Paper 2 · Writing ·
Your essay title has one job (and it isn't to be creative)
The 30-Second Rule: how to write a DSE essay title that wins over the examiner before they read your first line.
Most students spend far too long on their title, or write one that quietly costs them marks. Here’s the rule I teach:
A title should clarify your stance, not show creativity.
If your title is clear, the examiner is already satisfied. You have 30 seconds. Spend them making your position obvious.
Be the marker
Question: Do social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter help or hinder public debate? Which of these titles are safe for Level 5+?
- Social Media and Public Debate
- Is Social Media Good or Bad for Public Debate?
- Social Media: A Double-Edged Sword
- Social Media Has Broken Public Debate Beyond Repair
1 is just a topic label. There’s no stance at all. 2 restates the question and takes no position. 3 signals a balanced essay, but the task asks you to take one side. 4 gives a clear stance, stays focused, and uses an appropriate tone. ✅
The 30-second checklist
- Can a reader guess your side from the title alone?
- Does it answer this question, not the general topic?
- Is the tone right for the text type (article vs. letter vs. speech)?
If you tick all three, stop. Move on to your introduction.
Want the full system?
This post is one small piece of the Argumentative Writing Intensive: 12 short lessons with drills.