What makes for an effective title? That’s an important question to consider since the title contains the first words of yours that a reader will encounter. First, it should be descriptive; it should evoke an image in the reader’s mind. It should also be relevant to your subject; it should convey something about the writing to follow. Lastly, it should be intriguing; it should create in the reader a desire to keep reading. With those traits in mind, review the titles of your classmates’ midterm reflections listed below. Which of these is most effective and why?
- “Aspects Leading to Success”
- “The Awakening of My Inner Writer”
- “Becoming a Better Writer
- “Becoming a Stronger Writer”
- “Controlled Writing”
- “Developing as a Writer”
- “Developing Skills”
- “The First Half”
- “Growth as a Writer”
- “Growth in Analyzing”
- “Growth-Mindedness”
- “Highlights of Working with Others”
- “How a Board Game Changed My Writing”
- “How I have Grown”
- “Impact of a Class”
- “Impact of Collaboration”
- “Improvements in My Writing”
- “The Key to Writing”
- “My Personal Development”
- “My Road to Success”
- “Professionalism”
- “A Semester of Improvement”
- “Seven Tiles but a Lifetime of Knowledge”
- “The Start of a New Beginning”
- “Think before You Write”
- “Thinking beyond What I Knew”
- “Transition to College”
- “Unforeseen Clarity”
- “Ways of Learning”
Bonus-Point Opportunity
Directions:
- Determine which of your classmates’ titles you deem most effective.
- Compose a comment that includes the title enclosed in quotation marks and a brief explanation of its effectiveness.
- Post your comment as a reply to this blog entry no later than 4 p.m. today, Thursday, October 3. (To post your comment, click on the post’s title, and scroll down to the bottom of the page. You will then see the image of an airmail envelope with a leave comment option.)
I will approve your responses (make your comments visible) after the 4 p.m. deadline on October 3. Commenters will receive five bonus points for their October 4 Scrabble assignment.
Postscript
Congratulations to Ryan Kelley and Annalise Lindsay (section 19) whose titles were chosen as the most effective. Nicole Edelman (section 19) chose Ryan’s title “Impact of a Class,” and Cristique Duvall (section 20) chose Annalise’s title “Seven Tiles but a Lifetime of Knowledge.” Nicole and Cristique will each receive five bonus points for their October 4 Scrabble assignment/score sheet.
Next Up
Wordplay Day! To prepare for class, revisit the Dictionary and World Builder pages on the Scrabble website. Also review the blog posts devoted to Scrabble.
Jane Lucas 
I deem “Seven Tiles but a Lifetime of Knowledge” as the most effective title amongst all others because it foreshadows the topic of the essay. By drawing the readers in and making them want to know more about the story of the “Seven Tiles”. Causing the audience to question what tiles were important and how they were impactful. This title alludes to an event that has occurred that sparked a “Lifetime of Knowledge” and emphasizes the impact something small can have in a greater purpose.
My favorite title is “Impact of a Class”. I like this one because it is broad and allows describing multiple aspects.