Writing an Essay and a Short Story 8 RESEARCHING YOUR ESSAY The title Example: GCSE Literature question ◆ What is the title asking you to do? 99 Think about the following: During both your preparatory work and the actual writing of the essay, it is essential that you refer frequently to the title so that you are not tempted to wander off the point. Lady Macbeth was a complex character who dominated her husband. With detailed reference to the text, show how she achieved her aims. If you are planning your own title, make sure you deal with only one aspect of a subject. Don’t make the subject too broad. If you are given a title, make sure you fully under- stand it before starting work. Remember that the titles of some essays can cover several lines and more than one sentence.