famous informative essays

40 Best Essays of All Time (Including Links & Writing Tips)

I had little money (buying forty collections of essays was out of the question) so I’ve found them online instead. I’ve hacked through piles of them, and finally, I’ve found the great ones. Now I want to share the whole list with you (with the addition of my notes about writing). Each item on the list has a direct link to the essay, so please click away and indulge yourself. Also, next to each essay, there’s an image of the book that contains the original work.

About this essay list:

40 best essays of all time (with links and writing tips), 1. david sedaris – laugh, kookaburra.

A great family drama takes place against the backdrop of the Australian wilderness. And the Kookaburra laughs… This is one of the top essays of the lot. It’s a great mixture of family reminiscences, travel writing, and advice on what’s most important in life. You’ll also learn an awful lot about the curious culture of the Aussies.

Writing tips from the essay:

2. charles d’ambrosio – documents.

Do you think your life punches you in the face all too often? After reading this essay, you will change your mind. Reading about loss and hardships often makes us sad at first, but then enables us to feel grateful for our lives . D’Ambrosio shares his documents (poems, letters) that had a major impact on his life, and brilliantly shows how not to let go of the past.

3. E. B. White – Once more to the lake

What does it mean to be a father? Can you see your younger self, reflected in your child? This beautiful essay tells the story of the author, his son, and their traditional stay at a placid lake hidden within the forests of Maine. This place of nature is filled with sunshine and childhood memories. It also provides for one of the greatest meditations on nature and the passing of time.

4. Zadie Smith – Fail Better

Aspiring writers feel tremendous pressure to perform. The daily quota of words often turns out to be nothing more than gibberish. What then? Also, should the writer please the reader or should she be fully independent? What does it mean to be a writer, anyway? This essay is an attempt to answer these questions, but its contents are not only meant for scribblers. Within it, you’ll find some great notes about literary criticism, how we treat art , and the responsibility of the reader.

5. Virginia Woolf – Death of the Moth

6. meghan daum – my misspent youth, 7. roger ebert – go gentle into that good night, 8. george orwell – shooting an elephant, 9. george orwell – a hanging, 10. christopher hitchens – assassins of the mind, 11. christopher hitchens – the new commandments, 12. phillip lopate – against joie de vivre, 13. philip larkin – the pleasure principle, 14. sigmund freud – thoughts for the times on war and death, 15. zadie smith – some notes on attunement.

“You are privy to a great becoming, but you recognize nothing” – Francis Dolarhyde. This one is about the elusiveness of change occurring within you. For Zadie, it was hard to attune to the vibes of Joni Mitchell – especially her Blue album. But eventually, she grew up to appreciate her genius, and all the other things changed as well. This top essay is all about the relationship between humans, and art. We shouldn’t like art because we’re supposed to. We should like it because it has an instantaneous, emotional effect on us. Although, according to Stansfield (Gary Oldman) in Léon, liking Beethoven is rather mandatory.

16. Annie Dillard – Total Eclipse

17. édouard levé – when i look at a strawberry, i think of a tongue, 18. gloria e. anzaldúa – how to tame a wild tongue, 19. kurt vonnegut – dispatch from a man without a country, 20. mary ruefle – on fear.

Most psychologists and gurus agree that fear is the greatest enemy of success or any creative activity. It’s programmed into our minds to keep us away from imaginary harm. Mary Ruefle takes on this basic human emotion with flair. She explores fear from so many angles (especially in the world of poetry-writing) that at the end of this personal essay, you will look at it, dissect it, untangle it, and hopefully be able to say “f**k you” the next time your brain is trying to stop you.

21. Susan Sontag – Against Interpretation

22. nora ephron – a few words about breasts, 23. carl sagan – does truth matter – science, pseudoscience, and civilization, 24. paul graham – how to do what you love, 25. john jeremiah sullivan – mister lytle, 26. joan didion – on self respect, 27. susan sontag – notes on camp, 28. ralph waldo emerson – self-reliance, 29. david foster wallace – consider the lobster, 30. david foster wallace – the nature of the fun.

The famous novelist and author of the most powerful commencement speech ever done is going to tell you about the joys and sorrows of writing a work of fiction. It’s like taking care of a mutant child that constantly oozes smelly liquids. But you love that child and you want others to love it too. It’s a very humorous account of what it means to be an author. If you ever plan to write a novel, you should read that one. And the story about the Chinese farmer is just priceless.

31. Margaret Atwood – Attitude

32. jo ann beard – the fourth state of matter, 33. terence mckenna – tryptamine hallucinogens and consciousness, 34. eudora welty – the little store, 35. john mcphee – the search for marvin gardens.

The Search for Marvin Gardens contains many layers of meaning. It’s a story about a Monopoly championship, but also, it’s the author’s search for the lost streets visible on the board of the famous board game. It also presents a historical perspective on the rise and fall of civilizations, and on Atlantic City, which once was a lively place, and then, slowly declined, the streets filled with dirt and broken windows.

36. Maxine Hong Kingston – No Name Woman

37. joan didion – on keeping a notebook, 38. joan didion – goodbye to all that, 39. george orwell – reflections on gandhi, 40. george orwell – politics and the english language, other essays you may find interesting, oliver sacks – on libraries, noam chomsky – the responsibility of intellectuals, sam harris – the riddle of the gun.

Sam Harris, now a famous philosopher and neuroscientist, takes on the problem of gun control in the United States. His thoughts are clear of prejudice. After reading this, you’ll appreciate the value of logical discourse overheated, irrational debate that more often than not has real implications on policy.

Tim Ferriss – Some Practical Thoughts on Suicide

Edward said – reflections on exile, richard feynman – it’s as simple as one, two, three…, rabindranath tagore – the religion of the forest, richard dawkins – letter to his 10-year-old daughter.

Every father should be able to articulate his philosophy of life to his children. With this letter that’s similar to what you find in the Paris Review essays , the famed atheist and defender of reason, Richard Dawkins, does exactly that. It’s beautifully written and stresses the importance of looking at evidence when we’re trying to make sense of the world.

Albert Camus – The Minotaur (or, The Stop In Oran)

Koty neelis – 21 incredible life lessons from anthony bourdain, lucius annaeus seneca – on the shortness of life, bertrand russell – in praise of idleness, james baldwin – stranger in the village.

It’s an essay on the author’s experiences as an African-American in a Swiss village, exploring race, identity, and alienation while highlighting the complexities of racial dynamics and the quest for belonging.

Bonus – More writing tips from two great books

The sense of style – by steven pinker, on writing well – by william zinsser, now immerse yourself in the world of essays, rafal reyzer.

Hey there, welcome to my blog! I'm a full-time entrepreneur building two companies, a digital marketer, and a content creator with 10+ years of experience. I started RafalReyzer.com to provide you with great tools and strategies you can use to become a proficient digital marketer and achieve freedom through online creativity. My site is a one-stop shop for digital marketers, and content enthusiasts who want to be independent, earn more money, and create beautiful things. Explore my journey here , and don't miss out on my AI Marketing Mastery online course.

25 Great Nonfiction Essays You Can Read Online for Free

Alison Doherty

Alison Doherty is a writing teacher and part time assistant professor living in Brooklyn, New York. She has an MFA from The New School in writing for children and teenagers. She loves writing about books on the Internet, listening to audiobooks on the subway, and reading anything with a twisty plot or a happily ever after.

View All posts by Alison Doherty

I love reading books of nonfiction essays and memoirs , but sometimes have a hard time committing to a whole book. This is especially true if I don’t know the author. But reading nonfiction essays online is a quick way to learn which authors you like. Also, reading nonfiction essays can help you learn more about different topics and experiences.

Besides essays on Book Riot,  I love looking for essays on The New Yorker , The Atlantic , The Rumpus , and Electric Literature . But there are great nonfiction essays available for free all over the Internet. From contemporary to classic writers and personal essays to researched ones—here are 25 of my favorite nonfiction essays you can read today.

“Beware of Feminist Lite” by  Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

The author of We Should All Be Feminists  writes a short essay explaining the danger of believing men and woman are equal only under certain conditions.

“It’s Silly to Be Frightened of Being Dead” by Diana Athill

A 96-year-old woman discusses her shifting attitude towards death from her childhood in the 1920s when death was a taboo subject, to World War 2 until the present day.

“Letter from a Region in my Mind” by James Baldwin

There are many moving and important essays by James Baldwin . This one uses the lens of religion to explore the Black American experience and sexuality. Baldwin describes his move from being a teenage preacher to not believing in god. Then he recounts his meeting with the prominent Nation of Islam member Elijah Muhammad.

“Relations” by Eula Biss

Biss uses the story of a white woman giving birth to a Black baby that was mistakenly implanted during a fertility treatment to explore racial identities and segregation in society as a whole and in her own interracial family.

“Friday Night Lights” by Buzz Bissinger

A comprehensive deep dive into the world of high school football in a small West Texas town.

“The Case for Reparations” by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Coates examines the lingering and continuing affects of slavery on  American society and makes a compelling case for the descendants of slaves being offered reparations from the government.

“Why I Write” by Joan Didion

This is one of the most iconic nonfiction essays about writing. Didion describes the reasons she became a writer, her process, and her journey to doing what she loves professionally.

“Go Gentle Into That Good Night” by Roger Ebert

With knowledge of his own death, the famous film critic ponders questions of mortality while also giving readers a pep talk for how to embrace life fully.

“My Mother’s Tongue” by Zavi Kang Engles

In this personal essay, Engles celebrates the close relationship she had with her mother and laments losing her Korean fluency.

“My Life as an Heiress” by Nora Ephron

As she’s writing an important script, Ephron imagines her life as a newly wealthy woman when she finds out an uncle left her an inheritance. But she doesn’t know exactly what that inheritance is.

“My FatheR Spent 30 Years in Prison. Now He’s Out.” by Ashley C. Ford

Ford describes the experience of getting to know her father after he’s been in prison for almost all of her life. Bridging the distance in their knowledge of technology becomes a significant—and at times humorous—step in rebuilding their relationship.

“Bad Feminist” by Roxane Gay

There’s a reason Gay named her bestselling essay collection after this story. It’s a witty, sharp, and relatable look at what it means to call yourself a feminist.

“The Empathy Exams” by Leslie Jamison

Jamison discusses her job as a medical actor helping to train medical students to improve their empathy and uses this frame to tell the story of one winter in college when she had an abortion and heart surgery.

“What I Learned from a Fitting Room Disaster About Clothes and Life” by Scaachi Koul

One woman describes her history with difficult fitting room experiences culminating in one catastrophe that will change the way she hopes to identify herself through clothes.

“Breasts: the Odd Couple” by Una LaMarche

LaMarche examines her changing feelings about her own differently sized breasts.

“How I Broke, and Botched, the Brandon Teena Story” by Donna Minkowitz

A journalist looks back at her own biased reporting on a news story about the sexual assault and murder of a trans man in 1993. Minkowitz examines how ideas of gender and sexuality have changed since she reported the story, along with how her own lesbian identity influenced her opinions about the crime.

“Politics and the English Language” by George Orwell

In this famous essay, Orwell bemoans how politics have corrupted the English language by making it more vague, confusing, and boring.

“Letting Go” by David Sedaris

The famously funny personal essay author , writes about a distinctly unfunny topic of tobacco addiction and his own journey as a smoker. It is (predictably) hilarious.

“Joy” by Zadie Smith

Smith explores the difference between pleasure and joy by closely examining moments of both, including eating a delicious egg sandwich, taking drugs at a concert, and falling in love.

“Mother Tongue” by Amy Tan

Tan tells the story of how her mother’s way of speaking English as an immigrant from China changed the way people viewed her intelligence.

“Consider the Lobster” by David Foster Wallace

The prolific nonfiction essay and fiction writer  travels to the Maine Lobster Festival to write a piece for Gourmet Magazine. With his signature footnotes, Wallace turns this experience into a deep exploration on what constitutes consciousness.

“I Am Not Pocahontas” by Elissa Washuta

Washuta looks at her own contemporary Native American identity through the lens of stereotypical depictions from 1990s films.

“Once More to the Lake” by E.B. White

E.B. White didn’t just write books like Charlotte’s Web and The Elements of Style . He also was a brilliant essayist. This nature essay explores the theme of fatherhood against the backdrop of a lake within the forests of Maine.

“Pell-Mell” by Tom Wolfe

The inventor of “new journalism” writes about the creation of an American idea by telling the story of Thomas Jefferson snubbing a European Ambassador.

“The Death of the Moth” by Virginia Woolf

In this nonfiction essay, Wolf describes a moth dying on her window pane. She uses the story as a way to ruminate on the lager theme of the meaning of life and death.

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Make Lists, Not War

The meta-lists website, best essays of all time – ranked.

A reader suggested I create a meta-list of the best essays of all time, so I did.  I found over 12 best essays lists and several essay anthologies and combined the essays into one meta-list.  The meta-list below includes every essay that was on at least two of the original source lists. They are organized by rank, that is, with the essays on the most lists at the top. To see the same list organized chronologically, go HERE .

Note 1:  Some of the essays are actually chapters from books.  In such cases, I have identified the source book.

Note 2: Some of the essays are book-length, such as Virginia Woolf’s A Room of One’s Own .  One book listed as an essay by two listers – Fernando Pessoa’s The Book of Disquiet – is also regularly categorized as a work of fiction.

On 11 lists James Baldwin – Notes of a Native Son (1955)

On 6 lists George Orwell – Shooting an Elephant (1936) E.B. White – Once More to the Lake (1941) Joan Didion – Goodbye To All That (1968)

On 5 lists Joan Didion – On Keeping A Notebook (1968) Annie Dillard – Total Eclipse (1982) Jo Ann Beard – The Fourth State of Matter (1996) David Foster Wallace – A Supposedly Fun Thing I Will Never Do Again (1996)

On 4 lists William Hazlitt – On the Pleasure of Hating (1823) Ralph Waldo Emerson – Self-Reliance (1841) Virginia Woolf – A Room of One’s Own (1928) Virginia Woolf – The Death of a Moth (1942) George Orwell – Such, Such Were the Joys (1952) Joan Didion – In Bed (1968) Amy Tan – Mother Tongue (1991) David Foster Wallace – Consider The Lobster (2005)

On 3 lists Jonathan Swift – A Modest Proposal  (1729) Virginia Woolf – Street Haunting: A London Adventure (1930) John McPhee – The Search for Marvin Gardens (1972) Joan Didion – The White Album (1968-1978) Eudora Welty – The Little Store (1978) Phillip Lopate – Against Joie de Vivre (1989)

On 2 lists Sei Shonagon – Hateful Things (from The Pillow Book ) (1002) Yoshida Kenko – Essays in Idleness (1332) Michel de Montaigne – On Some Verses of Virgil (1580) Robert Burton – Anatomy of Melancholy (1621) John Milton – Areopagitica  (1644) William Hazlitt – On Going a Journey (1822) Charles Lamb – The Superannuated Man (1823) Henry David Thoreau – Civil Disobedience (1849) Henry David Thoreau – Where I Lived, and What I Lived For (from  Walden ) (1854) Henry David Thoreau – Economy (from  Walden ) (1854) Henry David Thoreau – Walking (1861) Robert Louis Stevenson – The Lantern-Bearers (1888) Zora Neale Hurston – How It Feels to Be Colored Me (1928) George Orwell – A Hanging (1931) Junichiro Tanizaki – In Praise of Shadows (1933) Fernando Pessoa – The Book of Disquiet (1935) James Agee and Walker Evans – Let Us Now Praise Famous Men (1941) Simone Weil – On Human Personality (1943) M.F.K. Fisher – The Flaw (1943) Vladimir Nabokov – Speak, Memory (1951, revised 1966) Mary McCarthy – Artists in Uniform: A Story (1953) E.B. White – Goodbye to Forty-Eighth Street (1957) Martin Luther King, Jr. – Letter from Birmingham Jail (1963) Joseph Mitchell – Joe Gould’s Secret (1964) Susan Sontag – Against Interpretation (1966) Edward Hoagland – The Courage of Turtles (1970) Annie Dillard – Seeing (from  Pilgrim at Tinker Creek ) (1974) Maxine Hong Kingston – No Name Woman (from The Woman Warrior ) (1976) Roland Barthes – Camera Lucida: Reflections on Photography (1982) Annie Dillard – Living Like Weasels (1982) Gloria E. Anzaldúa – How to Tame a Wild Tongue (1987) Italo Calvino – Exactitude (1988) Richard Rodriguez – Late Victorians (1990) David Wojnarowicz – Being Queer in America: A Journal of Disintegration (1991) Seymour Krim – To My Brothers & Sisters in the Failure Business (1991) Anne Carson – The Anthropology of Water (1995) Susan Sontag – Regarding the Pain of Others (2003) Etel Adnan – In the Heart of the Heart of Another Country (2005) Paul LaFarge – Destroy All Monsters (2006) Brian Doyle – Joyas Voladoras (2012)

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Informative Essay Topics to Suit Every Preference

Hey there! Let's chat about informative essays - they're pretty cool when you think about it.

You know how sometimes you just want to learn about something without someone trying to convince you one way or another? That's where informative essays come in. They're like your friendly neighborhood knowledge-spreader, covering everything from the wild ride of internet history to why meditation might be your new best friend.

Discover the essence of informative writing as our paper writing experts delve into what is an informative essay and unravel the art of selecting a compelling topic.

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A List of Good Informative Essay Topics

The key to a compelling, informative essay lies in selecting the right topic, a choice that significantly influences the quality and engagement of your piece. With numerous options available, the challenge often lies in where to begin. In the following paragraphs, we'll delve into various informational topics to write about, spanning current events, social issues, science, and technology, offering a diverse array of subjects for students. These topics not only provide ample opportunities for research but also cater to different purposes—whether your goal is to educate, persuade, or simply inform. So, let's explore some great informative essay examples , sparking inspiration and setting you on a path for a successful academic writing journey!

Easy Informative Essay Topics

These easy informative essay topics are great starting points for those who want to write a straightforward and informative essay without getting too complicated.

• The impact of artificial intelligence on daily life
• How renewable energy sources work
• The life cycle of plastic in our oceans
• What causes climate change?
• Types of electric vehicles and their environmental impact
• Why do coral reefs bleach?
• How do lab-grown meats work?
• The importance of digital privacy
• Why is sleep crucial for mental health?
• What causes wildfires and how to prevent them
• The journey of an e-waste item
• How do mRNA vaccines work?
• Why do some animals face extinction?
• The role of social media in modern society
• The process of vertical farming
• What causes ocean acidification?
• How do wearable health devices work?
• Why do some stars become black holes?
• The importance of mental health awareness
• How do electric car batteries work?

Informative Essay Topics for Middle School Students

The following informative paper topics are tailored specifically for middle school students and cover a wide range of subjects that are both interesting and relevant to their age group.

• How smartphones work: Inside the device
• Amazing animal adaptations to climate change
• Exploring Mars: Recent discoveries and future missions
• The life cycle of plastic: From production to recycling
• All about renewable energy: Solar, wind, and beyond
• Discovering new species: Recent finds in biodiversity
• The water cycle in a changing climate
• Volcanoes and earthquakes: Earth's dynamic processes
• Understanding the human immune system
• Unraveling the mystery of gene editing
• The power of artificial intelligence in everyday life
• The wonders of coral reefs: Ecosystems at risk
• Incredible inventions: From 3D printing to nanotechnology
• The importance of pollinator conservation
• Exploring ancient civilizations through modern technology
• Ocean pollution: Causes, effects, and solutions
• Climate phenomena: El Niño, La Niña, and global impacts
• The magic of modern materials science
• Famous scientists: Pioneers in STEM fields
• The importance of digital literacy in the modern world

Informative Essay Topics for High School Students

Here are some great essay topics for high school students. Our college essay writing service recommends conducting thorough research, providing evidence to support your claims, and presenting your findings in a clear and organized manner.

• The evolution of social media and its impact on society
• Blockchain technology: Beyond cryptocurrency
• CRISPR gene editing: Potential and ethical concerns
• The science of renewable energy storage
• Mental health in the digital age: Challenges and solutions
• The future of transportation: Autonomous vehicles and beyond
• From farm to table: Sustainable food systems
• Cybersecurity in the age of IoT (Internet of Things)5G technology: Benefits and potential risks
• Neuroplasticity: How our brains adapt and learn
• The impact of microplastics on marine ecosystems
• The evolution of virtual reality: Applications beyond gaming
• Biomimicry: Nature-inspired technological innovations
• The science of climate change: Causes and potential solutions
• Understanding artificial intelligence and machine learning
• The gig economy: Reshaping work in the 21st century
• Space exploration: Recent achievements and future missions
• The science of sleep: Its importance for health and performance
• Quantum computing: Potential applications and challenges
• Biodiversity loss: Causes, consequences, and conservation efforts

Informative Essay Topics for College Students

Here are some informative essay topics for college students that span a wide range of subjects that will help you in your academic and professional endeavors.

• Cryptocurrency and the future of global finance
• The psychology of misinformation in the digital age
• Sustainable urban planning for growing populations
• The ethics of AI in healthcare decision-making
• Global food security in the face of climate change
• The impact of social media on political discourse
• Renewable energy integration into existing power grids
• The role of gut microbiome in mental health
• Space law: Regulating the final frontier
• The future of work: Remote, hybrid, and AI-assisted models
• Genetic privacy in the era of direct-to-consumer DNA testing
• Sustainable fashion: Addressing the environmental impact of clothing
• The psychology of conspiracy theories in the internet age
• Neurotechnology: Advancements in brain-computer interfaces
• The impact of streaming services on the film industry
• Ocean acidification: Causes, effects, and potential solutions
• The ethics of gene editing in human embryos
• The role of social entrepreneurship in addressing global issues
• Cybersecurity in critical infrastructure: Challenges and solutions
• The impact of automation on the job market and economy

Controversial Informative Essay Topics

• The debate over universal basic income
• Ethical considerations of human genetic enhancement
• The impact of social media on democratic processes
• The pros and cons of nuclear energy in combating climate change
• The ethics of AI in criminal justice systems
• The debate over data privacy vs. national security
• The controversy surrounding lab-grown meat
• The impact of cancel culture on free speech
• The ethics of mandatory vaccinations
• The debate over regulating Big Tech companies
• The controversy surrounding geoengineering as a climate solution
• The ethics of facial recognition technology in public spaces
• The impact of cryptocurrency on traditional banking systems
• The debate over the right to be forgotten online
• The ethics of using AI in warfare and defense
• The controversy surrounding gene-edited babies
• The impact of automation on employment and inequality
• The debate over internet censorship and freedom of information
• The ethics of animal testing for medical research
• The controversy surrounding the use of algorithms in hiring processes

Informative Essay Topics About Education

• The impact of AI and machine learning on personalized learning
• The effectiveness of project-based learning in STEM education
• Digital literacy: Preparing students for an interconnected world
• The role of emotional intelligence in modern curriculum design
• The impact of remote learning on educational equity
• Gamification in education: Enhancing engagement and retention
• The importance of financial literacy in school curricula
• Addressing mental health in educational institutions
• The role of arts education in developing critical thinking skills
• Multicultural education in increasingly diverse classrooms
• The impact of standardized testing on learning outcomes
• Integrating sustainability and environmental awareness in education
• The role of soft skills in preparing students for future careers
• Addressing the digital divide in global education
• The impact of social media on student learning and socialization
• Inclusive education practices for students with diverse needs
• The role of mindfulness and meditation in educational settings
• STEAM education: Integrating arts into STEM curricula
• The impact of school nutrition programs on academic performance
• Lifelong learning in the age of rapid technological change

Fun Informative Speech Topics

These fun, informative speech topics are designed to engage and entertain audiences while still providing informative and educational content.

• The science behind viral dance trends
• Unusual Olympic sports you've never heard of
• The psychology of meme culture
• How AI is creating art and music
• The fascinating world of competitive eating
• Strange but true animal superpowers
• The science of laughter: Why we find things funny
• Bizarre world records and the people who set them
• The psychology of procrastination and how to beat it
• Unusual holidays celebrated around the world
• The science behind optical illusions
• Weird and wonderful food combinations that actually work
• The psychology of color in marketing and everyday life
• Unusual jobs of the future
• The science of déjà vu
• Strange sleep habits of famous historical figures
• The psychology of conspiracy theories
• Unusual and creative uses for common household items
• The science behind "earworm" songs
• Bizarre beauty treatments throughout history

Compare and Contrast Informative Essay Topics

• Traditional classrooms vs. virtual learning environments
• Renewable energy sources: Solar power vs. wind power
• Artificial intelligence vs. human intelligence in problem-solving
• Plant-based meat alternatives vs. traditional meat production
• Social media influencers vs. traditional celebrities
• Cryptocurrency vs. traditional banking systems
• Remote work vs. office-based work: Productivity and well-being
• Electric vehicles vs. hydrogen fuel cell vehicles
• Virtual reality vs. augmented reality in education and training
• Traditional journalism vs. citizen journalism in the digital age
• Gene therapy vs. traditional medical treatments
• 5G networks vs. previous generation networks
• Vertical farming vs. traditional agriculture
• Streaming services vs. traditional television broadcasting
• Digital books vs. print books: Reading experiences and environmental impact
• Artificial sweeteners vs. natural sugars: Health effects and taste
• Traditional art forms vs. digital art: Creativity and preservation
• Fast fashion vs. sustainable fashion: Environmental and social impacts
• Human translators vs. AI translation tools: Accuracy and nuance
• Traditional vs. alternative medicine approaches in modern healthcare

Pop Culture Informative Essay Topics

• The rise of TikTok and its impact on social media trends
• The evolution of superhero movies in the streaming era
• The influence of K-pop on global music and fashion
• The impact of true crime podcasts on public interest in cold cases
• The role of social media influencers in shaping consumer behavior
• The resurgence of vinyl records in the digital music age
• The impact of streaming services on TV show production and consumption
• The evolution of esports and its recognition as a legitimate sport
• The influence of drag culture on mainstream entertainment
• The impact of cancel culture on celebrity behavior and public discourse
• The rise of virtual influencers and digital avatars in marketing
• The evolution of fan conventions in the post-pandemic world
• The impact of streaming on the music industry and artist revenues
• The influence of reality TV on social norms and expectations
• The role of social media in modern political movements
• The impact of binge-watching culture on TV show narratives
• The evolution of meme culture and its reflection of societal issues
• The influence of YouTube creators on traditional media
• The impact of nostalgia marketing on consumer trends
• The role of virtual concerts and digital performances in the music industry

Creative Informative Speech Topics

These creative essay topics are designed to spark curiosity and interest in unique and unconventional subjects.

• The hidden language of emojis in digital communication
• The psychology behind the appeal of tiny homes
• The art and science of coffee roasting
• The unexpected benefits of forest bathing
• The fascinating world of urban foraging
• The psychology of color in interior design
• The art of origami in mathematics and engineering
• The science behind ASMR and its rising popularity
• The unexpected uses of mushrooms in technology and design
• The psychology of minimalism and its impact on well-being
• The art and science of perfume creation
• The unexpected applications of blockchain beyond cryptocurrency
• The psychology of comfort foods across cultures
• The art of creative problem-solving: Design thinking explained
• The unexpected benefits of learning a musical instrument as an adult
• The psychology of nostalgia and its influence on consumer behavior
• The art and science of fermentation in food and beverages
• The unexpected applications of 3D printing in various industries
• The psychology of color in branding and marketing
• The science behind the perfect cup of tea

Extra Ideas for Informative Essay

These unique ideas cover various informative writing topics that can appeal to various interests and tastes.

• The impact of digital nomadism on local economies
• The role of vertical forests in urban air quality improvement
• The psychology of decision-making in the age of information overload
• The impact of microplastics on human health
• The role of citizen science in modern research
• The psychology of conspiracy theories in the digital age
• The impact of light pollution on wildlife and human health
• The role of gut bacteria in mental health
• The psychology of hoarding and minimalism
• The impact of noise pollution on urban wildlife
• The role of virtual reality in treating phobias and PTSD
• The psychology of procrastination and productivity
• The impact of fast fashion on global water resources
• The role of biomimicry in sustainable design
• The psychology of brand loyalty in the digital age
• The impact of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems
• The role of green roofs in urban heat island mitigation
• The psychology of online dating and relationship formation
• The impact of space debris on future space exploration
• The role of circadian rhythms in productivity and health

Informative Essay Topics About Animals

• The impact of climate change on migratory patterns of birds
• The role of elephants in maintaining forest ecosystems
• The intelligence of octopuses: Recent discoveries and implications
• The impact of light pollution on nocturnal animals
• The social structures of wolf packs in changing environments
• The role of bees in global food security
• The impact of ocean noise pollution on marine mammals
• The adaptations of animals to urban environments
• The role of keystone species in ecosystem balance
• The impact of microplastics on marine life
• The social intelligence of dolphins: Latest research findings
• The role of animal-assisted therapy in mental health treatment
• The impact of invasive species on local ecosystems
• The adaptations of animals to extreme environments
• The role of zoos in conservation efforts
• The impact of deforestation on primate populations
• The intelligence and problem-solving abilities of corvids
• The role of animal communication in ecosystem health
• The impact of domestic cats on wildlife populations
• The adaptations of animals to climate change

Informational Paper Topics about Sports

These informative essay topic ideas cover a broad range of sports-related subjects that can be explored in an informative paper.

• The impact of data analytics on professional sports strategies
• The role of mental health support in athlete performance
• The evolution of e-sports and its recognition as a legitimate sport
• The impact of climate change on outdoor sports and events
• The role of technology in improving sports equipment and safety
• The impact of social media on athlete branding and sponsorships
• The evolution of sports medicine in injury prevention and recovery
• The role of diversity and inclusion initiatives in professional sports
• The impact of streaming services on sports broadcasting
• The evolution of nutrition science in athletic performance
• The role of virtual reality in sports training and fan experiences
• The impact of doping scandals on sports integrity and public trust
• The evolution of women's sports and gender equality in athletics
• The role of sports in diplomacy and international relations
• The impact of COVID-19 on the structure of sports seasons and events
• The evolution of sports betting in the digital age
• The role of youth sports in child development and social skills
• The impact of extreme sports on adventure tourism
• The evolution of adaptive sports for athletes with disabilities
• The role of sports psychology in improving athletic performance

Informative Essay Topics About Politics

• The impact of social media on political campaigns and voter behavior
• The role of fact-checking organizations in combating misinformation
• The evolution of digital diplomacy in international relations
• The impact of climate change on global migration patterns and policies
• The role of grassroots movements in shaping national politics
• The impact of AI and big data on election predictions and strategies
• The evolution of privacy laws in the digital age
• The role of corporate lobbying in policy-making
• The impact of term limits on political leadership and governance
• The evolution of voting systems and electoral reform
• The role of political satire in shaping public opinion
• The impact of demographic shifts on political party strategies
• The evolution of campaign finance laws and their effects
• The role of think tanks in shaping public policy
• The impact of populism on traditional political party structures
• The evolution of environmental policy in the face of climate change
• The role of youth activism in political discourse
• The impact of trade policies on global economic relations
• The evolution of cybersecurity as a national security priority
• The role of political polling in shaping public opinion and policy

Informative Essay Topics About Stress

• The impact of chronic stress on the immune system
• The role of mindfulness practices in stress management
• The impact of workplace stress on productivity and employee health
• The role of exercise in reducing stress and improving mental health
• The impact of financial stress on personal relationships and well-being
• The role of sleep quality in stress resilience
• The impact of social media use on stress levels and mental health
• The role of nature exposure in stress reduction
• The impact of pandemic-related stress on global mental health
• The role of nutrition in stress management and mental well-being
• The impact of academic stress on student performance and health
• The role of social support systems in stress resilience
• The impact of chronic stress on cardiovascular health
• The role of time management techniques in reducing stress
• The impact of noise pollution on stress levels in urban environments
• The role of art and creative expression in stress relief
• The impact of parenting stress on child development
• The role of cognitive behavioral therapy in managing stress
• The impact of tech-related stress in the digital age
• The role of workplace design in reducing occupational stress

What Is an Informative Essay

Informative Essay stands as a unique form of writing with the primary objective of imparting knowledge rather than steering opinions. This genre encapsulates a diverse array of subjects, ranging from the historical trajectory of the Internet to the tangible advantages associated with meditation practices. What distinguishes these essays is their adaptability, accommodating various writing styles such as descriptive, comparative, cause and effect, and even narrative approaches.

Contrary to being exclusive to academia, this type of essay writing offers a pathway for inquisitive minds to expand their knowledge horizons.

Hey there, future info-wizards! Let's chat about these awesome informative essays. They're like the Swiss Army knife of writing - super versatile! You can describe cool stuff, compare things, dive into cause and effect, or even spin a yarn - all while dropping knowledge bombs left and right. It's like being the coolest teacher ever, but with a pen (or keyboard) as your magic wand!

Now, here comes the fun part - research! I know what you're thinking: "Research? Boooring!" But hold up a sec! It's actually like going on a treasure hunt for mind-blowing facts. You're basically an information detective, digging up golden nuggets of knowledge. Before you know it, you're the go-to expert on your topic. How cool is that?

And guess what? These essays aren't just for school - they're for anyone with a curious mind (that's you, right?). It's like having an all-access pass to learn about whatever makes your brain tingle with excitement.

The best part? When you're crafting one of these bad boys, you get to be a fact superhero. Your mission, should you choose to accept it: Deliver the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. No bias, no opinions - just pure, unadulterated info-goodness.

So, ready to pick a topic that'll make your informative essay sparkle like a diamond? Stick around, and we'll explore how to choose something that'll not only hook your readers but also teach them something awesome. Trust me, it's going to be way more fun than binge-watching cat videos (well, almost)!

How to Choose Informative Essay Topics

Choosing the right informative essay topic is essential for crafting an engaging and insightful piece. The topic should be interesting, relevant, and informative. So, what is the first step to creating an informative essay? Here are five tips from our custom essay writing service for selecting a great topic for an informative essay:

The Final Thoughts

In conclusion, selecting a topic for an informative essay can be challenging, but choosing a subject that is engaging, informative, and relevant to the target audience is crucial. Whether you are writing for high school, college, or professional audiences, there are endless possibilities for good topics for informative essays. Now that you understand what is the purpose of an informative essay, you must know that the key is to identify a topic you are passionate about, conduct thorough research, and present your findings in a clear and organized manner.

Meanwhile, you can always get top-notch papers from our team of experienced writers. You can even do math homework of any degree of complexity using our paper writing platform!

Looking for a High-quality Informative Essay Paper?

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What Are Some Informative Essay Topics?

What are good informative essay topics.

Daniel Parker

is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

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 Top 10 Essays Since 1950

Robert Atwan, the founder of The Best American Essays series, picks the 10 best essays of the postwar period. Links to the essays are provided when available.

Fortunately, when I worked with Joyce Carol Oates on The Best American Essays of the Century (that’s the last century, by the way), we weren’t restricted to ten selections. So to make my list of the top ten essays since 1950 less impossible, I decided to exclude all the great examples of New Journalism--Tom Wolfe, Gay Talese, Michael Herr, and many others can be reserved for another list. I also decided to include only American writers, so such outstanding English-language essayists as Chris Arthur and Tim Robinson are missing, though they have appeared in The Best American Essays series. And I selected essays , not essayists . A list of the top ten essayists since 1950 would feature some different writers.

To my mind, the best essays are deeply personal (that doesn’t necessarily mean autobiographical) and deeply engaged with issues and ideas. And the best essays show that the name of the genre is also a verb, so they demonstrate a mind in process--reflecting, trying-out, essaying.

James Baldwin, "Notes of a Native Son" (originally appeared in Harper’s , 1955)

“I had never thought of myself as an essayist,” wrote James Baldwin, who was finishing his novel Giovanni’s Room while he worked on what would become one of the great American essays. Against a violent historical background, Baldwin recalls his deeply troubled relationship with his father and explores his growing awareness of himself as a black American. Some today may question the relevance of the essay in our brave new “post-racial” world, though Baldwin considered the essay still relevant in 1984 and, had he lived to see it, the election of Barak Obama may not have changed his mind. However you view the racial politics, the prose is undeniably hypnotic, beautifully modulated and yet full of urgency. Langston Hughes nailed it when he described Baldwin’s “illuminating intensity.” The essay was collected in Notes of a Native Son courageously (at the time) published by Beacon Press in 1955.

Norman Mailer, "The White Negro" (originally appeared in Dissent , 1957)

An essay that packed an enormous wallop at the time may make some of us cringe today with its hyperbolic dialectics and hyperventilated metaphysics. But Mailer’s attempt to define the “hipster”–in what reads in part like a prose version of Ginsberg’s “Howl”–is suddenly relevant again, as new essays keep appearing with a similar definitional purpose, though no one would mistake Mailer’s hipster (“a philosophical psychopath”) for the ones we now find in Mailer’s old Brooklyn neighborhoods. Odd, how terms can bounce back into life with an entirely different set of connotations. What might Mailer call the new hipsters? Squares?

Read the essay here .

Susan Sontag, "Notes on 'Camp'" (originally appeared in Partisan Review , 1964)

Like Mailer’s “White Negro,” Sontag’s groundbreaking essay was an ambitious attempt to define a modern sensibility, in this case “camp,” a word that was then almost exclusively associated with the gay world. I was familiar with it as an undergraduate, hearing it used often by a set of friends, department store window decorators in Manhattan. Before I heard Sontag—thirty-one, glamorous, dressed entirely in black-- read the essay on publication at a Partisan Review gathering, I had simply interpreted “campy” as an exaggerated style or over-the-top behavior. But after Sontag unpacked the concept, with the help of Oscar Wilde, I began to see the cultural world in a different light. “The whole point of camp,” she writes, “is to dethrone the serious.” Her essay, collected in Against Interpretation (1966), is not in itself an example of camp.

John McPhee, "The Search for Marvin Gardens" (originally appeared in The New Yorker , 1972)

“Go. I roll the dice—a six and a two. Through the air I move my token, the flatiron, to Vermont Avenue, where dog packs range.” And so we move, in this brilliantly conceived essay, from a series of Monopoly games to a decaying Atlantic City, the once renowned resort town that inspired America’s most popular board game. As the games progress and as properties are rapidly snapped up, McPhee juxtaposes the well-known sites on the board—Atlantic Avenue, Park Place—with actual visits to their crumbling locations. He goes to jail, not just in the game but in fact, portraying what life has now become in a city that in better days was a Boardwalk Empire. At essay’s end, he finds the elusive Marvin Gardens. The essay was collected in Pieces of the Frame (1975).

Read the essay here (subscription required).

Joan Didion, "The White Album" (originally appeared in New West , 1979)

Huey Newton, Eldridge Cleaver, and the Black Panthers, a recording session with Jim Morrison and the Doors, the San Francisco State riots, the Manson murders—all of these, and much more, figure prominently in Didion’s brilliant mosaic distillation (or phantasmagoric album) of California life in the late 1960s. Yet despite a cast of characters larger than most Hollywood epics, “The White Album” is a highly personal essay, right down to Didion’s report of her psychiatric tests as an outpatient in a Santa Monica hospital in the summer of 1968. “We tell ourselves stories in order to live,” the essay famously begins, and as it progresses nervously through cuts and flashes of reportage, with transcripts, interviews, and testimonies, we realize that all of our stories are questionable, “the imposition of a narrative line upon disparate images.” Portions of the essay appeared in installments in 1968-69 but it wasn’t until 1979 that Didion published the complete essay in New West magazine; it then became the lead essay of her book, The White Album (1979).

Annie Dillard, "Total Eclipse" (originally appeared in Antaeus , 1982)

In her introduction to The Best American Essays 1988 , Annie Dillard claims that “The essay can do everything a poem can do, and everything a short story can do—everything but fake it.” Her essay “Total Eclipse” easily makes her case for the imaginative power of a genre that is still undervalued as a branch of imaginative literature. “Total Eclipse” has it all—the climactic intensity of short fiction, the interwoven imagery of poetry, and the meditative dynamics of the personal essay: “This was the universe about which we have read so much and never before felt: the universe as a clockwork of loose spheres flung at stupefying, unauthorized speeds.” The essay, which first appeared in Antaeus in 1982 was collected in Teaching a Stone to Talk (1982), a slim volume that ranks among the best essay collections of the past fifty years.

Phillip Lopate, "Against Joie de Vivre" (originally appeared in Ploughshares , 1986)

This is an essay that made me glad I’d started The Best American Essays the year before. I’d been looking for essays that grew out of a vibrant Montaignean spirit—personal essays that were witty, conversational, reflective, confessional, and yet always about something worth discussing. And here was exactly what I’d been looking for. I might have found such writing several decades earlier but in the 80s it was relatively rare; Lopate had found a creative way to insert the old familiar essay into the contemporary world: “Over the years,” Lopate begins, “I have developed a distaste for the spectacle of joie de vivre , the knack of knowing how to live.” He goes on to dissect in comic yet astute detail the rituals of the modern dinner party. The essay was selected by Gay Talese for The Best American Essays 1987 and collected in Against Joie de Vivre in 1989 .

Edward Hoagland, "Heaven and Nature" (originally appeared in Harper’s, 1988)

“The best essayist of my generation,” is how John Updike described Edward Hoagland, who must be one of the most prolific essayists of our time as well. “Essays,” Hoagland wrote, “are how we speak to one another in print—caroming thoughts not merely in order to convey a certain packet of information, but with a special edge or bounce of personal character in a kind of public letter.” I could easily have selected many other Hoagland essays for this list (such as “The Courage of Turtles”), but I’m especially fond of “Heaven and Nature,” which shows Hoagland at his best, balancing the public and private, the well-crafted general observation with the clinching vivid example. The essay, selected by Geoffrey Wolff for The Best American Essays 1989 and collected in Heart’s Desire (1988), is an unforgettable meditation not so much on suicide as on how we remarkably manage to stay alive.

Jo Ann Beard, "The Fourth State of Matter" (originally appeared in The New Yorker , 1996)

A question for nonfiction writing students: When writing a true story based on actual events, how does the narrator create dramatic tension when most readers can be expected to know what happens in the end? To see how skillfully this can be done turn to Jo Ann Beard’s astonishing personal story about a graduate student’s murderous rampage on the University of Iowa campus in 1991. “Plasma is the fourth state of matter,” writes Beard, who worked in the U of I’s physics department at the time of the incident, “You’ve got your solid, your liquid, your gas, and there’s your plasma. In outer space there’s the plasmasphere and the plasmapause.” Besides plasma, in this emotion-packed essay you will find entangled in all the tension a lovable, dying collie, invasive squirrels, an estranged husband, the seriously disturbed gunman, and his victims, one of them among the author’s dearest friends. Selected by Ian Frazier for The Best American Essays 1997 , the essay was collected in Beard’s award-winning volume, The Boys of My Youth (1998).

David Foster Wallace, "Consider the Lobster" (originally appeared in Gourmet , 2004)

They may at first look like magazine articles—those factually-driven, expansive pieces on the Illinois State Fair, a luxury cruise ship, the adult video awards, or John McCain’s 2000 presidential campaign—but once you uncover the disguise and get inside them you are in the midst of essayistic genius. One of David Foster Wallace’s shortest and most essayistic is his “coverage” of the annual Maine Lobster Festival, “Consider the Lobster.” The Festival becomes much more than an occasion to observe “the World’s Largest Lobster Cooker” in action as Wallace poses an uncomfortable question to readers of the upscale food magazine: “Is it all right to boil a sentient creature alive just for our gustatory pleasure?” Don’t gloss over the footnotes. Susan Orlean selected the essay for The Best American Essays 2004 and Wallace collected it in Consider the Lobster and Other Essays (2005).

Read the essay here . (Note: the electronic version from Gourmet magazine’s archives differs from the essay that appears in The Best American Essays and in his book, Consider the Lobster. )

I wish I could include twenty more essays but these ten in themselves comprise a wonderful and wide-ranging mini-anthology, one that showcases some of the most outstanding literary voices of our time. Readers who’d like to see more of the best essays since 1950 should take a look at The Best American Essays of the Century (2000).

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Home — Essay Types — Informative Essay

Informative Essay Examples

Selecting an informative essay topic is a critical step in the writing process, shaping the direction and scope of your essay. The topic you choose should not only capture your interest but also offer ample opportunities for research and exploration. In this guide, we'll explore strategies for choosing the right topic and provide a diverse range of examples across various categories to inspire your writing journey.

When selecting an informative essay topic, consider your interests, expertise, and the preferences of your audience. Begin by brainstorming ideas based on subjects that intrigue you or align with your academic field. Conduct preliminary research to gauge the availability of credible sources and the depth of information on each topic. Additionally, assess the relevance and significance of potential topics, ensuring they align with the objectives of your essay and offer value to your readers.

Examples of Good Informative Essay Topics

Health and wellness.

• The Benefits of Meditation for Mental Health
• Understanding the Importance of Vaccinations
• Exploring Alternative Medicine Practices

Science and Technology

• The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Society
• Emerging Technologies in Renewable Energy
• The Future of Space Exploration

Education and Learning

• Innovations in Online Learning Platforms
• Strategies for Effective Study Habits
• The Evolution of Literacy in the Digital Age

History and Culture

• The Legacy of Ancient Civilizations: Egypt, Greece, Rome
• Women's Rights Movements Throughout History
• Cultural Traditions and Festivals Around the World

Environment and Sustainability

• Addressing Climate Change: Causes and Solutions
• The Importance of Biodiversity Conservation
• Sustainable Practices for Reducing Plastic Pollution

Social Issues and Politics

• The Effects of Social Media on Mental Health
• Analyzing Global Refugee Crises and Solutions
• Racial Inequality in Criminal Justice Systems

Economics and Finance

• Understanding Cryptocurrency: Benefits and Risks
• The Impact of Globalization on Local Economies
• Financial Literacy: Budgeting and Saving Strategies

Arts and Entertainment

• Exploring the Evolution of Film Genres
• The Influence of Music on Mood and Emotions
• Cultural Significance of Literature and Folklore

Travel and Tourism

• Sustainable Tourism Practices: Balancing Conservation and Recreation
• Hidden Gems: Off-the-Beaten-Path Destinations
• Cultural Immersion Through Food and Cuisine

Sports and Recreation

• The Psychology of Sports: Mental Toughness and Resilience
• Exploring Extreme Sports and Adventure Activities
• Sportsmanship and Ethics in Competitive Athletics

🌟 Read More: Informative Speech Topics about Sports 🌟

Some Informative Essay Ideas for Inspiration

• The Influence of Social Media on Teenagers
• Benefits of Renewable Energy Sources
• Importance of Financial Literacy Education
• Causes and Effects of Climate Change
• Types and Treatments of Anxiety Disorders
• Evolution of Artificial Intelligence
• Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace
• Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Health
• Cultural Customs and Traditions Around the World
• Education's Role in Economic Development

By considering these examples and employing effective strategies for topic selection, you can embark on your informative essay writing journey with confidence and enthusiasm. Remember to choose a topic that aligns with your interests, offers valuable insights to your audience, and inspires further exploration and learning.

Mastering the art of informative essay writing is invaluable for students across all academic disciplines. Whether you’re tasked with dissecting complex topics or elucidating fundamental concepts, honing your skills in this form of composition can significantly enhance your academic prowess. In this guide, we’ll delve into key strategies and techniques to help you craft compelling and informative essays that captivate your readers’ attention and convey your message effectively.

Understanding the Informative Essay

Before embarking on your writing journey, it’s crucial to grasp the essence of informative essays. Unlike persuasive or argumentative essays, which aim to sway the reader’s opinion, informative essays primarily seek to educate and inform. These essays present factual information in a clear, concise, and engaging manner, devoid of personal bias or subjective viewpoints. By adhering to this objective stance, you can maintain credibility and authority in your writing.

Selecting a Compelling Topic

The foundation of a successful informative essay lies in the choice of an intriguing and relevant topic. Whether you’re exploring historical events, scientific phenomena, or societal issues, opt for subjects that pique your interest and offer ample scope for exploration. Conduct thorough research to ensure the availability of credible sources and sufficient information to support your discussion.

📕 Discover: Free Compare and Contrast Essays

Additionally, consider your target audience and their level of familiarity with the topic to tailor your essay effectively.

Structuring Your Informative Essay

A well-organized structure is essential for conveying information effectively in your essay. Begin with an introduction that provides context and previews the main points you’ll cover. Follow this with a series of body paragraphs, each focusing on a distinct aspect or subtopic related to your chosen subject. Use topic sentences to introduce each paragraph’s main idea and support it with evidence, examples, and relevant data. Finally, conclude your essay by summarizing key points and reinforcing the significance of your topic.

To craft an effective introduction for an informative essay, focus on engaging your readers while providing essential context.

Here’s an example of an informative essay introduction following these guidelines:

“Have you ever wondered how social media platforms collect and use your personal data? In an age where online privacy concerns continue to grow, understanding the intricacies of data collection is crucial. In this informative essay, we will delve into the world of data mining by social media giants, exploring how your information is gathered and utilized to personalize your online experience. As we uncover the methods and implications of this practice, you’ll gain valuable insights into the digital landscape and learn how to protect your online privacy effectively.”

This introduction combines a captivating hook, context about the topic’s significance, and a clear thesis statement to engage the reader and set the stage for the informative essay.

Before you continue with our free example of informative essay, make sure that you check our informative writing checklist , which will help you structure and keep your writing readable and logical: 

✔️ Your tone should be informative as the purpose of this essay type is to inform. ( Explain your subject by starting with a brief introduction or the fact that will inspire your readers.)

✔️ You have studies the topic and gathered some evidence to support the facts. ( It can be statistica data, peer-reviewed journals, or quotes from the books in print. Use only verified resources.)

✔️ Focus on your audience and explain complex terms if necessary.

✔️ No argumentation or bias is allowed.

✔️ Only the paragraph before.

✔️ The conclusion can contain analysis that speaks of your opinion. 

As always, keep things structured and show due respect and care when informing your readers about sensitive or controversial issues. 

How to Start an Informative Essay

Starting an informative essay with a compelling introduction is essential to engage your readers and set the stage for the discussion ahead. Follow these steps to craft an impactful beginning:

1. Grab Attention with a Hook: Begin your essay with an attention-grabbing hook that intrigues your readers and draws them into your topic. This could be an interesting fact, a startling statistic, a thought-provoking question, or a compelling anecdote related to your subject matter.

Example: “Did you know that the average person spends over two hours a day on social media platforms?”

2. Provide Context: After hooking your readers, provide some background information to contextualize your topic. Briefly explain the significance of the subject matter and why it’s worth exploring further. This helps orient your audience and prepares them for the information you’re about to present.

Example: “In today’s digital age, social media has become an integral part of our daily lives, shaping how we communicate, consume information, and interact with the world around us.”

3. Present a Thesis Statement: Conclude your introduction with a clear and concise thesis statement that outlines the main purpose and focus of your essay. Your thesis should articulate the specific topic you’ll be discussing and the key points you’ll be exploring in the subsequent sections of your essay.

Example: “This essay will delve into the impact of social media on interpersonal relationships, exploring its influence on communication patterns, social interactions, and personal connections.”

By following these steps, you can craft a captivating introduction that entices readers to continue reading and sets the tone for your informative essay.

Informative Essay Examples for College Students

College students often encounter the task of writing informative essays as part of their coursework. Here are a few examples of topics suitable for college-level informative essays:

• The Rise of Renewable Energy Sources: Explore the advancements in renewable energy technologies such as solar, wind, and hydroelectric power, highlighting their environmental benefits and potential to mitigate climate change.
• The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Society: Investigate the growing influence of AI in various sectors, including healthcare, finance, and transportation, discussing its implications for employment, privacy, and ethics.
• Understanding Mental Health Disorders: Provide an overview of common mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder, discussing their symptoms, causes, and available treatment options.
• The Evolution of Social Media: Trace the evolution of social media platforms from their inception to the present day, examining their role in shaping communication patterns, social interactions, and online communities.
• Exploring Cultural Diversity in Modern Society: Examine the concept of cultural diversity and its importance in today’s globalized world, discussing the benefits of multiculturalism and strategies for promoting inclusivity.
• The Science of Climate Change: Present an in-depth analysis of the scientific evidence behind climate change, explaining key concepts such as greenhouse gas emissions, global warming, and sea-level rise.
• The Impact of Globalization on International Trade: Analyze the effects of globalization on global trade patterns, discussing factors such as trade agreements, outsourcing, and supply chain management.
• The History and Significance of the Civil Rights Movement: Explore the history of the civil rights movement in the United States, highlighting key events, leaders, and achievements in the struggle for racial equality.

These topics provide college students with ample opportunities to research, analyze, and present information on diverse subjects of interest. When writing informative essays, students should focus on providing factual information, supporting their arguments with evidence, and presenting their findings in a clear and organized manner.

Informative Essay Examples for High School Students

High school students often engage in informative essay writing to develop critical thinking skills and enhance their ability to convey information effectively. Here are some examples of informative essay topics suitable for high school students:

• The Importance of Healthy Eating Habits: Discuss the benefits of a balanced diet, including the role of nutrients in maintaining overall health and preventing chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes.
• The Impact of Social Media on Teenagers: Examine the effects of excessive social media use on teenage mental health, self-esteem, and interpersonal relationships, highlighting both the positive and negative aspects.
• Exploring Career Options in STEM Fields: Provide an overview of career opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), discussing the educational requirements, job prospects, and potential for innovation in these fields.
• Understanding Cyberbullying and Its Consequences: Define cyberbullying and discuss its prevalence among adolescents, exploring the psychological and emotional effects on victims and strategies for prevention and intervention.
• The Benefits of Exercise for Teenagers: Explain the importance of regular physical activity for teenage health and well-being, discussing its effects on physical fitness, mood regulation, and academic performance.
• The History of Civil Rights Movements: Explore significant civil rights movements throughout history, such as the Civil Rights Movement in the United States and the fight for gender equality, discussing key events, leaders, and achievements.
• The Science Behind Climate Change: Present scientific evidence for climate change and its causes, including the role of greenhouse gases, deforestation, and industrialization, and discuss potential solutions to mitigate its impact.
• The Impact of Technology on Education: Analyze the influence of technology on modern education, discussing its role in facilitating learning, expanding access to resources, and promoting innovative teaching methods.

These informative essay topics provide high school students with opportunities to explore relevant issues, develop research skills, and articulate their ideas in a clear and organized manner. When writing informative essays, students should focus on presenting factual information, supporting their arguments with evidence, and engaging their audience with compelling content.

Informative Essay Examples for Middle School Students

Middle school students can benefit from engaging in informative essay writing to develop research skills and enhance their ability to communicate information effectively. Here are some examples of informative essay topics suitable for middle school students:

• The Life Cycle of Butterflies: Provide an overview of the stages of a butterfly’s life cycle, including egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), and adult, discussing the significance of each stage and the transformation process.
• Exploring Volcanoes and How They Form: Explain the geological processes that lead to the formation of volcanoes, discussing the types of volcanoes, volcanic eruptions, and their impact on the environment and communities.
• The Importance of Recycling: Discuss the benefits of recycling materials such as paper, plastic, glass, and metal, explaining how recycling conserves natural resources, reduces waste, and helps protect the environment.
• The Human Digestive System: Describe the organs and functions of the human digestive system, including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine, and discuss the process of digestion and nutrient absorption.
• The Solar System and Its Planets: Provide an overview of the solar system, including the sun, planets, moons, asteroids, and comets, discussing the characteristics of each planet and their orbits around the sun.
• The History of Ancient Civilizations: Explore the achievements and contributions of ancient civilizations such as Mesopotamia, Egypt, Greece, and Rome, discussing their culture, government, religion, and technological advancements.
• Endangered Species and Conservation Efforts: Identify endangered species around the world and discuss the factors contributing to their decline, including habitat loss, pollution, and poaching, and explore conservation efforts to protect these species.
• The Water Cycle and Its Importance: Explain the processes involved in the water cycle, including evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff, discussing the significance of the water cycle for sustaining life on Earth.

These informative essay topics provide middle school students with opportunities to explore diverse subjects, develop research skills, and present their findings in a clear and organized manner. When writing informative essays, students should focus on providing factual information, supporting their arguments with evidence, and engaging their audience with interesting and relevant content.

Conclusion: Mastering the Art of Informative Essay Writing

In mastering the craft of informative essay writing, students embark on a journey of discovery, exploration, and communication. Through the meticulous selection of topics, diligent research, and thoughtful structuring of their essays, students can effectively convey factual information and captivate their readers’ attention. By adhering to the principles outlined in this guide, students can hone their writing skills, develop critical thinking abilities, and enhance their academic proficiency.

Remember, the key to crafting compelling informative essays lies in maintaining objectivity, clarity, and coherence throughout the writing process. Whether delving into the complexities of scientific phenomena or unraveling the intricacies of historical events, students have the power to inform, educate, and inspire through their writing.

As you embark on your informative essay writing journey, remember to engage with your topic passionately, remain open to new ideas, and strive for excellence in every aspect of your writing. With dedication, perseverance, and a commitment to continuous improvement, you can become a proficient and persuasive communicator, capable of leaving a lasting impact through your informative essays.

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Happy writing, and may your essays enlighten, educate, and empower those who read them.

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What is an informative essay?

The key is to provide your audience with information on a certain topic. You must educate by offering a brief description and accessible information. Some informative essay examples include topics that deal with a process, an effect of something that took place, or the list of ideas that are not common knowledge. Remember that you only provide certain data with no opinion or bias towards any side.

How to write an informative essay?

The trick is to make things readable and clear enough if you are not writing for a specific audience. As a rule, you should provide a brief description and talk about the importance of a certain subject. Use facts, statistical data, and reliable references. It must be informative and implement real-life examples to make your essay supported. Once again, do not use a biased tone and avoid posing an opinion.

The types of informative essays

The examples of informative essays will vary depending on a task that you have been given. The types will divide on the definition of a term, comparison or contrasting of particular information, analysis of discovered data, and an explanation of how something must be done. When using argumentation, try to find information that does not lean towards critical thinking. If it is not possible provide both opinions without stating yours.

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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.

Nova A. (Literature, Marketing)

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

Being a student means doing hundreds of writing assignments. Despite the huge number of advantages of academic writing, students continue to hate it and suffer when they get another paper. However, for the professors, it remains a favorite type of homework, especially an informative essay, which is the best way to test students' knowledge or make them understand a specific topic better.

The complexity of the informative paper and its special feature is the necessity to have good knowledge of the particular topic and the ability to hook the readers' attention. Hence, it is quite a complicated paper that takes a lot of effort. Perhaps you do not know how to make an informative essay outline or how to begin to work on your paper? In this article, we give tips on how to write an excellent paper that deserves the highest score as well as provide informative essay examples of topics. But first, let's give an informative essay definition.

What is informative writing?

Before performing any task, you need to understand what is required of you — the same situation with the papers, including an informative essay. Thus, first, you should get the right informative definition essay . At first sight, it seems to you that the purpose of this paper is to inform. Well, you are right, but everything is not so simple.

It is a type of academic assignment where you need to give clear, reliable, and useful information to a reader, that has to be based on facts and evidence, as well as provide examples. At the same time, you should hook the reader and organize information logically. In addition, avoid a complex and specific language with a massive number of terms. So writing an informative essay, you should simplify the information and make it easy to understand.

We also want to pay attention to the serious mistakes that most students make in this paper:

• Present their points of view
• Try to convince a reader

You should neutrally provide information and not express your position regarding the topic. Forget about linking words such as "I believe" or "In my opinion." Just do in-depth research and inform the reader.

Now, you can answer the question, "What is informative writing?" So it is time to move to the next step of the writing process of an informative essay to study its structure.

Follow the Correct Informative Essay Structure to Write a Successful Paper

Writing assignments based on three pillars: introduction, main body, and conclusion. So if you are good at academic writing, you will not face problems with this type of paper. The informative essay has the same structure, however, with some features which we discuss below.

Introduction: How to Start an Informative Essay?

We think you know the well-known saying, "First impressions are the most lasting." You should remember it when you write the first paragraph of your paper. Even if you write the main body well and make a brilliant conclusion, the reader will remember your weak or boring beginning.

Thus, you need to catch the reader's attention from the first lines. We recommend you provide a bold statement or write a rhetorical question. Besides, it is still popular to use quotes by famous people. Having made an effective hook sentence , you should give background information on your topic in several sentences.

The next essential part is creating a good informative essay thesis. It has to state the main idea of your paper in several sentences.

The Body of Informative Paper

In this part, you should provide information that supports your thesis and reveals the topic. The number of paragraphs depends on the amount of collected data. However, the classic version of the informative essay contains 2 or 3 paragraphs, and each of them represents a new idea.

As for the structure of the paragraphs, you should start with the statement sentence. Then it is necessary to present supporting information, facts, or examples in several sentences. And the final sentence gives an explanation.

Do not forget about the logical order, as every idea should support the previous one. There are several methods of organizing information, for example, from the most to the least important or vice versa. Besides, you can represent the gathered facts in chronological order.

Right Paper Finish: Informative Essay Conclusion

Do not hope that after writing the main body, you can relax and end the essay with a simple sentence. The summary is as essential as the two previous parts of a paper. You should work on it and make it sound good so that the reader does not think, "It was going so well, but the final paragraph is awful." In the informative essay conclusion, you need to reformulate the thesis and support it with the most important data from your paper. Avoid providing new information as most students like to do. Just summarize your paper while keeping the reader's interest.

How to Write an Informative Essay: 5 Main Writing Steps

Step 1 - Choose a winning topic. If you want to get the highest score for your informative essay, then you should select a relevant and interesting topic.

Step 2 - Read a lot of informative essay examples . It will help you understand the features of the paper better.

Step 3 - Formulate a strong informative essay thesis. We recommend you first develop a thesis so that you will highlight the main idea and know what information you should look for.

Step 4 - Gather information. Writing an informative essay, you should have enough facts, examples, and information to cover your topic.

Step 5 - Make an informative essay outline. Having done in-depth research and collected enough data, you should present it logically following the structure. Besides, such a draft of a paper will greatly facilitate the writing process.

How to Write an Informative Essay from a Scratch: Tips from Experts

• Do a brainstorm. When students decide to write an essay from scratch, many of them stare at a blank piece of paper asking themselves, “How to start an informative essay?” On the one hand, you can understand your topic and have some knowledge about it, but on the other hand, you do not know how to make the first step. We recommend doing brainstorm and writing down all ideas. It will help to organize your thoughts and highlight the main ideas that you want to convey to the reader.
• Read as much as possible. This tip is not just for a daily routine that helps enrich the vocabulary . Read articles on your topic or watch a video to find new and impressive information. After all, when you write an informative essay, you should have a sufficient number of reliable sources. Moreover, you can find new words and phrases that will make your paper sound better.
• Do not write an informative essay in one day. Having read the tips on how to write an informative essay, at first sight, the paper may seem quite simple, but it is a delusion. Any type of essay takes a lot of time and energy. Moreover, you have to proofread and edit the final version of the paper that should be done with a fresh mind.

How to Write an Informative Essay Outline?

• Start writing with an impressive title. Think of a headline that will catch the reader’s interest, but at the same time, will cover the topic of your paper. Moreover, pay attention to the headings of the articles while looking for information for an essay. Perhaps you will find a good formulation of your topic or get the idea of how to title your paper.
• Develop your informative essay thesis. Highlight the key idea of the entire paper in several sentences to give the reader an idea of what you are going to write about.
• Organize collected information in a logical order. When you start making an informative essay outline, you should organize the facts and information by its required structure. Choose a method of organizing information and provide key ideas from collected sources.
• C onclude the informative essay. Make a logical conclusion to the paper summarizing the information discussed before.

Choose the Good Theme: Tips and Examples of Informative Essay Topics

The success of your paper depends on many factors, including the chosen topic. If the professor did not assign it, then read our tips below on how to select an excellent topic for a paper.

• Think about your interests and knowledge. If a student is genuinely interested in the topic of the informative essay, he/she usually shows the highest result. Because it makes writing easier and more enjoyable. Besides, it is crucial to choose a topic in which you have basic knowledge as it facilitates the researching process.
• Give preference to relevant and interesting informative essay topics. Think about what the public is interested in and excited about today, what people discuss, and what problems they pay more attention to. If you write an essay on a relevant issue, it will definitely attract the reader's attention. Avoid trivial or boring topics because a boring topic means writing a boring informative essay.
• Make sure there are enough sources. Writing an informative essay requires a huge amount of information, such as facts, statistics, and researches. Before making a final decision on a topic, make sure that there are enough reliable sources and materials for your paper.

We also prepared a list of 15 relevant informative essay topics for you:

• The burnout makes us less creative
• Procrastination is about managing emotions, not time
• Depression and addiction are related
• Reclaim the past to save the future
• Working from home is good for business
• The progress bar keeps us sane
• Symbols and brands shape our humanity
• People who changed the world
• The difficulties of living in a knowledge-intensive society
• Being a celebrity: the blessing and the curse
• Surprises and challenges of the 21st century
• The health benefits of clowning around
• Virtual reality can turn students into scientists
• Ocean microbes reveal the truth about the changing climate
• Gender-based marketing is bad for business

Informative Essay Example

The american dream is becoming an american illusion.

The American Dream is three simple words that attract and inspire a large number of emigrants to leave homes and go to the United States, searching for a better life. But is it worth it? The USA is considered one of the richest countries in the world. But at the same time, it has huge competition in the labor market, which forces people to fight and survive, but not to live. Having failed economically, you are unlikely to get back on your feet. In this essay, you will understand why people come to believe that the American Dream is truly unattainable.

It seemed that the Great Recession had dealt a severe blow to the country's economy. After 11 years, the USA emerged from the crisis and achieved a remarkable economic recovery. However, the Four Corners informs that the iniquity in the US has worsened while the recovery was gaining steam. It means that millions of workers slipped into low paid part-time jobs, swelling the ranks of the working poor.

Today, the United States industry’s most popular strategy is to switch to low wages. For example, the factories of Erie put more than 75% of a country’s locomotives and circulation on the track, so they literally helped to build an America. But now General Electric decided to close the factories and built a low wage Factory in Texas. Perhaps, this strategy improved their economic situation, but no one thought of hundreds of unemployed people who do not know what to devote themselves to.

As a result, we can observe another side of the USA's prosperous economy. Like millions of people get low paid jobs and entrepreneurs think only about their own profit, while the American Dream becomes an illusion.

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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70+ Fascinating Informative Essay Topics for Kids and Teens

Tell them what you know.

Informative essays are a chance to show what you know. They’re all about informing the reader, without trying to persuade or offer an opinion. Informative writing can include how-to process essays, biographical writing, an in-depth analysis of a topic, research papers, or compare-and-contrast essays . Just remember to stick to the facts, and be clear and descriptive. These informative essay topics offer something for all interests and ages.

How-To Informative Essay Topics

Social studies informative essay topics, science informative essay topics, pop culture informative essay topics.

Teach your reader the steps or process to:

• Cook a recipe
• Set a table
• Make a quilt
• Change a tire
• Start a recycling program
• Play a game
• Build a birdhouse
• Plant a garden
• Make and care for a compost pile

• Care for an animal
• Start a business
• Catch a fish
• Tie a necktie
• Train for a marathon
• Prepare a campsite
• Make a campfire
• Clean a room
• Wrap a gift
• Plan a party
• Kick a bad habit
• Use social media responsibly

• Manage time effectively
• Make a budget
• Describe the life of a world leader.
• How has the role of women in the workplace changed in the last hundred years?

• Explore the current path to becoming an American citizen.
• What are some of the possible ways the pyramids were built?
• Describe a time period in history.
• How does one country’s economy affect another country?
• What is the difference between socialism and communism?
• Explore the benefits and drawbacks of legalizing drugs.
• Describe the political system in a foreign country.
• Explore the causes of a specific war or armed conflict in history.

• How is a new law passed in the United States?
• Give an overview of the history of any country, state, or city.
• Describe the three branches of American government.
• Explain how the American judicial system works.
• Describe the evolution of fashion throughout history.
• Describe a science experiment, including the hypothesis, process, and conclusion.

• Explain what it means to lead a healthy lifestyle.
• What is the relationship between calories and fat?
• What is the physics behind a bicycle?
• How do plants convert sunlight into energy?
• Describe any element from the periodic table, including its makeup and uses.
• What is the difference between a crocodile and an alligator?
• Describe the life cycle of any animal.
• What are the benefits of recycling?
• Describe the life of a prominent scientist.
• Explain what E = mc 2 means.
• Describe any disease, including its symptoms and treatments.

• Why do leaves change color in the fall?
• Explain the difference between climate and weather.
• Describe a specific ecosystem, including the plants and animals that live there.
• Describe the history of video games.
• What are recent trends in the video game industry?
• Describe your favorite superhero.
• Explain the motivations of any fictional villain.
• Describe the life of your favorite celebrity.
• Explore the development and growth of a main character in any book series.

• Describe the process of making a movie or TV show.
• Tell the story of any band, including its founding, successes and challenges, and breakup (if applicable).
• Describe the life of a famous artist.
• Explore the history of Disney World (or any theme park).
• Plan the perfect fantasy football league team.
• Describe popular trends and fads from any decade.
• Explore the history of the Olympics.
• Describe the music of a generation and how it reflected that time.

• Explain the history of the internet.

What are some of your favorite informative essay topics? Come share your ideas in the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

Plus, check out the big list of essay topics for high school (100+ ideas).

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The Big List of Essay Topics for High School (120+ Ideas!)

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Classic British and American Essays and Speeches

English Prose From Jack London to Dorothy Parker

U.S. National Archives and Records Administration / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain

• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

From the works and musings of Walt Witman to those of Virginia Woolf, some of the cultural heroes and prolific artists of prose are listed below--along with some of the world's greatest essays and speeches  ever composed by these British and American literary treasures.

George Ade (1866-1944)

George Ade was an America playwright, newspaper columnist and humorist whose greatest recognition was "Fables in Slang" (1899), a satire that explored the colloquial vernacular of America. Ade eventually succeeded in doing what he set out to do: Make America laugh.

• The Difference Between Learning and Learning How : "In due time the Faculty gave the Degree of M.A. to what was left of Otis and still his Ambition was not satisfied."
• Luxuries: "About sixty-five per cent of all the people in the world think they are getting along great when they are not starving to death."
• Vacations: "The planet you are now visiting may be the only one you ever see."

Susan B. Anthony (1820-1906)

American activist Susan B. Anthony crusaded for the women's suffrage movement, making way for the Nineteenth Amendment to the US Constitution in 1920, giving women the right to vote. Anthony is principally known for the six-volume "History of Woman Suffrage." 

• On Women's Right to Vote : "The only question left to be settled now is: Are women persons?"

Robert Benchley (1889-1945)

The writings of American humorist, actor and drama critic Robert Benchley are considered his best achievement. His socially awkward, slightly confused persona allowed him to write about the inanity of the world to great effect.

• Advice to Writers : "A terrible plague of insufferably artificial and affected authors"
• Business Letters : "As it stands now things are pretty black for the boy."
• Christmas Afternoon : "Done in the Manner, If Not in the Spirit of Dickens"
• Do Insects Think? : "It really was more like a child of our own than a wasp, except that it looked more like a wasp than a child of our own."
• The Most Popular Book of the Month: "In practice, the book is not flawless. There are five hundred thousand names, each with a corresponding telephone number."

Joseph Conrad (1857-1924)

British novelist and short-story writer Joseph Conrad rendered about the "tragedy of loneliness" at sea and became known for his colorful, rich descriptions about the sea and other exotic places. He is regarded as one of the greatest English novelists of all time.

• Outside Literature : "A sea voyage would have done him good. But it was I who went to sea--this time bound to Calcutta."

Frederick Douglass (1818-1895)

American Frederick Douglass' great oratory and literary skills helped him to become the first African American citizen to hold high office in the US government. He was one of the 19th century's most prominent human rights activist, and his autobiography, "Life and Times of Frederick Douglass" (1882), became an American literary classic.

• The Destiny of Colored Americans : "Slavery is the peculiar weakness of America, as well as its peculiar crime."
• A Glorious Resurrection: "My long-crushed spirit rose."

W.E.B. Du Bois (1868-1963)

W.E.B. Du Bois was an American scholar and human rights activist, a respected author and historian of literature. His literature and studies analyzed the unreachable depths of American racism. Du Bois' seminal work is a collection of 14 essays titled "The Souls of Black Folk" (1903). 

• Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others : "Mr. Washington represents in Negro thought the old attitude of adjustment and submission."
• Of the Passing of the First-Born : "He knew no color-line, poor dear--and the Veil, though it shadowed him, had not yet darkened half his sun."

F. Scott Fitzgerald (1896-1940)

Known foremost for his novel "The Great Gatsby," American novelist and short-story writer F. Scott Fitzgerald was also a renown playboy and had a tumultuous life compounded by alcoholism and depression. Only after his death did he become known as a preeminent American literary author. 

• What I Think and Feel at 25: "The main thing is to be your own kind of a darn fool."

Ben Hecht  (1894-1964)

American novelist, short-story writer and playwright Ben Hecht is remembered as one of Hollywood's greatest screenplay writers and may best be remembered for "Scarface," Wuthering Heights" and "Guys and Dolls."

• Fog Patterns : "Yes, we are all lost and wandering in the thick mists. We have no destinations."
• Letters: "You would see a procession of mysterious figures flitting through the streets, an unending swarm of dim ones, queer ones."

Ernest Hemingway  (1899-1961)

American novelist Ernest Hemingway won the 1954 Nobel Prize in Literature for "his mastery of the art of narrative ... and for the influence he has exerted on contemporary style" as demonstrated in his brilliant novel "The Old Man and the Sea."

• American Bohemians in Paris: "The scum of Greenwich Village, New York, has been skimmed off and deposited in large ladles on that section of Paris adjacent to the Café Rotonde."
• Camping Out : "Any man of average office intelligence can make at least as good a pie as his wife."

Martin Luther King Jr.  (1929-1968)

Civil rights activist and minister Martin Luther King Jr., winner of the Nobel Peace Prize in 1964, may be best known for "I Have A Dream," in which he wrote about love, peace, nonviolent activism and equality between all races.

• I Have a Dream : "Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children."
• Reading Quiz on "I Have a Dream"
• Ten Things You Should Know About Dr. King's "I Have a Dream" Speech

Jack London  (1876-1916)

Nineteenth-century American author and journalist Jack London is best known for his adventures "White Fang" and "The Call of the Wild." London published more than 50 books over the last 16 years of his life, including "John Barleycorn," which was somewhat of a memoir about his lifelong battle with alcohol.

• The Somnambulists : "[T]his archdeceiver believes all that they tell him. He reads only the newspapers and magazines that tell him what he wants to be told."
• The Story of an Eyewitness: The San Francisco Earthquake : "Not in history has a modern imperial city been so completely destroyed."
• Reading Quiz on "The San Francisco Earthquake"
• What Life Means to Me : "I accepted that up above me was all that was fine and noble and gracious, all that gave decency and dignity to life."

H.L. Mencken  (1880-1956)

American journalist, activist and editor H.L. Mencken was also a very influential literary critic. His columns were popular not only for their literary criticism, but also for their questioning of popular political, social and cultural views.

• The Hills of Zion : "Dayton was having a roaring time. It was better than the circus."
• The Libido for the Ugly : "Out of the melting pot emerges a race which hates beauty."
• Literature and the Schoolma'm : "The essence of a sound style is that it cannot be reduced to rules."
• The Lower Depths : "The worst idiots, even among pedagogues, are the teachers of English."
• Portrait of an Ideal World : "All the great villainies of history have been perpetrated by sober men, and chiefly by teetotalers."

Christopher Morley  (1890-1957)

American writer Christopher Morley was popular for his literary columns in the "New York Evening Post," among other literary magazines. His many collections of essays and columns were "lighthearted, vigorous displays of the English language." 

• 1100 Words : "Let us be brief, crisp, packed with thought."
• The Art of Walking : "Sometimes it seems as though literature were a co-product of legs and head."
• A Morning in Marathon: "[W]e flashed onto the Hackensack marshes and into the fully minted gold of superb morning."
• On Going to Bed : "The happier creatures ... take the tide of sleep at the flood and are borne calmly and with gracious gentleness out to great waters of nothingness."

George Orwell  (1903-1950)

This British novelist, essayist and critic is best known for his novels "1984" and "Animal Farm." George Orwell's disdain for imperialism (he considered himself an anarchist) guided him in his life as well as through some of his writings.

• A Hanging : "We all began laughing again. ... The dead man was a hundred yards away."
• Why Are Beggars Despised? : "A beggar, looked at realistically, is simply a businessman, getting his living."

Dorothy Parker  (1893-1967)

Witty American poet and short-story writer Dorothy Parker began as an editorial assistant at "Vogue" and eventually became the book reviewer known as the "Constant Reader" for "The New Yorker." Among her hundreds of works, Parker won the 1929 O. Henry Award for her short story "Big Blond."

• Good Souls: "They are fated to go through life, congenial pariahs. They live out their little lives, mingling with the world, yet never a part of it."
• Mrs. Post Enlarges on Etiquette : "As one delves deeper and deeper into  Etiquette , disquieting thoughts come."

Bertrand Russell  (1872-1970)

British philosopher and social reformer Bertrand Russell won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1950 "in recognition of his varied and significant writings in which he champions humanitarian ideals and freedom of thought." Russell was one of the foremost philosophers of the 20th century.

• In Praise of Idleness : "The road to happiness and prosperity lies in an organized diminution of work."

Margaret Sanger  (1879-1966)

American activist Margaret Sanger was a sex educator, nurse and women's rights advocate. She began the first feminist publication, "The Woman Rebel," in 1914. 

• The Turbid Ebb and Flow of Misery: "My own cozy and comfortable family existence was becoming a reproach to me."

George Bernard Shaw  (1856-1950)

An Irish dramatist and critic, George Bernard Shaw was also a socialist propagandist and winner of the 1925 Nobel Prize in Literature (which he didn't receive until 1926) for "his work which is marked by both idealism and beauty." Shaw wrote more than 60 plays during his lifetime.

• Preface to Pygmalion: "It is impossible for an Englishman to open his mouth without making some other Englishman hate or despise him."
• She Would Have Enjoyed It: "Why does a funeral always sharpen one's sense of humor?"
• Why Law Is Indispensable: "Laws deaden the conscience of individuals by relieving them of responsibility."
• The Art of Political Lying : "Considering that natural disposition in many men to lie, and in multitudes to believe, I have been perplexed what to do with that maxim so frequent in everybody's mouth, that truth will at last prevail."
• Hints Toward an Essay on Conversation : "This degeneracy of conversation ... hath been owing, among other causes, to the custom arisen, for sometime past, of excluding women from any share in our society."
• A Meditation Upon a Broomstick : "But a broomstick is an emblem of a tree standing on its head."

Henry David Thoreau  (1817-1862)

American essayist, poet and philosopher Henry David Thoreau is most known for his masterful work, "Walden," about living a life close to nature. He was a dedicated abolitionist and a strong practitioner of civil disobedience.

• The Battle of the Ants : "I never learned which party was victorious, nor the cause of the war."
• The Landlord: "If we do not look up to the Landlord, we look round for him on all emergencies, for he is a man of infinite experience, who unites hands with wit."
• The Last Days of John Brown : "[T]he one great rule of composition--and if I were a professor of rhetoric I should insist on this--is, to  speak the truth ."

James Thurber  (1894-1961)

American author and illustrator James Thurber is best known for his contributions to "The New Yorker." Via his contributions to the magazine, his cartoons became some of the most popular in the United States.

• The Subjunctive Mood : "Husbands are suspicious of all subjunctives. Wives should avoid them."
• Which: "Never monkey with 'which.'"

Anthony Trollope  (1815-1882)

British author Anthony Trollope is best known for his writing in the Victorian Era--some of his work includes a series of novels known as "The Chronicles of Barsetshire." Trollope also wrote on political, social and gender issues.

• The Plumber : "The plumber is doubtless aware that he is odious. He feels himself, like Dickens's turnpike-man, to be the enemy of mankind."

Mark Twain  (1835-1910)

Mark Twain was an American humorist, journalist, lecturer and novelist best known for his classic American novels "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." With his wit and grand telling of tales, Twain is nothing short of an American national treasure. 

• Advice to Youth : "Always obey your parents, when they are present."
• Corn-Pone Opinions : "Tell me whar a man gits his corn pone, en I'll tell you what his 'pinions is."
• The Danger of Lying in Bed : "The danger isn't in traveling by rail, but in trusting to those deadly beds."
• A Fable : "You can find in a text whatever you bring."
• Fenimore Cooper's Literary Offences : " Deerslayer  is just simply a literary delirium tremens."
• The Lowest Animal : "[W]e have descended and degenerated ... till we have reached the bottom stage of development."
• On the Decay of the Art of Lying: "Lying is universal: we all do it; we all must do it."
• Two Ways of Seeing a River : "All the grace, the beauty, the poetry had gone out of the majestic river!"
• Unconscious Plagiarism : "[P]ride protects a man from deliberately stealing other people's ideas."

H.G. Wells  (1866-1944)

British author and historian H.G. Wells is best known for his works of science fiction, including "The Time Machine," "The First Men in the Moon" and "The War of the Worlds." Wells wrote an astounding 161 full-length books. 

• For Freedom of Spelling: The Discovery of an Art: "Why should correct spelling be the one absolutely essential literary merit?"
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Informative Essay Outline – Ultimate Guide & Examples

Amanda Green was born in a small town in the west of Scotland, where everyone knows everyone. I joined the Toastmasters 15 years ago, and I served in nearly every office in the club since then. I love helping others gain confidence and skills they can apply in every day life.

Writing an informative essay requires excellent research skills to educate your audience; I know this from first-hand experience. But creating an outline for your paper is easier said than done. I promise!

I created this guide to show you the correct outline for writing an informative essay with examples. Follow my tips so you can organize your thoughts and ideas.

What Is an Informative Essay?

An informative essay’s purpose is to inform and educate readers on a specific topic. Some reports seek to define a term, while others compare and contrast different objects. Some informative essays analyze data or provide procedures for doing something.

It’s the type of essay that should present something other than an opinion. That means you should omit personal pronouns “I” and “me” on the paper. You should also not persuade your reader in an informative essay.

Informational Essay Outline

Most essays and speeches follow four parts: an introduction, thesis, body, and conclusion. The main purpose is to help the writer connect all the information and support their thesis statement. Below is an outline for an informative essay structure with examples.

• Introduction

The essay introduction is where you introduce the topic of your choice. It should be shorter than the body paragraphs because it merely provides a background of your informative essay topic. Give the readers an overview of the body paragraph.

This part also includes the relevance of your topic. Ask yourself why you are writing about this subject. What makes it timely?

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Here’s an example:

“Tobacco, a plant that contains an addictive drug called nicotine, kills over 8 million people worldwide annually. It occurs as individuals inhale and exhale the burning plant material’s fumes.”

The thesis statement is often part of the introduction. It’s a complete sentence at the end of the first paragraph discussing what the informative essay will inform its readers. The thesis should be brief, concise, and written in simple terms.

For example:

“Smoking is the major cause of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and stroke.”

• Body paragraphs

The main body of the essay includes a paragraph for every supporting detail. Teachers usually require students to have three points in this section. For every target point, the writer should support it with facts.

The target point is also known as the topic sentence. This statement will serve as the basis of the paragraph for cohesion. After that, support the sentence with facts and studies. Don’t forget to cite your sources to avoid plagiarism.

Don’t forget to summarize each point after every body paragraph to tie everything together.

Below is an example of a body paragraph about one target point.

“Smoking can cause cancer because it weakens the body’s immune system or damages a cell’s DNA. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services (2014), nearly 9 out of 10 deaths caused by lung cancer are caused by smoking cigarettes or exposure to second-hand smoke. Although treatments are advancing, it continues killing more people than other types of cancer.”

The informative essay conclusion summarizes the entire essay, highlighting the key points. Here, you should restate your thesis statement and the paper’s purpose. Do not introduce any new ideas or recommendations.

Here is a quick sample informative essay conclusion.

“Smoking is responsible for a majority of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. It increases the risk of cancer, stroke, and diabetes. Nevertheless, people consume it because of the adrenaline rush that creates short-term energy and pleasure. With an effective action plan, anyone can quit this bad habit for good.”

How to Write an Informative Essay: The Writing Process

Now that you know the correct structure of an informative essay, here are some tips for writing one.

Review the Instructions

If you’re writing an informative essay for school, the teacher might have specific instructions for the activity or topic. Find out what you should write about and what they want to read from your paper.

Then, learn the required word and paragraph count. Some professors also have instructions for the writing style guide you should follow.

Formatting guidelines are also common among high school and college professors. Make sure to follow the font style, spacing, and size instructions.

A good essay is about more than just content. Teachers also grade these aspects to help you practice formality in writing. Don’t hesitate to ask questions if you’re unclear about the instructions.

Choose a Narrow Topic

Broad themes like love, weather, music, and technology are not recommended when writing an informative essay. Pick a topic that does not include general knowledge.

Consider smoking, for example. This topic is too broad for a 500-word essay. Try focusing on a subtopic, such as the diseases it causes or why people smoke. Perhaps you can also write about the correlation between smoking and poverty.

Create a Logical Thesis Before Writing the Body

You can only create subtopics for your informative essay if you already have a solid topic and thesis statement. Consider what you want your reader to know and why you choose this subject.

Start with a question in mind and write an initial answer. Research the topic, then formulate a tentative response. Make sure it’s based on facts with credible sources and summarizes your overall exposition. A logical thesis statement for this essay type also doesn’t include an opinion.

Create Several Drafts

Whether you’re asked to submit drafts or not, making several versions of your paper is crucial to ensure its quality. After every draft, you should create a more improved version of it with a better structure and fewer errors.

If you have to submit every draft, the lecturer may write their comments and return the paper for revision. Revising is the process of adding or removing information, fixing sentences, rearranging, or changing your evidence. It helps make your writing more understandable.

Here are some guide questions when revising your informative essay.

• Are some parts of your informative essay in proportion with others?
• Do you spend too much time on general knowledge and less on evidence?
• Does the paper follow the thesis statement?
• Is the formality appropriate?
• Does the essay follow a logical pattern?
• Are all the facts accurate?
• Have you cited all information appropriately?

Write a Successful Conclusion

Your outline for an informative essay should include a successful conclusion. It wraps up what you have been informing your readers. You can take from general to specific information while focusing on restating your topic.

Do not add extra information to your conclusion unless it’s a call to action for possible future research. In general, this part of the essay should restate your thesis statement, explain why the topic is essential, and address your main points.

One tip for writing a successful conclusion is to use your introductory paragraph as a guide. It also contains the thesis statement and main points. So, you can reword it and add a closing sentence. Provide closure to the reader, leaving them with a significant impression.

Proofread Your Paper

Proofreading is the final stage in the essay writing process before submitting your informative paper or persuasive essay. This step is crucial because professors also grade your essay or academic paper based on a technicality in informative writing. Check for grammar, punctuation, formatting, and spelling errors to make your writing more precise and accurate.

Review from the larger aspects of your text to the narrow ones. Check your complex sentence constructions, variety, vocabulary, and repetitive phrases. You also want to review your list of references. Are you using the correct style guide?

Learn More Writing Tips for Essay Writers

Writing an informative essay takes more than just research skills. You also need to ensure clarity, organization, and coherence in your work. Take a moment and read some informative essay examples you can find online. 

The best method to write an informative essay is to have a specific thesis statement which you can expand in the body paragraphs. Revise, edit, and proofread your work before submitting the final draft. I hope my guide and tips helped you on your way!

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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:

Master the Art of Writing an Informative Essay with These 10 Examples

Mar 7, 2023

Mar 7, 2023 | Blog

Informative essays provide information to the readers by free essay writers . The essays can be on any topic but should be clear and concise. The facts in informative essays should be presented logically and with appropriate supporting evidence.

In writing informative essays, avoid using technical words and phrases that might confuse your readers. Instead, explain technical terms by providing their meanings and uses. Remember that your readers will not know anything about your topic, so you must provide some background information.

Using the active voice helps maintain a clear subject-verb relationship in your sentences. The active voice generally makes sentences clearer, shorter, and easier to read. You may also consider using short sentences or bullet points in an informative essay. This will help ensure that your main points are easy for your readers to find and follow.

In general, summarize each paragraph after you have finished writing it. Remember to provide background information about your essay topic so readers can understand it.

Table of Contents

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Structure of an Informative Essay

There are three main parts to any informative essay:

• An introductory paragraph that summarizes the main ideas;
• Body paragraphs- Two or more paragraphs that develop those ideas with examples, details, explanations, and quotations;
• A concluding paragraph restates the main ideas and adds a thought that follows them.

All three essential parts of an essay are important. If you omit any of them, your informative writing will be weaker.

The concluding paragraph is the most important part because it summarizes what you have said. Readers will likely stop reading your essay if you don’t have a good summary. But all three parts are essential to holding together an essay as complex as an informative essay.

1. Introduction

The thesis statement should clarify the main point of the essay. A brief background on the topic can be provided by starting with an interesting fact. This should be followed by an interesting anecdote or quotation related to your chosen topic. The introduction should introduce the essay’s main points, not just summarize what will come later.

2. Body Paragraphs

Each body paragraph should discuss one central point and include three parts:

a. A concise statement about why this point is important;

b. A piece of evidence that supports this point; and

c. Discuss how this evidence proves your point (this can also be called a thesis sentence).

d. A transition sentence that connects the paragraph with the previous paragraph. Please consider the themes and how they relate to the thesis statement.

3. Conclusion

The conclusion should restate your main points, include a relevant quote, and briefly summarize your argument.

For tutoring, check out alchemy on how to craft and structure your informative essay.

How do I Write an Informative Essay?

Informative essays are longer than other essays and often require a good deal of research. They give facts and details, supporting them with evidence and examples. An informative essay provides readers with information about a certain topic. When writing an informative essay, it is important to consider what information you want to include.

So, how do you write an informative essay? Follow these steps for help:

Step 1: Choose a topic

It would help to begin by choosing a topic you know about or have researched thoroughly. You will want to narrow the essay’s focus to provide detailed information. Consider what aspects of the subject will be most interesting or useful for your audience, and focus on these points. Some topics are broad or general enough to be broken down into more specific topics.

You must first figure out a topic to write about, especially if your teacher has not specified it.

Also, pick a topic that is neither too shallow nor too broad – the topic should have adequate resources.

Additionally, your topic should be interesting enough to draw a reader’s attention.

It helps a lot to pick a topic you are familiar with.

Looking at essay samples can help you get ideas for your writing.

And a sample will help you grasp the structure and outline of an informative essay.

Step 2: Do some research

The first step is to research and collect information. What you want to do is to find facts that may be of interest to your reader. You don’t have to go out and investigate something new; review the information you already know about a subject.

Step 3: Draft out an outline of your essay.

Create an outline of your paper. An outline will help you ensure everything you want to say is in the proper order in your paper.

Step 4: Write the final essay

Writing an informative paper is easy if you correctly format it. Start your essay with a thesis statement that expresses your opinion on the subject in one sentence. Next, start writing paragraphs that work to prove your thesis.

Be sure to use different supporting examples in each paragraph. In conclusion, summarize your main points and leave the reader with a strong impression of your essay.

Tips for an Informative Essay

• Make a good introduction to grab your reader’s attention and set the tone for the rest of your paper.
• Use brief transitions from one paragraph to the next.
• Use credible sources, such as books, journal articles, magazines, newspapers, etc.
• Include an interesting fact related to the topic sentence or thesis statement in every paragraph. This will keep the reader interested all the way through!

The Don’ts Of Informative Essays

• Write about something you are not familiar with
• Include too much information – analyze your sources and pick only the most relevant points.
• Submit it without someone else proofreading it – we are usually oblivious to our mistakes.

Top Examples of informative essays topics

Choose an interesting and high-quality essay topic that will appeal to many readers.

A list of possible informative essay topics includes:

• The origin of humankind
• python programming
• The effects of drug addiction
• Human rights
• Causes of poverty
• U.S. stock market
• Procrastination and its effects
• Architecture in Paris
• Biographies
• History of the Titanic
• World poverty
• Foreign cultures
• Dream Interpretation
• Air pollution
• How to open a bank account
• Homelessness
• History of women’s right to vote

Example Essay Titles

Here are some possible titles for inspiration:

• How to Get a Commercial Driver’s License
• Top Three Causes of Global Warming
• A Brief History of Ireland
• The Health Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet
• Why Cleaning Your Air Ducts Is Important
• The Importance of Regular Daily Exercise
• Understanding the Link Between Cholesterol and Heart Disease
• Reducing Carbon Emissions With Alternative Fuels
• Understanding Your Credit Score
• How to Buy a House
• Defining Poverty in the City of Chicago
• Understanding Geothermal Heating and Cooling
• The Many Cost Savings of Hybrid Vehicles
• How to Donate Blood
• Qualifications for Contractors

10+ Informative Essay Examples & Samples in PDF

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The conclusion of your essay should summarize the information in your main body paragraphs. The conclusion paragraph should take a stand on your topic.

Tell the reader what to think by presenting your conclusions as a logical result of your evidence and analysis. You may want to ensure that you address any counterarguments or difficulties with your argument that your audience might raise.

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We guarantee 100% originality, on-time delivery, and the best academic papers our writers write for you. If you want to impress your college professors, order an essay from our academic writing service .

With a passion for helping students navigate their educational journey, I strive to create informative and relatable blog content. Whether it’s tackling exam stress, offering career guidance, or sharing effective study techniques

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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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