How to Write an Effective Title
What's in a Title?
No one wants to read a story titled: "My Essay," "Persuasive Essay," "My Persuasive Essay," Essay Assignment," "Persuasive Essay Assignment," or "My Persuasive Essay Assignment". It is important to be able to write an effective title.
An effective title must meet one or more of the following criteria:
Tips and Strategies:
Avoid the following:
No one wants to read a story titled: "My Essay," "Persuasive Essay," "My Persuasive Essay," Essay Assignment," "Persuasive Essay Assignment," or "My Persuasive Essay Assignment". It is important to be able to write an effective title.
An effective title must meet one or more of the following criteria:
- It should accurately predict the contents or focus (main idea) of the piece.
- It should set limits on the topic.
- It should communicate the dominant impression the writer wants his or her essay to make.
- It should grab the readers' attention.
Tips and Strategies:
- Use wordplay that sets up a contrast: Good Times for Me; Bad Times for You.
- Use words in an unexpected way: I'm a Frayed Knot: Lessons on Bullying from a Messy-Haired Shoe String
- Use alliteration: Fewer Fried Foods For Franklin High School
- Use a phrase or an oft repeated word that captures the essence of the essay: My Essay Deserves a Better Title
Avoid the following:
- Titles with an article followed by a noun or verb: The Essay, A Teacher, The Bus
- A question: Why do Some People Still Use Questions as Titles After I Tell Them Not to?