How to interpret essay titles

The first step in writing any essay is to read and interpret the essay title correctly. Let us look at the following example:

What steps do you think should be taken to reduce pollution?

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In this essay question, the word step is the organizing word and the general subject is pollution You do not need to describe pollution itself; the title assumes that you already know what pollution is. The title also indicates that pollution, at the moment, is bad. You could, therefore, use this idea as part

of your introduction:

Pollution is nowadays one of the most serious threats to all living things on the planet. There are, however, many steps that can be taken to remedy this situation.
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 The first sentence is a general statement about the general subject. The second sentence is the topic
sentence: it gives the direction of the essay and tells you how to organize it.

Now study the essay titles below and: (a) find the word(s) in each question which will help you to organize your essay (b) decide what the general subject of the essay is.
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2. What are the most effective ways to reduce unemployment in Europe? 3. What are the disadvantages of using computers in the workplace? 4. Food additives should be banned. Discuss. 5. What are the main benefits of investing money in space research? 6. The main cause of the destruction of the environment is the burning of fossil fuels. Discuss. 7. Discuss the advantages of sex education in the school curriculum at secondary level. 8. The best solution to urban traffic problems is to ban all cars from city centers. What is your opinion? 9. Tobacco advertising in the media should be banned. 5 What is your opinion? Give your reasons.

 Unemployment throughout Europe is a major problem. However, there are several effective ways which can be implemented to tackle the situation. Computers have brought enormous benefits to the workplace. However, at the same time, there are many disadvantages associated with using such technology. The use of addictives in foods is a matter of some controversy. Not surprisingly, therefore, there are many arguments for and against this practice. The enormous sums of money spent on research into space travel is an issue that is arousing more and more controversy. Such investment has, however, brought many benefits to the world.
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 The burning of fossil fuels has contributed enormously to the destruction of environment. However, there are many other, no less, important causes. Sex education at secondary level is a much debated issue. However, such education does have many advantages. Although banning cars from city centers is a good way to solve current traffic problems, there are, in my opinion, many other measures that can and should be taken. Banning tobacco adverts on television and in other areas of the media does provoke considerable opposition. As far as I am concerned, however, such advertising should 7 be allowed for many reasons.

How to link your introduction to your essay title

In the last exercise, you looked at interpreting essay titles and writing a suitable introduction. In other words, you were looking forward from the essay title to the introduction. As you write, however, you also need to look back at what you have written, as well as forward. In the introductions below, look for the organizing words and decide what the general subject is. Then write down a possible essay title for each one. 8

 Example: To many people boxing is a cruel sport, which ought to be banned. In my opinion, however, it should not be stopped for many reasons. If you look at the topic sentence first, you will see that there are several clues to the title. The essay is about your opinion and the reasons. The general sentence shows you that the general subject is boxing. Look at the following titles and you will see that the introduction expresses the general subject and focus or topic of the title:
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Boxing should be banned. What is your opinion of this statement? Give your reasons. - What is your opinion of boxing? Give your reasons.

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02.

03.

04.

05.

Capital punishment is an issue about which people feel very passionately. However, there are many strong arguments against this issue. Banning smoking in public places is an issue that gives rise to endless controversy. There are, therefore, many arguments for and against. Road deaths in Europe are still a major problem. This situation could, however, be improved enormously by adopting a wide-ranging package of measures. Over recent years, poverty has increased in many parts of the world with disastrous consequences. The legalization of cannabis is a subject that has aroused considerable debate. There are, however, a number of benefits to be derived from making the drug 11 legal.

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07. 08. 09.

10.

Recycling waste paper, glass and scrap metal is obviously a sound method for reducing pollution. Even so, a number of equally important measures exist to tackle the problem. In some cases a little knowledge is a dangerous thing, but there are also certain circumstances where it can be of enormous help. Both public and private means of transport have advantages and disadvantages. Corporal punishment, in one form or another, has been part of the educational system in many countries for a long time. As far as I am concerned, however, such punishment is unacceptable. Now that oil resources are becoming rapidly depleted, more attention is being focused on alternative forms of energy. 12