Settling on a title for your essay can be challenging. Sometimes, it may not even seem important after all the research and hard work that goes into writing the essay itself. This could result in a very well-written, but sloppily titled essay. Unfortunately, that hurts your work more than you can tell.
Why are Titles Important?
The title is the first thing a reader reads when they begin on an essay or any other piece of writing. It, more often than not, determines whether they are going to continue reading the rest of the essay. Intriguing titles prompt readers to continue, while those that are generic or throwaway are likely to stem any further perusal.
Titles also serve the function of informing the reader about the content of the essay. Specific titles are always better than vague and general ones such as “Global Warming” or “The Cold War.” The title should convey more information about the way the topic has been handled, giving an idea of what to expect from the essay. However, those that are too lengthy or too detailed should be avoided. A balance should be struck between vague and too detailed. For example: “Peace Through Strength: Revisiting Reagan’s Foreign Policy During the Waning Years of the Cold War” instead of simply “The Cold War”.
When the essay is being submitted for grading, these factors remain important. A creative title helps the essay stand out in a sea of submissions (often on the same topic) being scored by the same evaluator. Keeping in mind the informational aspect of the title also helps in crafting a good one that lets the evaluator know, with a glance, how a student has approached the topic. It also prevents misleading titles which are likely to cost the student dearly, resulting in lower grades.
Composing the Right Title for Your Essay
Crafting a good title can sometimes be a more creative task than the writing of the essay itself. And like most creative processes, there is not really a defined format or set of rules to be followed. However, for those who may struggle to come up with the right title, the following guidelines can ease the job considerably.
1. Title at the end
While a title is the first thing a reader sees, it is best kept to the end of the writing process (after the essay is complete). This ensures that the title is accurate and suitable to the content of the essay. It also gives the writer ample material to work from in order to craft an interesting title.
2. Use the thesis
The thesis statement concisely sums up the essay and its purpose. Focusing on and drawing from it helps ensure that the title contains all the right keywords.
3. Take note of tone
Titles set up the essay and elicit certain expectations in the reader. Tone is important for any piece of writing, and striking the right (conventionally, formal) one in academic writing is even more so. Therefore, titles must be crafted keeping in mind the tone of the essay and the expectations of the evaluator.
4. Review the title
After composing a title, reviewing it with the whole essay gives an idea of whether both of them are consistent and go together. In case the title seems disjointed with the essay, it should be rewritten.
Tips for Titling Essays
Keeping in mind the following points when titling essays and papers will further ensure better titles:
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Incorporate popular references:
Using or adapting appropriate clichés, popular phrases or quotes, when possible, helps make titles more eye-catching. They act as hooks, drawing the reader’s attention and arousing interest in the essay. For example: “Judging Books by Their Covers: The Importance of Cover Art in the Publishing Industry”
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Keep it simple:
Titles that are too long and/or stuffed with complex jargon are likely to repel, rather than fascinate readers, even in academia. If jargon needs to be used, it should be kept to a minimum, limited only to the necessary keywords. Titles work best when they are easy to read and understand.
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Use subtitles:
If the amount of information that needs to be included in a title makes it too long and complicated, it can be broken into two sections – the main title and a subtitle, divided by a colon. The main title here becomes a short phrase that acts as a hook, while the subtitle is longer and contains further details. These kinds of titles are quite common for academic essays and research papers.
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Section titles:
If it is needed, paragraphs within the body of the essay too can be titled based on their content. This helps structure the essay and aids in quicker reading.
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Capitalize right:
The first letters of all the words in a title should be capitalized, except for articles, prepositions, and conjunctions (unless they are the first words). Most style guides follow these rules. However, if a specific style guide has been prescribed, it should be consulted and followed even if its rules go against these ones.
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Question titles:
Framing titles as questions (especially those beginning with “How” and “Why”) helps in drawing a reader’s attention. For example: “Why Do We Still Study Shakespeare?” However, such titles strike a relatively casual tone, especially in an academic environment. Students should use them with caution, bearing in mind the nature of their target readers.
As is evident, titles are multifunctional elements in writing. And given their significance, they deserve attention during their composition, rather than being hurriedly scribbled in at the last minute.
