A title is a phrase that heads any written work that serves to identify the subject. In academic papers and in the theses it is especially important because it is the first thing that is exposed to the reader.
It is the main heading and shows at first sight the topic or objective of the thesis.
There is also the subtitle that goes to the beginning of each chapter and between the sections or sections of the text. They serve to present the work and show in a very summarized sentence the purpose of the research done. To put it in some way, it is a business card.
Although we are accustomed to seeing creative and ingenious titles in books, movies, songs, advertising, etc. When it comes to an academic work, the main heading must have the same seriousness as the rest of the study. In addition, many theses enter systems of search engines of the libraries of institutes, universities or in repositories on-line, for that reason they must carry titles that facilitate the cataloging and its finding on the part of the interested readers.
The subtitles serve to rank the content and give it a structure in sections that develop specific topics. They are levels of lower rank, but equally important when organizing the text in parts, show dependency relationships and origin of the points treated. It is always highly recommended to use subtitles in the theses to show each phase of the research, as well as to improve the readability and the total comprehension of the text. These lower-ranked headings should also summarize the content of the section they initiate.
CRITERIA FOR TITLES AND SUBTITLES
The main title is, generally, a phrase or sentence that groups several words that make the function of subject, for example: Study of the irony in the works … o Analysis of the incidence of … However, this is only an option because There are other possibilities. To create adequate headings privileges the objectivity and precision of the statement. It is not appropriate to be carried away by metaphorical or ambiguous phrases that do not make clear, at first glance, the object or problem of the thesis. We always recommend clarity: Spanish / English contrastive analysis of rhetorical attenuation in medical discourse
As every norm has its exception, the theses of the area of ​​humanities, especially literature, philosophy and arts, tend to play with the metaphor or the simile in their titles, but the ideal is that in these cases the statement is accompanied by an enlightening subtitle . For example: Discreet follies. Variations around the theme of Don Quixote’s madness. This type of license should be used with care, because the main interest is that you understand what the job is about.
When in the degree work is exposed a novel concept developed by the thesis it is recommended that they be included in the title Objective violence: political and social legitimization of state violence
The theses oriented to the creation of special or feasible projects must include the purpose of the study with emphasis on the development of the object or technology ECS Virtual: design of institutional website for the School of Social Communication of the Central University of Venezuela or methodological proposal for the teaching of proverbs through Don Quixote
Remember: the headings must have integration and sequentiality, at first glance show the relations or thematic links. Follow these criteria and use the appropriate titles and subtitles for your thesis.
