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ENGL 214 | REPORT: GUIDANCE ON TITLES

ENGL 214 | Report: Guidance on Titles

Choosing a strong title is key to performing well on this course. Read the following advice and
requirements carefully.

1. Basic Requirements

Titles must:

1. Have a clear link to the course theme.

2. Have a clear link to your major.
3. Clearly state a problem and a solution (i.e., not suggesting an argument, advantage-
disadvantage, cause-effect, compare-contrast, or descriptive report).
4. Clearly state a context (e.g., a geographical region, industry, type of business, etc.).
5. Not be too general or vague (e.g., Pollution in Lagos and the Possible Solutions is not
acceptable).
6. Not be framed as a question (e.g., How Can Mexico Improve Trade With China? is not
acceptable).
7. Not have an obvious answer (e.g., The Role of Solar Power in Reducing Carbon Emissions
in Egypt is not acceptable).
8. Be unique (i.e., you cannot choose a title that is very similar to that of another student)
9. Be capitalized according to APA Style title-case rules (i.e., the first letter of each word
capitalized, except for conjunctions, prepositions, and articles; conjunctions, prepositions, and
articles capitalized if the first word of the title, after a colon, or four or more letters long).
10. Be free of grammatical and spelling errors.

2. Anatomy of a Strong Title

2.1. Focusing Topics

To produce a solid title, you need to identify: (1) a topic related to the course theme, (2) a topic related
to your major, (3) a problem, (4) a solution, and (5) a suitable context. This will involve a process of
narrowing and focusing, going from broad topics to specific ones. It is only after identifying these five
things that you will be able to produce an acceptable title. Read the examples below and see how each
element of the title has been focused:

Major Focused to Theme Focused to

Civil engineering Construction models Infrastructures Urban infrastructure
Solution
Problem Focused to Focused to
Improving drainage
Floods Flash flooding Sponge cities
systems
Title
Context
Adopting the Sponge City Construction Model to Prevent Flash Flooding
Madinah, Saudi Arabia
in Madinah

Major Focused to Theme Focused to

Chemistry Fertilizer production Wildlife Growing crops
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ENGL 214 | REPORT: GUIDANCE ON TITLES

Solution
Problem Focused to Focused to
New methods to
Over-farming Soil erosion Nanotechnology
engineer fertilizers
Title
Context
Employing Nanotechnology in Fertilizer Production to Help Farmers in
Spain
Spain Combat Soil Erosion

Major Focused to Theme Focused to

Bioengineering Microbiology Industry and trade Clothing and fashion
Focused to
Problem Carbon emissions Solution Focused to
Pollution from textile Organic material Microorganisms
production
Title
Context
Using Microorganisms in the Production of Textiles to Reduce Carbon
Fast Fashion Industry
Emissions Generated by the Fast Fashion Industry

Major Focused to
Theme Focused to
Environmental Sustainable
Natural resources Coal
Science engineering
Problem Focused to Focused to
Solution
Air pollution from Sulphur dioxide Algae-powered
Biohybrid technology
burning coal emissions buildings
Title
Context
Reducing Sulphur Dioxide Emissions in Wuhan, China Using Algae-
Wuhan, China
Powered Buildings

2.2. Language Structure

You can use this formula to help you write your title. Your title does not necessarily need to follow the
same structure, but it should have the same ingredients:

action + solution + action + problem + context

See the following examples:

 Adopting the Sponge City Construction Model to Prevent Flash Flooding in Madinah
 Employing Nanotechnology in Fertilizer Production to Help Farmers in Spain Combat Soil
Erosion
 Using Microorganisms in the Production of Textiles to Reduce Carbon Emissions Generated
by the Fast Fashion Industry
 Reducing Sulphur Dioxide Emissions in Wuhan, China Using Algae-Powered Buildings

2.3. Examples of Weak Titles With Feedback

Enhancing Irrigation Systems in Java, Indonesia

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ENGL 214 | REPORT: GUIDANCE ON TITLES

 No problem is stated. Enhancing does not suggest any problem, rather it suggests making a
solution that is already good even better.
 The solution is far too vague. What specific irrigation methods or technologies can be applied
in this context?

How Wind Power Can Help the Environment in Denmark

 No clear problem is stated. We might assume that this title is addressing a problem related to
climate change, but it is not clear.
 The choice of context here is poor. Denmark is already a world leader in wind power, so it is
probably not a good choice of context to write a problem-solution report about wind power. It
would make more sense to write about a different context.
 The solution is not specific enough. A vague problem or solution will make writing the report
much more difficult, as there is too much to write about.
 The lack of clear problem and solution suggests that the analysis in this report will be very
basic. This is common problem for titles about renewable energy. It seems that the student
here has not done enough reading, and/or is afraid of writing about an unfamiliar topic.

Using Artificial Intelligence to Reduce Road Traffic Congestion

 No context is given. Context here is very important, as the causes of road traffic congestion,
the extent of the problem, and the solutions available will differ from one city to another.
 Artificial intelligence here is probably too vague. There are a lot of different applications of
artificial intelligence. Without more specificity, this title suggests that artificial intelligence is
magic.
 Students often submit titles about traffic congestion and AI. Such reports usually receive low
grades because the analysis offered is too simplistic. Often these students have not done
enough reading. Very light research would reveal that the primary causes of urban traffic
congestion are a lack of quality public transport, the number of cars on the road, and the
organization of roads. These factors cannot be overcome through ‘intelligent’ monitoring and
rerouting. Furthermore, many cities have long used semi-smart traffic management systems,
so there is a risk of suggesting methods that are already common practice.

Reducing Damage From Fires in Commercial Buildings in South Korea Using Fire Extinguishers

 The solution here is far too obvious. As readers, we do not have to read this report to know its
contents. Explaining how this solution works would not allow the student to demonstrate their
higher-order thinking skills.
 The solution is already applied in this context. Owners of commercial buildings in South
Korea must, by law, provide fire extinguishers.

3. Vocabulary

3.1. Useful Vocabulary for Problem-Solution Report Titles

 address  advance, advancement

 adopt, adoption  apply, application
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ENGL 214 | REPORT: GUIDANCE ON TITLES

 approach  manage, management

 challenge  method
 combat  minimize
 consequence  mitigate, mitigation
 control  obstacle
 damage  overcome
 danger, dangerous  perform, performance
 develop, development  prevent, prevention
 efficacy, effective  produce, production
 employ  protect, protection
 generate, generation  reduce, reduction
 hazard, hazardous  regulate, regulation
 impact  remediate, remediation
 implement, implementation  reverse, reversal
 incorporate  risk
 increase, increasing  role
 (in)efficiency, (in)efficient  safety, safe
 introduce, introduction  tackle
 lessen  technique
 limit, limitation  threaten, threat
 maintain, maintenance  treat, treatment

3.2. Vocabulary to Avoid for Problem-Solution Report Titles

 advantage  good, better, the best

 against  great
 amazing  how
 argue, argument  in favor of
 awful  must
 bad, worse, the worst  perfect
 catastrophe, catastrophic  positive
 compare, comparison  pro
 con  reason
 contrast  should
 describe, description  terrible
 disadvantage  upside
 downside  we, us
 enhance  why
 excellent  will
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ENGL 214 | REPORT: GUIDANCE ON TITLES

4. Common Issues

4.1. Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and Automation Titles

It is important to remember that AI, ML and automation (and related technologies like self-driving
vehicles, robots and the Internet of Things) are not magical solutions that can solve all problems.
These technologies have great potential, but you should be cautious of the hype and over-promising
that often surrounds them in the media and marketing materials. There are many serious limitations
and potential drawbacks to consider when it comes to these technologies. It is the combination of
potential and risk that makes such topics fascinating to read and write about.

4.2. Choosing an Inappropriate Context

Some students choose appropriate topics, problems, and solutions, but apply them to an inappropriate
context. For example, if a student were writing a report about recycling, Germany would probably be
a poor choice. This is because Germany has the most advanced recycling technologies and practices
in the world, so there will be fewer problems and the newest solutions may already be adopted.
However, it would be possible to read about a recycling solution implemented in Germany and apply
it to a different context, such as Vietnam.

4.3. Enhance and Improve Titles

For your report, you must address a problem, not enhance or improve a solution. Simply improving or
enhancing something does not necessarily mean that there is a problem. If you are writing about
improving something, make sure the problem is clearly stated in your title.

Also, be aware that enhance and improve are not exact synonyms. We use improve when making
something that is not so good, better. We use enhance when making something already good even
better. It is, therefore, unlikely that a problem-solution report would focus on enhancing something.

4.4. Fear of the Unknown

Some students are reluctant to choose unfamiliar topics for their titles. It is important to keep in mind
that the purpose of attending university is to acquire new knowledge, not to simply repeat what has
already been learned. It is also more interesting to read and write about new topics than ones you have
already read and written about. Remember as well that you are not expected to become an expert on
your chosen topic in one semester, so do not be afraid that you will be out of your depth.

4.5. Identifying Solutions That Are Already Widely Adopted

Sometimes students submit titles about solutions that are already commonplace. For example,
seatbelts in cars. As these are already very common in most parts of the world, it would be very
difficult to demonstrate practical thinking by writing about how this solution could be implemented.

4.6. Not Doing Enough Research

Finding a good title for your report is not easy—you must put in the effort. The best way to do so is
by reading extensively, watching videos, and consulting with professors and professionals in your
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ENGL 214 | REPORT: GUIDANCE ON TITLES

chosen field. This research will serve two purposes: (1) it will help you generate and refine ideas, and
(2) it will give you an idea of the amount of material available for you to use in your report.

If you are only using Google and Google Scholar you are much less likely to find useful and high-
quality sources than if you are using the KFUPM Library SmartSearch system (access to these
sources will, however, require you to use the KFUPM Wi-Fi network, or the KFUPM VPN).

4.7. Renewable Energy Titles

When it comes to renewable energy, there are many fascinating advancements and obstacles to
consider. However, some students choose very elementary topics concerning renewable energy, such
as how solar panels can be employed to decrease carbon emissions. Opting for a title that focuses on
such an obvious topic can make it more difficult to demonstrate higher-order thinking and,
consequently, earn a good grade.

4.8. Vague Titles

Students often submit titles without specific problems, solutions, or contexts. This could be due to a
lack of research or because they fear limiting themselves in terms of what they can write about.
However, it should be noted that it is easier to research and write a report when you have a specific
focus and context. For one, it makes it easier to search for sources. For another, selecting a broad topic
to cover in under 1,900 words means it becomes impossible to write anything meaningful.