How To Write Special Feature Articles Part 26

SOME TYPES OF t.i.tLES. Attempts to cla.s.sify all kinds of headlines and t.i.tles involve difficulties similar to those already encountered in the effort to cla.s.sify all types of beginnings. Nevertheless, a separation of t.i.tles into fairly distinct, if not mutually exclusive, groups may prove helpful to inexperienced writers. The following are the nine most distinctive types of t.i.tles: (1) label; (2) "how" and "why" statement; (3) striking statement, including figure of speech, paradox, and expression of great magnitude; (4) quotation and paraphrase of quotation; (5) question; (6) direct address, particularly in imperative form; (7) alliteration; (8) rhyme; (9) balance.

The label t.i.tle is a simple, direct statement of the subject. It has only as much interest and attractiveness as the subject itself possesses. Such t.i.tles are the following:

(1) RAISING GUINEA PIGS FOR A LIVING One Missouri Man Finds a Ready Market for All He Can Sell

(2) HUMAN NATURE AS SEEN BY A PULLMAN PORTER

(3) THE FINANCIAL SIDE OF FOOTBALL

(4) CONFESSIONS OF AN UNDERGRADUATE

(5) BEE-KEEPING ON SHARES

(6) A COMMUNITY WOOD-CHOPPING DAY

(7) WHAT A WOMAN ON THE FARM THINKS OF PRICE FIXING

The "how-to-do-something" article may be given a "how" t.i.tle that indicates the character of the contents; for example:

(1) HOW I FOUND HEALTH IN THE DENTIST'S CHAIR

(2) HOW TO STORE YOUR CAR IN WINTER

(3) HOW A FARMER'S WIFE MADE $55 EXTRA

(4) HOW TO SUCCEED AS A WRITER Woman Who "Knew She Could Write" Tells How She Began and Finally Got on the Right Road

The "how" t.i.tle may also be used for an article that explains some phenomenon or process. Examples of such t.i.tles are these:

(1) HOW A NETTLE STINGS

(2) HOW RIPE OLIVES ARE MADE

(3) HOW THE FREIGHT CAR GETS HOME

Articles that undertake to give causes and reasons are appropriately given "why" t.i.tles like the following:

(1) WHY CAVIAR COSTS SO MUCH

(2) WHY I LIKE A ROUND BARN

(3) WHY THE COAL SUPPLY IS SHORT

A t.i.tle may attract attention because of the striking character of the idea it expresses; for example:

(1) WANTED: $50,000 MEN

(2) 200 BUSHELS OF CORN PER ACRE

(3) FIRE WRITES A HEART'S RECORD

(4) THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SECOND HELPINGS

The paradoxical form of t.i.tle piques curiosity by seeming to make a self-contradictory statement, as, for example, the following:

(1) SHIPS OF STONE Seaworthy Concrete Vessels an Accomplished Fact

(2) CHRISTIAN PAGANS

(3) A TELESCOPE THAT POINTS DOWNWARD

(4) SEEING WITH YOUR EARS

(5) MAKING SAILORS WITHOUT SHIPS

(6) HOW TO BE AT HOME WHILE TRAVELING

(7) Ca.n.a.l-BOATS THAT CLIMB HILLS

A striking figure of speech in a t.i.tle stimulates the reader's imagination and arouses his interest; for example:

(1) PULLING THE RIVER'S TEETH

(2) THE OLD HOUSE WITH TWO FACES

(3) THE HONEY-BEE SAVINGS BANK

(4) RIDING ON BUBBLES

(5) THE ROMANCE OF NITROGEN

A familiar quotation may be used for the t.i.tle and may stand alone, but often a sub-t.i.tle is desirable to show the application of the quotation to the subject, thus:

(1) THE SHOT HEARD 'ROUND THE WORLD America's First Victory in France

(2) "ALL WOOL AND A YARD WIDE"

What "All Wool" Really Means and Why Shoddy is Necessary

(3) THE SERVANT IN THE HOUSE And Why She Won't Stay in the House

A well-known quotation or common saying may be paraphrased in a novel way to attract attention; for example:

(1) FORWARD! THE TRACTOR BRIGADE

(2) IT'S LO, THE RICH INDIAN

(3) LEARNING BY UNDOING

(4) THE GUILELESS SPIDER AND THE WILY FLY Entomology Modifies our Ideas of the Famous Parlor