Giving Your Essay A Title

Here is yet another example of when talking to your professor is important. Try running your essay title by your professor before handing in your essay. Remember, the title of your paper is the first thing the professor (or reader) looks at, and it needs to grab their attention. That said, most history professors are not impressed with quirky titles meant to amuse.

The most common suggestion professors have given me over the years, is to make sure your title includes the topic and the dates you are looking at. More specifically, many professors feel that a good title beings with the broad topic, followed by a semi-colon and a description of the topic. For example,

The Second World War on the Home-front: The role of Canadian Women in the Factories during the Second World War

However, some profs might find this too long – so it’s worth checking with them first.