The pros and cons of choosing your own essay title
Thinking of an essay title for your essay assignment can pose problems during your first year. Modern literature is not everyone's cup of tea, but it's a must for BA English students and those pursuing a dual degree. You're not a huge fan of D.H. Lawrence, not even familiar with his works. And your coursemate, who's studying film, mentions Sylvia Kristel. You don't have a clue. There's no need to worry about it, as there more pressing matters related to essay title.
Your professor will have a shortlist of topics to look through, where you must select one that will form the basis of your argument. There may be no need for any change (for your essay title) or you might have to modify it to your own liking. This can save you lots of time, as a research follows afterward. You need information, which makes up the body of your essay. And it might take you days to complete this task. On the other hand, you can't think of a catchy title on a H.G. Wells book because you're not interested in his works. As a matter of fact, you don't warm up to science fiction. You have the suspicion that you might be the only one who haven't seen "2001: A Space Odyssey" (or haven't turn the front cover of Arthur C. Clarke's groundbreaking novel). You prefer to come up with your own title or two.
Is it a sensible thing to do? It depends. There are factors to consider, which can take you an hour to decide. Think long and hard about it, as a misstep can disrupt your routine. It leads to an unexpected change of schedule, and it won't be a good thing if you have other deadlines. Don't forget your examinations.
The Upside of Choosing Essay Title
You have greater control over the writing process. Creativity will be a non-issue, as your knowledge enables you to think of the possible openings and arguments that can impress your professor. It can be a time-consuming activity, which isn't a problem during the first month of the term. You won't have the luxury of the time during the month of December, as well as spring semester. In this regard, the option of thinking of your own essay title would help you finish a particular assignment ahead of schedule. It gives you more time for the next assignment. You might want to take a nap, which you need it most.
You can write confidently. Writing is an art form, which means you must be able to think of words (or statements) that can affect your readers. If you're not capable of doing it, then it must be interesting at the least. This is your goal in literary criticism, and your professor has read it all. You can be facing a stern challenge if your instructor happens to dabble in authorship. It's not difficult to notice that you're hesitant in your approach to writing. (Your grammatical errors may be more than what is expected.) If you're familiar with the title, and know the subject well enough, then you won't have trepidation about the opening line. It doesn't matter if you resort to simple words.
You know where to get your resources. If you run out of ideas, then you must look for possible references. It can distract you, as you can end up treading on topics that have nothing to do with your assignment. Social media can complicate matters. Your choice of your own essay title will save you the all-consuming activity of research. You may not have to research at all if you know the genre a bit too much. Your task isn't almost done, though. One of the goals of literary criticism is to think of an argument that hasn't been discussed before.
The Downside of Choosing Essay Title
Literary criticism requires flexibility on your part, also an open mind. The shortlist (of essay topics) that your professor hands to you might be complicated at first glance, but look it over. Think it carefully. It might turn out that one (or two) won't be tough at all. If you don't have to decide right away, then do a quick research. There's no excuse if you bring along your laptop (or iPad). Your stubborn nature may turn out to be your own worst enemy.
If you haven't read too many books, then deciding on your own essay title won't be an option for you. The professor might not approve your choice because there's no room for literary criticism. You may have ideas, but it doesn't add any value to your argument. (There might not be any academic merit at all.) Think about it.
The art of time management is not an easy thing to learn at all. You're likely to procrastinate on a few occasions during your first few months, which becomes frequent during Christmas and after the Easter holidays. You're not doing a good job if it takes you a day to come up with an essay title or two. If you're swamped with deadlines and examinations, then it will be sensible to choose one from the shortlist.
