A Catchy Title Example for a College Essay
Narrative essays can be thought of as short stories. They ask a writer to share an experience clearly and concisely while making a clear point. The titles of these essays can be more playful and ambiguous. Take a look at some examples.
When you search for a topic on the Internet, you usually type a brief phrase consisting of the most specific, important words. Likewise, good titles incorporate the specific key words of an essay. To brainstorm, you might compose a mock Internet search for your paper, determining the words that would be most important for someone trying to find it online. For example, an argumentative essay's key words might include the issue itself and the position your essay takes. The title might be, "Lighting Up at 21: Why Raising the Smoking Age Can Prevent Addiction and Illness."
Coming up with a creative hook is often the hardest part of titling an essay. To accomplish this, you might try reading your essay and highlighting key phrases that sum up its theme. Placing an actual phrase from your essay in the title will draw readers' attention to it when it appears in the body, reinforcing your main idea. For example, in an essay about childhood obesity, you might find a line that describes how parents often reward children with junk food in spite of the health risks; "Rewards and Risks" could become your essay's title.
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Brainstorming is a crucial step in crafting an effective essay title. It's a process where you jot down all your ideas, no matter how outlandish or off-topic they might seem at first. Start by considering the main theme or argument of your essay, as this will guide your title creation. For instance, if you're writing a compare-and-contrast essay, think about the key elements or perspectives you are comparing. Here are some techniques to kick-start your brainstorming:
Moving on to the Chicago style, it gives you the flexibility to choose between including a title page or placing the title on the first page of your essay. If you opt for a title page, the title should be about one-third of the way down the page, centred, and followed by your name and other relevant information several lines later. Regardless of the style, ensure that you do not use bold or underlined text for your title unless specifically required. Here are some key points to remember:
After your initial brainstorming, refine the ideas to suit the tone and purpose of your essay. If you're submitting your essay as part of a college application, you might want a title that catches the attention but also reflects your personal voice. On the other hand, for academic essays, clarity and directness might be more appropriate. Consider the following:
Vague titles do not inform the reader. Provide a specific description of what your focus will be. Your audience wants to know precisely what they will be reading.
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Formatting your essay title correctly is crucial not only for the aesthetic appeal but also for adhering to academic standards. Each academic style, such as APA, MLA, and Chicago, has its own set of rules for formatting essay titles. For instance, in APA style, the title should be centred on the page, typed in uppercase and lowercase letters, and positioned in the upper half of the page. It's important to use a legible font like Times New Roman with a 12-point size. Unlike APA, the MLA format does not require a separate title page unless specified; the title should be placed directly above the text of your essay and centred. It's crucial to use quotation marks for titles of shorter works included in your paper.
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Using these brainstorming techniques, you can develop a pool of potential titles that are both creative and relevant, setting the stage for a strong introduction to your essay.
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To truly grasp what distinguishes a good essay title from a bad essay title, it's instructive to look at some clear examples. A good title is like a good handshake; it introduces and sets the tone for what's to come. For instance, 'The Electronic Babysitter: A Social History of Uses of the Television' immediately informs the reader about the essay's focus and scope, encapsulating the subject and angle of discussion succinctly. Similarly, 'A Deadly Beauty: The Evolution of Skin Coloration and Toxicity of the Poisonous Dart Frog' not only catches attention with its vivid language but also clearly outlines the essay’s subject matter. Here are some characteristics of effective titles:
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A persuasive essay appeals to emotions to influence the reader. The main difference between an argumentative essay and a persuasive essay is that an argumentative essay uses facts and research while a persuasive essay relies on emotional appeals. How do these title examples make you feel?
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Sometimes you can come up with catchy titles by playing with words. Alliteration is the repetition of a prominent sound in a phrase or sentence. Since alliteration is catchy by nature, it is an easy way to grab readers' attention. For example, an essay about Flannery O'Connor's short stories using alliteration might be titled "Misfits, Murderers and Mercy." Puns are plays on words that imply multiple meanings or alter well-known phrases. "Red, White and Skewed: Gay Discrimination in America" is a pun used to introduce the topic of inequality in an essay's title.