A title is the smallest piece of writing

Just a few words at the top of the page

Easy to ignore or forget, if not effective

Memorable

Cues the reader

Prepares us

Opens the door into the world of the piece

Students often label: “When I Tried Out for The Wizard of Oz” “The Day at the Common Ground Fair” “Going Bowling” “My Dog”

Many are cliches: “The Best Christmas Ever” “Fall Leaves” “The Winning Goal”

Read aloud Erin’s poem & show on board Can you guess Erin’s working title for this piece?

“The Box in the Closet”

What do YOU think of this title? Is it memorable? Distinct? Does it intrigue the reader? Deliberate? Or is it a handy label that stuck?

As a result of brainstorming, conferencing, etc, she came up with… Show her list of titles & evaluate ones that are most

effective Can you guess which one she chose? “Treasure Hunt”… better than? “The Box in the Closet”

Read aloud Hallie Herz’s poem & show on board Can you guess Erin’s working title for this piece?

“The Shoe Flinging Game”

What do YOU think of this title? It is intriguing BUT… does it fit what the whole poem is about? This is a seven stanza poem about the friendship of 3 girls… There is just one example of shoe flinging (an adventure)

As a result of brainstorming, conferencing, etc, she came up with… Show her list of titles & evaluate ones that are most effective Can you guess which one she chose? “Practically Triplets”… better than? “The Shoe Flinging

Game” Title should communicate the THEME… the 3 of them were as

close as sisters

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