How to Write Titles in Essays: A Complete Guide

Writing a good title for your essay is crucial. The title is often the first thing a reader sees and it can make or break whether they actually read your essay. A strong, eye-catching title piques readers’ interest and gives them a sense of what your essay is about.

When writing an essay title, you need to find the right balance between being catchy and accurately summarizing your work Your title should provide clarity on the essay’s main focus, while also highlighting important keywords At the same time, a touch of creativity can go a long way in engaging readers.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through everything you need to know to craft effective titles for your essays.

Why Your Essay Title Matters

Let’s start with why essay titles are so important in the first place Here are some of the key reasons you need to put effort into your title

• Summarizes your work – The title distills the purpose of your entire essay into just a few words It gives readers a sneak peek at what you will cover.

• Grabs attention – With so much content out there, you need a title that makes readers want to click and start reading your essay.

• Helps with SEO – Including relevant keywords in your title assists with search engine optimization. This makes it easier for your target audience to find your work.

• Provides direction – The title sets the tone and focus for the rest of the essay. It lets readers know what direction the essay will take.

• Makes an impression – For things like college application essays, the title is part of the first impression you make on admission officers.

In short, the title is your essay’s first (and sometimes only) opportunity to capture interest. Taking the time to craft an effective title pays dividends.

Essay Title Length and Specificity

When considering possible titles, you need to find the right balance between length and specificity. Here are some key factors to keep in mind:

• Concise is better – Short, punchy titles tend to be more eye-catching and memorable. Shoot for 3-7 words if possible.

• Avoid vagueness – Your title should give readers a clear sense of your topic. Generic titles like “English Essay” don’t cut it.

• Don’t give everything away – Leave some mystery so readers need to dive into your essay to fully understand your angle.

• Lean on keywords – Incorporate 1-2 keywords or phrases that summarize your central topic. This helps with SEO as well.

The goal is to be as specific as possible without being overly wordy. If you can summarize the core focus of your essay in 3-5 well-chosen words, that is ideal.

Essay Title Styles and Formatting

In addition to the content of your title, you also need to consider presentation. Proper formatting is key to making your title look polished and professional.

Formatting guidelines can vary based on the required essay style:

MLA Essay Titles

• Centered at the top of the first page
• Standard capitalization rules apply (first letters of each word capitalized, except articles/prepositions/conjunctions)
• No bold, italics, or quotation marks unless other works are referenced
• No underlining

APA Essay Titles

• Centered at the top of the cover page
• Title case capitalization
• No abbreviations or unnecessary words
• 12-point Times New Roman font

Chicago Essay Titles

• Title case capitalization
• Centered at the top of the first page
• No specific guidelines beyond capitalization

Regardless of style, be consistent with formatting throughout your essay. If you capitalize your title a certain way, capitalize headings the same way.

How to Create a Good Essay Title: Tips and Strategies

Now that you understand the ingredients of a great essay title, let’s discuss some strategies and tips for actually creating one:

• Wait to write the title last – It’s difficult to summarize an essay before you’ve even finished writing it. Wait until the end so you fully understand the content.

• Read your thesis statement – Your thesis statement encapsulates your central argument. Try turning it into a title.

• Incorporate keywords – Ensure keywords related to your topic appear in the title. Check that they align with your content.

• Ask engaging questions – Turning your title into a question can help grab interest and create intrigue.

• Use punctuation carefully – Colons, dashes, parentheses, etc. can help refine lengthy titles. But don’t go overboard.

• Play with structure – Experiment with starting with a quote, statistic, or other attention-grabbing element.

• Keep revising – Brainstorm several possible titles and keep refining them even after you write your essay.

Don’t be afraid to get creative with your title wording and structure. Just be sure not to be too vague or stray too far from accurately conveying your central point.

Examples of Good Essay Titles

To see these principles in action, let’s look at some examples of strong essay titles across different topics and essay styles:

Creative/Personal Essay Titles

• “Lessons from a 7-Day Social Media Fast”
• “How Competitive Chess Shaped My Approach to Life”
• “The Art of Waiting: Regaining Patience in the On-Demand Era”

Academic/Research Essay Titles

• “The Impact of Regular Physical Activity on Depression”
• “Alexander Hamilton: The Man Behind American Federalism”
• “Rise of the Coffeehouse: Impacts on Culture and Commerce in 17th Century England”

Argumentative Essay Titles

• “Texting and Driving: Should Cell Phone Usage Behind the Wheel Be Banned?”
• “Are Grades an Accurate Reflection of Student Learning?”
• “Does Social Media Do More Harm Than Good for Teens?”

Compare and Contrast Essay Titles

• “Google vs. Apple: A Comparison of Business Models and Innovation Strategies”
• “The Minister’s Black Veil vs. The Scarlet Letter: A Contrast of Sin and Secretiveness”
• “Gasoline vs. Electric Cars: Comparing Environmental Impacts”

As you can see, strong titles come in many shapes and sizes. But in all cases, they identify the central essay topic while keeping readers engaged.

Common Problems to Avoid with Essay Titles

Now that you know how to craft effective titles, let’s discuss some pitfalls to avoid:

• Too vague – Stay away from broad titles like “English Paper 1” that could apply to anything.

• Too long – Don’t ramble on for an entire sentence. Keep it short and sweet.

• Misalignment with content – Make sure your title actually reflects what’s covered in the essay.

• Improper formatting – Be consistent with capitalization, font, and other style guidelines.

• Overly provocative – Don’t try so hard to be clever that you end up being confusing.

• Forgettable – Create something unique so your title doesn’t blend in with all the others.

The key is to find brevity without compromising clarity. Stay on topic without being boring. Get creative without going overboard.

Final Thoughts on Essay Titles

Writing essay titles is a balancing act. But when done right, an essay title has immense power to capture attention and summarize the core focus of your work.

Follow the tips outlined in this guide to craft titles that shine. Keep them concise, format them properly, and incorporate engaging language.

Remember, your reader’s first experience with your essay comes from the title. Make it count!