Between the thousands of over-analyzed rhetorical analysis essay topics and innumerable more that are too complicated to write about, it is usually a challenge to pick a good one.
Ideally, you want a topic that is so common enough that it needs little introduction, yet unique so that your essay is fresh and outstanding.
Some innovative fellows manage to come up with fresh twists on old topics, but this isn't always possible.
We will explore some of the best rhetorical analysis topics to use in your essay, as well as how to choose one when presented with a list of possible ideas.
Qualities of a Good Rhetorical Analysis Essay Topic
A rhetorical analysis essay is a critical evaluation of how a communicator puts their point across and what linguistic devices they employ to do that.
You will be looking at how they manipulate words to achieve the desired effect.
Therefore, the most basic quality is that the work you choose to analyze must be highly compelling and influential as proof of its effectiveness.
This is partly why most students and experts alike choose to stick to world-famous classics. However, that doesn't mean there aren't great works to make interesting topics elsewhere.
Here are the things to watch out for when selecting work for a rhetorical analysis essay.
1. Fresh
The topic you choose needs to be fresh if it is to excite any interest.
Your instructor has probably seen hundreds of essays, if not thousands.
If you want to impress them, either have a fresh angle or pick one that is not already picked to the bone by other students.
2. Focused
You have probably heard this before: a topic that is not too specific, neither too broad.
You want it to be just right for your essay.
One that is too wide will need extensive research before you can have enough background to write authoritatively.
One that is too focused will not give you enough material to work with.
3. Personal Interest
Choose a topic that you can relate to or that intrigues you. It might be a favorite writer, a respected orator, a movie you particularly enjoyed, or an all-time top song.
That way, you are assured of enjoying the writing process all the way through and your authenticity will shine through the writing.
You can also choose a topic that is part of your job, a hobby, or that you are well-versed in. It will give you a head start and save time on research.
4. Appeal to Your Audience
Remember that you are writing for an audience and that you expect a good grade out of it.
Think about what kind of topics your instructor would like or at least not object to.
If you will be presenting it in class, go for a topic that your classmates will enjoy.
5. Strong and Clear Arguments
A bland topic will have almost no material for you to write about.
A plain text, speech, video, or other communication will be too dry for you to properly write about.
It will be much better for you if you use one with strong arguments, flowery language, and obvious mastery of literary skills.
This rules out academic and scholarly works because they tend to use dry language without bias.
Bias is what will give you fuel, and the arguments for or against them will form a big part of your essay.
6. Relevance to Contemporary Issues
Review a work that is still relevant to today's issues and controversial topics because those will always draw interest.
7. Well Known Or Common
Choose a topic or work that is famous enough that you don't have to introduce it to your audience in the essay.
If you go for one that is obscure or too new, you will have to give a full breakdown to get the reader on the same page with you.
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How to Choose Rhetorical Analysis Topics
Choosing topics for a rhetorical analysis essay is not very different compared to choosing other essay topics.
You will start with a general topic, narrow it down to an appropriate one that fulfills the above qualities, and select a work covering that topic on which to write the essay.
Please note that fictional works don’t do very well when it comes to rhetorical analysis, so it’s best to avoid them from the get-go.
The same applies to comedic and funny works unless they are meant to address serious and relevant issues in society.
1. Define your objectives
Remember that the objectives for writing a rhetorical analysis essay are different from those of other essays.
You are not trying to prove or disprove the work or even build upon it in any way.
Your main goal is to show that you understand how the communicator uses various tools and techniques to compel or influence the reader.
You might also be looking to prove to your instructor that you can think critically, read between the lines, and perhaps unearth hidden messages.
Defining these objectives is your first step.
2. Brainstorm Topic Ideas
Explore various avenues to get possible ideas for your topic.
These days, you can gather ideas pretty quickly online, especially through platforms such as this one.
You can also watch videos, listen to speeches or podcasts, or even just ask friends, family, and strangers on online forums. Gather all the ideas you get and write them down.
3. Select One or Two that Meet the Criteria
It will be easy to eliminate some of the ideas you have gathered: they are too common, irrelevant, obscure, or challenging.
With the remaining ones, assess them against the given criteria.
You will often come across one or two that appeal strongly to you, so give them special consideration.
4. Look Into Available Research
Whether you have narrowed down to the one you are looking for or not, this stage is essential.
You will want to check on what data is currently available to support your chosen topic.
This is also where you will be checking to see if that topic is too wide, too narrow, or too common.
If you come across any problem here, a change of approach or topic will be easier than having to do it later.
5. Find Works that Interest You Within Your Discipline
For college assignments, you will mostly be reviewing books, articles, and journals.
However, you might also be given speeches, videos, movies, songs, and even pieces of art to analyze.
Other instructors will give you the freedom to choose.
Whichever the case, now is the time to pick out the right work and make sure that it is expressive and rich enough to review.
With this plan, you will find it much easier to select great topics for your rhetorical essay.
Sometimes you may have to mix up the steps a bit, but it’s still a great plan.
We have used it to come up with lots of great sample topics that we are now going to share with you.
20+ Example Topics for Your Rhetorical Analysis Essay
Brainstorm Ideas
- A new writer, orator, or famous leader you find impactful.
- A speech or article from a president, CEO, Nobel prize winner, or other respected people.
- A world-famous movie.
- A book that influenced your life greatly.
- Contrasting different writers on a topic, e.g, feminism or ethics.
- How a certain theme is explored in literature or contemporary media e.g. role of a man as a father figure, hope, ambition, etc.
- One of the lesser-known classics such as Little Big Man by Thomas Berger.
- A less-known poem from a famous poet.
- An influential political work.
- A scene or part from a dramatic movie, video, or even news on mainstream media.
- A favorite blogger, vlogger, or Instagram star.
- The inaugural address of a president.
- A sermon from a favorite preacher.
- A monologue from a famous play, e.g. Shakespear.
- Acceptance speech during an award, e.g. Pink’s acceptance speech in the 2017 VMA awards.
Sample Topics
- Charlie Chaplin’s famous speech The Great Dictator.
- Obama’s “A More Perfect Union.”
- Obama’s inaugural address in 2009.
- Steve Jobs’ 2005 Stanford commencement speech.
- The movie Thank You for Smoking.
- Superbowl ads (choose one effective one) or any other timeless ad.
- Plato’s Republic.
- Mona Lisa’s smile (if you are very good at art and can fill 4 pages with it.)
- Silent Voices in Three Poems.
- Charles Spurgeon sermons.
- Clifford’s The Ethics of Belief.
- The Things They Carried by Tim O’Brien.
- A poem by Edgar Allan Poe, Raven.
- Analyze the theme of loyalty in Barn Burning by William Faulkner.
- Discuss solitude in literature.