The most overlooked element of academic writing is that it should engage the reader's interest (especially in the term paper context)--you must go beyond simply transmitting information, an analysis, or an argument to your academic audience--you must achieve your writing objective in an interesting way.
How will your essay on Hamlet stand out from 40 other essays on Shakespeare's play? How will your essay on Canada's role in the Second World War stand out from the essays written by your classmates? How will your assessment report on the downturn of the Asian economy impress your reader?
How do you grab the reader's attention early?
Ask yourself what the first point of contact is with the reader. The answer is your title.
In order for your title to be effective, it should satisfy one or more of the following:
Try to go beyond simply rewording or over-simplifying the topic question when trying to be engaging and original.
Some suggestions:
Below are several examples of essay topic questions that have been used in English 112 (Strategies for University Writing) at UBC. Following each example are representative samples of student titles that were used in response to the questions. Read each of the samples and decide whether or not you think the titles are engaging. After you've done this, you can then read an English Department instructor's analysis of the title by opening an English Department instructor's analysis of the title.
Several fields of science have been embroiled in controversy in the 20th Century (e.g. organ transplants, DNA blueprinting, genetic engineering, nuclear energy etc.). Focusing on one area of scientific research, argue whether or not scientists should continue exploring this field into the 21st Century. Assume that you are writing this essay for Maclean's magazine.
Instructor’s Analysis
The title is informative in terms of the general subject, but it’s still rather generalized because "Nuclear Power" has far-reaching applications. Will the paper deal with the hazards of nuclear power as an energy source? Will it deal with the dangers of nuclear weaponry? Will it deal with the political hazards of a nation declaring "nuclear power" status as India and Pakistan did in 1998?
Instructor Analysis
The title is simply too vague. "Human Cloning" is a general subject. What particular aspect of the topic will the paper address? What is the writer’s attitude toward her/his subject? What position will the writer take on the subject?
Instructor Analysis
The title is too broad and unfocused: it seems to outline two different papers. What is the connection between genetic screening, human rights, and gender equality? Again, what is the writer’s position on the topic?
Instructor Analysis
The title informs the reader about the general subject (organ transplants) and provides the writer's position (we shouldn't perform transplants); however, the title is too straightforward. It doesn't engage the reader's interest. It is rather mechanical.
Instructor Analysis
This title is very engaging. It contains a humorous play on words that makes the audience think about the topic. It is informative about the general subject and it reveals the writer’s attitude toward her/his subject.
Instructor Analysis
This title is engaging because it subtly reveals the writer’s topic (the nuclear fallout after an atomic war) while simultaneously revealing her/his attitude toward the subject (that the effects will be far-reaching—more than the understated term "Nuclear Winter" implies).
Instructor Analysis
This title is informative and it clearly implies the writer’s position. The title could, however, be a bit more specific in terms of indicating the nature of the implications.
In recent years, there has been controversy surrounding the advertisement of products which are deemed to promote unhealthy or even reckless behaviour, especially in young adults. Imagine that you are a marketing manager at Molson Canada, a major beer manufacturing company, and that your summer advertising campaign is just around the corner. Write a letter to the editorial page of the Vancouver Sun newspaper in which you defend the right to advertise your product.
Instructor Analysis
The title is too general and simplistic. It’s also rather ambiguous. It could mean that the advertising of beer is a good thing for society. However, it could also mean that advertising campaigns for beer are of high quality.
Instructor Analysis
The title is informative and engaging. The writer reveals his/her attitude toward the subject without becoming confrontational or overly defensive (achieved through the humour of "Don’t Shoot the Messenger").
Instructor Analysis
The title is overly vague. While free speech is a relevant issue, the title doesn’t provide any context. It also doesn’t imply a position.
Argue for or against the use of North American Native names and references for amateur and professional sports teams (examples: Atlanta Braves, Washington Redskins).
Instructor Analysis
The title is informative and engaging. The writer clearly presents the issue at hand and then offers a position by implying that he/she favours the rights of owners over Native groups.
Instructor Analysis
The title is informative and engaging. The writer indicates that power is the central factor in Native Peoples being victimized by professional sports.
Instructor Analysis
The title is too vague and uninformative. It offers no clear position and doesn’t even imply that there is an issue for debate.
Several recent high profile court cases have drawn attention to whether or not parents have a right to physically discipline their children. In a letter to the editorial page of the Vancouver Sun, argue for or against the idea of corporal punishment in the home.
Instructor Analysis
The title is both informative and engaging. The blunt statement reveals the writer’s likely position and encourages the reader to respond immediately.
Instructor Analysis
The title is effective because it orients the reader to the subject and also makes a subtle inference to the fact that spanking can lead to child abuse. The writer’s position becomes clear and he or she comes across as reasonable (rather than confrontational).
Instructor Analysis
The title is informative, but not very engaging. It is simply a reshuffling of the topic sentence.
Should zoos, first established in the nineteenth century, be abolished? Provide a well-supported argument in defence of your thesis. Write your essay with a general audience in mind.
Instructor Analysis
The title is too vague and uninformative. It doesn't provide much beyond a vague impression of the writer’s general stance.
Instructor Analysis
This title is too vague and general.
Instructor Analysis
This title is effective because it is informative and engaging. It reveals the writer’s attitude and introduces what could become a central metaphor in the essay.
Write an open letter to the Ubyssey (the UBC student newspaper) which tries to convince apathetic students to take part in the fight for or against Canadian unity.
Instructor Analysis
The title is too vague and uninformative. It doesn’t reveal the writer’s attitude and it doesn’t address the "student" aspect of the topic.
Instructor Analysis
The title is both informative and engaging.
Instructor Analysis
The title is informative and engaging, but it could more clearly indicate the writer’s position.
Basing your essay on specific sensory details, recount an experience of being formally tested--provincials, exams, your driver's test, a medical test etc. Communicate a dominant impression of this experience as clearly as possible.
Instructor Analysis
The title is general and unengaging.
Instructor Analysis
The title is general and unengaging.
Instructor Analysis
The title is informative and engaging. It alludes to what will become a central metaphor in the text. The driver’s road test will be described as a form of execution.
