Earlier we examined methods of generating titles from parts of speech. With nonfiction, titles sometimes imply the controlling idea of an article or essay. On these occasions, the title is often the only statement of a writer's thesis. To help students see how titles can contribute to a logical framework, schedule a period in the library and have them browse through popular magazines, each locating three titles that announce a thesis.

          As a guideline, use Harry Crosby's categories of titles, taken from The Shape of Thought. Crosby explains that titles often unify articles and essays, and he classifies them in four ways:

Titles Which Announce the General Subject
Example: "The Age of Adolescence" by Archibald MacLeish

Titles Which Indicate a Specific Topic
Example: "The Incredible Shrinking Attention Span" by W.B. Park

Titles Which Indicate the Controlling Question
Example: "Can People Be Judged by Their Appearance?" by Eric Berne

Titles Which Announce the Thesis
Example: "We Scientists Have the Right to Play God" by Edmund R. Leech

          After returning to the classroom, create groups of four or five to compare titles and create a list of the two best examples in each category. After each group has shared its list, use the collected titles for a bulletin board.

          A similar activity, one that could be done simultaneously with the title search, is to have students Xerox one article that develops its title clearly. Collect the articles, and on the following day read one of the best to the class without revealing its title. Ask students to guess the original title before announcing it.