Here's why:
* Quotation marks are for direct quotes: They indicate that you are copying the exact words of another person or source.
* Essay titles are your own work: They are not borrowed from another source.
Instead of quotation marks, you can:
* Italicize the title: This is the standard way to format essay titles.
* Center the title: Most formatting guidelines recommend centering the title.
For example:
Incorrect: "The Importance of Sleep"
Correct: *The Importance of Sleep*