what else can an informative essay be called

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Writing an informative essay – a comprehensive guide with tips and examples.

When it comes to crafting a compelling piece of literature that informs and captivates its audience, the art of essay writing is an invaluable skill to possess. This form of written communication allows individuals to delve into various subjects, shedding light on important themes, ideas, and concepts in an enlightening and engaging manner. In this article, we will explore the step-by-step process of constructing a top-quality essay that is both informative and thought-provoking. From selecting a captivating topic to conducting thorough research and organizing your ideas methodically, we will provide you with valuable tips and techniques to enhance your essay writing prowess.

One of the fundamental elements in creating a successful essay lies in choosing an intriguing topic that will captivate the reader from the very beginning. Your topic serves as the heart of your essay, dictating the overall tone, direction, and impact of your writing. By selecting a subject matter that is both fresh and relevant, you will be able to arouse the interest of your readers and keep them engaged throughout the entirety of your essay. Whether you are exploring the labyrinth of ancient civilizations, dissecting the intricacies of modern science, or analyzing the profound works of literature, the key is to select a topic that excites you as a writer and sparks curiosity in your audience.

Once you have chosen a compelling topic, the next step is to embark on a thorough research expedition. In order to provide your readers with accurate and reliable information, it is crucial to gather evidence and supporting data from reputable sources. Online databases, academic journals, and scholarly articles are excellent resources to utilize during the research phase of your essay writing process. Additionally, interviews with subject matter experts, surveys, and observation can also provide valuable insights and perspectives that will strengthen the credibility and authority of your essay. Remember, the key to writing an informative essay lies in presenting relevant and well-researched data that supports your main ideas and reinforces the overall narrative you are constructing.

The Importance of Planning Your Essay

Effective essay planning is a critical aspect of producing a well-structured and coherent piece of writing. It involves the process of carefully organizing your thoughts, ideas, and arguments before beginning to write. Planning allows you to establish a clear direction for your essay, ensuring that you stay focused on the topic and avoid unnecessary digressions. By taking the time to plan your essay thoroughly, you can save time and effort in the long run, resulting in a more polished and compelling piece of writing.

One of the key benefits of planning your essay is that it helps you to develop a logical and coherent structure. By outlining the main points or arguments you want to make in each paragraph, you can ensure that your essay flows smoothly and cohesively. This not only makes it easier for the reader to understand your ideas, but it also helps you to organize your own thoughts and ensure that you have a clear structure in mind.

In addition to structuring your essay, planning also allows you to allocate sufficient time to each section or argument. By setting aside specific time slots for researching, drafting, and revising each part of your essay, you can ensure that you have enough time to gather relevant evidence, develop your arguments, and make any necessary revisions. This helps to prevent last-minute rushing and ensures that you have enough time to produce a high-quality essay.

Furthermore, planning your essay enables you to evaluate the strength and coherence of your arguments before you start writing. By brainstorming and organizing your ideas in advance, you can identify any gaps in your reasoning or weak points in your arguments. This allows you to address these issues before you begin writing, ensuring that your essay is well-supported and persuasive.

Overall, the importance of planning your essay cannot be overstated. It lays the foundation for a well-organized and coherent piece of writing, saving you time and effort in the long run. By outlining the main points, structuring your arguments, allocating time effectively, and evaluating the strength of your arguments, you can produce a strong and compelling essay that effectively communicates your ideas to the reader.

Why Having a Structured Plan is Essential

When it comes to composing an instructive composition, following a well-organized plan is crucial for various reasons. Having a structured plan helps you stay focused and ensures that you cover all the necessary information in a logical and coherent manner.

Firstly, a structured plan provides a clear framework for your essay. It helps you organize your thoughts and ideas, making it easier to present them in a logical sequence. By outlining the main points and subtopics, you can create a roadmap that will guide you throughout the writing process.

Moreover, a well-structured plan allows you to effectively manage your time. By allocating specific time slots for each section of your essay, you can stay on track and avoid last-minute rush. This not only helps in meeting deadlines but also enhances the quality of your writing, as you have ample time to research, revise, and refine your work.

Additionally, having a structured plan enables you to maintain clarity and coherence in your essay. By organizing your ideas in a systematic manner, you can ensure that there is a logical flow between paragraphs and sections. This coherence makes it easier for readers to understand the information you are presenting and grasp the connections between different concepts.

A structured plan also helps you to identify any gaps or missing information in your essay. By laying out your points beforehand, you can easily spot areas where additional research or examples are needed. This allows you to fill in the gaps and provide a comprehensive and well-rounded argument.

Furthermore, a structured plan acts as a roadmap for revision. It allows you to review your essay in a systematic manner, ensuring that all the necessary information is included and presented effectively. This makes the revision process more efficient and increases the chances of producing a well-written and polished final draft.

In conclusion, having a structured plan is essential when writing an informative essay. It not only helps you stay focused and organized, but also enhances the overall quality and coherence of your writing. By outlining the main points, managing your time effectively, and maintaining clarity and coherence, a structured plan sets the foundation for a successful and impactful essay.

Choosing a Topic for Your Informative Essay

When embarking on the task of creating an educational composition, it is crucial to carefully select an intriguing and engaging subject matter. The topic of your informative essay will serve as the foundation for your work, and should be thoughtfully chosen to captivate and inform your readers.

Determining a suitable topic

One should begin the process by brainstorming potential ideas and narrowing down the options to select a suitable topic. It is important to choose a subject that you have a genuine interest in and possess a solid understanding of. This will help you cultivate a compelling essay while ensuring that you can provide accurate and well-researched information.

Evaluating your audience

Consider the target audience for your essay and tailor your topic selection accordingly. Think about the knowledge and interests of your readers to ensure that the subject matter is relevant and engaging for them. This will enable you to engage with your audience effectively and provide them with valuable information.

Identifying the purpose

Another important consideration when choosing a topic is identifying the purpose of your informative essay. Will your essay aim to educate, persuade, or entertain readers? Understanding the purpose will help guide your topic selection and allow you to effectively convey your message to your audience.

Avoiding overdone topics

While it is essential to choose a subject that is interesting and relevant, it is also important to avoid overdone topics. Select a topic that is unique and provides a fresh perspective to your readers. This will help maintain their interest and ensure that your essay stands out among others on the same subject.

Researching the topic

Finally, before finalizing your topic selection, it is crucial to conduct thorough research to ensure that you will have access to credible and reliable sources of information. This will allow you to provide accurate and well-supported facts in your essay, further enhancing its credibility.

In conclusion, choosing a topic for your informative essay is a critical step in the writing process. By considering your interests, evaluating your audience, identifying the purpose, avoiding overdone topics, and conducting thorough research, you can select a topic that will captivate your readers and provide them with valuable information.

How to Select an Engaging and Relevant Topic

One of the most important factors in writing an outstanding essay is selecting an engaging and relevant topic. The topic you choose sets the tone for your entire essay and determines whether your readers will be interested in reading further. Therefore, it is crucial to choose a topic that captivates the audience and is relevant to the subject matter you are discussing.

When selecting a topic, it is essential to consider your audience. Think about their interests, knowledge level, and what they might find engaging. By understanding your audience, you can tailor your topic to their preferences, making it more likely that they will be interested in reading your essay.

Furthermore, it is important to choose a topic that is relevant to the subject you are writing about. If you are writing an informative essay about climate change, for example, a relevant topic could be the impact of deforestation on global warming. By selecting a topic that is directly related to your subject, you will be able to provide valuable information and insights to your readers.

In addition to audience and relevance, it is also crucial to select a topic that you are personally interested in. When you are passionate about the topic you are writing about, it will shine through in your writing and engage your readers. So, take the time to choose a topic that you find intriguing and exciting to research and discuss.

Overall, selecting an engaging and relevant topic is a crucial step in writing an informative essay. By considering your audience, relevance to the subject, and personal interest, you can choose a topic that will captivate your readers and provide valuable information on the subject matter. So, take the time to brainstorm and research various topics before settling on the one that will make your essay stand out.

Gathering and Evaluating Reliable Sources

When conducting research for your informative essay, it is crucial to gather and evaluate reliable sources to ensure the accuracy and credibility of your information. Reliable sources not only provide you with trustworthy information but also lend credibility to your own writing. In this section, we will explore the importance of gathering reliable sources and discuss effective strategies for evaluating their reliability.

How to Find Reliable Sources for Your Essay

When writing an informative essay, it is crucial to ensure that the information you include is accurate and credible. In order to achieve this, you need to know how to find reliable sources for your essay. This section will provide you with valuable tips and strategies to help you locate trustworthy information that will enhance the credibility of your essay.

1. Start with Academic Databases:

• Utilize academic databases such as JSTOR, Google Scholar, and PubMed, which provide access to a vast range of scholarly articles and research papers. These databases are reliable and contain information that has gone through a rigorous peer-review process, ensuring its credibility.
• Use specific keywords related to your topic to refine your search and obtain relevant and up-to-date information.

2. Explore Government Websites and Reports:

• Government websites and reports are excellent sources of reliable information, particularly when you need statistics, laws, regulations, or policy-related data.
• Ensure that the information you obtain is from a reputable government entity or organization, such as the official websites of government departments, ministries, or agencies.

3. Check Library Resources:

• Visit your local library or university library and consult various resources like books, encyclopedias, and journals.
• Libraries often have reliable and credible sources that have been vetted by experts in the field.

4. Evaluate Websites:

• When using websites, it is important to critically evaluate their credibility.
• Look for websites that are maintained by reputable organizations, academic institutions, or governmental bodies.
• Check for author credentials, publication dates, and references or citations to determine if the information is reliable.

5. Consult Expert Opinion:

• Reach out to subject matter experts, researchers, or professionals in the field for their insights and perspectives.
• Interviews or conversations with experts can provide valuable information and help support the credibility of your essay.

Remember, it is essential to cross-reference information from different sources and ensure their reliability before including them in your essay. By following these strategies, you will be able to gather accurate, trustworthy, and credible information, making your essay a reliable source of knowledge on the topic.

Organizing Your Essay’s Structure

Structuring your essay is crucial to effectively conveying your information and ideas to your readers. A well-organized essay is easier to follow and understand, allowing your audience to grasp the main points you are trying to make. In this section, we will explore different ways to structure your essay and provide you with useful tips to help you create a logical and coherent piece of writing.

One popular method to organize your essay is by using a chronological structure. This approach involves presenting your information or ideas in the order they occurred or should occur. By using this structure, your readers can easily follow the progression of events or ideas, allowing them to understand the context and development of your topic. Consider using this structure when discussing a historical event, a process, or a step-by-step guide.

Alternatively, you may choose to use a hierarchical structure to organize your essay. This approach involves presenting your information or ideas in a hierarchical order, with the most important points or ideas at the top, and the supporting details or sub-ideas beneath them. This structure allows your readers to grasp the main concepts first and then delve into the supporting details, ensuring they understand the essence of your argument or topic. This structure is effective when presenting an argument, analyzing a complex concept, or discussing the main points of a text or a theory.

Another way to structure your essay is by using a thematic structure. This approach involves organizing your information or ideas around specific themes or topics. By grouping related information together, you can provide a comprehensive overview of each theme or topic and explore the connections between them. This structure is particularly useful when discussing multiple aspects of a subject, comparing and contrasting different ideas or perspectives, or analyzing different case studies. Moreover, using a thematic structure allows you to highlight the main themes or topics that are relevant to your essay and provide a clear focus for your writing.

Regardless of the structure you choose, it is essential to use clear and logical transitions between paragraphs and sections. Transitions help your readers to understand the connections and relationships between your ideas, ensuring the coherence of your essay. Additionally, consider using headings, subheadings, and bullet points to further enhance the organization and readability of your essay. These formatting techniques can help your readers to navigate your essay easily and locate specific information or ideas.

Remember that the way you organize your essay’s structure should support your overall purpose and effectively convey your information and ideas. Consider the nature of your topic, the type of information you are presenting, and the expectations of your audience when deciding on the best structure for your essay. A well-organized essay will not only make it easier for your readers to follow and understand your thoughts, but it will also showcase your ability to present information in a clear and coherent manner.

Simple Tips for Creating a Coherent and Logical Flow

When crafting an informative essay, it is crucial to ensure that your ideas flow smoothly and logically. A well-organized essay is not only easier to read, but it also helps convey your message clearly to the reader. Here are some simple tips to help you create a coherent and logical flow in your essay.

1. Start with a strong introduction: Begin your essay with a captivating introduction that grabs the reader’s attention. Clearly state the purpose of your essay and provide a brief overview of the main points you will be discussing.

2. Use clear and concise language: Avoid using overly complex language or jargon that may confuse your reader. Instead, use simple and straightforward language to convey your ideas effectively.

3. Use transitional words and phrases: Transitional words and phrases help to connect ideas and create a smooth flow between paragraphs and sections. Words like “however,” “on the other hand,” and “therefore” can help guide the reader through your essay.

4. Organize your paragraphs logically: Each paragraph should focus on a single main idea or topic. Start each paragraph with a clear topic sentence, provide supporting evidence or examples, and end with a transition that leads to the next paragraph.

5. Use headings and subheadings: Headings and subheadings can help break up your essay and make it easier for the reader to navigate. Use descriptive headings that provide a clear indication of what each section will cover.

6. Provide evidence and examples: To make your essay more convincing and credible, provide evidence and examples to support your claims. This helps to strengthen your arguments and provide a logical flow to your essay.

7. Summarize your main points: In your conclusion, briefly summarize the main points you discussed throughout your essay. This helps to tie everything together and reminds the reader of the key takeaways from your essay.

By following these simple tips, you can create an informative essay with a coherent and logical flow. Remember to carefully plan and organize your ideas before starting your essay, and revise and edit your work to ensure that your essay flows smoothly from start to finish.

Tips for Grabbing the Reader’s Attention from the Start

When it comes to captivating readers, the first few sentences of your essay are crucial. You want to make sure that from the very beginning, you grab their attention and leave them wanting to know more. Here are some valuable tips to help you establish a strong and engaging start to your essay.

1. Start with an intriguing statement: Begin your essay with a thought-provoking statement or a surprising fact. This will instantly catch the reader’s attention and make them curious about what you have to say.

2. Use a compelling anecdote or story: People love stories, especially ones that are relatable and emotionally engaging. Use a personal or historical anecdote to draw the reader in and make a connection right from the start.

3. Pose a compelling question: By posing a captivating question, you immediately involve the reader in your essay. This creates a sense of curiosity and stimulates their desire to find out the answer, making them more engaged throughout the entire essay.

4. Use vivid and descriptive language: Painting a vivid picture with your words will help your readers visualize the content and make it more engaging. Use descriptive language that appeals to their senses, making them feel like they are experiencing what you’re describing.

5. Start with a strong quote or statistic: Quotes or statistics from reputable sources can add credibility to your essay and capture the reader’s attention. Choose a quote or statistic that is relevant to your topic and emphasizes the importance of the information you’re presenting.

6. Address the reader directly: By using the second person pronoun “you,” you can make the reader feel directly involved and connected to your essay. This personal approach encourages them to keep reading and stay engaged throughout your writing.

7. Create a sense of intrigue: Tease the reader with a hint of what’s to come or a promise of valuable information. This creates a sense of intrigue and curiosity, compelling them to continue reading to satisfy their curiosity.

8. Use an impactful opening sentence: Your first sentence sets the tone for the entire essay. Make sure it is powerful and engaging, leaving a lasting impression on the reader. A strong opening sentence can hook the reader and make them eager to explore your ideas further.

By implementing these tips, you can ensure that your essay grabs the reader’s attention from the start and keeps them engaged throughout. Remember, a captivating introduction is the key to a successful essay.

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How to Write an Informative Essay: Everything You Need to Know

Did you know that informative essays aren't just for school? They're also used in jobs like journalism, marketing, and PR to explain complex ideas and promote things. This shows how useful they are outside of the classroom.

So, if you're planning to write one, that's a great choice! It's interesting but can be tough. To do it well, you need to plan, research, and organize carefully. Keep your tone balanced, give clear info, and add your own thoughts to stand out.

In this guide, our essay writer will give you tips on starting and organizing your essay effectively. At the end, you'll also find interesting essay samples. So, let's jump right into it.

What is an Informative Essay

To give a good informative essay definition, imagine them as windows to new knowledge. Their main job is to teach others about a particular topic. Whether it's for a school project or something you stumble upon online, these essays are packed with interesting facts and insights.

Here's a simple breakdown from our admission essay writing service of what makes an informative essay tick:

• Keeping It Real: These essays are all about the facts. No opinions allowed. We want to keep things fair and honest.
• Topics Galore: You can write about anything you find interesting, from science and history to things about different cultures.
• Where You Find Them: Informative essays can pop up anywhere, from your classroom assignments to the pages of magazines or even online articles.
• Research: Like a good detective, informative essays rely on solid evidence. That means digging into trustworthy sources to gather reliable information.
• Stay Neutral: To keep things fair, informative essays don't take sides. They present the facts and let readers draw their own conclusions.
• Structure: These essays have a clear roadmap. They start with an introduction to set the stage, then present the main points with evidence, and wrap up with a summary to tie it all together.
• Write for Your Audience: Keep your writing simple and easy to understand. Think about who will be reading it.
• Give Just Enough Detail: Don't overload people with info. Find the right balance so it's interesting but not overwhelming.

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Reasons to Write an Informative Essay

Writing informative essays, whether following the IEEE format or another style, is a great way to teach and share ideas with others. Here's why it's worth giving it a try:

• Make Complex Ideas Easy : Informative essays simplify complicated topics so everyone can understand them. They break down big ideas into simple parts, helping more people learn and share knowledge.
• Encourage Thinking : When you read these essays, you're encouraged to think for yourself. They give you facts and evidence so you can form your own opinions about different topics. This helps you become better at understanding the world around you.
• Inspire Doing : They can motivate people to take action and make positive changes by raising awareness about important issues like the environment, fairness, or health. By reading these essays, people might be inspired to do something to help.
• Leave a Mark : When you write informative essays, you're leaving a legacy of knowledge for future generations. Your ideas can be read and learned from long after you're gone, helping others understand the world better.

How to Start an Informative Essay

If you're still doubting how to start with an informative essay outline, no worries! Here's a step-by-step guide to help you tackle this task like a pro. Alternatively, you can simply order essay and have it done by experts.

• Choose an Exciting Topic : Pick something that really grabs your attention. Writing about what you're genuinely interested in makes the whole process way more fun. Plus, it's easier to write confidently about things you know a bit about.
• Dig into Research : Spend some quality time digging up info from reliable sources. Take good notes, so you have all the facts you need to back up your essay. The better your research, the stronger your essay will be.
• Set Your Essay's Goal : Decide what you want your essay to do. Are you explaining something, analyzing a problem, or comparing ideas? Knowing your goal helps you focus your writing.
• Sketch Out Your Essay : Make a simple plan for your essay. Start with an intro that grabs attention and states your main idea. Then, map out your main points for the body paragraphs and plan a strong finish for your conclusion.
• Kick Off with an Awesome Introduction : Start with a killer opening line to hook your readers. Give a bit of background on your topic and clearly state your main idea.
• Flesh Out Your Body Paragraphs : In each paragraph, cover one key point backed up with evidence from your research. Keep it clear and simple, and don't forget to cite your sources.
• Wrap Up Strong : Sum up your main points in your conclusion and restate your main idea in a memorable way. Leave your readers with something to think about related to your topic.

Informative Essay Outline

Many students don't realize how helpful outlining can be for writing an informative essay. Spending a bit of time on it can actually save you loads of time later on when you're writing. To give you a head start, here's a simple format from our term paper writing services :

I. Introduction

• Start with something catchy to grab attention
• Give a little background info on your topic
• State your main idea clearly in your thesis statement

II. Body Paragraphs

A. Talk about your first main idea

• Share evidence or facts that support this idea
• Explain what the evidence means
• Transition smoothly to the next point

B. Move on to your second main idea

• Provide evidence or facts for this point
• Explain why this evidence matters
• Transition to the next paragraph

C. Address your third main idea

• Offer supporting evidence or facts
• Explain the significance of this evidence
• Transition to the next part

III. Conclusion

• Restate your thesis statement to remind readers of your main point
• Summarize the key points you've covered in the body paragraphs
• Leave readers with some final thoughts or reflections to ponder

IV. Optional: Extra Sections

• Consider addressing counterarguments and explaining why they're not valid (if needed)
• Offer suggestions for further research or additional reading
• Share personal anecdotes or examples to make your essay more relatable (if it fits)

Informative Essay Structure

Now that you've got a plan and know how to start an essay let's talk about how to organize it in more detail.

Introduction :

In your informative essay introduction, your aim is to grab the reader's interest and provide a bit of background on your topic. Start with something attention-grabbing, like a surprising fact or a thought-provoking question. Then, give a quick overview of what you'll be talking about in your essay with a clear thesis statement that tells the reader what your main points will be.

Body Paragraphs:

The body paragraphs of an informative essay should dive into the main ideas of your topic. Aim for at least three main points and back them up with evidence from reliable sources. Remember the 'C-E-E' formula: Claim, Evidence, Explanation. Start each paragraph with a clear point, then provide evidence to support it, and finally, explain why it's important. Mastering how to write an informative essay also requires smooth transitions from one section to the next, so don't forget to use transition words.

Conclusion :

You may already guess how to write a conclusion for an informative essay, as it's quite similar to other writing types. Wrap up by summarizing the main points you've made. Restate your thesis to remind the reader what your essay was all about. Then, leave them with some final thoughts or reflections to think about. Maybe suggest why your topic is important or what people can learn from it.

Informative Essay Examples

Essay examples show how theoretical ideas can be applied effectively and engagingly. So, let's check them out for good structure, organization, and presentation techniques.

Additionally, you can also explore essay writing apps that offer convenience and flexibility, allowing you to work on assignments wherever you are.

7 Steps for Writing an Informative Essay

Before you leave, here are 7 simple yet crucial steps for writing an informative essay. Make sure to incorporate them into your writing process:

• Choose Your Topic: If you're given the freedom to choose your topic, opt for something you're passionate about and can explain effectively in about five paragraphs. Begin with a broad subject area and gradually narrow it down to a specific topic. Consider conducting preliminary research to ensure there's enough information available to support your essay.
• Do Your Research: Dive deep into your chosen topic and gather information from reliable sources. Ensure that the sources you use are credible and can be referenced in your essay. This step is crucial for building a solid foundation of knowledge on your topic.
• Create an Outline: Once you've collected your research, organize your thoughts by creating an outline. Think of it as a roadmap for your essay, briefly summarizing what each paragraph will cover. This step helps maintain coherence and ensures that you cover all essential points in your essay.
• Start Writing: With your outline in hand, begin drafting your essay. Don't strive for perfection on the first attempt; instead, focus on getting your ideas down on paper. Maintain an objective and informative tone, avoiding overly complex language or unnecessary embellishments.
• Revise Your Draft: After completing the initial draft, take a break before revisiting your work. Read through your essay carefully, assessing how well your arguments are supported by evidence and ensuring a smooth flow of ideas. Rewrite any sections that require improvement to strengthen your essay's overall coherence and clarity.
• Proofread: Once you've revised your essay, thoroughly proofread it to catch any spelling or grammar errors. Additionally, verify the accuracy of the facts and information presented in your essay. A polished and error-free essay reflects positively on your attention to detail and credibility as a writer.
• Cite Your Sources: Finally, include a citations page to acknowledge the sources you've referenced in your essay. Follow the formatting guidelines of the chosen citation style, whether it's MLA, APA, or Chicago, to ensure consistency and proper credit to the original authors. This step is essential for maintaining academic integrity and avoiding plagiarism accusations.

Final Remarks

Fantastic! Now that you know how to write an informative essay and absorbed the essentials, let's recap the key points:

• You've learned the basics of informative essay writing.
• Ready to choose an interesting topic that connects with your audience.
• You've understood how to organize your essay clearly, with each paragraph serving a purpose.
• You have step-by-step guidance for writing engagingly.
• You've gained valuable tips to improve your writing skills and make your essay stand out.

By applying these insights, you're set to write an engaging essay that informs and inspires your readers!

Want to Unleash the Brilliance of Your Ideas?

Claim your expertly crafted informative essay today and command attention with your brilliant insights!

is an expert in nursing and healthcare, with a strong background in history, law, and literature. Holding advanced degrees in nursing and public health, his analytical approach and comprehensive knowledge help students navigate complex topics. On EssayPro blog, Adam provides insightful articles on everything from historical analysis to the intricacies of healthcare policies. In his downtime, he enjoys historical documentaries and volunteering at local clinics.

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• The four main types of essay | Quick guide with examples

The Four Main Types of Essay | Quick Guide with Examples

Published on September 4, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on July 23, 2023.

An essay is a focused piece of writing designed to inform or persuade. There are many different types of essay, but they are often defined in four categories: argumentative, expository, narrative, and descriptive essays.

Argumentative and expository essays are focused on conveying information and making clear points, while narrative and descriptive essays are about exercising creativity and writing in an interesting way. At university level, argumentative essays are the most common type. 

In high school and college, you will also often have to write textual analysis essays, which test your skills in close reading and interpretation.

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Table of contents

Argumentative essays, expository essays, narrative essays, descriptive essays, textual analysis essays, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about types of essays.

An argumentative essay presents an extended, evidence-based argument. It requires a strong thesis statement —a clearly defined stance on your topic. Your aim is to convince the reader of your thesis using evidence (such as quotations ) and analysis.

Argumentative essays test your ability to research and present your own position on a topic. This is the most common type of essay at college level—most papers you write will involve some kind of argumentation.

The essay is divided into an introduction, body, and conclusion:

• The introduction provides your topic and thesis statement
• The body presents your evidence and arguments
• The conclusion summarizes your argument and emphasizes its importance

The example below is a paragraph from the body of an argumentative essay about the effects of the internet on education. Mouse over it to learn more.

A common frustration for teachers is students’ use of Wikipedia as a source in their writing. Its prevalence among students is not exaggerated; a survey found that the vast majority of the students surveyed used Wikipedia (Head & Eisenberg, 2010). An article in The Guardian stresses a common objection to its use: “a reliance on Wikipedia can discourage students from engaging with genuine academic writing” (Coomer, 2013). Teachers are clearly not mistaken in viewing Wikipedia usage as ubiquitous among their students; but the claim that it discourages engagement with academic sources requires further investigation. This point is treated as self-evident by many teachers, but Wikipedia itself explicitly encourages students to look into other sources. Its articles often provide references to academic publications and include warning notes where citations are missing; the site’s own guidelines for research make clear that it should be used as a starting point, emphasizing that users should always “read the references and check whether they really do support what the article says” (“Wikipedia:Researching with Wikipedia,” 2020). Indeed, for many students, Wikipedia is their first encounter with the concepts of citation and referencing. The use of Wikipedia therefore has a positive side that merits deeper consideration than it often receives.

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An expository essay provides a clear, focused explanation of a topic. It doesn’t require an original argument, just a balanced and well-organized view of the topic.

Expository essays test your familiarity with a topic and your ability to organize and convey information. They are commonly assigned at high school or in exam questions at college level.

The introduction of an expository essay states your topic and provides some general background, the body presents the details, and the conclusion summarizes the information presented.

A typical body paragraph from an expository essay about the invention of the printing press is shown below. Mouse over it to learn more.

The invention of the printing press in 1440 changed this situation dramatically. Johannes Gutenberg, who had worked as a goldsmith, used his knowledge of metals in the design of the press. He made his type from an alloy of lead, tin, and antimony, whose durability allowed for the reliable production of high-quality books. This new technology allowed texts to be reproduced and disseminated on a much larger scale than was previously possible. The Gutenberg Bible appeared in the 1450s, and a large number of printing presses sprang up across the continent in the following decades. Gutenberg’s invention rapidly transformed cultural production in Europe; among other things, it would lead to the Protestant Reformation.

A narrative essay is one that tells a story. This is usually a story about a personal experience you had, but it may also be an imaginative exploration of something you have not experienced.

Narrative essays test your ability to build up a narrative in an engaging, well-structured way. They are much more personal and creative than other kinds of academic writing . Writing a personal statement for an application requires the same skills as a narrative essay.

A narrative essay isn’t strictly divided into introduction, body, and conclusion, but it should still begin by setting up the narrative and finish by expressing the point of the story—what you learned from your experience, or why it made an impression on you.

Mouse over the example below, a short narrative essay responding to the prompt “Write about an experience where you learned something about yourself,” to explore its structure.

Since elementary school, I have always favored subjects like science and math over the humanities. My instinct was always to think of these subjects as more solid and serious than classes like English. If there was no right answer, I thought, why bother? But recently I had an experience that taught me my academic interests are more flexible than I had thought: I took my first philosophy class.

Before I entered the classroom, I was skeptical. I waited outside with the other students and wondered what exactly philosophy would involve—I really had no idea. I imagined something pretty abstract: long, stilted conversations pondering the meaning of life. But what I got was something quite different.

A young man in jeans, Mr. Jones—“but you can call me Rob”—was far from the white-haired, buttoned-up old man I had half-expected. And rather than pulling us into pedantic arguments about obscure philosophical points, Rob engaged us on our level. To talk free will, we looked at our own choices. To talk ethics, we looked at dilemmas we had faced ourselves. By the end of class, I’d discovered that questions with no right answer can turn out to be the most interesting ones.

The experience has taught me to look at things a little more “philosophically”—and not just because it was a philosophy class! I learned that if I let go of my preconceptions, I can actually get a lot out of subjects I was previously dismissive of. The class taught me—in more ways than one—to look at things with an open mind.

A descriptive essay provides a detailed sensory description of something. Like narrative essays, they allow you to be more creative than most academic writing, but they are more tightly focused than narrative essays. You might describe a specific place or object, rather than telling a whole story.

Descriptive essays test your ability to use language creatively, making striking word choices to convey a memorable picture of what you’re describing.

A descriptive essay can be quite loosely structured, though it should usually begin by introducing the object of your description and end by drawing an overall picture of it. The important thing is to use careful word choices and figurative language to create an original description of your object.

Mouse over the example below, a response to the prompt “Describe a place you love to spend time in,” to learn more about descriptive essays.

On Sunday afternoons I like to spend my time in the garden behind my house. The garden is narrow but long, a corridor of green extending from the back of the house, and I sit on a lawn chair at the far end to read and relax. I am in my small peaceful paradise: the shade of the tree, the feel of the grass on my feet, the gentle activity of the fish in the pond beside me.

My cat crosses the garden nimbly and leaps onto the fence to survey it from above. From his perch he can watch over his little kingdom and keep an eye on the neighbours. He does this until the barking of next door’s dog scares him from his post and he bolts for the cat flap to govern from the safety of the kitchen.

With that, I am left alone with the fish, whose whole world is the pond by my feet. The fish explore the pond every day as if for the first time, prodding and inspecting every stone. I sometimes feel the same about sitting here in the garden; I know the place better than anyone, but whenever I return I still feel compelled to pay attention to all its details and novelties—a new bird perched in the tree, the growth of the grass, and the movement of the insects it shelters…

Sitting out in the garden, I feel serene. I feel at home. And yet I always feel there is more to discover. The bounds of my garden may be small, but there is a whole world contained within it, and it is one I will never get tired of inhabiting.

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Though every essay type tests your writing skills, some essays also test your ability to read carefully and critically. In a textual analysis essay, you don’t just present information on a topic, but closely analyze a text to explain how it achieves certain effects.

Rhetorical analysis

A rhetorical analysis looks at a persuasive text (e.g. a speech, an essay, a political cartoon) in terms of the rhetorical devices it uses, and evaluates their effectiveness.

The goal is not to state whether you agree with the author’s argument but to look at how they have constructed it.

The introduction of a rhetorical analysis presents the text, some background information, and your thesis statement; the body comprises the analysis itself; and the conclusion wraps up your analysis of the text, emphasizing its relevance to broader concerns.

The example below is from a rhetorical analysis of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech . Mouse over it to learn more.

King’s speech is infused with prophetic language throughout. Even before the famous “dream” part of the speech, King’s language consistently strikes a prophetic tone. He refers to the Lincoln Memorial as a “hallowed spot” and speaks of rising “from the dark and desolate valley of segregation” to “make justice a reality for all of God’s children.” The assumption of this prophetic voice constitutes the text’s strongest ethical appeal; after linking himself with political figures like Lincoln and the Founding Fathers, King’s ethos adopts a distinctly religious tone, recalling Biblical prophets and preachers of change from across history. This adds significant force to his words; standing before an audience of hundreds of thousands, he states not just what the future should be, but what it will be: “The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.” This warning is almost apocalyptic in tone, though it concludes with the positive image of the “bright day of justice.” The power of King’s rhetoric thus stems not only from the pathos of his vision of a brighter future, but from the ethos of the prophetic voice he adopts in expressing this vision.

Literary analysis

A literary analysis essay presents a close reading of a work of literature—e.g. a poem or novel—to explore the choices made by the author and how they help to convey the text’s theme. It is not simply a book report or a review, but an in-depth interpretation of the text.

Literary analysis looks at things like setting, characters, themes, and figurative language. The goal is to closely analyze what the author conveys and how.

The introduction of a literary analysis essay presents the text and background, and provides your thesis statement; the body consists of close readings of the text with quotations and analysis in support of your argument; and the conclusion emphasizes what your approach tells us about the text.

Mouse over the example below, the introduction to a literary analysis essay on Frankenstein , to learn more.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein is often read as a crude cautionary tale about the dangers of scientific advancement unrestrained by ethical considerations. In this reading, protagonist Victor Frankenstein is a stable representation of the callous ambition of modern science throughout the novel. This essay, however, argues that far from providing a stable image of the character, Shelley uses shifting narrative perspectives to portray Frankenstein in an increasingly negative light as the novel goes on. While he initially appears to be a naive but sympathetic idealist, after the creature’s narrative Frankenstein begins to resemble—even in his own telling—the thoughtlessly cruel figure the creature represents him as. This essay begins by exploring the positive portrayal of Frankenstein in the first volume, then moves on to the creature’s perception of him, and finally discusses the third volume’s narrative shift toward viewing Frankenstein as the creature views him.

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At high school and in composition classes at university, you’ll often be told to write a specific type of essay , but you might also just be given prompts.

Look for keywords in these prompts that suggest a certain approach: The word “explain” suggests you should write an expository essay , while the word “describe” implies a descriptive essay . An argumentative essay might be prompted with the word “assess” or “argue.”

The vast majority of essays written at university are some sort of argumentative essay . Almost all academic writing involves building up an argument, though other types of essay might be assigned in composition classes.

Essays can present arguments about all kinds of different topics. For example:

• In a literary analysis essay, you might make an argument for a specific interpretation of a text
• In a history essay, you might present an argument for the importance of a particular event
• In a politics essay, you might argue for the validity of a certain political theory

An argumentative essay tends to be a longer essay involving independent research, and aims to make an original argument about a topic. Its thesis statement makes a contentious claim that must be supported in an objective, evidence-based way.

An expository essay also aims to be objective, but it doesn’t have to make an original argument. Rather, it aims to explain something (e.g., a process or idea) in a clear, concise way. Expository essays are often shorter assignments and rely less on research.

The key difference is that a narrative essay is designed to tell a complete story, while a descriptive essay is meant to convey an intense description of a particular place, object, or concept.

Narrative and descriptive essays both allow you to write more personally and creatively than other kinds of essays , and similar writing skills can apply to both.

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Informative Essay — Purpose, Structure, and Examples

What is informative writing.

Informative writing educates the reader about a certain topic. An informative essay may explain new information, describe a process, or clarify a concept. The provided information is objective, meaning the writing focuses on presentation of fact and should not contain personal opinion or bias.

Informative writing includes description, process, cause and effect, comparison, and problems and possible solutions:

Describes a person, place, thing, or event using descriptive language that appeals to readers’ senses

Explains the process to do something or how something was created

Discusses the relationship between two things, determining how one ( cause ) leads to the other ( effect ); the effect needs to be based on fact and not an assumption

Identifies the similarities and differences between two things; does not indicate that one is better than the other

Details a problem and presents various possible solutions ; the writer does not suggest one solution is more effective than the others

Purpose of informative writing

The purpose of an informative essay depends upon the writer’s motivation, but may be to share new information, describe a process, clarify a concept, explain why or how, or detail a topic’s intricacies.

Informative essays may introduce readers to new information .

Summarizing a scientific/technological study

Outlining the various aspects of a religion

Providing information on a historical period

Describe a process or give step-by-step details of a procedure.

How to write an informational essay

How to construct an argument

How to apply for a job

Clarify a concept and offer details about complex ideas.

Explain why or how something works the way that it does.

Describe how the stock market impacts the economy

Illustrate why there are high and low tides

Detail how the heart functions

Offer information on the smaller aspects or intricacies of a larger topic.

Identify the importance of the individual bones in the body

Outlining the Dust Bowl in the context of the Great Depression

Explaining how bees impact the environment

How to write an informative essay

Regardless of the type of information, the informative essay structure typically consists of an introduction, body, and conclusion.

Introduction

Background information

Explanation of evidence

Restated thesis

Review of main ideas

Closing statement

Informative essay introduction

When composing the introductory paragraph(s) of an informative paper, include a hook, introduce the topic, provide background information, and develop a good thesis statement.

If the hook or introduction creates interest in the first paragraph, it will draw the readers’ attention and make them more receptive to the essay writer's ideas. Some of the most common techniques to accomplish this include the following:

Emphasize the topic’s importance by explaining the current interest in the topic or by indicating that the subject is influential.

Use pertinent statistics to give the paper an air of authority.

A surprising statement can be shocking; sometimes it is disgusting; sometimes it is joyful; sometimes it is surprising because of who said it.

An interesting incident or anecdote can act as a teaser to lure the reader into the remainder of the essay. Be sure that the device is appropriate for the informative essay topic and focus on what is to follow.

Directly introduce the topic of the essay.

Provide the reader with the background information necessary to understand the topic. Don’t repeat this information in the body of the essay; it should help the reader understand what follows.

Identify the overall purpose of the essay with the thesis (purpose statement). Writers can also include their support directly in the thesis, which outlines the structure of the essay for the reader.

Informative essay body paragraphs

Each body paragraph should contain a topic sentence, evidence, explanation of evidence, and a transition sentence.

A good topic sentence should identify what information the reader should expect in the paragraph and how it connects to the main purpose identified in the thesis.

Provide evidence that details the main point of the paragraph. This includes paraphrasing, summarizing, and directly quoting facts, statistics, and statements.

Explain how the evidence connects to the main purpose of the essay.

Place transitions at the end of each body paragraph, except the last. There is no need to transition from the last support to the conclusion. A transition should accomplish three goals:

Tell the reader where you were (current support)

Tell the reader where you are going (next support)

Relate the paper’s purpose

Informative essay conclusion

Incorporate a rephrased thesis, summary, and closing statement into the conclusion of an informative essay.

Rephrase the purpose of the essay. Do not just repeat the purpose statement from the thesis.

Summarize the main idea found in each body paragraph by rephrasing each topic sentence.

End with a clincher or closing statement that helps readers answer the question “so what?” What should the reader take away from the information provided in the essay? Why should they care about the topic?

Informative essay example

The following example illustrates a good informative essay format:

Informative Essay

What is an Informative Essay and How to Write One?

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Published on: Aug 11, 2021

Last updated on: Jan 31, 2024

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Have you been assigned an informative essay but don’t know where to start? This guide has got you covered! 

An informative essay is a common assignment for school or college students. The goal is to provide detailed information to the readers about the specific topic. 

Read on to find simple step-by-step instructions for writing an interesting and engaging informative essay. You’ll also get to read helpful examples and tips you can follow to make your essay even better! 

Let’s dive in!

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Informative Essay Definition 

The informative essay can be simply defined as,

"A form of essay writing that aims to educate and inform the reader about a specific topic."

Informative essays can cover a variety of topics. It could be written about a particular thing, event, or natural phenomenon, etc. 

This type of essay highlights the objective facts and evidence without reflecting the writer's subjective point-of-view about the topic. 

What is the Purpose of an Informative Essay?

An informative essay presents objective and verifiable information about a topic. It relies on factual evidence and reliable sources. 

The main goal of writing an informative essay is to;

• Inform the reader about something.
• Explain a particular subject.
• Transmit verified knowledge clearly and concisely.

Types of Informative Essay

There are several types of informative essays, and each type has its own purpose and style. Here are some of the informative essay types that you need to know.

• Descriptive Essay 

A descriptive essay is an essay that describes something about an event, person, place, or idea in detail. The descriptive essay aims to provide enough information to the readers to visualize or imagine the matter described.

Want to know more about descriptive essays? Check out this descriptive essay writing blog to learn more.

• Cause and Effect Essay 

The cause and effect essay describes the cause of an event or idea and then explains its effects on today’s world and people. Also, this type of essay is a common form of organization in academic writing.    

However, the cause-and-effect essay requires strong research skills. Without them, your essay will not become a successful piece of writing. 

• Compare and Contrast Essay 

In a compare and contrast essay, the writer discusses the similarities and differences between two or more things. This type of essay also requires strong critical thinking skills. 

Therefore, when you start writing the compare and contrast essay , you should identify and analyze the subject from all angles and characteristics.

• Process Essay 

The process essay is also known as the "How-To" essay. This essay provides information about how a process occurs or about the process of doing something.

• Problem-Solution Essay 

A problem-solution essay is another common type of informative essay in which you describe a problem and then propose its solution. Its main purpose is to educate the readers on the problem and its significance.  

Looking for more information? Visit our problem-solution essay guide and learn to write perfect problem solution essays.

• Expository Essay 

The expository essay explains, illustrates, or interprets something in a way that becomes easy for the readers. This essay provides a fair analysis of the subject based on facts without the writer’s opinions.  

Here is a simple video that explains informative writing:

How to Start an Informative Essay?   

Before you can start writing, you have to do some "rewriting." Here are the steps involved in prewriting: 

• Brainstorm Ideas 

Brainstorming is the first step in writing any type of essay. Here, you brainstorm several topic ideas and generate a list of potential topics. 

So think about all the possible ideas that are related to your interest and subject. This will help you choose an interesting topic for your essay.  

• Choose a Topic 

Choosing the right topic is essential for writing a great essay. A good topic will not only make your writing process easy but also make the research phase interesting. 

So choose a topic you can easily write about and support it with facts, evidence, and statistics. In short, the topic should be interesting and easy to research.

• Know Your Target Audience 

Your audience determines the style and tone of your essay. Consider who will be reading your essay and what their background, knowledge, and interests might be.

For instance, if you are writing for school children, your language should be simple, easy, and interesting. Meanwhile, writing for a professional audience requires you to use technical terminology and jargon. 

So always think about who you are writing for and determine your audience before proceeding.

• Do the Research 

You have to do some research to gather information for your essay. Make sure the information that you collect is reliable and accurate. 

Use a variety of sources for research, including research articles, books, documentaries, etc. You should also take detailed and organized notes to keep track of the information you find, so you can use it later.

• Create an Outline 

An essay outline helps the writer keep their focus strong and narrow. With the help of an outline, you will easily organize your thoughts and ideas. 

So create an outline of your essay to lay out a structure. 

Don't know how to make an informative essay outline? Don’t worry, read on to find out.

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Informative Essay Outline 

Crafting a well-structured essay involves planning what points to include and how it all ties together. Creating an outline is the best way to ensure that your work is well-structured. 

An informative essay outline is outlined in the following way:

Let’s discuss these outline parts in detail.

Introduction 

• Start with a captivating hook that grabs the reader's attention. It could be an intriguing fact, a relevant quote, or a thought-provoking question.
• State your thesis statement . It is the last part of the introduction that clearly presents the main idea or argument of your essay. It should reflect the informative nature of your essay and guide the reader on what to expect.
• Divide the body of your essay into several paragraphs. Each paragraph should focus on one specific aspect or subtopic related to your main thesis.
• Start each paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the main point of that paragraph.
• Analyze and discuss your supporting evidence. They could be examples, facts, or statistics that provide informative content.

Conclusion 

• Summarize the main points covered in your essay.
• End with a thought-provoking statement, a call to action, or a suggestion for further exploration of the topic.

Here is an example outline template that you can use to write your informative essay outline

Informative Essay Outline Template

Creating an outline is necessary for writing any type of essay. Check out our 10+ essay outline templates and make excellent outlines with ease!

How to Write an Informative Essay?  

Once you have done the prewriting, you have got everything you need to start. Following the steps below will help you write a great informative essay.  

How to Write an Informative Essay Introduction? 

The introduction of an essay sets the tone of the essay and provides an overview of the topic. Here are some key elements you need to include when writing an informative essay introduction:

• Attention-Grabber / Hook:

The hook is the first line of the essay that aims to pique the readers’ interest. This can be: 

• An interesting fact,
• A thought-provoking question,
• Or a compelling anecdote related to your topic, etc.

The hook should be related to your topic and should be engaging enough to grab the reader's attention.

Struggling to come up with a good hook? These 200+ hook examples will help you craft an excellent hook!

• Background Information:

After grabbing the reader’s attention, you have to them to your topic. Discuss some background details on the topic to provide context. 

Also, discuss the relevance or importance of the subject matter. This helps the reader understand the significance of the information you're about to present. Moreover, use clear and concise language to provide essential and interesting details to make the reader want to continue reading. 

• Thesis Statement:

The thesis statement presents the main topic or idea of the essay in a concise and clear way. It provides an overview of what will be covered.

The thesis statement is the last part of the introduction. It should be specific, focused, and encompass the main ideas you'll be discussing in the body of the essay.

How to Write an Informative Essay Body Paragraphs? 

The body paragraphs are the major chunk of your essay. They provide all the information about your chosen topic. There should be at least three body paragraphs in your essay, although there can be more depending on your topic. 

Here are the key elements of the informative essay body paragraphs:

• Topic Sentence

Begin each body paragraph with a clear topic sentence that introduces the main point you will be discussing in that paragraph. It is the first sentence of the paragraph and should be clearly related to the thesis.

• Provide Information and Evidence

In an informative essay, information and evidence should be presented clearly and logically. So present the facts, examples, statistics, or quotations that inform the reader about the topic. This information should come from reliable and credible sources.

• Discuss and Elaborate

After presenting the evidence, explain and discuss them to ensure a thorough understanding of the information. Clarify any complex terms, concepts, or ideas that may require explanation for understanding the topic effectively.

• Use Transitional Phrases:

Use transitional phrases or sentences to connect paragraphs and ideas. This helps maintain a cohesive flow of information throughout the essay. 

For instance, transitional words such as "moreover," "furthermore," "on the other hand," or "in addition to" can be used to link ideas logically.

Having a difficult time with smooth transitions? Here’s a list of transition words for essays to help you out!

How to Write an Informative Essay Conclusion?

In an essay conclusion , you wrap up the essay and provide a sense of closure. Writing the informative essay conclusion includes the following steps:

• Summarize the Main Points:

Revisit the main points covered in your essay's body paragraphs and provide a concise summary of the information presented. Do not introduce any new information or arguments in the conclusion.

• Restate your Thesis Statement

Begin your conclusion by restating your thesis statement in a slightly different way. This helps remind the reader of the main objective of your essay. 

• Provide a Thought-Provoking Statement:

End your conclusion with a thought-provoking statement, reflection, or question that leaves a strong impression on the reader. This can help inspire them to continue exploring the topic beyond your essay. 

Edit and Proofread the Essay

Once you are done with your first draft, take some time to proofread and revise you essay. Check for grammar and spelling, format, logical coherence, and clarity. Remove any repetitive statements or unnecessary details. 

Revising your essay will make it even better and more interesting to read.

Informative Essay Examples

Reading some good examples will make writing an informative essay easier for you. Here are a few short informative essay examples that demonstrate how it looks like. Be sure to read them out.

Informative Essay about Stress

Informative Essay on Diabetes

Informative Essay on Netflix

Informative Essay on Tree in Winter

Informative Essay Topics

A good essay topic is a key to a successful essay. Here are a few ideas that will get you inspired:

• The Benefits of Regular Exercise
• The Importance of Recycling
• The Process of Photosynthesis
• What was the Big Bang?
• The History of the Internet
• How did the Dinosaurs go extinct?
• The Benefits of Meditation
• The Impact of Climate Change on Ecosystems
• The Role of Technology in Education

Stuck on choosing your topic? Don’t worry! Check out our list 200 informative essay topics to get inspiration!

To Sum Up, 

This guide introduced everything you needed to start writing an informative essay. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can confidently embark on your informative writing journey.

Are you in a race against the deadline and need professional help? We’ve got you covered!

We are a legit essay writing service with professional essay writers. Our team of experts writes high-quality, original, and customized essays tailored to your unique requirements.               

Our essay writing service has worked on informative essays and academic papers on various topics, with a high rate of customer satisfaction! 

You can also maximize the benefits of our AI writing tool to polish and refine your writing skills.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should be included in an informative essay.

Here are some points that should be included in an informative essay. 

• Thesis statement 
• Strong evidence 
• Examples 

What is the main topic of an informative essay?

The main topic of an informative essay is to educate the readers on a specific topic.

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As a Digital Content Strategist, Nova Allison has eight years of experience in writing both technical and scientific content. With a focus on developing online content plans that engage audiences, Nova strives to write pieces that are not only informative but captivating as well.

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Home ➔ How to Write an Essay ➔ Informative Essay Guide

Informative Essay Guide

An informative essay is a type of paper focusing on increasing the audience’s knowledge of a particular topic. Unlike other paper types and their goals to convince the reader, refute the argument, or take a personal stance, informative writing strictly relies on facts and abstains from including any personal opinions.

Below, you will find an informative essay guide. It provides an extensive definition and analyzes its five core types. You will also find tips on how to write an informative essay according to basic academic requirements. 

What Is an Informative Essay? – The Definition

An informative essay, also called expository , is a piece that strives to inform the reader about a specific subject. When writing an informative essay, the writer should use their rationale, collect the necessary data, analyze, and synthesize it. They should also provide accurate, understandable, and, most importantly, unbiased information on the topic. 

The purpose of an informative essay is to educate the reader and provide the necessary and clear information on a subject. You can go different routes to write this paper: by explaining an idea, describing the process, comparing elements to make it more apparent to the reader, exploring causation, or examining data.

Note: To learn more about essay basics, you can read our general Essay Definition article.

The following section provides more details on how to write an informative essay and what good informative essay topics are. We will also analyze five informative essay examples and provide an outline later on.

The Five Types of Informative Essays

As said previously, although an informative essay aims to improve the reader’s expertise on a certain topic, the paper per se can be divided into several sub-types. An informative paper can have an architecture of a definition, how-to, compare and contrast, cause-and-effect, and analysis essay. Let’s look at every type, defining their peculiarities along with some topic examples and good thesis statements .

1. Explaining a Concept (Definition Essay)

A definition essay focuses on defining the main point, idea, or object and tends to be one of the most used types in this genre. This essay uses synonyms, categories, or negations to educate the reader. Some papers might be better off laying out the information chronologically. In contrast, others can benefit from placing the least crucial examples first and leaving the most important ones till the end (or vice versa). 

Topic example: “Natural Language Processing: What is it?”

Thesis statement example: “NLP is a branch of science that incorporates various fields of studies, of which the primary ones are Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science, and Linguistics.”

⇓ Check an Example Below ⇓

2. Describing a Process (How-to Essay)

This one is an informative essay that leans toward describing a process and uses the features of how-to papers . Its goal is to walk the reader through the process to make them aware of the most critical stages.

Topic example: “Determining the focal steps in interviewing as the data elicitation technique.”

Thesis statement example: “The interviewer needs to get consent from the interviewee, do research before the interview, double-check hardware, and conduct the discussion, posing follow-up questions when necessary.”

3. Comparing Things (Compare-Contrast Essay)

By comparing and contrasting things in an essay , you’ll provide similarities and dissimilarities. You can choose this sub-type when writing an informative paper about a person, for example. It will let you explain how their behavior or viewpoints have changed during their professional career. 

Topic example: “Detailing Peirce’s changes in theory of signs.”

Thesis statement example: “Charles Pierce had introduced his theory of signs in the 1860s, yet during his academic path, he had modified it several times, making the third, Final Account more detailed, sophisticated, and extensive.”

4. Exploring Causation (Cause-Effect Essay)

The cause-effect essay sub-type heavily relies on authoritative data and provides only information that can be checked.

Topic example: “Encapsulating the causality of Covid-19 lockdowns.”

Thesis statement example: “The coronavirus pandemic has forced the world to live in turbulence, with the governments implementing abrupt lockdowns based on low vaccination rates and high hospitalization–and especially lethal–cases; such decisions ultimately led to economic stagnation and population’s distrust in authority’s idleness and short-sightedness.”

5. Investigating Data (Analysis Essay)

Like the cause-effect paper, the data analysis sub-type examines data and helps the readers draw objective conclusions regarding the object, event, or idea. It is best to use this approach when having the right set of reliable data to write an informative essay. 

Topic example: “Outlining key points of the new infrastructure bill recently passed by the White House.”

Thesis statement example: “The bill’s agenda includes numerous expenditures, of which the main points are roads and bridges, railroads, childcare, Child Tax Credit, and clean energy and climate.”

Breaking Down Five Informative Essay Examples

Here, we will review several informative essay examples , analyzing if they have a good opening, clear and precise body paragraphs, and appropriate ending. We will also check the essays’ type and explain whether or not they look like informative papers. Most examples were provided by Saint Leo University .

Essay Example 1: Defining Emotional Intelligence

This essay about emotional intelligence begins with a famous quote, drawing the reader’s attention right away. Using a quote is one of the most common ways to start an essay. Although the main statement could have been made more precise, it still sparked the audience’s curiosity. 

When it comes to body paragraphs, two paragraphs provide various definitions of emotional intelligence. These sections are well-written and consist of reliable data that helps the author establish credibility. Overall, the writer did good work and made the essay fall into the category of a definition paper.

Essay Example 2: How Football Players Prepare for Football Season

The second example is an attempt to follow the main purpose of an informative how-to essay. The writer intends to describe how exactly football players prepare for every upcoming season. Unlike the previous piece, this essay doesn’t stand out in terms of its opening. Neither does it have a clear thesis statement. The entire introductory paragraph appears a bit fuzzy.

As for the body paragraphs, it is necessary to indicate that paragraphs are a bit too large and incoherent, i.e., there is no clear transition between paragraphs. Also, the author didn’t narrow down the work; they tried to cover too many aspects in one essay. However, the last section is well-written, summarizing key information presented within the paper.

Essay Example 3: Comparing Life Before and After Having a Child

This Life Before and After Parenthood paper is an excellent example of an informative, compare-contrast essay. The writer managed to provide a robust opening, contemplating about starting a family. He then smoothly moved to the argument and made it solid and precise. The main part is well-designed, containing three paragraphs, each describing the unique aspects stated in the thesis. 

Furthermore, each body paragraph includes a robust topic sentence that sets the right context and lets the readers know what the paragraph is about. The ending is well-written; it isn’t too pushy to call others to act and start a family. Yet, it touches upon philosophical issues and the matters of rest, finances, and spare time.

Essay Example 4: Causes and Effects of Fast-food Popularity

This one is an example of a cause-and-effect informative essay. In trying to provide the cause for buying fast food and what effects such consumption can bring, the writer decided to make the essay revolve around three aspects: convenience, commercialization, and tastefulness. 

Although the beginning was quite involving, the writer failed to include the thesis statement, proceeding to the central part instead. The central part had rather weak topic sentences, which were then developed by more potent examples. Besides summarizing key information, the last paragraph contained redundant and new information absent in the previous sections. 

Essay Example 5: Analyzing Spendings

Last but not least, this analysis essay investigates the data of a school attendee Tina. The author evaluated the ways Tina spent her time and money within one semester. The paper is a good example of an informative essay that investigates data. The opening is accurate and lets the reader learn more about the paper’s purpose. 

However, it is unclear where the thesis is. Other than this hiccup, everything else is crystal clear: the main part is detailed and contains visual elements, which is a good move to help the audience understand the data better; the ending is also done well. 

How to Write an Informative Essay (7 Steps)

Writing an informative essay is similar to any essay writing process. It requires understanding the task, coming up with the ideas that’ll be developed in the piece, building a layout, and more. Below, you can find seven essential steps to writing a thought-provoking and faultless informative paper from scratch.

1. Analyze the assignment

Before delving into writing, the first step to creating an informative essay involves reading and comprehension. So, once you are given the assignment, check if you are assigned the topic, or you have to come up with one. Apart from that, carefully read what type of informative essay you should follow, the citation style you must use, and the structure you need to meet. Here’s what your assignment might look like. Only after you complete these can you move on to the next stage.

2. Outline the Structure

Assuming you are well aware of your job and its specifics, it is time to develop an informative essay outline. The format of the outline hinges on the structure of the essay. Academic institutions can set unique requirements as to the structure and formatting style. However, a standard high-school informative essay would usually consist of four to five paragraphs, meaning your informative essay outline would need to resemble the same structure. Following is an example of such an outline:

Note: You can read our detailed article – Making Outlines for Essays – with various examples to learn more about this step.

Topic: Detailing the benefits of a fixed-gear bicycle

• Statement: Riding a fixed gear provides numerous benefits, of which the three most critical ones stand out – cardio, simplicity, and aesthetics.
• Explanation
• Thesis rephrased
• Key information provided in the main part
• Clincher sentence , calling the target audience to act (do further research or discuss the topic)

3. Develop a Thesis Statement

Similar to any other writing piece, an informative essay comprises a thesis statement. It is a short sentence, usually placed at the end of your introduction. The statement’s central goal is to explain what the essay focuses on and what points the writer will develop in the succeeding sections. You’ll want to create the thesis in the first place to determine the elements you will include in each body paragraph. 

4. Write the Main Body

The main body is the central part of any informative essay. A typical short essay would contain three body paragraphs, with each body paragraph consisting of a topic sentence, example, evidence, explanation, and a concluding sentence transitioning to the following paragraph. 

It is best to leave the introduction aside and deal with the body and conclusion first, as writing them is less time-consuming and demanding. Besides, having pre-written middle and last parts will help you write a catchy and straight-to-the-point introduction.

Note: Learn how to write the main body successfully by visiting our general Essay Writing Guide .

5. Write the Conclusion

The primary aim of the conclusion is to remind the readers of the main statement and its central points. The final paragraph also provides key information from the central part so that the audience understands the relationship between the thesis and the information provided in the following sections. 

Finally, the last part can end the chosen topic by asking the readers to take various actions, i.e., continue to research the topic, discuss it with others, etc.

Note: Check our Conclusion Writing Guide to get a good grasp of how to end an essay correctly.

6. Write the Introduction

When you draft the thesis, body, and conclusion, return to the introduction. The first paragraph usually consists of an opening sentence, background information, and a thesis statement. Since you already have the thesis, proceed to the hook and background parts. 

The hook can manifest in various forms, depending on your target audience and its interests. The background information, in turn, aims to enrich the readers’ knowledge and make sure they can understand the chosen topic in its entirety.

Note: For more details on how to start essays, visit our Introduction Writing Guide .

7. Pause and Revise

Upon drafting the essay, it is advisable to step away from the piece to retain initial focus and productivity. Once you take a break, reapproach your paper and get ready to complete the final stage.

The last phase of writing an informative essay is the revision phase. When revising an informative essay, the most important thing to keep in mind is the accuracy of the factual support. In other words, pay attention to the evidence you include in your work. 

No matter the sub-type you follow when working on an informative essay, the facts you rely on must be clear-cut and specific. Carefully go through the piece and ask yourself whether your research is relevant, topic sentences correspond with the thesis, create a smooth transition between sections , and be accurate.

Don’t hesitate to use spell-checking tools to eliminate mistakes related to mechanics. Polishing your paper to shine may take an hour or two, so if you want to write an informative essay, ensure you aren’t short on time. 

point is to grab the readers’ attention and make them curious enough to keep reading the paper. The hook can have many forms, such as a quote, shocking statement, question, anecdote, etc. Ensure to evaluate the audience before writing. Knowing your readers better will help you write an informative essay quickly and easily.

The best way to end the informative essay is to write a striking conclusion. Notably, the conclusion of an informative essay should reiterate the central statement, summarize critical information, and state how this information supports the thesis.

It is your instructor who sets the word count limit for the informative essay. Such kind of information is usually presented in the requirements attached to the task. However, if you don’t have the length of your essay predetermined, it depends on the topic and the main points you aspire to cover. Either way, you are encouraged to write an informative essay outline first and stick to it to score high.

Yes, as long as the author does effective research and rests upon credible and interesting facts, avoiding personal opinions, an informative essay can be written about a work of literature.

Yes, if the audience analysis shows that the question would be the most appropriate way to begin an informative essay, you can start it with a question.

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Mar 20, 2023

How to Write an Informative Essay | Outlines and Examples

Discover the Art of Informative Essays: Engage, Learn, and Be Inspired by These Compelling Examples – Read on to Elevate Your Writing Skills!

An informative essay is written to disseminate knowledge about a specific subject. These writings will typically address one of the five W's (who, what, where, when, and why) in a given topic. Naturally, they can also respond with "how," suggesting a method.

Opinions and attempts to persuade readers to adopt your point of view have no place in informative writing. Only argumentative writing is allowed to play that part. If your instructive essay is particularly engaging, it may inspire your readers to pursue further research on the topic; however, they will have to make that decision independently.

To get you started, we've provided some informative essay samples as well as resources to help you select a subject and craft your paper.

What Is an Informative Essay?

An informative essay is a type of academic writing that explains about a particular topic or subject. The primary goal of an informative essay is to provide information on a topic, idea, or concept in a clear, concise, and organized manner. The purpose of the essay is to increase the reader's knowledge and understanding of the subject matter.

An informative essay is different from other types of essays, such as persuasive or argumentative essays. While persuasive essays aim to convince the audience to take a particular viewpoint or to take action, informative essays are written solely to provide information. This means that the essay should be unbiased, objective, and free from personal opinions or biases.

When writing an informative essay, it is essential to choose a topic that is interesting and relevant to the audience. It is also essential to conduct thorough research on the topic and to use credible sources, such as academic journals, books, and reputable websites. It is also essential to use a formal tone, clear language, and appropriate grammar and punctuation.

An informative essay is a type of academic writing that aims to provide information on a particular topic or subject in a clear, concise, and organized manner. The essay should be unbiased, objective, and free from personal opinions or biases.

The structure of an informative essay typically follows a basic format, including an introduction that provides background details and a distinct thesis statement, body paragraphs that outlines key arguments along with supporting proof, and a conclusion that offers a synopsis of the information presented. When writing an informative essay, it is essential to choose a topic that is interesting and relevant to the audience and to use credible sources and a formal tone.

How to Create an Informative Essay Outline?

Writing an informative essay outline is an essential step in the essay writing process. An outline provides a structure and a framework for the essay, allowing the writer to organize their thoughts and ideas before beginning to write. A good outline will help to ensure that the essay is clear, concise, and well-structured.

The outline for an informative essay typically includes the following sections: introduction, body paragraphs, and conclusion. Each section has a specific purpose and should be structured in a particular way.

I. Introduction

The introduction of an informative essay should provide background information on the topic and introduce the thesis statement, which is the main idea of the essay. The introduction should also capture the reader's attention and motivate them to continue reading.

A. Hook: The hook is the opening sentence or two of the essay. It should be attention-grabbing and relevant to the topic.

B. Background information: The background information provides context for the topic and helps the reader understand why the topic is important.

C. Thesis statement: The thesis statement is the main idea of the essay. It should be clear, concise, and specific.

II. Body Paragraphs

The body paragraphs of an informative essay provide detailed information on the topic. Each paragraph should focus on a particular aspect of the topic and be organized in a logical and coherent manner.

A. Topic sentence: The topic sentence is the first sentence of each body paragraph. It should clearly state the main point of the paragraph.

B. Supporting details: The supporting details provide evidence and examples to support the topic sentence.

C. Transitions: Transitions help to connect the paragraphs and make the essay flow smoothly.

III. Conclusion

The conclusion of an informative essay summarizes the main points of the essay and restates the thesis statement in a new way. The conclusion should also leave a lasting impression on the reader.

A. Restate thesis statement: The thesis statement should be restated in a new way to remind the reader of the main idea of the essay.

B. Summarize main points: The main points of the essay should be summarized in a concise and clear manner.

C. Final thoughts: The conclusion should end with final thoughts that leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Crafting an outline for an informative essay is a crucial stage in the process of essay writing. The purpose of creating an outline for an informative essay is to establish the topics you aim to address and to structure ideas accordingly.

The outline should include an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion, each with a specific purpose and structure. By following these guidelines, writers can create an informative essay that is clear, concise, and well-structured.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Writing an Informative Essay Format

Despite the fact that all essays have a similar structure, each type has its own distinctive features and peculiarities. It is a must to be aware of them in order to create a well-structured informative research paper outline. Structuring an informative essay outline can help you organize your thoughts and ideas and ensure that you cover all the necessary information.

Here are 7 steps to help you create a well-structured informative essay outline:

Choose a Topic

Select a topic that you are familiar with and that you find interesting. Ensure that the topic is suitable for an informative essay and that there is enough information available for you to research.

Conduct Research

Research your topic thoroughly using reputable sources such as academic journals, books, and websites. Gather information that will help you to support your arguments and make your essay more persuasive.

Create a Thesis Statement

Write a clear thesis statement that summarizes the main argument or purpose of your essay. Your thesis statement should be concise and focused, and it should provide a clear direction for your essay.

Create an Introduction

Begin your essay with an introduction that provides background information on your topic and introduces your thesis statement. Your introduction should be engaging and informative, and it should capture the reader's attention.

Create Body Paragraphs

The body of your essay should consist of several paragraphs, each of which should focus on a specific point or argument. Use clear and concise language to convey your ideas, and support your arguments with evidence such as examples, statistics, and other forms of evidence.

Create a Conclusion

Conclude your essay with a summary of your main points and a restatement of your thesis statement. Your conclusion should provide closure to your essay and leave a lasting impression on your reader.

Proofread and Edit

Edit and proofread your essay for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Ensure that your essay is well-structured, easy to read, and well-supported with evidence.

Overall, following these seven steps will help you create a well-structured informative essay outline that will guide you in writing an effective and persuasive essay.

Comprehensive Analysis of All of the Outline's Subsections

Outlines for informative papers typically consist of the same five or six parts as those for other kinds of essays. This type of writing task usually requires a specific structure. Begin with a one-paragraph opening, then move on to the body—which should be at least three paragraphs long—and end with a closing. It's likely that this will appear recognizable to you.

Let's read more carefully through the parts of the research report. See to it that you have painted a distinct image of the content that each paragraph will address.

Introduction:

In the introduction of your informative essay structure, you should define your subject in simple terms. Rather than relying on your own assumptions, check that you are using the actual definitions provided by reputable sources. The so-called "prehistory" of the subject can be included, as it often contains fascinating tidbits that aren't common knowledge.

To back up the thesis assertion made at the outset of the paper, you should provide arguments in the body of your work. It is suggested to devote each paragraph to a single subject idea, so the number of body paragraphs will be determined by the number of arguments.

Controversial Arguments: 

Before responding to an opponent's claims, make sure you've done your homework and collected all the information you'll need to present a well-reasoned response. There will be more than one way to look at the heart of any given subject. It is for this reason that you must exercise caution when gathering evidence and showing your opponent's arguments.

Each line needs to not only make a case but also provide proof to back up that case. Include the identities of the scientists and scholars who created the relevant references in your citation. Paint a vivid image of the subject at hand. That's why it's up to you to clarify everything that's crucial.

The Conclusion: 

Many students make the mistake of thinking that the conclusion section of a summary must be a direct reiteration of the thesis statement. In the final section, you should restate the processed data and direct the reader's attention to the most important parts of the study.

The most important guideline to follow is to explain in the conclusion how the reader can profit from the study findings.

2 Informative Essay Examples

The Key Causes Resulting in Water Pollution

Water pollution is a serious environmental issue that poses a significant threat to human health and the ecosystem. It occurs when harmful substances are introduced into water bodies such as rivers, lakes, oceans, and groundwater, making them unsuitable for human consumption and other uses.

The causes of water pollution are diverse, ranging from industrial and agricultural practices to household activities. This essay examines the key causes of water pollution and their impacts on the environment and human health.

Industrial activities:

Industrial activities are a significant cause of water pollution, especially in developed countries. Industries such as mining, manufacturing, and oil drilling often release harmful chemicals and waste into water bodies, contaminating them with toxic substances.

For instance, the discharge of untreated wastewater from factories and refineries leads to high levels of pollutants in water bodies. These pollutants can cause waterborne diseases, kill aquatic plants and animals, and render water unsafe for human consumption.

Agricultural practices:

Agricultural activities are another significant cause of water pollution. The use of fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides in farming has led to the contamination of water bodies. When these chemicals are washed away by rain or irrigation, they end up in rivers and lakes, causing water pollution. Excessive use of fertilizers, in particular, has been linked to the eutrophication of water bodies.

Eutrophication is a process in which excessive nutrients in water promote the growth of algae, which reduces the amount of oxygen available for other aquatic organisms, leading to the death of fish and other aquatic life.

Household activities:

Household activities are also responsible for water pollution. These activities include the disposal of household waste, cooking oils, and detergents into water bodies. Septic systems and faulty sewer lines also contribute to water pollution. When households dispose of their waste improperly, it ends up in water bodies, contaminating them with harmful substances.

Detergents contain phosphates, which can cause eutrophication when they enter water bodies. Moreover, septic systems and faulty sewer lines can cause water contamination when they leak or overflow.

Mining activities:

Mining activities, particularly those involving open-pit mines, can cause significant water pollution. Open-pit mines generate large amounts of waste, which is often dumped into nearby water bodies. This waste contains toxic substances such as heavy metals, which can contaminate water and cause severe health problems.

The use of chemicals such as cyanide and mercury in mining operations also contributes to water pollution. These chemicals are used to extract gold and other minerals from ores, but they can contaminate water bodies if not handled properly.

Oil spills:

Oil spills are one of the most devastating causes of water pollution. When oil spills occur, they can have catastrophic effects on the environment and the economy. Oil spills can result from accidents involving oil tankers, pipeline leaks, and offshore drilling.

The spilt oil can spread over large areas, contaminating water bodies and killing aquatic plants and animals. The toxic substances in the oil can also pose a significant health risk to humans who come into contact with them.

Impacts of water pollution:

Water pollution has severe impacts on the environment and human health. For instance, water pollution can lead to the death of fish and other aquatic organisms, reducing biodiversity. Water pollution can also make water unsafe for human consumption, leading to waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever.

Furthermore, water pollution can lead to the destruction of ecosystems, reducing the ability of natural systems to provide essential services such as water purification, flood control, and erosion prevention.

In conclusion, water pollution is a significant environmental problem that can have severe consequences for aquatic life and humans. The causes of water pollution are diverse and can come from industrial and agricultural practices, household activities, mining activities, and oil spills.

To prevent water pollution, it is crucial to implement measures that reduce the release of pollutants into water bodies, such as improved industrial processes, sustainable agriculture practices, proper disposal of household hazardous waste, responsible mining practices, and oil spill prevention measures.

By working together to address water pollution, we can protect our water resources and ensure a healthier future for ourselves and the environment.

The Importance of Education in the 21st Century

Education is a fundamental pillar of society, and it plays a crucial role in the development of individuals and nations. In the 21st century, education has become more critical than ever before, given the rapid pace of technological advancements and globalization. This essay discusses the importance of education in the 21st century and how it impacts individuals and society as a whole.

Globalisation and Technological Advancements:

The 21st century is marked by a new era of globalization, characterized by the integration of economies, cultures, and societies across the world. Technological advancements, such as the internet and social media, have made it easier for people to communicate and access information, breaking down traditional barriers and boundaries.

In this context, education is essential for individuals to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate this new world successfully. Education enables individuals to communicate, think critically, and adapt to changes in the environment, including technological advancements.

Employability:

In the 21st century, the job market is highly competitive, and employers demand a skilled and knowledgeable workforce. Education plays a crucial role in ensuring that individuals are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to meet the demands of the job market.

Education enables individuals to acquire specialized knowledge and skills in their fields of interest, making them more competitive in the job market. Additionally, education fosters the development of soft skills, such as communication, teamwork, and problem-solving, which are highly valued by employers.

Personal Development:

Education is not just about acquiring knowledge and skills; it is also about personal development. Education enables individuals to develop a sense of identity, values, and beliefs, shaping their character and worldview. Education also promotes personal growth by exposing individuals to new ideas, perspectives, and cultures, broadening their horizons and promoting tolerance and diversity.

Social Development:

Education is critical for social development, promoting social mobility and reducing inequalities. Education enables individuals from different backgrounds and social classes to access the same opportunities and pursue their dreams, irrespective of their socioeconomic status.

Education also promotes social cohesion and community building by fostering a sense of civic responsibility and promoting active participation in society.

Environmental Sustainability:

In the 21st century, environmental sustainability is a crucial global issue that requires urgent action. Education plays a crucial role in promoting environmental awareness and sustainability. Education enables individuals to understand the impact of human activities on the environment and develop strategies to mitigate these impacts.

Education also promotes a culture of environmental stewardship, encouraging individuals to take responsibility for their actions and work towards a sustainable future.

Innovation and Creativity:

Innovation and creativity are critical drivers of economic growth and social progress in the 21st century. Education plays a crucial role in promoting innovation and creativity by fostering a culture of experimentation and risk-taking. Education enables individuals to develop critical thinking skills, think outside the box, and come up with creative solutions to complex problems.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, education is critical for the development of individuals and society in the 21st century. It enables individuals to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate a rapidly changing world, compete in the job market, and pursue personal and social goals. Education also promotes environmental sustainability, innovation, and creativity, promoting economic growth and social progress.

As such, investing in education is essential for building a better future for individuals and society as a whole.

In conclusion, writing an informative essay can be a rewarding experience, as it allows you to share your knowledge on a particular topic with others. By following the steps outlined in this article and utilizing the examples provided, you can create a well-structured and informative essay that will captivate your audience. Remember to thoroughly research your topic, organize your ideas, and use clear and concise language to convey your message. If you're looking for additional support in creating high-quality essays, sign up for jenni.ai ! Our AI-powered writing assistant can help you generate ideas, structure your essay, and even provide autocompletion suggestions to help you write faster. With jenni.ai, you can create engaging and informative essays with ease. Don't hesitate, click the button below to sign up for jenni.ai today and start writing your best essays yet!

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Writing an Informative Essay

Informative essays engage readers with new, interesting, and often surprising facts and details about a subject. Informative essays are educational; readers expect to learn something new from them. In fact, much of the reading and writing done in college and the workplace is informative. From textbooks to reports to tutorials like this one, informative writing imparts important and useful information about a topic.

This tutorial refers to the sample informative outline and final essay written by fictional student Paige Turner.

Reasons to Write Informatively

Your purpose for writing and the audience for whom you are writing will impact the depth and breadth of information you provide, but all informative writing aims to present a subject without opinions or bias. Some common reasons to write informatively are to

• report findings that an audience would find interesting,
• present facts that an audience would find useful, and
• communicate information about a person, place, event, issue, or change that would improve an audience’s understanding.

Characteristics of Informative Essays

Informative essays present factual information and do not attempt to sway readers’ opinions about it. Other types of academic and workplace writing do try to influence readers’ opinions:

• Expository essays aim to expose a truth about an issue in order to influence how readers view the issue.
• Persuasive essays aim to influence readers’ opinions, so they will adopt a particular position or take a certain course of action.

Expository and persuasive essays make “arguments.” The only argument an informative essay makes is that something exists, did exist, is happening, or has happened, and the point of the essay is not to convince readers of this but to tell them about it.

• Informative essays seek to enlighten and educate readers, so they can make their own educated opinions and decisions about what to think and how to act.

Strategies for Writing Informatively

Informative essays provide useful information such as facts, examples, and evidence from research in order to help readers understand a topic or see it more clearly. While informative writing does not aim to appeal emotionally to readers in order to change their opinions or behaviors, informative writing should still be engaging to read. Factual information is not necessarily dry or boring. Sometimes facts can be more alarming than fiction!

Writers use various strategies to engage and educate readers. Some strategies include

• introducing the topic with an alarming fact or arresting image;
• asserting what is true or so about the subject in a clear thesis statement;
• organizing the paragraphs logically by grouping related information;
• unifying each paragraph with a topic sentence and controlling idea;
• developing cohesive paragraphs with transition sentences;
• using precise language and terminology appropriate for the topic, purpose, and audience; and
• concluding with a final idea or example that captures the essay’s purpose and leaves a lasting impression.

Five Steps for Getting Started

1. Brainstorm and choose a topic.

• Sample topic : The opioid epidemic in the United States.
• The opiod epidemic or even opiod addiction would would be considered too broad for a single essay, so the next steps aim to narrow this topic down.

2. Next, write a question about the topic that you would like to answer through research.

• Sample question : What major events caused the opioid crisis in the United States?
• This question aims to narrow the topic down to causes of the epidemic in the US.

3. Now go to the Purdue Global Library to find the answers to your research question.

As you begin reading and collecting sources, write down the themes that emerge as common answers. Later, in step four, use the most common answers (or the ones you are most interested in writing and discussing) to construct a thesis statement.

• Sample answers: aggressive marketing, loopholes in prescription drug provider programs, and economic downturn.

4. Next, provide purpose to your paper by creating a thesis statement.

The thesis attempts to frame your research question. The sample thesis below incorporates three of the more common answers for the research question from step two: What caused the opioid crisis in the United States?

• Thesis Statement : Aggressive marketing, loopholes in prescription drug provider programs, and economic downturn contributed to the current opioid crisis in the United States.
• Writing Tip : For additional help with thesis statements, please visit our Writing a Thesis Statement article. For help with writing in 3rd person, see our article on Formal Vs. Informal Writing .

5. Now follow each numbered step in the “Suggested Outline Format and Sample” below.

Sample answers have been provided for “I. Introduction” and “II. First Cause.” A complete sample outline can be seen here. A complete sample informative essay can be seen here.

Suggested Outline Format and Sample

I. INTRODUCTION

A. First provide a topic sentence that introduces the main topic: Sample topic sentence : There is a current prescription pain medication addiction and abuse epidemic possibly caused by an excessive over prescription of these medications.

B. Now provide a couple sentences with evidence to support the main topic: Sample sentence one with evidence to support the main topic : According to Dr. Nora Volkow, Director of National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), in testimony before the 115th Congress, “In 2016, over 11 million Americans misused prescription opioids … and 2.1 million had an opioid use disorder due to prescription opioids” (Federal Efforts to Combat the Opioid Crisis, 2017, p. 2).

C. Sample sentence two with evidence to support the main topic : Volkow indicated “more than 300,000 Americans have died of an opioid overdose” since 2013 (Federal Efforts to Combat the Opioid Crisis, 2017, p.2).

D. Sample sentence three with evidence to support the main topic : According to Perez-Pena (2017), the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported more than 25,000 people in the United States died in 2015 from overdosing on opioids Fentanyl, Oxycodone, and Hydrocodone.

E. Toward the end of the introduction, include your thesis statement written in the 3rd-person point-of-view: Sample thesis statement : Potential solutions to the growing opioid epidemic may be illuminated by examining how opioid addiction is triggered through aggressive pharmaceutical marketing, how opioid addiction manifests among prescribed patients, and how economic downturns play a role in the increase of opioid addiction.

F. Write down the library sources you can use in this introductory paragraph to help support the main topic.

• Federal Efforts to Combat the Opioid Crisis, 2017
• Perez-Pena, 2017
• Writing Tip : For more help writing an introduction, please refer to this article on introductions and conclusions .

II. FIRST CAUSE

A. First provide a topic sentence that introduces the first cause of the opioid epidemic: Sample topic sentence that introduces the first cause : One issue that helped contribute to the opioid epidemic is aggressive marketing by pharmaceutical manufacturers.

B. Now provide sentences with evidence to support the first cause: Sample sentence one with evidence that supports the first cause : Perez-Pena (2017) concluded that while the healthcare industry was attempting to effectively and efficiently treat patients with chronic pain, pharmaceutical companies were providing funding to prominent doctors, medical societies, and patient advocacy groups in order to win support for a particular drug’s adoption and usage.

C. Sample sentence two with evidence to support the first cause : In fact, pharmaceutical companies continue to spend millions on promotional activities and materials that deny or trivialize any risks of opioid use while at the same time overstating each drug’s benefit (Perez-Pina, 2017).

D. Next, add more information or provide concluding or transitional sentences that foreshadows the upcoming second cause: Sample concluding and transitional sentence that foreshadow the second cause : Although aggressive marketing by pharmaceutical companies played a large role in opioid addiction, patients are to blame too, as many take advantage of holes in the healthcare provider system in order to remedy their addiction.

E. Write down the library sources you can use in this body paragraph to help support the first cause:

• Writing Tip : For more assistance working with sources, please visit the Using Sources page here.

III. SECOND CAUSE

A. First provide a topic sentence that introduces the second cause.

B. Now provide sentences with evidence to support the second cause.

C. Next, add more information or provide concluding or transitional sentences that foreshadows the upcoming third cause.

D. Write down the library sources you can use in this body paragraph to help support the second cause:

• Writing Tip : Listen to Writing Powerful Sentences for information and features of effective writing.

IV. THIRD CAUSE

A. First provide a topic sentence that introduces the third cause.

B. Now provide sentences with evidence to support the third cause.

C. Next, add more information or provide a concluding sentence or two.

D. Write down the library sources you can use in this body paragraph to help support the third cause:

V. CONCLUSION: Summary of key points and evidence discussed.

• Writing Tip : For more help writing a conclusion, refer to this podcast on endings .
• Writing Tip : Have a question? Leave a comment below or Purdue Global students, click here to access the Purdue Global Writing Center tutoring platform and available staff.
• Writing Tip : Ready to have someone look at your paper? Purdue Global students, click here to submit your assignment for feedback through our video paper review service.

See a Sample Informative Essay Outline here .

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dang bro i got an A

Having faith with all this mentioned, that i will pass my english class at a college. Thank you for posting.

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Discover How to Write an Informative Essay & Get Top Grade

Table of content.

• 01. What Does Informative Essay Structure Include?
• 02. Steps For Writing an Informative Essay
• 03. Looking for Writing Topics in the Right Places
• 04. Use Sample as Essay Fuel
• 05. Have a Great Time Writing

A surprising number of students feel unsure about how to write an informative essay. On the one hand, everything seems pretty easy: the name of this college task speaks for itself. An informative paper is a piece of writing where you present objective facts about a specific topic, expanding your readers’ knowledge and basically informing them about it. But on the other hand, knowing what it is along with its purpose doesn’t equal being able to write it. 

Informative writing is extremely useful for students since with its help, they get a chance to learn how to be objective and pass the information they possess to other individuals. It’s also an easy way for getting a high grade, but first, you need to know what such papers are built on, how they should be approached, as well as what strategies could make your writing amazing.

What Does Informative Essay Structure Include?

Essays of all types have a similar structure. They are roughly divided into such three parts as intro, body, and conclusion, but the peculiarities of their elements differ. When it comes to informative paper, there is a set of components young writers should know about. Take a look at them below and carefully reproduce them when you begin writing an essay.

• Introduction.  This is the first paragraph that should take about 10% of all content. Instead of describing everything, in theory, we decided to provide direct examples that will help you get a clear image of what you should do as a writer. Imagine that our topic is “Pigeons as Species: Truth and Stereotypes That Distort It.” How to start an informative essay like this? Here is one of the possible models.
• Hook . In this part, our task lies in capturing the attention of the audience. This could be done through funny quotes, surprising statistics, jokes, or even relevant facts. For topic about pigeons, we could go with, “Numerous people consider pigeons dirty and dangerous for health, but they have no idea how wrong they are.” This example reveals that beliefs of many people are flawed, which instinctively attracts attention. Do the same in your paper.
• This is the next part of informative essay introduction. Inform audience about some general facts stemming from your topic, disclosing relevant terms & concepts if there are any. Here’s our take. “Pigeons are often referred to as ‘flying rats’. This term implies people’s belief that these birds carry as many diseases as rats, which makes them infectious.”
• Introducing perspective . Here you should introduce the central view on the topic. Disclose what your ideas are going to be based on. For instance: “However, medical statistics reveal a different picture. There are next to no documented cases of pigeons infecting humans.”
• Thesis . This is the last sentence of introduction, and it has extreme importance. Reveal the essence of your work here, so that readers could understand what it’s about before reading further. Note that it should be a direct claim. “Pigeons are not as dangerous and dirty as they are presented, and in reality, they are a natural part of city’s ecosystem.”     
• Body.  Body is one of the most important parts of an informative essay. Every claim made in thesis should be explored and supported here.
• Start each  paragraph  with an opening sentence . Here is one example: “Despite common misconceptions, pigeons do not carry diseases.”
• Proceed with  research  explorations within a  paragraph . Put evidence and other relevant facts there.
• Close paragraph with a concluding remark . “Thus, pigeons are not dangerous to humans.”  
• Conclusion.  Finalize an essay by going through all the mentioned points again.
• Restate thesis . Don’t copy it, simply express it in other words. In our case, this could be like this: “Pigeons do not pose the same degree of danger as many believe, and their presence within the cities is a natural phenomenon.”
• Outline  major points from  paragraphs . Again, avoid copying anything directly. Remind your audience about everything they have learned as they were reading this informative essay.
• Make conclusive remarks . Wrap everything up by giving your audience a sense of closure. In an informative work, this could sound in the following way: “Therefore, there is no need to fear pigeons. Feeding them could be a good way of establishing friendship, meaning that people and these birds could coexist peacefully.”

Steps For Writing an Informative Essay

Now that you know how structure of your work should look like, it is time to go through different useful steps. We prepared 6 of them — they have the biggest meaning when it comes to writing. Use them as your guide. This way, step by step, you’ll follow this essay journey up to its successful completion.

• Choose an Interesting  Topic .  This stage is very complex. Boring topics will bore you along with your readers, so this isn’t something you should ever do. Keep searching until you find a truly inspiring theme. Are online arguments present? Are there things you wish people would know more about? Use this chance to exploring it and expanding others’ knowledge. Note that your topic shouldn’t be overly broad: for example, if you’re planning on writing about healthcare issues, it’s a bad idea. It would take you ages and thousands of pages to inform people about this extremely wide category. But how about cancer or problems with COVID? This decision narrows the list down, letting you find a specific focus.
• Look at the  Samples .  Among other tips, this one is particularly relevant as it allows seeing how good papers should be written. Not all students understand what an informative essay thesis is, which info should be put into paragraphs, and how to wrap things up. Checking out samples is a great strategy for gaining a sense of certainty: when you see the works that brought success to other students, you start understanding how your essay should be presented.
• Create an Outline.  The third step concerns outlining your ideas. Look at it like at the skeleton of an essay: it holds the foundation on which everything is built. Informative essay outline should be as detailed as you want, but there is some minimal basis. Dedicate at least one sentence per each part. Body should be broken into paragraphs, with each of them being titled in an appropriate way. You could write opening & closing sentences in advance or just outline the main idea: it’s up to you. Once you start writing, keep checking back with your composed outline. If you feel like you are getting stuck, double-check it: it’ll return a direction sense to you.
• Write Thesis.  Thesis is vital in every informational essay. Since it is the most essential paper claim, you should compose it in advance. Put all big points you’ll be discussing into it; in case you aren’t sure what thesis is and what structure it must have, look for online examples. Read through as many of them as needed until you get it right.
• Collect Sources.  Every paper should be supported by relevant sources. In case with information essay, this is even more important because everything is founded on extensive research there. You cannot count on your words being believed when you have nothing to support them with. After you’ve settled on a topic, look for related sources. These could be credible articles with official DOI or books released by academic or thematic publishing houses. They should be created within the last 5 years or so, and you need to use them for every claim that isn’t general knowledge. Get ideas from them — this could help expand your essay if you start feeling out of ideas.  
• Polish the Paper.  After you complete an essay, wait for several hours. Let your eyes and your mind rest. Then re-read it, preferably several times. Pay attention to content issues: perhaps some paragraphs are too unfocused? Are some of them too brief, without exploring any of your points properly? Change this. Never be worried about losing time on editing — it is better to perfect everything by yourself rather than having your professor point these issues out. Grammar & proofreading mistakes should be caught as well, so try removing them. That’s why re-reading an essay several times is always a good idea.

Looking for Writing Topics in the Right Places

Since informative essay format requires choosing truly great topics, many students try hard to think about something. But no matter how thoroughly they brainstorm, they just can’t come up with any viable option. If you’re having the same crisis, we have a solution.  Why don’t you check our website? We’ve gathered the best writers and they devised numerous essay topics for all education levels. Before publishing them, we checked them in terms of originality and college appropriateness by consulting with fellow professors. So, if you’re in search of inspiring themes, find them in an informative list here. It’ll help push in the right direction.  

Use Sample as Essay Fuel

Like we mentioned in one of the categories above, looking at informative essay examples is always useful. They give you an opportunity to understand what a good paper should comprise and which parts as well as smaller elements it should have. But as it frequently happens, there is a problem: where to find them? Not all platforms are trustworthy, so how can a student know where they can read a sample safely? Like with topics, this is something we took care of. Check our extensive collections with examples. You’ll find quite a few informative essays there, and since reading them is totally free, you’ll get many benefits.

Have a Great Time Writing

Informative essays are diverse in nature and require a set of rules to be followed. But at the same time, they can be interesting and engaging — everything depends on the topic you choose and the creativity you master. Enjoy your writing; try seeing it as a chance for sharing something exciting with people and talking about things you’ve never discussed before. What subjects seem interesting to you? Focus on them and you’ll see how much less frightening academic tasks become.

If you need assistance, you can always find it with us. Use chat option on our site and tell our operators that you require an informative speech essay written. Indicate how many sources and how many words are needed, etc., and we’ll pass this info to our best writers. Whatever deadline you need, we’ll be able to handle it. We have a money-back option that protects your interests, so just drop us a word and we’ll take care of everything swiftly as well as effectively. 

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How to write an informative essay

Published September 27, 2020. Updated June 5, 2022.

Informative essay definition

The primary purpose of an informative essay is to educate the reader without injecting the writer’s ideas and opinions.

Overview of an informative essay

The first step is to choose a topic for the informative essay. Pick a topic that interests you, as this will help you stay motivated. When writing an informative essay, explain a topic as objectively as possible, unless otherwise directed by a professor. An informative essay helps readers to understand the facts without adding bias. The next step is to research the topic for the informative essay. An informative essay is based on facts and not opinions; therefore, it is important to choose proper sources when researching the topic. The next step of the essay is to create an outline. The outline is important because it helps to keep the thoughts and ideas organized. An informative essay outline generally consists of an introduction, three or more body paragraphs, and a conclusion. After the draft is written, it should be read as many times as possible to search for grammar mistakes. The language should be more coherent and flowing. Enough evidence should be used and cite the sources correctly.

• You will usually be writing for your instructor and a general academic audience.
• Common examples of informative essays include “how-to” guides, definitions of subjects, and data analyses.
• These examples serve only to inform the reader about a specific subject .
• The style of informative writing is utilitarian and concise. Typically, the reader isn’t interested in opinions—they just want to learn about the topic.

Worried about your writing? Submit your paper for a Chegg Writing essay check , or for an Expert Check proofreading . Both can help you find and fix potential writing issues.

How is an informative essay different from other essays?

When writing an informative essay, explain a topic as objectively as possible, unless otherwise directed by your professor. The clue is in the name—an informative essay delivers information and not much else.

• Journalism is informative in nature, as the facts are presumably presented without bias. The audience gets to decide for themselves what they think about these facts.
• Remember that true objectivity is difficult, if not impossible, to obtain.

In contrast, an explanatory essay explores viewpoints surrounding an issue. Moreover, it may suggest why one opinion is superior to another. Because it serves only to educate, there is less emphasis on supporting arguments with evidence.

• There are also many similarities between an informative essay and an explanatory essay.
• Writers of both essays are trying to help the reader understand something new.
• The only real difference is that an informative essay helps readers understand a new set of facts, while an explanatory essay explains why certain opinions have resulted from those facts.

Why is an informative essay important?

Informative essays help readers understand the facts without adding bias. These types of essays teach students how to impart information without trying to influence people to think in one way or another.

Informative essays test your ability to

• write objectively
• conduct credible research

Planning your informative essay

Choose a topic.

The first step is to choose a topic for your informative essay. Pick a topic that interests you, as this will help you stay motivated.

• Choose a topic that appeals to a wider audience, especially if your instructor requires you to give an accompanying presentation with your essay.
• It’s easier to educate your audience if they’re learning about something they are interested in.
• Avoid essays about a very esoteric topic that few would know about; always avoid specific jargon that a general academic audience would not understand.

Finally, it’s a good idea to choose a topic that you already know about. If you have a solid understanding of a subject’s background, you will probably find it easier to research the topic and quickly find important facts. With that said, your instructor may choose your topic, or you may enjoy the challenge of writing about something totally new.

Conduct research

The next step is to research the topic for your informative essay. Because an informative essay is based on facts and not opinions, it’s important to choose proper sources when researching your topic. Keep the following in mind:

• Look for sources with well-established facts.
• Use primary sources when possible.
•  For example, if you are writing about a famous speech or text, use the original or “primary” document rather than a “secondary” commentary about the speech or otherwise altered source.
• Secondary sources can still be helpful if they are unbiased and academic in nature.
• The best sources for an informative essay help you clearly define your subject.

Research tips:

• Using a variety of sources will give you more credibility.
• Remember to check the reliability of each source you choose and make sure that “the facts” are widely accepted by subject matter experts.
• Take notes and bookmark sources that you want to use.
• Save all publication data for correct documentation in your Works Cited, Bibliography, or References section.
• Make sure you understand the format your instructor requires, usually MLA, APA, or Chicago style.
• Write down important quotes or statistics.

Create an outline

Next, create an outline. The outline is important because it helps you keep your thoughts and ideas organized. With a clear structure in place, you’ll find that the writing process is much easier once you begin the essay itself. Many instructors require this; some don’t. If it isn’t required and you don’t find outlines useful, skip this step.

If the outline is required, be sure to use the format you are writing the essay in. Refer to MLA or APA guides and model your outline after the examples you find in the guide’s index. Some require roman numerals; other styles require alphabetical notation.

You can outline in your own formal style if the assignment doesn’t require this step.

An informative essay outline generally consists of the following:

• introduction
• three or more body paragraphs

Writing your informative essay

Write the introduction.

Start with a sentence that grabs the reader’s attention. Your goal is to educate the reader, but that doesn’t mean you can’t get them interested in the subject they will learn about. Once you have the reader hooked, provide a generous amount of background information for the subject with a few sentences. Finish the introduction with a thesis statement.

Normally, a thesis statement would communicate an argument or point of view, but opinions do not belong in informative essays. Because of this, your thesis statement should essentially be a one-sentence clarification of the subject you’re focusing on. The thesis statement should also make the reader want to continue reading. During the introduction, you might want to touch on the where , who , why , what , how , and when of the topic.

Write the body paragraphs

The body paragraphs of an informative essay go into detail and explore important aspects of the subject you’re writing about. Each body paragraph should cover a different aspect of the topic, leaving readers with a more complete understanding of the subject.

• Start each body paragraph with a topic sentence introducing what you’ll be discussing.
• Once you’ve introduced the sub-topic, go into detail and support various facts with the evidence you discovered during your research.
• Try to use a variety of paraphrases, short direct quotes, and your own logical analysis.
• Be careful to avoid accidental plagiarism when paraphrasing or using quotes from outside sources.
• Any outside information must be cited correctly and/or attributed in your essay and reflected in the works cited or references at the end so your teacher can easily see where the information came from (and find it if they want to).

Remember, you can’t just throw your evidence out there and expect your reader to connect the dots on their own. Explain how this evidence relates to the subject and why it’s important.

To conclude each of your body paragraphs, write a single sentence summarizing what you’ve just discussed and how it relates to the main topic. If you can, try to transition into the next body paragraph in a smooth, flowing manner.

Write the conclusion

Once you’ve finished your body paragraphs, it’s time to wrap your informative essay up with a strong conclusion. Start your conclusion by restating your thesis. Remind the reader about the topic, but use different language compared to the thesis in your introduction.

Next, mention why the information you’ve just delivered is relevant.

• How can the reader use this information in the future?
• What is its impact?
• Why is this information valuable for the average person?
• Can you think of examples of how they might make use of this information in the future?

Finish your conclusion (and your entire essay) with a sentence that leaves a strong impact on the reader.

Hammer home the importance of the subject you’ve just explored in a new way that you haven’t already used in your essay.

A tried-and-true method is to use a powerful quote related to your subject—something that sums up what your subject truly means.

You might even end with an open-ended question that leaves the reader with larger ideas to connect.

Editing your informative essay

After you’ve finished the draft, read it over as many times as you can in order to search for grammar mistakes.

Try to make the language more coherent and flowing. Ensure that you’re using evidence and citing your sources in the correct manner.

Once you’re sure that you’ve found even the smallest errors, find a classmate or peer willing to read over your essay and give you advice. In return, you can also edit their essay.

• Some teachers are happy to review your draft and offer suggestions before you turn in the final draft.
• If you are a college student, check to see if there is a writing lab you can visit for some suggestions on improvement.

Example informative essay

Before you turn in that paper, don’t forget to cite your sources in APA format , MLA format , or a style of your choice.

Additional tips for writing an informative essay

• Be careful to leave out bias: write as objectively as possible.
• Use a variety of credible sources.
• Transition between ideas and paragraphs to help the essay flow.
• Avoid redundancy, wordiness, and unnecessary repetition.
• Stay on topic: avoid going on long tangents.
• Use the correct academic reference/citation style based on your instructor and discipline.
• Be aware of your audience and write accordingly.

By Andrew Block. Andrew received his BA in English from the University of South Carolina and his MA from the University of New Mexico. After more than a decade as a faculty member in a community college, he has worked in client success for an educational technology company since 2018.

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How to Write an Informative Essay | A Step-by-Step Guide

Writing an essay, regardless of the type or format, can be a daunting task. However, with the right approach and understanding of the essay format, you can make the process more manageable. In this blog, we will provide a comprehensive step-by-step guide on how to write an informative essay effectively. Whether you are a student working on an assignment or someone seeking to share information with others, this guide will equip you with the necessary tools to create a well-structured and informative piece of writing.

To begin with, selecting an appropriate topic is crucial for an informative essay. Consider your audience and purpose, and choose a topic that is both interesting and informative. Conduct thorough research to gather relevant information from credible sources such as academic journals, books, and reputable websites. Taking organized notes and keeping track of your sources will help you in the later stages of writing.

Next, create an outline that will serve as a roadmap for your essay. Start with an attention-grabbing introduction that provides background information and ends with a clear thesis statement. Divide the body of your essay into paragraphs, each addressing a specific aspect or supporting point. Support your arguments with evidence, examples, and analysis. Finally, summarize the main points in a concise conclusion that reinforces your thesis statement and leaves a lasting impression on the reader.

By following these steps and paying attention to the details of essay writing, such as the essay format and structure, you can confidently write an informative essay that engages and educates your audience. Remember to utilize informative essay examples and informative essay topics as sources of inspiration and guidance. If you find yourself struggling, you can seek help from essay services that specialize in writing and editing. With a well-structured essay and a compelling thesis statement, you can effectively convey your message and provide valuable information to your readers.

Understanding the Essay Format In an Informative Essay

Before delving into the process of writing an essay, it is essential to understand the essay format. Whether you’re working on a research paper, an informative essay, or any other type of writing assignment, the essay format remains consistent. It consists of an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The introduction is crucial as it serves as the gateway to your essay, captivating the reader’s attention. It should include an essay topic, an engaging thesis statement, and an essay outline that highlights the main points to be discussed. Once you’ve hooked the reader, the body paragraphs come into play. They provide a detailed exploration of your thesis statement, supported by research and examples. To ensure coherence, it’s important to use an essay outline format that clearly organizes your ideas. Each paragraph should have a topic sentence, supporting evidence, and analysis. Finally, the conclusion wraps up your essay by summarizing the key points and reinforcing the main argument, leaving a lasting impression on the reader.

Writing an essay involves several steps that begin with selecting suitable research paper topics or informative essay topics. Once you have chosen a topic, it’s time to create an essay outline. This outline acts as a roadmap, guiding you through the writing process. A w ell-structured essay outline example will ensure that your essay flows smoothly. With your outline in place, you can start developing the content. Conduct thorough research using reputable sources, such as academic journals and books, to gather information and support your arguments. Take note of relevant details and organize your research material. This will serve as a solid foundation for your essay or research paper. As you start writing, pay attention to the essay format example and the introduction essay examples. Craft a clear and concise thesis statement that articulates the main argument of your essay. Remember, an informative essay introduction must be compelling and provide a glimpse of what’s to come. Follow your essay outline , dedicating each body paragraph to a specific supporting point or idea. The conclusion should summarize the key points discussed and leave the reader with a strong impression. If you need assistance, there are essay services available that can help you with writing, formatting, and structuring your essay or research paper.

Selecting an Informative Essay Topic

When it comes to writing an essay, particularly an informative one, understanding the essay format and structure is essential. Knowing how to write an essay effectively involves following a specific essay format that includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The essay format serves as a guideline for organizing your thoughts and presenting information in a logical and coherent manner. Additionally, creating an essay outline can greatly assist in structuring your writing. A well-crafted outline provides a roadmap for your essay, helping you stay focused and ensuring that you cover all the necessary points. It helps you organize your ideas, decide on the order of your arguments, and create smooth transitions between paragraphs. By following the proper essay format and utilizing an outline, you can present your ideas clearly and concisely, making your essay more impactful.

Choosing a topic for an informative essay is a crucial step in the writing process. Research paper topics, personal experiences, and current events can all serve as excellent starting points. It’s important to select a topic that not only interests you but also provides valuable information to your readers. Once you have chosen a topic, conducting thorough research is essential. This research will help you gather relevant information and supporting evidence to back up your claims and make your essay more credible. Having a clear thesis statement is also crucial in an informative essay, as it sets the direction for your writing and guides your readers. Overall, selecting an informative essay topic , conducting comprehensive research, and developing a strong thesis statement are key elements in creating an engaging and informative essay that effectively communicates your message to your audience.

Conducting Research and Creating an Outline

Once you have chosen a topic for your essay, it is essential to follow a structured approach to ensure a well-written and informative piece. Start by conducting thorough research to gather relevant and reliable information from credible sources such as academic journals, books, and reputable websites. Utilize these sources to find supporting evidence, examples, and expert opinions that strengthen your arguments and lend credibility to your writing. As you delve into your research, take organized notes and keep track of your sources for proper referencing. This will help you create an essay outline that outlines the main points and subtopics you want to cover, ensuring a coherent and logical flow in your writing.

The essay format typically consists of an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion. In the introduction, provide an overview of your topic, engage the reader’s interest, and present a clear thesis statement that outlines your main argument. The body paragraphs should each focus on a specific point or idea related to your thesis statement. Support each point with evidence, examples, and analysis to strengthen your arguments . Ensure smooth transitions between paragraphs to maintain the coherence of your essay. Finally, in the conclusion, summarize your main points, restate your thesis, and provide a closing thought or reflection on the topic.

Writing an essay can be a daunting task, but with proper research, organization, and adherence to the essay structure, you can produce a well-crafted and informative piece of writing. If you find yourself struggling, there are essay services available that can provide guidance and assistance throughout the writing process. Remember to proofread and edit your essay before submission to ensure clarity, coherence, and proper grammar and spelling.

Writing the Introduction

The introduction is a critical component of any essay, and understanding how to write an effective one is crucial. When writing an essay, it is important to follow a specific format and structure to ensure clarity and coherence. One common format is the research paper outline, which helps to organize your thoughts and ideas before you begin writing . By following an outline, you can ensure that your essay has a logical flow and covers all the necessary points.

To illustrate the essay format and structure, it can be helpful to refer to an essay example. Examining a well-written essay can provide insight into how to organize your own writing and present your ideas effectively. By analyzing the essay outline and structure, you can gain a better understanding of how to create a cohesive and well-structured essay .

There are different types of essays, each with its own unique characteristics and purposes. Some common types include informative essays, personal essays , and persuasive essays. Understanding the different essay types can help you choose the appropriate approach and style for your topic. It’s important to select a topic that is both interesting and manageable, and that aligns with the requirements of your assignment.

If you need assistance with your essay, there are various essay services available that can provide writing help, proofreading, and editing. These services can be particularly useful if you’re struggling with certain aspects of your essay or need guidance in refining your ideas. Hence, understanding the essay format, conducting proper research, creating an outline, and selecting an appropriate topic are crucial steps in the essay writing process. By following these steps and utilizing the available resources, you can enhance your essay writing skills and produce well-structured, engaging, and informative essays .

Developing Body Paragraphs

When writing an essay, it is crucial to follow a proper essay format and structure. The body paragraphs of your essay play a vital role in presenting your ideas and supporting your thesis statement. To effectively convey your message, start each paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea. This helps to maintain clarity and organization throughout your essay . As you delve into each paragraph, provide relevant evidence, such as statistics, research findings, or expert opinions, to support your claims. Including real-life examples and situations can make your content more relatable and understandable to the reader.

Furthermore, it is essential to consider different types of essays and their specific requirements. For instance, when writing an informative essay, your focus is on providing valuable information and insights on a particular topic. In this case, you need to choose informative essay topics that are engaging and relevant. Additionally, ensure that your essay has a clear introduction that grabs the reader’s attention and includes examples or personal essay examples to make it more relatable. Developing an informative essay outline can help you structure your content in a logical and coherent manner.

When conducting research for your essay, create a research paper outline to organize your findings and ideas. This outline format serves as a roadmap for your essay, guiding you on what information to include in each paragraph. It helps to maintain a s mooth flow of ideas and ensures that you cover all the necessary points. Additionally, properly citing and referencing all the sources used in your essay is essential to give credit to the original authors and avoid plagiarism.

If you need assistance with your essay, GradeSmiths is available to provide comprehensive guidance and support. Our range of services includes essay writing, where our expert writers can help you craft a well-structured and engaging essay. We can also assist you in developing an outline that effectively organizes your ideas and arguments, ensuring a coherent flow throughout your paper. Additionally, our team can refine your thesis statement, helping you to articulate a clear and concise focus for your essay.

Formatting your essay correctly is essential, and GradeSmiths can ensure that your essay adheres to the required style, whether it be APA, MLA , or any other formatting guidelines. Our experienced editors will meticulously review your essay to guarantee proper formatting, citation, and referencing. If you are struggling to find suitable research paper topics, our knowledgeable team can provide suggestions that align with your subject area and interests. Furthermore, if you are pressed for time or simply need some extra assistance, our writers can even collaborate with you to write the essay from start to finish, ensuring a high-quality and well-crafted final product.

At GradeSmiths , we understand the challenges that students face when it comes to essay writing, and our goal is to alleviate your stress and help you achieve academic success. Our team of skilled professionals is dedicated to providing top-notch assistance tailored to your specific needs. So, if you require any support with your essay, don’t hesitate to reach out to GradeSmiths . We are here to help you every step of the way.

Structuring the Conclusion

When it comes to structuring the conclusion of your essay, it is essential to consider several key elements to ensure a comprehensive and impactful ending. The conclusion serves as the final opportunity to leave a strong impression on your reader and reinforce the main points discussed throughout your essay . Additionally, incorporating your provided keywords will further enhance the content. Let’s explore the key components to include:

• Summarize the Main Points: Begin your conclusion by summarizing the main arguments and ideas presented in your essay. This serves as a reminder to your reader of the key takeaways and provides a cohesive overview of the entire essay .
• Restate the Thesis Statement: While avoiding repetition, restate your thesis statement in a fresh and impactful manner. Use different words or sentence structure to reinforce the central theme or argument of your essay. This restatement helps to solidify your message and emphasize its importance.
• Avoid Introducing New Information: One crucial rule in conclusion writing is to refrain from introducing new information. The conclusion should primarily focus on reinforcing and synthesizing the existing content. Including new ideas can confuse or dilute the overall impact of your essay .
• Provide a Thought-Provoking Ending: Aim to conclude your essay with a thought-provoking statement or idea that resonates with your reader. This could be a reflection, a call to action, or a rhetorical question that encourages further exploration or consideration of the topic.

By skillfully structuring your conclusion with these elements, you can create a powerful and memorable ending for your essay. The summarized main points and restated thesis statement reinforce the core message, while the absence of new information ensures clarity and focus. Finally, ending with a thought-provoking statement leaves a lasting impression on your reader and prompts them to engage further with the subject matter.

Polishing Your Essay

When it comes to writing an essay , the process doesn’t end with completing the initial draft. It is crucial to invest time in polishing and refining your work to ensure its quality and effectiveness. One of the first steps in this process is to thoroughly proofread your essay, checking for any grammar or spelling errors. This careful review helps to ensure that your writing is clear, professional, and free from mistakes . Additionally, pay close attention to the coherence and flow of your essay by reading it aloud or seeking feedback from others. This step allows you to identify areas that may require further clarification or restructuring. Revise your sentence structure and word choice to enhance readability and engage your readers effectively. Simplify any complex or convoluted sentences to make your ideas more accessible. By devoting time to polish your essay , you can elevate its overall quality and leave a lasting impression on your audience.

Citing Sources and References

Maintaining academic integrity is of utmost importance when writing an essay. To demonstrate the credibility of your work and acknowledge the contributions of other authors, it is essential to include proper citations and references for any external sources used . Familiarize yourself with the required citation style for your essay, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago, and adhere to its guidelines meticulously. Throughout your essay, ensure that all in-text citations are accurately formatted and correspond to the entries in your bibliography or reference page. Consistency and accuracy are key in this process. Compile a comprehensive bibliography or reference list that encompasses all the sources cited in your essay. Double-check the accuracy of each entry, including authors’ names, publication dates, titles, and page numbers. By appropriately citing your sources and providing accurate references, you demonstrate your respect for intellectual property and contribute to the scholarly conversation. Following these guidelines for citing sources and references helps maintain the academic integrity of your essay and enhances its credibility.

Finalizing Your Essay

When it comes to finalizing your essay, there are several important steps to take to ensure that your work meets the necessary requirements and is ready for submission. It is crucial to pay attention to detail and make any necessary adjustments. Here’s a detailed breakdown of the finalization process:

• Formatting and Styling: Before submitting your essay, make sure to format it according to the given guidelines. Adjust the font style and size, margins, line spacing, and indentation as required. Consistency in formatting throughout your essay enhances its visual appeal and readability.
• Review Assignment Requirements: Double-check that you have met all the assignment requirements, including the word count and any specific instructions or prompts. Ensure that your essay aligns with the expectations set by your instructor or the assignment guidelines.
• Proofreading and Editing: Take the time to thoroughly proofread your essay for grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors. Correct any typos, awkward phrasing, or unclear sentences. Ensure that your writing is clear, concise, and coherent. Reading your essay aloud or asking someone else to review it can help you identify areas that need improvement .
• Citations and References: Verify that you have properly cited all the sources used in your essay. Follow the required citation style, such as APA, MLA, or Chicago, and ensure accuracy and consistency throughout your essay. Create a bibliography or reference page that lists all the sources cited in your essay.

Overall Coherence and Flow: Read your essay from start to finish to evaluate its overall coherence and logical flow. Ensure that each paragraph connects smoothly to the next and that your ideas progress in a logical and organized manner. Make necessary revisions to improve the clarity and cohesion of your essay.

Writing an informative essay is a process that requires careful planning, research, and organization. By following the step-by-step guide provided, you can confidently navigate the essay writing journey and produce high-quality work. It all starts with selecting a suitable topic that is interesting and relevant to your audience. Conduct thorough research and gather credible information to support your ideas.

Creating a solid outline helps you structure your essay and ensures that you cover all the necessary points. Focus on developing well-structured paragraphs that clearly present your ideas and provide supporting evidence. Throughout the writing process, be mindful of polishing your essay by proofreading it for errors and refining your writing style to enhance clarity and impact.

At GradeSmiths , we understand the challenges of writing an informative essay. That’s why we offer comprehensive essay services to provide guidance and support at every stage of the writing process. Our experienced writers can help you with essay formatting, proofreading, and refining your content to ensure a polished and impressive final product. Trust GradeSmiths to assist you in crafting compelling and informative essays that captivate readers and convey valuable information.

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Guide to Different Kinds of Essays

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An essay is a paper that discusses, describes or analyzes one topic. It can discuss a subject directly or indirectly, seriously or humorously. It can describe personal opinions, or just report information. An essay can be written from any perspective, but essays are most commonly written in the first person ( I ), or third person (subjects that can be substituted with the he, she, it, or they pronouns).

There are many different kinds of essays. The following are a some of the most common ones:

Descriptive Cause/Effect Argumentative Definition Narrative Critical Compare/Contrast Process

Descriptive:

Examples: A descriptive essay could describe . . .

The descriptive essay provides details about how something looks, feels, tastes, smells, makes one feel, or sounds. It can also describe what something is, or how something happened. These essays generally use a lot of sensory details. The essay could be a list-like description that provides point by point details. Or, it could function as a story, keeping the reader interested in the plot and theme of the event described.

Definition:

Examples: A definition essay may try and define . . .

A definition essay attempts to define a specific term. It could try to pin down the meaning of a specific word, or define an abstract concept. The analysis goes deeper than a simple dictionary definition; it should attempt to explain why the term is defined as such. It could define the term directly, giving no information other than the explanation of the term. Or, it could imply the definition of the term, telling a story that requires the reader to infer the meaning.

Compare/Contrast:

Examples:A compare/contrast essay may discuss . . .

The compare/contrast essay discusses the similarities and differences between two things, people, concepts, places, etc. The essay could be an unbiased discussion, or an attempt to convince the reader of the benefits of one thing, person, or concept. It could also be written simply to entertain the reader, or to arrive at an insight into human nature. The essay could discuss both similarities and differences, or it could just focus on one or the other. A comparison essay usually discusses the similarities between two things, while the contrast essay discusses the differences.

Cause/Effect:

Examples:A cause/effect essay may explain . . .

The cause/effect essay explains why or how some event happened, and what resulted from the event.

This essay is a study of the relationship between two or more events or experiences. The essay could discuss both causes and effects, or it could simply address one or the other. A cause essay usually discusses the reasons why something happened. An effect essay discusses what happens after a specific event or circumstance.

The example below shows a cause essay, one that would explain how and why an event happened.

If this cause essay were about a volcanic eruption, it might go something like this: “Pressure and heat built up beneath the earth’s surface; the effect of this was an enormous volcanic eruption.”

The next example shows an effect essay, one that would explain all the effects that happened after a specific event, like a volcanic eruption.

If this effect essay were about a volcanic eruption again, it might go something like this:

“The eruption caused many terrible things to happen; it destroyed homes, forests, and polluted the atmosphere.”

Examples:A narrative essay could tell of . . .

The narrative essay tells a story. It can also be called a “short story.” Generally, the narrative essay is conversational in style and tells of a personal experience. It is most commonly written in the first person (uses I ). This essay could tell of a single, life-shaping event, or simply a mundane daily experience.

Examples: A process essay may explain . . .

A process essay describes how something is done. It generally explains actions that should be performed in a series. It can explain in detail how to accomplish a specific task, or it can show how an individual came to a certain personal awareness. The essay could be in the form of step-by-step instructions, or in story form, with the instructions/explanations subtly given along the way.

Argumentative:

Examples: An argumentative essay may persuade a reader that . . .

An argumentative essay is one that attempts to persuade the reader to the writer’s point of view. The writer can either be serious or funny, but always tries to convince the reader of the validity of his or her opinion. The essay may argue openly, or it may attempt to subtly persuade the reader by using irony or sarcasm.

Examples: A critical essay may analyze . . .

A critical essay analyzes the strengths, weaknesses, and methods of someone else’s work. Generally, these essays begin with a brief overview of the main points of the text, movie, or piece of art, followed by an analysis of the work’s meaning. It should then discuss how well the author/creator accomplishes his/her goals and makes his/her points. A critical essay can be written about another essay, story, book, poem, movie, or work of art.

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How to Write an Informative Essay? (Step-by-Step)

Have you been asked to pen an informative essay? You will undoubtedly have a loose idea of what you are supposed to do — that is, to produce a coherent, well-organized, and deeply-researched and fact-checked text about a particular topic.

Although you are most certainly off to a good start if you keep those essentials in mind, you may not quite know what kinds of sections you should include, what aspects of the topic to cover, to what extent it is acceptable to bring personal opinions or experiences into your essay, or even how long the essay should be.

We’re here to help you gain the tools you need to start your informative essay with confidence and excitement — and to make it great.

Informative Essay Basics

The essay has, as a form of writing, existed for centuries — where it has typically been used in academic (specifically philosophical or scientific) circles to advance debates on a particular topic. In the modern world, essays have a place within all levels of education.

In elementary school, essays can be used as a vehicle to help students practice their budding writing skills, as well as to demonstrate that they have understood a particular topic as essays serve to produce a summary of the materials that were covered. At higher levels, in high school as well as at college, essays have a different purpose. They are a wonderful place to hone critical thinking skills and to begin disseminating entirely original ideas.

Even outside of education and academia, essays have a place in the media and even on corporate blogs. The word “essay” is derived from the French essayer , which means “to attempt” — and that does describe how many students feel while writing these papers, but it also shows the purpose of these texts. Essays center on a single topic, but many different types exist. The informative essay, also sometimes called the expository essay, is one of the most important of these.

What precisely are informative essays, you wonder, and what sets them apart from other types of essays? Informative essays:

• Are meant to convey objective and true information about a single topic — such as the history of ice cream cones in London, the reasons behind the fact that alligator lizards are endangered, the physical health benefits of yoga, or the cultural significance of George Orwell’s 1984 .
• This information is typically conveyed in a neutral tone; informative essays stick to the facts and are not narrative or argumentative in nature. These essays have more in common with encyclopedia entries than any other type of essay.
• Informative essays need to be well-researched — any information therein must be backed up with sources that support the information offered within the essay. This may not be true in elementary school, however; students are often expected to write about something they learned about in school recently, instead.
• Informative essays have the goal of educating readers about the topic in question, or at least to convince the grading educator that the author has thoroughly researched the topic and succeeded in writing a compelling essay.

All these factors set informative essays apart from other types of essays, which include:

• Argumentative essays, in which the author attempts to convince readers that the viewpoint they are arguing in favor of is correct. Unlike informative essays, argumentative essays make a particular claim, which is then debated.
• Narrative essays, in which the author shares an experience or story from someone else’s life. These essays can be used to help readers learn more about the author, they can be entertaining or emotional, and they are highly subjective in nature.
• Descriptive essays, which use vivid or precise words to describe the topic with the goal of immersing the reader.

All types of essays contain information — but other types of essays have primary goals besides simply sharing information. Informative essays are unique in that they are written in order to educate, and aim to be objective.

A Look at the Different Types of Informative Essays

While all informative essays are written in order to inform readers about a particular topic, this goal can be achieved by means of a variety of different formats and structures. Let’s take a look at the different strategies that can be employed in crafting an informative essay — which is particularly important for students who have been given a lot of free reign in deciding what they can write about, and how they can go about that.

Informative essays may be:

• Straight-up summaries of the information the student has gathered about the topic they are choosing to write on. This kind of essay is not typically offered a name, so we’ll call it the “today I learned” essay. These essays are often assigned in elementary school, but can also be employed at the high school level. In the first case, the topic may be as simple as “tigers” or “cotton”. In high school, topics become more complex, covering, for instance, the history of the local town hall that is now rumored to be haunted.
• Contrast and compare essays. A staple in high school, these informative essays cover two different things and examine the similarities and differences — such as, for instance, the views of Hobbes vs Locke.
• How-to essays. These essays describe how to achieve a particular goal, like caring for a wounded sparrow or setting up a Twitter account. These essays are also called process essays.
• Cause and effect essays explain how one phenomenon or event caused another; how and why did the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand lead to the first world war?
• Problem-solution essays are also often said to be informative essays. At first glance, they lay out a particular problem and explain how this problem could be solved. In practice, however, such essays often become argumentative in nature. Take, for instance, topics like “how affordable housing could create job opportunities”.

How to Write an Informative Essay: A Step-by-Step Guide

Are you ready to sink your teeth into the brainstorming process? Should you still be feeling lost, here’s a handy step-by-step that will help you get started. Read the entire guide before you begin researching, and definitely before you start writing, for the best results!

• Choose a Topic for Your Informative Essay

You may have been given a very narrow assignment, like “choose two enlightenment philosophers to compare and contrast”, or even “discuss the factors leading up to the formation of the United Nations”. You may also have a much looser topic, like “write any informative essay about any aspect of Victorian England of your choosing”.

If you have not been given a definitive topic, you will have the freedom to narrow your options down on your own. As you decide on a good topic for your informative essay, you have two basic choices:

• You can decide to explore an aspect of the subject matter that you are genuinely interested in and would love the opportunity to learn more about, through the process of researching and writing your informative essay.
• You can also choose to write on a topic that you are already fairly deeply familiar with, in order to build confidence that you can write a well-researched essay that is factually correct. This is often a solid choice for students who do not have much time to write their essays.
• Keep Your Audience in Mind

Not all informative essays are written by students — some may be created to be published on the internet, while others may even appear in newspapers. If you are a student, you already know who your audience is; the grading teacher or professor. You will want to keep their particular likes and dislikes into account as you write the essay, in terms of the format and structure you choose.

• Begin Researching for Your Essay

You can begin by brainstorming aspects of the topic you are already familiar with, and would like to include in your essay — make a mindmap, and jot down any source materials you already know you would like to include. Next, use the library or the internet to track down further sources you may wish to call on in your essay.

Collect all the information you have and find in a word-processing document (or on paper if you prefer), and make a note of any gaps you discover, so that you can continue your research. Highlight quotes you would like to include in your essay.

• Where Relevant, Decide on a Structure for Your Informative Essay

With some research under your belt, you will have a better idea about the structure you may like to follow. You may decide on a compare and contrast essay, for instance. In this case, you will know that you can choose from among a few different structural options, depending on the points you would like to emphasize:

• You may like to write an introduction, followed by a thesis statement, and then (continuing with the Hobbes vs Locke topic we mentioned earlier) highlight the unique views of each, followed by the reasons these philosophers are often said to hold wildly-opposing perspectives on human nature, and ultimately explaining how the two influential philosophers also share a lot of commonalities.
• You could also follow your introduction and thesis statement with commonalities before explaining why the two are ultimately very different — creating an informative essay with an entirely different view.

Similarly, in the case of a simple expository essay that only aims to offer more information about the chosen topic, you can explore different formatting options. To take “tigers”, for instance, you could lead with their physical features, evolutionary history, or different species of tigers. The structure you choose greatly impacts the tone of your final essay.

• Commit to an Outline and Begin Writing

Once you have played around with different options, settle on an outline by creating subheads for each section. You can now tackle each section as a “mini essay” of its own.

The introduction should generally be compelling, leading with an interesting fact. Follow this with a main idea, or thesis statement, and then continue to write the body of your essay by tackling each section — in order, or by beginning with the sections you already have sufficient information for. Finish the essay with a conclusion that either summarizes the information covered, or invites the reader to keep on learning more. The conclusion should leave the reader feeling like the essay is indeed finished; end on a strong note, but never introduce new information at this point.

If, as you write, you discover that you do not have all the answers, pause your writing process to keep researching. This will likely happen, and your essay will begin shaping itself as you write.

• Edit and Proofread Your Essay

These steps cannot be skipped, and form an integral part of the essay-writing process.

The editing stage should include:

• Reading your essay from start to finish, without pausing to correct typos or sentences you are not quite happy with, and assessing if you are satisfied with the structure of the essay. If you are not, make changes here before you do anything else.
• Assessing what is still missing, or what information you offer in your informative essay that does not truly belong there (and that should be removed).
• Read your essay to see whether you offer opinions — these should usually be removed from an informative essay.
• Next, assess whether the paragraphs are coherent and flow smoothly. Make changes where necessary, ensuring that all information presented in a single paragraph is related.
• If you are still happy, you can now take a closer look at the sentences within your essay, seeing where you can make them stronger or more compelling.
• Wherever you are not sure whether a statement you have made is correct, now is the time to fact-check it thoroughly.

The proofreading phase focuses on spelling and sentences. If you have been asked to follow a certain style guide, check that your essay complies with it — looking everything you are not sure about up.

Tips to Help You Write a Compelling Informative Essay

Are you still not quite sure whether you are on the right track? To make sure that you have the chance to write the best possible essay, try to make sure that you choose a topic you are genuinely passionate about, or would truly like to learn more about.

Unless you are already a subject-matter expert, doing research — that is, learning enough about the topic to write a compelling expository essay — will take up much more time than writing the essay. To ensure that you make the most of the research you do, organize it neatly so that you will easily be able to find everything you are planning to incorporate nicely.

If you have been asked to include footnotes and in-text citations, it will often help to place these into the correct format right away; this will save you time later.

The fact that you are writing an informative essay does not mean that the text has to be dry; you can still choose engaging and interesting words, and make use of literary techniques such as hooks to keep your readers focused. Unlike in an encyclopedia entry, those writing informative essays should also make use of creative transitions that will make the paragraphs flow more smoothly.

Where possible, avoid these common mistakes when you are writing your informative essay:

• Being too wordy — if you can make your point in a single sentence, there is no need to use three.
• Relying on tried and true tropes excessively — even if you are writing an informative essay for high school, set yourself the challenge of including information that your grading teacher has likely never been introduced to before. Informative essays aim to inform, and if you can achieve this goal, you’re a step ahead of the rest.
• Writing a boring essay. Information doesn’t have to be dry; you can still entertain in subtle ways.
• Being overly formal; always try to find your own authentic writing voice, even if you have been instructed to write an academic text.
• Waiting too long to start. If your essay is a long one, the deadline may seem to be far away. The sooner you get started on doing your research and writing your essay, the more likely it is to truly excel.
• If you have been given a word count, or a number of pages to write, do not strive to pad a modest amount of information out with additional words. Instead, add more information. It’s better to find yourself in a place where you feel the need to be more succinct, because you still have more to say, than one where you try your best to add verbal padding to meet the requirements.

In Conclusion

Writing an informative essay offers a wonderful opportunity to teach others what you know, or indeed to learn more about any given topic yourself. While it may be daunting at first, the essay will start building itself once you have the right information and have settled on an appropriate structure. If you have a little extra time, do make use of it by editing your essay to perfection; you’ll be pleased with the results.

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How to Write an Informative Essay: Definition, Structure, Steps & Examples

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An informative essay  is a piece of academic writing that provides clear and balanced information about a specific topic. Its main objective is to educate and inform the reader about a subject, rather than to persuade or argue a point of view.

In this article, we will talk about how to write an informative essay and structure it in an organized way. From introduction to conclusion, we will walk you through each step of informational essay format writing. Keep reading and you will find valuable tips from professional essay writing services and informative essay examples along the way. 

But before we dig deeper into details, let’s define what an informative essay is.

What Is an Informative Essay: Definition

An informative essay, as the name suggests, is a type of essay intended to enlighten the reader about a particular subject. The primary purpose of an informative essay is to present information in a clear, concise, and well-structured manner. In this type of writing, students shouldn’t express personal opinions or attempt to persuade their audience.

While informative essays and other academic writing styles may share some structural similarities (e.g., introduction, body, and conclusion), their goals and approaches are distinct. 

Unlike other popular forms of academic writing, such as argumentative or persuasive essays , informative essays focus solely on presenting factual information. They do not seek to persuade readers to adopt a particular viewpoint, nor do they provide an analysis, like analytical essays do. 

Many students also confuse it with an expository essay . However, unlike expository writing, informational essays do not explore a topic so extensively. Instead, they just offer relevant information. 

Informative essay writing deals largely with suggesting well-researched information to expand someone’s knowledge. Teachers assign it to test how well students can educate on a chosen matter without leaving personal biases or emotional appeals. In this sense, an informative essay is more of an educational than a persuasive tool.

Characteristics of Informative Essays

Informative essays have a few peculiar features that set them apart from other forms of writing. Here are the main ones:

• Objective approach to presenting facts
• Balanced coverage of information without redundant details
• Accurate, factual content
• Educational purpose of writing.

Now that you are familiar with the fundamentals, let’s look at how to structure an essay .

Informative Essay Structure 

To write informatively, you need to sort things out in a logical order. The structure of an informative essay is typical and comprises 5 paragraphs: an introduction, 3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion. Sometimes, you will need to compose more paragraphs if you feel that information you have provided is insufficient.

Let’s take a closer look at each part individually.

Informative Essay Introduction

An informative essay introduction paragraph is a perfect place to capture your reader's attention. It should include such components: 

• Background information
• Thesis statement.

Your opening will start with a compelling "hook" – a staggering statistic, an interesting anecdote, or a provocative question. This is followed by a brief transition to the topic, which provides some context. You may include essential facts, historical background, or why the theme is important. Remember to keep it concise and don’t overdo with details. 

Your introductory paragraph should end with a thesis statement. And we will talk about it right below. 

>> Read more: How to Write a Hook for an Essay

Informative Essay Thesis Statement 

Your thesis statement is arguably the most crucial sentence in your paper. It establishes your ruther direction by framing the main points you will cover. Thesis for an informative essay should be neutral and objective. Here, you should focus on presenting facts rather than asserting an opinion. A thesis statement is brief and usually takes no more than 1-2 sentences.

Informative Essay Body Part

The body part is where you delve into the details of your topic. Here are the things you should cover in each section:

• Topic sentence  
• Supporting details

Each paragraph begins with a topic sentence, which introduces the main point of that section. But this shouldn’t be a bold statement. Integrate supporting details, which may include facts, statistics, examples, or explanations that elaborate on the topic sentence. Use transition words for essay to build links between your sentences.

Every paragraph should stick to one main idea and shouldn't change the subject. Additionally, your body part should systematically address the key point mentioned in your thesis statement. For instance, if you are talking solely about the origin of art, you can’t suddenly change the direction and discuss its use in modern society.

>> Learn more: How to Write a Body Paragraph

Informative Essay Conclusion 

The conclusion of an informative essay serves to bring about the key points presented in your paper. This is the last paragraph and it should bring a sense of closure. Keep in mind this structure: 

• Rewritten thesis statement 
• Succinct summary
• Prediction or implication.

While an informative essay doesn't typically require a call-to-action, you might end with a thought-provoking question or a relevant implication for further consideration.

How to Write an Informative Essay Step-by-Step? 

At this point, you should be equipped with all necessary knowledge, and we finally can discuss how to write an informative essay. This guide will walk you through each phase of your essay writing process . 

In the steps below, you'll learn how to select a captivating topic, retrieve necessary information and weave those facts into your paper. From penning a powerful thesis statement to rounding it all off with a succinct conclusion, we will cover each essential stage. Without further ado, let’s see how to write an informational essay together!

1. Choose a Proper Topic 

Choosing a topic is a critical first step in writing an informative essay. 

Before you pick any title, ensure you understand your assignment and its requirements thoroughly. Only when all instructions are clear, start brainstorming all potential informative essay topics . Remember to include subjects that pique your interest, as writing about something you love can make the process enjoyable. 

Once you've got your list, it's time to narrow it down. Select topics that are relevant to your audience and have ample information available for research. Also, consider the scope – it shouldn't be too broad or too narrow. After all, you don’t want to end up writing about a subject that has limited information. 

After evaluating based on all criteria described above, select the idea that ticks all the boxes.

2. Conduct Research and Collect Information 

The integral part of academic essay writing is a thorough investigation. When you're ready to start gathering facts for your informative essay, the first thing to remember is to truly understand the concept. Look it up online and read a few general articles to get a handle on the subject.

When it comes to research sources, variety is your friend. Try to explore a mix of resources like books, academic articles, reliable websites, and documentaries. It is better to exclude sources that provide an opinion on the matter (for example, article review , book review or critical analysis ). Pay attention to the date of publishing and avoid outdated sources older than 5 years. 

While researching, be critical. Not all information you'll find, especially on the internet, is accurate or reliable. Check the author's credentials and the source's reputation. Always aim for information from authoritative and trustworthy sources.

3. Write Down Crucial Facts 

As you carry out your research, remember to take notes. There are 2 things you should keep in mind at this stage: 

• Important facts Write down key points, interesting facts, or quotes that you think will support your essay. Organize them based on the main points of your essay. This will make the writing process smoother.
• Source referencing details When it's time to reference sources in your informative essay, you'll need accurate information about where you found your data. It's much easier to do this as you go along, rather than trying to find it again later.

Now let’s figure out how to write a thesis statement for an informative essay.

4. Prepare a Thesis Statement 

Writing a thesis statement for an informative essay is like drawing a map for your reader. Usually, it’s a 1-2 sentences statement that highlights the major focus of your paper. This is your opportunity to tell your audience exactly what information you will be presenting. 

Avoid being vague or overly general. For instance, if your essay is about the impacts of climate change on agriculture, your thesis statement could be: 

Climate change has profound effects on agriculture, with potential consequences for food security globally.

As you can see, this statement is informative, but neutral. In this case, a college essay writer isn’t trying to take any particular stance on climate change. Instead, they are just saying that climate change affects agriculture. Let’s consider another example of a thesis statement for informative essay on the history of the Internet: 

The history of the Internet showcases a remarkable evolution, from its humble beginning as a military project to the widespread global network today.

5. Build an Outline 

By having a clear plan of action, you will be able to write an informative essay without taking unexpected turns. Much like a compass, an outline serves as a vital tool during the writing process helping students to stay on track. 

In most cases, instructions may not explicitly require the preparation of an outline. However, we still suggest that you create a basic plan listing the main ideas of each section. By having a layout, students can easily refer to it whenever they veer off topic. This ensures that your thoughts remain aligned with the central theme of your writing.

6. Write the First Draft 

Writing an informative essay is all about breaking down complex information into digestible chunks of information. There are 2 ways to go about creating an informative essay: 

• Start writing a polished version right after building a plan. 
• Compose a  rough draft  and revise it later.

You may think that skipping the draft will save you time, and opt for the first way. We highly recommend preparing a draft instead. This way, you'll see your thoughts on paper and be able to rearrange them if needed. Ultimately, it takes less time and allows you to craft a well-organized paper. 

Your draft shouldn’t be perfect. It's a starting point that you'll polish later. At this stage, just focus on transforming your ideas and research into a structured form. You can try essay typer free right now instead of doing the task yourself.

How to Write an Informative Essay Introduction?

Next, let’s explore how to start an informative essay in an engaging manner. Our professionals shared some valuable tips on composing a truly effective opening paragraph. 

Your task in the introduction for informative essay is to get your readers interested and present them with a preview of what's to come. 

To begin, create a hook. ​​This could be a striking fact or an intriguing question. Another nice option is adding a simile or metaphor. The purpose of the hook is to entice your readers right from the beginning. For instance, if you're writing about recycling, your hook could be something like this: 

Did you know that only 9% of the world's plastic waste has been recycled?

Your next move is to prepare your audience for the major point of your informative writing. This is where you need to contextualize your subject matter. You can briefly touch on its history, why it's relevant, or its implications. Using our recycling example, you might mention when the concept of recycling was introduced and its significance in environmental conservation. 

Finally,  finish your informative essay introduction paragraph with your thesis statement. Simply state what you will talk about in your piece. Using the recycling topic, your thesis might be: 

This essay will explore the different types of recycling processes, their effectiveness, and their impact on the environment.

Let’s see how to put all these guidelines into practice. 

Informative Essay Introduction Example

As the world becomes increasingly digitized, impacting many aspects of our lives. A key area where this change is apparent is education. In the past, classrooms were defined by physical boundaries and face-to-face interaction. Today, however, the landscape of education is increasingly blending with technology. In fact, it's estimated that about 95% of classrooms now have access to computers, a far cry from a few decades ago. In the context of this technological evolution, it's important to understand how the integration of technology is reshaping the way we teach and learn. In this essay, we will explore the various ways technology is changing the face of education, from the rise of online learning and digital literacy to the use of augmented reality in classrooms. We'll also discuss the challenges these changes present and how educators can navigate them to enhance education. 

>> Learn more: How to Start an Introduction for an Essay

How to Write an Informative Essay Body Paragraphs?

A body section is where you demonstrate all your research and provide your readers with the information you've promised in your thesis statement. Generally, you will need to come up with 3 distinct points and cover them in each body paragraph. You can extend your paper to more paragraphs if there is a lot to say about your subject. 

As a rule, the body paragraphs of an informative essay should include these parts: 

• The main aspect – your topic sentence
• Supporting details – your research and facts
• A closing line that wraps up your point or smoothly transitions to the next paragraph.

Always make sure your information is clear and your points are well organized. You want your reader to easily follow your line of thought. Use simple, straightforward language to explain complex ideas or concepts.

Informative Essay Body Paragraph Example  

One significant way technology has transformed education is through the advent of online learning platforms. These platforms have expanded the boundaries of education beyond the traditional classroom. Students from all over the world can now access courses offered by prestigious universities, right from the comfort of their homes. Websites like Coursera host thousands of courses across a wide range of subjects. This widespread availability of knowledge has democratized education to a great extent. No longer are learning opportunities restricted by geography or socio-economic status. Indeed, with a stable Internet connection and a willingness to learn, anyone can pursue a course in a field of their interest. This shift towards digital learning is one of the most profound changes brought about by the integration of technology in education.

How to Write a Conclusion for an Informative Essay?

We are approaching the finish line and it’s time to learn how to end an informative essay and make it memorable.

A useful approach is to round out your critical  points. But avoid simply repeating them. Aim to synthesize information, showing your reader how the pieces fit together to build a clear picture. 

Then, revisit your thesis statement. Has your essay successfully conveyed the information you intended? If so, rephrase your thesis statement in a way that shows its significance. 

Finally, close out your essay with a statement that leaves your reader with something to think about. It is a good idea to finish your informative essay with an implication, forecast or a final thought. 

Example of an Informative Essay Conclusion Paragraph  

It is clear that technology has impacted education, drastically transforming its landscape. From online learning platforms broadening access to education, to digital literacy becoming a vital skill in today's world, the intersection of technology and education is rich. This exploration of the topic has demonstrated how the classroom's physical boundaries have extended into the digital realm, opening up opportunities for learning beyond what was previously imaginable. The integration  of technology, as we've discussed, isn't without its challenges. However, the benefits it brings, like making education more accessible and fostering digital citizenship, are significant strides towards a future-ready society. The ongoing evolution of this relationship invites further study, promising many more enlightening revelations.

7. Revise and Edit 

When you're satisfied  with the organization and content of your essay, it's time to add the final touches. Essay revision is a crucial step in the writing process since it helps ensure that you've created an informative and accurate piece of work.

To make sure that your informational essay is error-free, read through the text several times and pay attention to spelling, grammar, and punctuation. Make sure you’ve applied the right style, and that citations are properly formatted. Also, check if your sources are credible and are correctly referenced in your paper.

Informative Essay Format 

It is time to say several words about the format of an informative essay. Most instructions will have this point among the rest, so do not overlook these requirements. When formatting your writing, you will deal with 2 essential aspects:

• Direct/indirect in-text citations inserted in the body text
• List of references, which appears at the end of the informative essay after the concluding paragraph.

The format of each citation varies depending on the paper style you are using. Most likely you will apply one of these popular formats:

• APA style format
• Chicago style .

Informative Essay Examples

One more thing that a student might lack after reading the article is a decent informative essay example. Fortunately, we have rendered some good sample informative essay examples that you may use as a template.

Informative Essay Writing Checklist 

As a writer, your role is much like that of a tour guide, leading your readers through the landscape of your chosen subject. Your ultimate goal is to ensure your audience finishes the tour more knowledgeable than when they started. Use this handy checklist and tips on how to write a good informative essay to compose your own piece.

Bottom Line on How to Write an Informative Essay

Now that you have a full grasp of how to write an informative essay, all that's left to do is sit down and start creating your own paper. Remember to be unbiased and carefully plan each section. Above all, strive to enlighten your readers with valuable insights, helping them sharpen their knowledge.

Our professional team of experienced writers is here to assist you with your essays, ensuring high-quality and timely submissions. Take the stress out of essay writing and get straight As effort-free. Order essays online now for personalized assistance!

FAQ About Informative Essays

1. what is the main purpose in writing an informative essay.

The main purpose of writing an informative essay is to educate and provide information. Writer's task is to present facts, details, and explanations about a subject without convincing the audience.

2. How to start an informative essay?

To start an informative essay, you can begin with an attention-grabbing introduction that creates context and engages the reader's interest. You can use a relevant anecdote or a shocking fact to make your opening section intriguing. Then, introduce your topic and provide a brief thesis statement communicating your main focus.

3. How many paragraphs are there in an informative essay?

The number of paragraphs in an informative essay can vary depending on the essay length and its complexity. However, a typical informative essay includes 5 paragraphs. You can always adjust the number of sections based on how much you want to tell.

Daniel Howard is an Essay Writing guru. He helps students create essays that will strike a chord with the readers.

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• checkbox I gathered sufficient information about my subject from reliable sources.
• checkbox I brainstormed and organized my thoughts in an outline.
• checkbox My informative essay is written following the structure I've set up.
• checkbox The introductory paragraph contains background information and ends with a thesis statement.
• checkbox I did fact-checking to offer accurate details.
• checkbox My essay educates the audience and doesn’t try to persuade or support any viewpoint.
• checkbox I cited all sources and formatted quotations properly.

Stick to the chosen format and use the corresponding manual for specific  guidelines.

EssayEmpire

How to write an informative essay.

How to write an informative essay? An informative essay is a form of writing that teaches the reader about a topic in an unbiased manner. Typically, this type of essay will include an introduction, a few body paragraphs, and a conclusion. The body of the essay generally will contain facts that are well-researched and come from reliable sources.

How to Write an Informative Essay:

Informative essay structure, informative essays subjects, informative essay topics, informative essay format, informative essay writing tips, informative essay ideas.

The basic structure of an informative essay is very simple. It needs to have a beginning, middle, and end.

• The beginning (introduction) needs to present the topic and grab the attention of the audience. It needs to include the focus sentence for the entire essay.
• The middle (body paragraphs) will be the main bulk of the essay and it will contain all the important facts that you are covering. This is where the audience will get their questions answered. Remember to answer these questions: who, what, where, when, why, and how.
• The end is a conclusion where you will summarize the essay. It should spur the reader or listener to learn more about the topic.

The introduction section in this type of essay typically is the first paragraph of the paper and offers a brief overview of the paper’s topic. It may also present a surprising fact, geared to hook the reader and encourage him to read the rest of the essay. The last sentence of the opening paragraph will usually contain the point of the informative essay, also called the thesis statement. Generally, it is the most important sentence in the entire essay, as it sets forth the direction for the rest of the paper.

The body paragraphs of an informative essay will typically contain the facts that support the thesis statement, presenting the reader with information about the topic in an organized manner. The facts may answer questions that the reader might have about the topic, for instance. This can be done through examples, step-by-step analysis, or by presenting expert opinions. Generally, each fact should refer back to and support the opening thesis statement. The writer must make sure not to express his thoughts or opinions, even in a subtle fashion, since all facts and discussion of the facts must be done in an unbiased manner.

At the end of the informative essay, the writer will have a concluding paragraph. This paragraph typically summarizes the facts that were discussed throughout the body of the essay. It can also restate the thesis sentence. The writer should make sure that he does not introduce any new points or facts in this paragraph — if there are additional facts that the writer feels are important for the essay, they should be included in the body paragraphs.

Informative essays, sometimes called expository essays, can be used for many purposes. They can compare viewpoints on a controversial subject as long as they don’t include the author’s opinions. They may analyze data, like in a cause and effect situation, or educate the audience on ways to do something, like solving a certain kind of problem.

For example:

• An informative essay might explain the pros and cons of the death penalty, using statistics on crime rate reduction as a pro and statistics on innocent men being found guilty as a con.
• An informative essay might analyze whether lack of education is a cause of homelessness by using statistics and information about the educational attainment of homeless men and women.
• An informative essay might educate the audience on how to open a bank account.

To help you get a better idea of the different types of informative essays, here are some possible titles for this type of essay:

• Understanding the Link between Cholesterol and Heart Disease
• How to Buy a House
• Understanding Your Credit Score
• Defining Poverty in the City of Chicago
• The Health Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet
• The Importance of Regular Daily Exercise
• The Causes of Global Warming
• Reducing Carbon Emissions with Alternative Fuels
• Cost Savings of Hybrid Vehicles
• Understanding Geothermal Heating and Cooling
• Why Cleaning Your Ducts is Important
• Qualifications of Contractors
• How to Get your Commercial Driver’s License

An informative essay is the best way to explain something that is complicated…in an uncomplicated way.

See more Informative Essay Topics .

After narrowing your topic somewhat and doing some brain-teaser lists, you can invent your own scratch outline for the material. But here are six common structuring and thinking devices people use to convey information:

The Process or “How-To”

The essentials or “what-is”, causes or “why”, effects or “what’s next”.

• Comparison or Contrast

Classification

If you start with one of these approaches early in your prewriting, focusing and structuring your informative writing will be easier. This is not to say you should always rely on these devices—the most creative topics often break new ground. Let’s look at each in some detail.

One way of focusing and organizing information is to present it as a process. Imagine yourself telling the reader how to do something: “How to Skydive,” “How to Win at Poker,” “How to Teach Children Manners.” Process can also be used to focus on issues simply for understanding: “How Refugees Become Terrorists,” “The Stages of Juvenile Delinquency,” or “How the West was Persuaded to Invade Iraq.” Your scratch outline will consist of chronological steps. Try several scratch outlines until you’re satisfied. If, for instance, you find yourself with three stages that have very little information and one bloated with examples and ideas, you probably need to divide that step and combine the smaller ones. If I were writing on skydiving, for instance, I don’t think the following outline would work well:

• Saying goodbye to family
• Arriving at the airport
• Preparing your equipment
• The flight up
• Cleaning up

The first, second, and last items don’t deserve full steps in the process. They can be brief transitions. Preparing equipment seems reasonable as a main heading, but the dive seems most important and ought to be divided into several stages itself: the (gulp!) leap, the free fall, opening the chute, and the landing. Organizing chronologically does not imply that you must give equal time to each element. Focus on the key moments. Slowing time down at a key moment can heighten the informative effect.

The Georgia Paramedics Against Drunk Driving, for instance, published a brochure that describes the process of an accident at 55 mph. This brochure describes the one second after a car smashes into a solid object. In the first tenth of the second, the bumper and grille collapse. In the second tenth, the hood crumples and hits the windshield. The car frame stops, but the rest of the car still travels at 55 mph. The driver braces his legs, but they snap at the knee. In the third tenth of the second, the steering wheel shatters. In the fourth, the front two feet of the car collapse while the rest still moves at 35 mph. The driver is still traveling 55. In the fifth tenth, the driver is impaled on the steering column and blood fills his lungs. In the sixth tenth, the impact can rip his feet out of tightly laced shoes, the brake pedal snaps off, and the driver’s head strikes the windshield. In the seventh tenth of the second, hinges pop and seats break free, hitting the driver—who is now dead.

This approach informs a reader of essential characteristics of your topic. For example: “The Essentials of a Good Photograph,” “Problems Children Have When Parents Divorce,” “What’s Really Bad About Rats,” or “What Is Unique About Adrienne Rich’s Poetry.” Your scratch outline consists of each key element you will explain. For instance, for children involved in divorces, you might have:

• Loss of a father/mother figure
• Dealing with parental sorrow and grief
• Feelings of guilt about causing the parents’ divorce
• Loss of home if property is sold and divided
• New “uncle-daddies”/“aunt-mommies” in the home
• Loss of friends if the family moves

Under each of these you can list the examples, facts, questions, or bug items from your brain teasers. If you find some items have little information, omit them. If one item draws most of your attention, you might focus more exclusively on it. For instance, one common thread I notice in my list of ideas is loss. I might decide at this point to focus on “Things Children Lose During Divorce.”

The topic on good photographs and the one on divorce would also be possible as process essays, describing the stages of taking a good photo or the stages children go through during a divorce. The organization of the paper changes, but it might be equally effective. On the other hand, the topic on rats might not work so well as process— unless you wanted to tell the story of one incident (“Our Apartment Building’s Battle with Rats” or “Chicago’s History of Rat Control”). The real point here is having a plan that does not mix approaches. That might confuse a reader—and you.

Organize your paper by informing the reader of the causes of a particular situation. Here are the same topics from cause perspectives:

• What motivates (causes) a person to skydive?
• What were some less obvious reasons that the United States and its allies invaded Iraq?
• What causes a rat infestation?
• Why do children feel guilty during a divorce?
• How are juvenile delinquents created?

List as many causes (reasons or motivations) for the situation. Each may become an outline heading and eventually a paragraph in the paper.

Instead of looking backward for the source of the situation, look forward to the effects or consequences of a situation. Explaining our topics from this perspective we have:

• Long-term effects of skydiving on your body
• How terrorism affects American foreign policy with other countries
• The psychological effects of rat bites
• When children of divorce marry
• The effects juvenile delinquents have on their peers

Reasonable causes and effects: Suggesting causes and effects for events may be controversial or lead to logical errors. The informative writer must try to avoid arguing and instead suggest all reasonable causes and effects without bias. For instance, the following would be reasonable causes of the computer revolution:

• To improve business efficiency and reduce human errors
• To reduce information storage space
• To speed up communications
• To save money by eliminating jobs

But how about these:

• To bend the minds of children away from religion
• To help government gain secret control of people’s finances

The last two demand a lot of arguing to prove they’re true and are more appropriate for persuasive papers than informative ones. “But,” someone might say, “Look how children are turning away from religion just as computers became widespread! It’s a fact!” No, it’s an opinion without the widespread acceptance the first four causes would have.

Comparison and Contrast

Let’s try our topic list for comparative structure:

• Skydiving is safer than hang gliding
• Afghanistan and Iraq: Two ways of handling the media
• Rats vs. cockroaches: If you had to choose
• Is it worse for a parent to die or to divorce?
• Teaching manners to kids in the United States and in Italy
• Gangs today and five years ago

Next you would list your points of comparison as headings and support each point with details.

Here are some of the topics structured by classification:

• Three types of terrorist strategies
• Four kinds of excuses to give professors
• Five skydiving styles
• Three common reaction patterns for children of divorce
• Types of female gang members

After deciding on your main points, fill in each category with details describing it. In your draft, each heading will become a paragraph.

Most college graduates are surprised by how much writing is required in their careers. Nurses, social workers, police officers, technicians, and businesspeople discover writing fills far more job time than they ever anticipated. One engineer recently estimated that she spends 50 percent of her office time writing, not calculating or sketching plans. And of the writing you will do as a college graduate, more will be informative than any other kind: technical and business reports, memos, brochures, summaries of meetings, letters, speeches, and perhaps research projects or articles for professional journals newsletters in your field. The person who can convey instructions, facts, summaries, and analyses concisely, clearly, and vividly will have an edge in becoming a valued employee or leader.

Audience and Tone

Informative writing strives for objectivity. This means a reader must be moved by your information, not by your opinions. Using facts to support personal opinions on controversial topics or to make new proposals is persuasive writing—discussed in the next chapter. In informative writing your tone should be unbiased; you should not think of yourself as converting your audience but rather as educating it. On the most basic level, you can simply report—as in a research report, a summary of an article your professor asked you to read, or a report of what happened at the student senate meeting. But in college most informative essays you’ll be asked to write must analyze a situation—use your reasoning and interpretive skills to explain. This kind of informative writing is traditionally called expository writing—you expose what might not be obvious. At some point, of course, it can cross a murky line into persuasive writing. This happens all the time in published writing, and it’s only wrong if you try to hide propaganda behind a façade of objectivity.

For example, your informative report may explain how an abortion is done or contrast the pro-life and pro-choice positions without any personal opinions. An analytical informative paper could go further. It might explain the effects abortions have on women or the reasons men tend to lead anti-abortion activities, but you would cross into persuasion if you try to tell the reader to oppose or support abortion laws. In other words, you should restrain your personal opinions in informative writing. If in describing the process of an abortion, you write, “the baby is then ripped in agony from his mother’s womb,” you have loaded the dice with opinion. Likewise, if you write “the reproductive wastage is cleaned from the uterine wall,” you load the dice the other way.

While personal anecdotes and personal knowledge can provide great detail in informative writing as elsewhere, be sure to keep the focus on the topic and not yourself. It may be tempting to describe the abortion process by telling the story of a friend who had one, but you will risk falling into storytelling and becoming too opinionated if you rely only on your friend’s story.

Another aspect of objectivity is your obligation to present all major legitimate viewpoints where there is difference of opinion. Which are legitimate? They must be either widely accepted or verifiable through science or direct observation. In the abortion debate, many people believe that a newly conceived fetus has a human soul, so, even though we cannot prove it scientifically, you ought to include that viewpoint somewhere in an informative paper contrasting positions on abortion. However, you do not have to include the supermarket tabloid claim that aborted fetuses are being implanted with computers and grown to be robotic servants of the FBI. The source is untrustworthy and the claim has not been verified by reputable observers. Scientists do disagree, however, about whether a fetus feels pain during an abortion. They debate how developed the nervous system is at various stages, so both theories should be presented.

But don’t think of informative writing as dull or boring, a mere reciting of facts. The writer’s job—always—is to keep the reader awake, no matter what the topic. Unless your audience requires stiff formality—as in a lab or business report, for instance—occasional humor, vivid anecdotes, and lively words are usually welcome.

Writers do adjust their tone in informative writing for the audience. The amount and kind of information you might use writing about an archaeological dig will vary greatly depending on whether you write a paper for your anthropology professor, a letter to your mother, or a section of a job application. The professor will want technical and interpretive information; your mother may find the events of the trip more important; a potential employer may be most interested in the skills you learned and how well you meshed with the rest of the team.

Suppose you are writing an informative paper entitled “The Gift of Life”— donating your organs to sick people when you die. How would your tone and information differ for the following audiences?

• A sociology professor
• Transplant surgeons
• The family of a dying person
• The general public

To illustrate, here are some details about the procedure. Which of the preceding audiences especially would or would not want to know the following?

• Organ donation allows part of the dying person to continue living.
• The donor is usually brain dead (a flat EEG line), but the heart still beats and a ventilator keeps the person breathing during the removal of transplant organs (organs deteriorate quickly without blood and oxygen).
• A neurologist is consulted to declare the person brain dead.
• The transplant doctor does not decide when to take the organs.
• The hospital does notify transplant doctors of likely cases so they can contact the receiving family and wait anxiously with equipment poised for permission to begin removing organs.
• The Uniform Anatomical Gift Act allows your spouse, child over 18, parent, or adult sibling to donate your body even if you have not signed a donor card.
• Doctors refer to these as “organ harvests.”
• It is a rapid operation without anesthetics. The body is simply sliced open— “peeled back” as one doctor said in a professional journal—to save time. The desired organs are quickly removed. Then the breathing machine is turned off and the person dies.
• The body cavity can be packed and stitched up for a funeral.

As you can see from the facts just listed, an informative writer must be sensitive to the intended audience.

Packing in Details

There’s no way to write well without details, and the informative essay should bristle with them. Stimulate your brain by asking reporters’ questions. You might start with this overall one: “What would I want to know about this topic if I could ask any expert?” Suppose your topic is the effects of a nuclear war.

Ask personal questions: What would happen to me if a nuclear bomb struck a half-mile away, a mile away, 5 miles, 50 miles? Ask for graphic details— what would happen to my skin, bones, hair, eyes, sexual function, and digestion? How would it affect me if I survived? How would I eat? Who would live with me? What would be the odds of finding friends or family? What aspects of society would remain? Suppose it was a terrorist’s nuclear “dirty bomb?”

Ask less personal questions: How would the living deal with all the dead and dying? Would society revert to a primitive cave culture as some people predict? Would the survivors be inspired to deeper comradery? Would there be just a few bombs or would the warring countries let loose dozens? Would the atmosphere be poisoned for all life on earth as in Nevil Shute’s On the Beach? How likely is the nuclear winter that Carl Sagan and other experts predicted—should the sun be blocked by billions of tons of dust thrown into the atmosphere? How would we respond if it was terrorism and not war? Can you add three or four questions to this list? Try it now for practice.

It’s easier to ask questions, of course, than to answer them, but in asking sometimes answers emerge. In asking you also mark which territory you will be able to handle best when you focus the topic more. So the first step is to ask the honest questions—the ones you really care about. Tough questions require tough, gutsy details. They’ll help point you toward a good paper.

Surprise Value

Good informative reports or essays should surprise the reader with new information. If you only tell us what we already know, you are not informing us of anything. For instance, most people know that nuclear bombs generate great heat and do awful things to human flesh. But when you read John Hersey’s book Hiroshima, you learn that some people caught within a quarter mile of the blast of the bomb dropped on August 6, 1945, were vaporized so suddenly that they didn’t even have time to scream or turn away. How do we know? Because they stood between concrete walls and the blast, and exact, perfect outlines of their bodies are preserved on the concrete—a painter raising his brush, a mother straightening the blanket on her baby. Their bodies shielded the wall from the intense heat just enough to imprint their silhouette.

That is information. Give your reader the same kind of essential, inside information. “General” information and “official” information usually tell readers only what they already know, unless you pick exotic topics—such as spelunking (cave exploring), cooking Indonesian food, or teaching sign language to the deaf.

Do you have to do original research to write informative essays? In a sense, yes. However, you don’t have to travel to Japan or work ten years in a lab. Your eyes, ears, fingers, and brain are researching the world every day. If you can imagine a world without electricity, family, schools, police, hospitals, or law enforcement, you may be able to create a plausible essay on the world after nuclear war. If you can use your human experience to imagine what it might be like to see a dying relative put on a respirator and can honestly picture a doctor asking you to sign over the person’s organs, you can write about some of the issues in the “gift of life” topic.

• List five topics on which you think you can write a nonresearched, informative essay. Highlight the ones you think will offer the most surprise value for a general audience.
• Write a brain-teaser list of questions (with answers) and one other brainteaser list for two of the best topics from number 1.
• Narrow the best topic further and write three scratch outlines (just main headings). Use three different organizing patterns.
• Using the same topic, decide which organization plan conveys your message best and fill it in with details from your brain-teaser lists.
• Write the paper and revise it.
• Audience and Tone: Suppose you were writing an informative letter entitled “My First Semester at College.” How would your tone and information included differ depending on to whom you were writing?
• The college president
• Your boss (who reimburses your tuition)
• Your best friend (who is not attending college)
• Make a list of information for each letter.
• Rewrite these weak topics into sharper, more interesting ones still related to the originals; give two alternatives for each:
• How to bowl
• Today’s music
• How to balance a checkbook
• Police brutality
• Smoking is bad for your health
• Ask five tough questions about each of the following topics, questions that will lead to surprise value information:
• Teenage marriages
• The future of gasoline consumption in the United States
• Community colleges vs. four-year colleges
• Television satellite dishes or cable television
• Write a process or how-to essay, packing as much information as you can into one or two pages. Concentrate on vivid details and smooth organization.
• How to drink with style
• How to meet men or women at college
• How to deal with a sexist (or a racist or homophobic) boss
• How to give an “A” oral report
• Explain how a process works that you know well, but which most people don’t understand—a CD burner, sink trap, spark plug, antibody, therapy for autistic children. No more than 250 words.
• Class Exercise in Process Writing: Create a diagram or doodle of your own of about the same complexity as this one: Write a process description of it so someone else can draw it without seeing the doodle. Proportion is important, but actual size is not. You will have ten minutes. Members of the class will try to draw it only from the read-aloud instructions—no changes allowed from your written text.
• Write an Essentials essay on one of the following, packing as much information as possible into one or two pages:
• A good love letter
• A top action film
• The most common clichés of television situation comedies
• Handling being an older adult student in college
• Create a brochure for an organization or cause you believe in. Explain its essential features in no more than 250 words.
• Inform a person you’re attracted to of your essential personality features. This should not be a sell, but an honest appraisal. Offer at least three key aspects about yourself that a future spouse should be aware of. Pack in vivid, supporting detail.
• Write an informative essay on the essentials of a career you’re considering. Interview a person in the field, asking real questions you have. Here are some all-purpose starter questions:
• What do you like best about your job?
• What one piece of advice would you give to someone wanting to enter this career?
• What qualities are most important to be a successful ______________?
• What are you most proud of in your career?
• What part of your job would you gladly give to someone?
• What most frustrates or disappoints you about it?
• Write a cause essay on one of these topics. Your job is to consider less obvious reasons as well as ones most people are aware of:
• Why people get body piercings
• Why SUVs are so popular
• Why the drug Ecstasy is popular among younger teens
• Why divorce is more socially acceptable today
• Why Physical Education is required in college
• Imagine altering one “law of nature” (such as eliminating winter or not having to kill to eat). Start by explaining why you might change it (the causes) and then forecast possible effects. Look for both positive and negative effects.
• Write a one- to two-page informative essay comparing or contrasting two of your current textbooks. Evaluate them based on the standards established in this chapter for conveying information: adaptation to audience, surprise value, and covering the tough questions readers have. Quote examples to support your views.
• Write a classification essay on one of the following, packing as much information as possible in one or two pages:
• Male attitudes toward women
• Female attitudes toward men
• Levels of racism
• Student clothing styles
• Types of video game players
• The class will be divided into six groups. Each will apply a different one of the six informative organizing patterns to the same topic. Each group should write a focus sentence, an outline, and some details for each heading.

Also, check our Informative Essay Examples .

• http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-an-informative-essay.htm
• http://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-informative-essays.html

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