at least one major claim and evaluate the document's use of objective evidence.
• For ethos, analyze how the writer or speaker uses his or her status as an "expert" to enhance credibility.
• For pathos, analyze any details that alter the way that the viewer or reader may feel about the subject at hand. Also analyze any imagery used to appeal to aesthetic senses, and determine how effective these elements are.
• Wrap things up by discussing the consequences and overall impact of these three appeals.

• Start from the beginning of the document and work your way through to the end. Present details about the document and your analysis of those details in the order the original document presents them in.
• The writer of the original document likely organized the information carefully and purposefully. By addressing the document in this order, your analysis is more likely to make more coherent sense by the end of your paper.

• Evidence often include a great deal of direct quotation and paraphrasing.
• Point to spots in which the author mentioned his or her credentials to explain ethos. Identify emotional images or words with strong emotional connotations as ways of supporting claims to pathos. Mention specific data and facts used in analysis involving logos.

• Avoid use of the first-person words "I" and "we." Stick to the more objective third-person.

Writing the Conclusion

• When restating your thesis, you should be able to quickly analyze how the original author's purpose comes together.
• When restating your thesis, try to bring more sophistication or depth to it than you had in the beginning. What can the audience now understand about your thesis that they would not have without reading your analysis?

• Keep this information brief. You spent an entire essay supporting your thesis, so these restatements of your main ideas should only serve as summaries of your support.

• Indicate what that research must entail and how it would help.
• Also state why the subject matter is important enough to continue researching and how it has significance to the real world.

Writing Help

Community Q&A

• Avoid the use of "In conclusion..." While many writers may be taught to end conclusion paragraphs with this phrase as they first learn to write essays, you should never include this phrase in an essay written at a higher academic level. This phrase and the information that usually follows it is empty information that only serves to clutter up your final paragraph. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Do not introduce any new information in your conclusion. Summarize the important details of the essay. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
• Do not argue in an analysis. Focus on the "how" they made their point, not if it's good or not. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/establishing_arguments/rhetorical_strategies.html
• ↑ https://writingcenter.tamu.edu/Students/Writing-Speaking-Guides/Alphabetical-List-of-Guides/Academic-Writing/Analysis/Rhetorical-Analysis
• ↑ https://courses.lumenlearning.com/englishcomp1/chapter/text-an-overview-of-the-rhetorical-modes/
• ↑ https://oer.pressbooks.pub/informedarguments/chapter/rhetorical-modes-of-writing/
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/visual_rhetoric/analyzing_visual_documents/organizing_your_analysis.html
• ↑ https://www.pfw.edu/offices/learning-support/documents/WriteARhetoricalAnalysis.pdf

About This Article

To write a rhetorical analysis, start by determining what the author of the work you're analyzing is trying to argue. Then, ask yourself if they succeeded in making their argument. Whether you think they did or didn't, include quotes and specific examples in your analysis to back up your opinion. When you're writing your analysis, use the third-person to appear objective as opposed to using "I" or "we." Also, make sure you include the author's name, profession, and purpose for writing the text at the beginning of your analysis to give reader's some context. To learn different ways to structure your rhetorical analysis from our English Ph.D. co-author, keep reading! Did this summary help you? Yes No

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