Naming a Paper

Deciding on a title for your paper is not nearly as important as many other steps are, but it is still important. The title creates the first impression of your paper, and you want it to be positive. In addition, the process of choosing a title can let you know whether or not you truly have a handle on your topic. One ESL instructor told me tht she has often found that a student who cannot write a good title for his or her paper is a student who has written a bad paper.


I. The title should be a noun phrase, not a sentence or a noun clause.

A good title may contain a gerund, but not a true verb.
Bad Titles:
Should violent TV be banned?
Why TV promotes violence.
Violence on TV: Should we be worried?
Better Titles:
The Social Impact of Television Violence
Controlling Television Violence in the United States
Some Possible Consequences of Televised Violence

II. The title should indicate the narrow topic of the paper.

A good title informs the reader of the specific subject to be discussed.
Bad Titles:
Computers in the Modern World
Effects of Technology
Electricity and It's Impact on Our Lives
Better Titles:
The Use of Computers in Elementary Classrooms
The Impact of E-mail on Interpersonal Relationships
Alternatives to Electrical Power in Rural Hospitals

III. The title should be unambiguous and use only standard English word forms.

Nonstandard or misused word forms create a negative first impression. Ambiguous forms create confusion or, sometimes, laughter. Check word forms in a dictionary.
Bad Titles:
Raising Violence in the U.S.
Criminalism in American Society
Criminal Ties in U.S.-Japanese Trade
Better Titles:
Causes of the Rising U.S. Crime Rate
Reducing the Juvenile Crime Rate
Organized Crime and International Trade

This document is brought to you by The UW ESL Center. It was created by Nancy Ackles, in 1996. You are free to distribute this document, or use it in class, as long as you give credit to the source. You may not use this document for any commercial purposes.

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