200+ Popular Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics [2025]

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for Students

Now that you know how to choose a topic, it’s time to look at some options. Let's look at some interesting rhetorical analysis essay topic examples for students:

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics for Middle School

Analyze The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein.
Evaluate The Dare To Share Anti-Bullying Campaign.
Examine "Lean On Me" By Bill Withers.
Analyze The Inside Out Trailer.
Evaluate A Nerf Blasters Advertisement.
Analyze Malala’s Un Speech.
Explore Bravery In Harry Potter.
Examine Captain Underpants Comics.
Evaluate The Special Olympics Video.
Analyze The Earth Day Campaign.

Easy Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics For High School

Analyze The Fault In Our Stars By John Green.
Evaluate Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Ted Talk.
Analyze Steve Jobs’ Stanford Speech.
Explore The Dove Real Beauty Campaign.
Evaluate Arguments In The Perks Of Being A Wallflower.
Analyze The St. Jude Fundraising Video.
Examine Barack Obama’s "Yes We Can" Speech.
Analyze A New York Times Opinion Article.
Explore Symbolism In A Wrinkle In Time Trailer.
Evaluate The Ice Bucket Challenge Campaign.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics For College Students

Analyze Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have A Dream" Speech.
Evaluate Blackfish Documentary Arguments.
Analyze Nicholas Kristof’s Op-Ed On Poverty.
Explore Themes In Get Out By Jordan Peele.
Evaluate Virginia Woolf’s "A Room Of One’s Own."
Analyze Greta Thunberg's Un Speech.
Explore The Impact Of The Ice Bucket Challenge.
Analyze Tara Westover's Educated.
Evaluate Ken Burns' The Vietnam War Series.
Analyze David Foster Wallace’s Kenyon Speech.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Prompt For Ap Lang

Analyze Hillary Clinton's "Women's Rights" Speech.
Evaluate The "This Is Your Brain On Drugs" Ad.
Analyze Arguments In The Case Against Sugar.
Discuss Emotional Appeals In The Hate U Give.
Examine The Social Dilemma Film.
Evaluate The We Can Do It! Poster.
Analyze Diction In The Great Gatsby.
Discuss 13th Documentary Techniques.
Evaluate Irony In Wallace's Commencement Speech.
Analyze Barack Obama’s "A More Perfect Union" Speech.

Literature Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Analyze Character Development In To Kill A Mockingbird.
Evaluate Themes In "Still I Rise" By Maya Angelou.
Analyze The Green Light In The Great Gatsby.
Explore Imagery In Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart."
Evaluate Narrative Voice In The Catcher In The Rye.
Analyze Social Justice Themes In Hughes’s Poems.
Examine Rhetorical Devices In The Crucible.
Evaluate The Protagonist's Journey In Life Of Pi.
Analyze Ambition In Macbeth.
Explore Historical Context In The Color Purple.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics On Education

Analyze The Effectiveness Of The Sat.
Evaluate Arguments For School Uniforms.
Analyze Online Learning During Covid-19.
Explore Zero-Tolerance Policies In Schools.
Evaluate College Board Ads For Ap Courses.
Analyze Comments At A School Board Meeting.
Explore The No Bully Program’s Effectiveness.
Analyze Michelle Obama’s Healthy Eating Campaign.
Evaluate Year-Round Schooling Arguments.
Analyze Teacher Portrayals In Dead Poets Society.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topic on Different Themes

If you want topics that are theme-specific, we got you. Explore the topic below divided by themes:

Relevant Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Analyzing The "Ice Bucket Challenge" And Its Impact On Als Awareness.
Evaluating The "Black Lives Matter" Movement's Influence In Society.
Examining Greta Thunberg's Speech At The Un On Climate Change.
Analyzing The Effectiveness Of The "It Gets Better" Project.
Exploring The Social Commentary In The "Me Too" Movement Online.
Evaluating Anti-Smoking Ads That Use Graphic Imagery.
Analyzing Mental Health Portrayal In "13 Reasons Why."
Examining Celebrity Activism And Its Effect On Climate Change Perceptions.
Analyzing A Viral Tiktok Video Promoting Sustainable Fashion.
Evaluating Public Health Campaigns During The Covid-19 Pandemic.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics On Movies

Analyzing Mental Illness In "A Beautiful Mind."
Evaluating Symbolism In "Inception."
Analyzing Lgbtq+ Characters In "Moonlight."
Exploring Sacrifice And Redemption In "The Shawshank Redemption."
Evaluating Character Development In "The Godfather."
Analyzing Sound Design In "A Quiet Place."
Exploring Social Critique In "Get Out."
Evaluating Feminism Representation In "Wonder Woman."
Analyzing Visual Storytelling In "Mad Max: Fury Road."
Exploring Identity Themes In "Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse."

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics On Music

Analyzing The Lyrics Of "Alright" By Kendrick Lamar.
Evaluating Emotional Depth In Adele's "Someone Like You."
Analyzing Storytelling In Taylor Swift's "The Story Of Us."
Exploring Cultural Significance In "This Is America" By Childish Gambino.
Evaluating Metaphor Use In Bob Dylan's "Blowin' In The Wind."
Analyzing Love And Loss Themes In Sam Smith's "Stay With Me."
Exploring Historical Storytelling In "Hamilton."
Evaluating Mental Health Representation In Logic's "1-800-273-8255."
Analyzing Social Critique In Billie Eilish's "Your Power."
Exploring Nostalgia In "Summer Of '69" By Bryan Adams.

Unique Speech Ideas Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Analyzing Emma Watson's "Heforshe" Speech.
Evaluating Barack Obama's "Yes We Can" Speech.
Analyzing Malala Yousafzai's Un Speech.
Exploring Steve Jobs' Stanford Commencement Address.
Evaluating Humor In Ellen Degeneres' Speech.
Analyzing Greta Thunberg's Climate Speech At The Un.
Exploring Emotional Appeal In Michelle Obama's DNC Speech.
Evaluating Storytelling In Brené Brown's Ted Talk.
Analyzing Rhetorical Devices In Mlk's "I Have A Dream" Speech.
Exploring Empowerment Themes In Oprah Winfrey's Acceptance Speeches.

Fictional Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Analyzing Elizabeth Bennet's Character Arc In "Pride And Prejudice."
Evaluating Unreliable Narration In "The Catcher In The Rye."
Analyzing The Green Light Symbolism In "The Great Gatsby."
Exploring Isolation Themes In "Frankenstein."
Evaluating Friendship Representation In "Harry Potter."
Analyzing Tradition Versus Change In "To Kill A Mockingbird."
Exploring Foreshadowing In "The Hunger Games."
Evaluating Power Dynamics In "Animal Farm."
Analyzing the Setting's Impact In "The Grapes Of Wrath."
Exploring Survival Themes In "Life Of Pi."

Non-Fictional Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Analyzing Michelle Obama's "Becoming."
Evaluating Arguments In "Sapiens" By Yuval Noah Harari.
Analyzing Personal Anecdotes In "Outliers" By Malcolm Gladwell.
Exploring Effectiveness In "The Immortal Life Of Henrietta Lacks."
Evaluating Persuasive Techniques In "The Devil We Know."
Analyzing Narrative Style In "Educated" By Tara Westover.
Exploring Resilience In "Born A Crime" By Trevor Noah.
Evaluating Arguments In "This Changes Everything" By Naomi Klein.
Analyzing Historical Portrayal In "The Wright Brothers."
Exploring First-Person Narratives In "Just Mercy."

Visual Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Analyzing Color Use In Banksy's Street Art.
Evaluating Visual Metaphors In "The Persistence Of Memory."
Analyzing Race Representation In Kehinde Wiley's Portraits.
Exploring Loss Themes In Nan Goldin's Photography.
Evaluating Symbolism In "The Last Supper."
Analyzing Storytelling Techniques In "Maus."
Exploring Documentary Photography In "Humans Of New York."
Evaluating Negative Space In "The Kiss" By Gustav Klimt.
Analyzing Political Cartoons During Elections.
Exploring Environmental Themes In Ansel Adams' Photography.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics On Society

Analyzing Addiction Portrayal In "Ozark."
Evaluating "The Handmaid's Tale" And Women's Rights Discussions.
Analyzing Mental Health In "Bojack Horseman."
Exploring Technology's Impact In "Black Mirror."
Evaluating "The Social Dilemma" On Tech Addiction.
Analyzing Privilege In "Crazy Rich Asians."
Exploring Climate Change Influence In "Ice Age."
Evaluating Immigrant Experiences In "In America."
Analyzing Youth Culture In "The Sims."
Exploring The #Metoo Movement In Media.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on a Person

Analyzing Nelson Mandela's communication style.
Evaluating Oprah Winfrey's interview techniques.
Analyzing Elon Musk's public persona.
Exploring Ruth Bader Ginsburg's leadership.
Evaluating Jane Goodall's environmental advocacy.
Analyzing Jacinda Ardern's crisis communication.
Exploring Alex Trebek's hosting style on "Jeopardy!"
Evaluating Steve Jobs' public appearances.
Analyzing Barack Obama's campaign speeches.
Exploring Brené Brown's messages on vulnerability.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on a Famous Person

Analyzing Angela Merkel's speeches on European unity.
Evaluating Kamala Harris' public speaking style.
Analyzing Martin Luther King Jr.'s "Letter from Birmingham Jail."
Exploring Barack Obama’s "A More Perfect Union" speech.
Evaluating Lady Gaga's mental health advocacy.
Analyzing Greta Thunberg's climate activism.
Exploring Malala Yousafzai's speeches on education.
Evaluating Emma Watson’s "HeForShe" campaign.
Analyzing JFK's Inaugural Address Legacy.
Exploring Rosa Parks' actions and speeches.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Government

Analyzing Joe Biden's Inaugural Address And National Unity.
Evaluating Donald Trump’s "America First" Speeches.
Analyzing Obama's Healthcare Speeches.
Exploring Themes In FDR's "Four Freedoms" Speech.
Evaluating Rhetoric During The Watergate Scandal.
Analyzing Immigration Portrayal In Political Debates.
Exploring Government Ads During Health Crises.
Evaluating Climate Change Arguments In Congressional Hearings.
Analyzing Freedom And Security In National Speeches.
Exploring Public Health Official Speeches During Pandemics.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Poetry

Analyzing imagery in Maya Angelou's "Still I Rise."
Evaluating themes in Robert Frost's "The Road Not Taken."
Analyzing the symbolism in Sylvia Plath's "Lady Lazarus."
Exploring resilience in Langston Hughes' "I, Too."
Evaluating emotional impact in John Keats' "Ode to a Nightingale."
Analyzing nature themes in William Wordsworth's poetry.
Exploring the narrative in T.S. Eliot's "The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock."
Evaluating social issues in Audre Lorde's "A Litany for Survival."
Analyzing the role of identity in Maya Angelou's "Phenomenal Woman."
Exploring love themes in Pablo Neruda's "Sonnet XVII."

Funny Rhetorical Analysis Paper Topics

Analyzing Why Fast Food Ads Make Burgers Look Like Gourmet Meals
Exploring How Memes Have Become the World’s Top Persuaders
Analyzing How Infomercials Convince Us to Buy Stuff We Don’t Need
Exploring the Magic of Clickbait: Why We Can’t Resist “You Won’t Believe This”
Analyzing Why Cats Are Basically Ruling the Internet
Exploring the Rhetoric of Sarcasm in The Office and Why It Works
Analyzing How Late-Night Comedy Persuades You to Laugh at Serious Issues
Exploring How Food Packaging Tricks You Into Thinking You’re Healthy
Analyzing How Reality TV Makes Watching People Argue Somehow Addictive
Exploring the Rhetoric of Dating Apps: How a Single Photo Can Change Your Life

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Different Subjects

Do you want subject-specific topics? Choose from our list below:

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on History

Analyze The Impact of The Gettysburg Address.
Evaluate Propaganda in World War II Posters.
Analyze Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" Speech.
Explore Speeches from The Civil Rights Movement.
Analyze The Rhetoric of The Declaration of Independence.
Evaluate The Rhetoric Used in The Emancipation Proclamation.
Analyze Franklin D. Roosevelt’s "Day of Infamy" Speech.
Explore Rhetoric in Speeches During The Vietnam War.
Evaluate Reagan’s "Tear Down This Wall" Speech.
Analyze The Rhetoric of The Women's Suffrage Movement.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Business

Analyze Apple's "Think Different" Campaign.
Evaluate Nike’s "Just Do It" Advertisements.
Analyze The Rhetoric of Tesla's Mission Statement.
Explore The Impact of Coca-Cola’s Holiday Ads.
Evaluate The Marketing Strategies of McDonald's.
Analyze The Rhetoric in A Company's Annual Report.
Explore The Effectiveness of The "Share a Coke" Campaign.
Evaluate The Messaging of The "Dove Real Beauty" Campaign.
Analyze The Rhetoric Behind The Starbucks Brand.
Explore Walmart's Advertisements on Affordability.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Culture

Analyze The Representation of Women in Pop Music.
Evaluate The Messages in Marvel Superhero Films.
Analyze The Cultural Significance of Hip-Hop Music.
Explore The Impact of Reality TV on Society.
Evaluate The Rhetoric in LGBTQ+ Pride Campaigns.
Analyze The Representation of Mental Health in Films.
Explore The Influence of Social Media on Cultural Norms.
Evaluate The Rhetoric in Fashion Advertising.
Analyze Cultural Themes in Black Panther.
Explore The Impact of Streaming Services on Cinema.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Philosophy

Analyze The Rhetoric in Plato’s Allegory of The Cave.
Evaluate Aristotle's Concept of Ethos in Persuasion.
Analyze The Arguments in Descartes' "Meditations."
Explore The Rhetoric of Existentialism in Literature.
Evaluate The Philosophy Behind Utilitarianism.
Analyze Nietzsche’s "God is Dead" Statement.
Explore The Persuasive Techniques in Kant’s Works.
Evaluate The Rhetoric in The Tao Te Ching.
Analyze The Arguments in Rousseau’s The Social Contract.
Explore The Impact of Stoicism on Modern Self-Help.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics on Literature

Analyze The Symbolism in The Great Gatsby.
Evaluate Character Motivations in Pride and Prejudice.
Explore the idea of being prepared to die in The Road by Cormac McCarthy.
Explore The Use of Irony in The Lottery by Shirley Jackson.
Evaluate The Impact of Setting in Wuthering Heights.
Analyze Themes of Power in Animal Farm.
Explore The Narrative Style in The Catcher in The Rye.
Evaluate The Symbolism in Moby Dick.
Analyze The Themes of Love and War in A Farewell to Arms.
Explore The Character Development in Beloved.

Comparative Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Compare Rhetoric in Two Different Presidential Speeches.
Analyze The Differences Between 1984 and Brave New World.
Compare Arguments in The Great Gatsby and The Catcher in The Rye.
Analyze Rhetorical Strategies in Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X's Speeches.
Discuss How Literary Devices Shape The Narrative In To Kill A Mockingbird.
Analyze The Portrayal of Society in Fahrenheit 451 and The Handmaid's Tale.
Compare The Rhetorical Styles of Two Famous Poets.
Analyze The Differences in Advertising Strategies Between Two Brands.
Compare The Themes of Sacrifice in The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns.
Analyze The Differences Between Eastern and Western Philosophies.

Argumentative Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topics

Analyze Arguments For and Against The Death Penalty.
Explore Persuasive Techniques in Climate Change Debates.
Evaluate Arguments in The Gun Control Discussion.
Analyze The Rhetoric Used in Debates on Immigration.
Explore The Effectiveness of Arguments for Universal Healthcare.
Evaluate Rhetoric in The Debate on Education Reform.
Analyze Arguments For and Against Animal Testing.
Explore The Rhetoric of Environmental Activism.
Evaluate Persuasive Techniques in Discussions on Social Media Regulation.
Analyze The Rhetoric Behind The Debate on Renewable Energy Sources.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topic Sentence

A good topic sentence helps your reader know what your essay is about. It should clearly state the main idea. Here are some examples of topic sentences you could use:

Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech uses strong emotional language to inspire people.
The speeches in William Shakespeare's Hamlet show deep feelings about life and death.
Maya Angelou’s poems use vivid images to share messages of strength and hope.
President Obama’s speeches use friendly words to bring people together.
Charity ads use strong emotions to encourage people to donate.
George Orwell’s Animal Farm uses clever language to warn against bad leaders.
Analyze Ronald Reagan’s Use Of Metaphors In His Speeches.
Climate change ads use fear to push people to take action.
Malala Yousafzai’s speeches effectively argue for education for all girls.
The film Inception uses creative ideas to challenge how we see reality.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Questions

Asking questions can help you think more deeply about what you are analyzing. Here are some simple questions to consider:

What main persuasive techniques does the author use?
How does the audience’s background affect how they understand the message?
What emotions does the author use to connect with the audience?
How does the order of ideas help the overall message?
What specific words does the author use to strengthen their argument?
How does the time and place of the writing affect its message?
What opposing views does the author mention, and how do they respond?
How do images in ads help to share the message?
How does the author build trust with the audience?
How does repeating certain ideas affect what the audience remembers?

How to Choose a Good Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topic

Choosing a good topic is a big part of writing an interesting essay. Here are a few tips:

Pick Something You Know: It’s easier to analyze a piece you’re familiar with or find interesting.
Choose Something With Depth: Pick a text or speech with different techniques and layers. This gives you more to talk about.
Consider Recent Pieces: Analyzing something recent can make your essay feel more relevant and engaging.
Avoid Overdone Topics: Popular speeches like the Gettysburg Address are classics, but they’re also widely analyzed. Try something unique to make your essay stand out.

With a thoughtful choice, your essay will be both engaging and insightful.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Explanation

A rhetorical analysis essay is all about understanding how a writer or speaker communicates their message. Instead of just focusing on what they say, you look at the way they say it to understand their techniques.

For example, if you’re analyzing a speech, you’ll look at how the speaker uses emotion, logic, and their own credibility (ethos, pathos, logos) to influence the audience.

Rhetorical Analysis Essay Structure

Having a strong structure makes it easier to write a good rhetorical analysis essay. Here’s a simple breakdown:

Introduction: Start with a hook and briefly introduce the text you’re analyzing. Mention the author, purpose, and main idea. End with a thesis statement that explains your main argument or focus.
Body Paragraphs: Each paragraph should look at one technique the author uses. Explain how this technique helps deliver the message and give examples from the text.
Conclusion: Sum up your main points, restate your thesis, and share your final thoughts on how well the author’s methods work.

Creating a rhetorical analysis essay outline will help keep your essay clear and well-organized, making it easier for readers to follow your ideas.

What to Include in a Rhetorical Analysis Essay - H2

To write a strong rhetorical analysis essay, include these key parts:

Speaker or Author: Who created the piece of writing? What’s their background or role?
Audience: Who was the piece written or spoken for? Knowing this helps you understand the author’s choices.
Purpose: What’s the main goal? Are they trying to inform, persuade, or entertain?
Context: What was happening when the piece was made? Historical, social, or political context can add meaning.
Techniques Used: Look for methods like ethos (credibility), pathos (emotions), and logos (logic) to understand how the author builds their argument.

These elements make your analysis more complete and help readers see how the piece works.

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

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Frequently Asked Questions

What to Write Rhetorical Analysis On?

Choose works designed to persuade or convey a strong message, such as speeches, essays, advertisements, or films. Examples include MLK’s "I Have a Dream" for its emotional appeal or a Nike ad for its motivational strategies. Look for pieces with clear rhetorical techniques like ethos, pathos, or logos.

How Do I Title a Rhetorical Analysis Essay?

Create a title that reflects the subject and focus of your analysis. For example, "Inspiring Change: A Rhetorical Analysis of MLK’s Speech" or "Motivation in Advertising: How Nike Wins Audiences." Keep it descriptive and related to the rhetorical techniques you’ll discuss.

What Is a Good Thesis for a Rhetorical Analysis Essay?

A strong thesis identifies the purpose of the work and the strategies used. For instance, "In his speech, MLK uses repetition, vivid imagery, and emotional appeals to unite his audience and inspire action." This statement gives direction to the analysis and shows what techniques will be explored.

What Are Some Common Rhetorical Strategies?

Rhetorical strategies include ethos (credibility), pathos (emotional appeal), and logos (logical arguments). Other techniques are repetition to emphasize key ideas, metaphors for vivid descriptions, and tone to set the mood. These tools help authors connect with their audience effectively.

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