Choosing A Title For Your Assignment Task
Choosing A Title For Your Assignment Task
How To Choose A Title For Your Assignment Task
The title is the first thing that readers usually notice about a paper. A title should be engaging, catchy, and interesting. Otherwise, readers may not be encouraged to continue reading.
An attractive title can enhance a paper. It is important that titles also provide accurate information about the paper’s content. In academic writing, titles should be concise and carefully worded. There are several different types of titles.
Types Of Titles
The Question
This type of title can encourages people to continue reading the paper in order to determine the question’s answer. The question should relate to the argument supported in the paper. For example, the title “What’s wrong with Cocaine?” would be appropriate for a paper detailing the problems with cocaine. This is the simplest title category to use, because if no other type of title seems possible, you can always restate your thesis as a question.
Modified Thesis
The title “The Future of Fraternities is Alcohol-free” is a modified thesis because it condenses the thesis of the paper (that fraternities should be alcohol free) into a short, catchy saying, that indicates the topic of the paper. A Modified Thesis title for the paper describing the problems with cocaine could be “The Problems with Cocaine.” What to do + Problem – The title “What to Do before the Crab Grass Comes” indicates the paper will be about ways to prevent crab grass.
If the paper on cocaine focused on how to handle a cocaine addiction, rather than simply problems with cocaine, a potential title could be “What to Do to Overcome Cocaine Addiction.” Use this type of title only with papers describing the prevention of problems.
Controversy
This type of title refers to a controversial thesis, not simply a paper on a controversial topic. This title simply states the controversy. For example, if the paper on cocaine discussed legalizing that drug, the paper might have the title “The Debate Regarding the Legalization of Cocaine.”
The title refers to the specific controversy in the thesis (whether to legalize cocaine) and not just to a controversial topic. A paper entitled “Abortion” does not fit this category because it simply refers to a controversial topic, but a paper entitled “Partial Birth Abortion Should Be Banned” does fit this category because it refers to a specific controversial thesis.
Word Play
This title features a clever, witty play on words and is appropriate for shorter, less formal papers. This type of title may feature words that rhyme or may be creative. An example of this title is “Some Words about Words.” For a paper on cocaine, a Word Play Title might be “The Dirt on Snow,” “Blown Away,” or “Crossing the White Line.”
Imperative
This title demands something of the reader and demands attention to the topic of the paper. An example of this type of title would be “Don’t Be a Cheerleader.” Such a paper might discuss the negative consequences of becoming a cheerleader. An imperative title for the paper describing the problems with cocaine could be “Don’t Use Cocaine.”
