steps to an informative essay

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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Litero Blog

Writing Informative Essay: Simple Guide

Sophie Lane

The first step in writing a clear, engaging and educational informative essay is creating an outline. This guide will walk you through completing assignments and developing abilities, from outlining to polishing your final draft—a critical skill for clear communication and academic achievement.

The goal of an informative essay is to teach readers about a topic through the clear and logical presentation of facts. By creating a solid, informative essay outline, you lay the foundation for a compelling and organized piece that effectively conveys your message to your audience. This plan acts as a guide through the writing task and makes sure your essay is cohesive and focused.

We will analyze the main elements of an informative essay and teach you how to create an outline that will position you for success in your writing tasks.

The Structure of an Informative Essay Outline

Introduction

Hook: Engage your audience from the start.
Background information: Provide context
Thesis statement: Outline your key point.

Body Paragraphs

Subject phrase
Supporting evidence
Examination
Transition to the next point
Summarize the main idea.
Summarize main points
Express your views or motivate your audience.

According to the APA , it’s critical to structure your essay with distinct headers and subheadings that lead the reader through your points of contention.

Creating Your Informative Essay Outline

Step 1: Choose Your Topic

Pick an area that grabs your attention while providing numerous trustworthy sources for exploration. Ponder the audience and the extent of your essay during this selection process.

Step 2: Collect data and investigate.

Investigate subject areas through reliable source materials. Record your observations and arrange them to back up your key arguments.

Step 3: Develop Your Thesis Statement

Formulate a focused and punctual thesis that summarizes the primary objective of your paper. This will influence your creation and assist in maintaining a clear focus on your work.

Step 4: Outline Your Main Points

Find around 3 to 5 essential points that prove your thesis. These will establish the foundation for your body sections.

Step 5: Organize Supporting Evidence

Collect appropriate data and ideas to strengthen your position on every main idea.

Step 6: Outline Your Initial and Final Paragraphs

Design a method for introducing your theme and attracting your audience. Outline a persuasive conclusion to emphasize your main themes.

Tips for Writing an Effective Informative Essay

Use clear, concise language
Maintain an objective tone
Offer pertinent demonstrations and proof to back your statements.
Include smooth transitions among paragraphs for better readability.
Cite your sources properly.

Regular Issues and Remedies in Creating an Informative Essay

Challenge: Gathering large quantities of content

Solution: With Litero’s outline tool you can shape a well-organized framework for your informative essay. This feature helps you organize your thoughts and ensure a logical flow of information in your essay outline.

Challenge: Troubles in producing text while drafting the essay

Solution: You can use the AI content suggestions from Litero to get past writer’s block. You can receive ideas for your following sentence or paragraph to sustain your progress in writing the essay.

Challenge: Provide correct references in your informative essay.
Solution: Use the citation generator and sources search tools provided by Litero. This technology simplifies research and aids in giving due credit to your source materials in your essay.
Challenge: Retaining uniqueness in your informative content

Solution: Take advantage of Litero’s AI detection and humanization options to maintain the originality of your essay and steer clear of any AI-generated content-related difficulties.

Improve your informative essay with Litero’s features.

Litero offers a suite of tools designed to streamline your informative essay writing process:

Outline Generator: Quickly create a structured, informative essay outline based on your topic and main points.
AI Content Autosuggest: Receive valuable guidance to break through writer’s block and keep your writing flowing smoothly in your informative essay.
Grammar and Plagiarism Checkers: Keep your informative essay without mistakes and original.
Paraphrase: Adjust how you express ideas to boost clarity and steer clear of repetition in your essay.
Text Formatting: Quickly arrange your informative essay to fit specified style rules.

By utilizing these functions, you can prioritize the creation of remarkable content as Litero oversees the technical elements of crafting your informative essay.

Improving Your Informative Essay

Once you’ve completed your first draft using your informative essay outline, it’s time to refine your work:

Review and Revise: Check your writing to verify each piece of text reinforces your main point and follows a coherent structure.
Edit for Clarity: Activate Litero’s grammar function to find and resolve any issues related to grammar or presentation.
Check for Plagiarism: Submit your essay to Litero’s plagiarism analyzer to make sure every cited reference is acknowledged properly.
Peer Review: Send your essay to your other students for feedback.
Final Edit: Apply feedback-driven changes and give your writing a comprehensive last review.

The first step toward writing a structured, interesting, and instructive piece is to create an informative essay outline. You may enhance your writing and generate superb informative essays by following this approach and using tools such as Litero .

To create an effective informative essay, focus on complete investigation and proper arrangement of concepts. Equipped with experience and useful instruments, you can confidently face any informative essay project.

Whether you’re writing about a complex scientific concept, a historical event, or a current social issue, the skills you develop in creating informative essay outlines will serve you well in all your future writing endeavors. Pick your theme and activate Litero to start sketching your upcoming informative piece now!

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