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How to Write an Informal Essay: A Beginners' Guide

A typical academic essay is serious writing. It is serious because it is often well-researched and written formally. The typical informal essay is the exact opposite of this.

It is often not researched at all and is written in a casual tone. Furthermore, it is commonly written for enjoyment rather than serious discourse. And for that reason, it is a non-fiction essay that does not follow the writing conventions and is purely based on the author's reasons, reflections, and ideas.

In this guide, you will discover everything crucial you need to know to write a brilliant informal essay.

What is an informal essay?

An informal essay is an essay that is written for enjoyment rather than to argue or support a thesis with scholarly evidence. The essay is usually personal in nature and based on memory. A good example of an informal essay is The happiest day of my life.

To write this essay, you simply need to recall the happiest day of your life and then write about it chronologically. As you can see, you don't have to do much research to write an informal essay.

The fact that an informal essay is written for enjoyment does not mean that it does not have a set structure. The typical informal essay is a five-paragraph essay with three key parts introduction, body, and conclusion. In terms of word count, the essay is often between 700 and 1,000 words long. The only thing informal about it is the fact that it does not need serious research. Moreover, unlike most essays, the informal can be written in a casual or conversational tone. This means that it can be written in the first and second person.

In most cases, informal essays are written for consumption by the author to show their creativity, journal an experience, or release emotions through writing pieces.

Structure of an Informal Essay

Like most college students, you are probably used to following the five-paragraph essay structure that most professors recommend for formal essays . While using this structure to write your informal essay is okay, it is not necessary. The rationale for this is that the informal essay is informal and doesn't follow any rigid structure.

Informal essays involve subjective opinions or ideas through prose. Some common examples of informal essays include impromptu speeches, diary entries, journals, social media posts, personal essays, and personal notes.

While the informal essay does not have a rigid structure or format, it must include four elements topic, introduction, body, and conclusion.

The informal essay must have a title. It might be informal and without a structure, but it must have a title, and the title must be specific. By giving your informal essay a title, you are basically creating a compass that you can always refer to when writing your essay to ensure you are in the right direction. If, for example, you want to argue a point but are unsure whether it deserves to be in your essay, you can refer to your title to evaluate its importance. If the point helps to contribute to your title, you should include it in your essay. If it doesn't, you should quickly ignore it.

2. Introduction

The informal essay must have an introduction . In other words, it must simply have a paragraph presenting what you will discuss in the body section. When writing the introduction of an informal essay, there is no specific formula to follow. The only thing that you must do is to make the introduction as interesting as possible. You can do this using a relevant quote, an interesting fact, or a related statistic.

In the body of your informal essay, you must go all out to tell the story you set out to tell in the introduction. You must do the title justice; you must make sure that anyone who reads your essay will agree that what you discuss or talk about in the body section is exactly what they expected. While there is no specific structure to follow when writing the body paragraphs of your informal essay, the best way to write them is chronological. This is because chronologically written paragraphs are easy to follow.

4. Conclusion

After writing your essay, you must write the conclusion part of your essay. The conclusion is usually the easiest part to write when writing an essay. This is because all you need to do is to summarize what you have written in the body section or body paragraphs. After doing this, you simply need to end your essay with a powerful closing sentence to complete it.

The Steps to Take to Write an Informal Essay

An informal essay is written in a conversational tone, which is laid-back, entails breaking academic writing rules, and sounds like everyday communication. You can use informal transition words, short sentences, contractions, common and cliché words, adages, expressions, and personal examples.

Here are the steps to take if assigned to write an informal essay.

1. Choose a topic

When you are asked to write an informal essay, you are normally allowed to choose your own topic. If this is the case, you should choose a topic that is very interesting to you. Because by doing so, the fact that the topic is interesting to you will result in you naturally writing an interesting essay. And interesting is what you want your informal essay to be to get a top grade.

Below the informal essay sample that follows this guide is a list of exciting informal essay topics. This list should inspire you to develop your own exciting informal essay topic; a topic that will make your essay interesting.

2. Create an outline for your informal essay

After choosing an interesting or exciting topic, you should create an outline for your informal essay . An essay outline is an essay writing plan. It highlights what you will include in the introduction section, the body section, and the conclusion section of your essay. To create an outline, provide a short summary of what you will include in your introduction paragraph, your three body paragraphs, and your conclusion paragraph.

But how do you know what you will include in your informal essay paragraphs? Well, it depends. If you are writing an informal essay based on a personal experience topic, you must recall as many details as possible about the experience to plan your essay. If you are writing an informal essay based on an academic topic, you will need thorough research to find as many details as possible about the topic to plan your essay.

3. Write the first draft of your essay

After creating a comprehensive outline for your informal essay, you should write the first draft of your essay. Do this by first writing your essay introduction. After writing your essay introduction, you should write its body paragraphs and the conclusion.

Writing the first draft of your informal essay after creating an outline for it should be a relatively straightforward job. You need to follow the outline like a map and use information from it to begin and structure your paragraphs.

The body paragraphs of an informal essay should each express your main message, perspective, or point of view. You can use persuasive writing skills to convince your readers. It would help to think of the topic as a forum thread where you defend your personal views against opposing opinions. Therefore, you must develop resilient supportive facts to defend your stance.

When developing the body paragraphs, you are allowed to use informal language. You should write short, clear, concise sentences, as long formulations are boring and misleading. You should center your discussions around some emotional vibe, express your personality, and write with vigor and respect.

Following your outline will make your informal essay well-organized and structured. However, it won't guarantee flow in your essay. You will have to create a flow with your writing and transition words. Also, it won't automatically give your essay a conversational and laid-back tone. You have to do this on your own using conversational words and writing.

Related Articles:

• Using I in an essay.
• How to format paragraphs for better readership.
• Steps to come up with a great thesis statement.

4. Edit your essay

After writing the first draft of your essay, you should edit it thoroughly. Do this by reading it to eliminate ambiguous and unclear words and statements. After reading it to eliminate unclear words, you should read it to remove all types of grammatical and punctuation errors.

The next thing you need to do with regard to editing your essay is to review it one more time using Grammarly.com or similar software. This will help you to catch the errors you may have missed and to correct them.

After proofreading your essay using Grammarly.com, it will be ready for submission.

Informal Essay Example

Title: Benefits of living in a remote location They say no man is an island. While living in a community surrounded by friends and neighbors is a good thing with many benefits, living alone in a remote location also has its benefits. I have been living alone in a remote Pacific island for the last eight months, and the experience has been bliss. The island has a single cabin research station with basic amenities and a satellite connection. The nearest settled island is over 500 kilometers away. I had doubts when I first stepped on the island. I thought I wouldn't last long. However, this has obviously not been the case. My stay on this island has been quite amazing. I have enjoyed many benefits, including improved mental health, improved safety, and a low cost of living. When I was living in Sydney, Australia, I was in a bad place mentally because I felt a lot of pressure to succeed. I also felt depressed and was frequently on depression medication. Living in a remote location has changed all this. I no longer feel any pressure. I no longer feel depressed or miserable. Just about every day is a good day nowadays. I wake up, check equipment, spend hours on the beach, and eat fresh food I grow in the station's garden. I feel amazing mentally. I feel like a new person because life is so slow-paced on this island and devoid of the pressures of city life. Regarding safety, I believe living alone on a remote island is much safer than living in a big town or city. I feel safer on this island because there is literally no one around to cause me harm. I do not have to look over my shoulder when walking, sleeping, or doing anything on this isolated island. I also have no reason to watch the news, so I am not exposed to the constant reports of insecurity that city dwellers are exposed to. Not being exposed to constant reports of insecurity makes me feel even safer. Furthermore, in case of any emergency, there is an emergency number I can call at any time of the day to request urgent help. Lastly, regarding the cost of living, living isolated on a remote island is much cheaper than city or town living. I literally do not pay any rent on this island. I also grow much of my own food, and supplies are brought to me biweekly. Furthermore, I do not pay taxes and am not exposed to constant adverts that force city dwellers to make impulse purchases. And even if I want to purchase something, I wouldn't because it probably wouldn't have much use on a remote, isolated island. In conclusion, living in a remote location is very beneficial. If you choose to do this, you will be happier, safer, and less stressed financially. I can only equate it to living in paradise.

Informal Essay Topics

Below are some informal essay topics you can use as inspiration to come up with your own informal essay topic if asked to choose your own topic by your professor.

• The best meals in our college cafeteria
• Celebrities who are excellent role models
• My religion and why I love it
• My thoughts on marriage and divorce
• The best day in my college life
• The most embarrassing incident in my life
• How parents can understand their children better
• Why my mother is the most important person to me
• The most famous African American inventors
• Entrepreneurs who changed the world
• Alcoholism among teenagers
• Why home education is bad
• Elon Musk and life on Mars
• The Illuminati and other conspiracy theories
• Legal migration and its benefits
• Mental health in the USA
• Communism and its benefits
• The United Nations and its failures
• Gender violence in California
• Freedom of speech around the world
• The effects of sanctions on Cuba
• Education during the peak of the pandemic
• East African culture
• Why the death penalty should be abolished everywhere
• Abortion and the right to life
• What would I do if I became a millionaire overnight?
• Why soccer is the most popular sport in the world
• The pros and cons of video gaming
• The Second Amendment and its protections
• Why I would like to become a doctor
• Why I love intermittent fasting
• How I won a half marathon when undergoing chemotherapy
• Lessons from my close friend who betrayed me
• How I plan to win the next marathon
• The car I love most
• My dream job
• Places I would like to visit
• Why I love my step-dad
• The last day at my first job

Dos and don'ts when writing an informal essay

• Do write your essay in the first person. This will make it clearly informal and casual. It will also make it read much better.
• Do write short sentences. Long sentences will make your essay difficult to read. In contrast, short sentences will make your writing easier to read and more casual (which is something you want when writing an informal essay).
• Do rewrite your essay. After writing your informal essay, you should read through it to make it flawless. Do this by editing or rewriting anything that appears out of place in your essay.
• Do proofread your essay. After you are done improving the flow of your essay, you should read it one more time to ensure it has zero grammar, punctuation, and formatting errors.
• Do ensure your essay is chronological. While it is unnecessary to make your informal essay chronological, making it chronological will make it easy to read and understand.
• Do use humor. It is okay to use humor in an informal essay. But you should only do it sparingly to avoid making your essay sound like a comedy script.
• Do use conversational language. Using conversational language will make your article to read like a blog, which is a good thing when writing an informal essay. But do not go overboard with conversational language. It could make your essay difficult to understand.
• Do read any informal essay examples. Before you write your informal essay, you should try to find and read informal essay examples online. This will help to make it easy for you to write your essay because it shows you the pattern you need to follow.
• Do let your personality show. If you have a way of expressing your ideas, arguments, and so on, you should let your personality show in your writing. Let your writing be as unique as it can be. Do not try to make your essay look or even feel academic. Just write it as you would write a blog to be read by a friend. This will help make your essay delightfully informal.                                                                                                                     
• Don't forget to ensure a good flow throughout. While an informal essay doesn't have a set structure, it must have a good flow. Therefore, you should ensure your essay is understandable throughout.
• Don't forget to edit your essay. The best informal essays are flawless ones. So after writing your essay, you should read it severally to edit it and ensure it is flawless.
• Don't make it formal. When writing informal essays, many students usually use the conventional academic language they use in formal essays. This is not right. You should try hard to make your essay as flawless as possible.
• Don't forget to include a thesis . At the end of your introduction, you should have a thesis statement, and your entire essay should be centered on this statement. A thesis is what distinguishes an informal essay from a blog article.
• Don't include weak arguments. It is important to ensure that your essay only contains strong arguments. Doing this will ensure you get a top grade. If you include weak arguments, you risk getting an average grade.

Parting Words!

Writing a good informal essay is not an easy job. It will require you to know the structure and style you must follow when writing an informal essay. Fortunately, you now know these two things. You also know exactly how to go about writing an informal essay. So go ahead and write yours. If you get stuck at any point, hire us to help you.

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Informal Essays: Your Personal Writing Playground

Table of contents

• 1 What Is an Informal Essay Writing
• 2.1 Flexibility in Topic Selection
• 2.2 Tailoring Your Writing to the Audience
• 2.3 Generate Ideas and Insights
• 2.4 Format of an Informal Essay
• 3.1 Add a Personal Voice
• 3.2 Maintain Authenticity
• 3.3 Infuse Your Unique Style
• 3.4 Use Contractions
• 3.5 Address the Reader Directly
• 3.6 Playing With Punctuation
• 3.7 Experimentation With Sentence Structure
• 4 So, How to Come Up with an Informal Essay?

Every student writes an essay from time to time while studying at university. In academic writing, essays are often associated with formality, structure, and a rigid set of rules. However, not all essays adhere to this austere template. Writing informal essays is a versatile and liberating form of written expression. It allows the author to break free from the constraints of conventional essay writing.

This article will help you understand:

• how to make an engaging essay;
• differences between formal essay and informal essay;
• what must be included in your paper;
• principles of college essay informal writing.

If you already have a topic for writing an informal essay, you can follow this guide to complete the assignment in the best possible way.

What Is an Informal Essay Writing

An informal essay definition says that it is a piece of nonfiction writing that conveys the author’s thoughts, emotions, and ideas on a particular subject. It’s not like a formal essay. It adopts a casual and approachable tone as if the author were engaged in a friendly conversation with the reader or a sarcastic tone at some questions.

If teachers want this type of essay from you, they are interested in your attitude to a specific issue, experiences, and thoughts. Therefore, feel free to describe them, and don’t be afraid to make a mistake.

How to Write an Informal Essay?

Writing an informal paper does not require strict standards. However, several rules make working with this type of task easier. They help students quickly produce high-quality informal essays and be satisfied with the results. Next, we will analyze these rules in more detail.

Flexibility in Topic Selection

First, let’s determine how to choose the right topic for your essay. It is easy to do if you are interested in the subject on which you have been asked to write a paper. Therefore, experts recommend choosing a topic according to one of the categories:

• Personal Reflections and Experiences. Here, you can describe your experience, how you found yourself in certain circumstances, what it gave you, and why it is essential to deal with the chosen issue.
• Current Events and Pop Culture. Current events and pop culture also evoke different emotions in each of us. Moreover, current events and culture influence the development of the community as a whole. Therefore, an essay on one of these topics can be exciting and helpful to write.
• Observations and Anecdotes. Usually, the anecdotes reflect some hot topic in the community, and your observations are happening to you right now. Therefore, an essay topic chosen based on anecdotes or observations may express some pressing social issue.

Formal essays have strict rules and a formal tone. Informal essays are not so tough. Formal essays have their laws and strict rules. Informal essays are not so strict. In a formal essay, you need figures and research. In an informal essay, it is not necessary.

Tailoring Your Writing to the Audience

Have you ever heard of speaking to an audience in their language? For example, if you are writing a paper a professor will read, they will want to see formal language, numbers and data, and scientific conclusions. If a child will read the finished text, you must write in simple phrases, informal language, and words. You can choose direct contact with the reader and keep the message clear.

Think about the informal tone and what words and arguments are appropriate for your informal essays, and stick to these rules.

Generate Ideas and Insights

Writing an informal essay is about embracing creativity and sharing your unique perspective. Do you struggle with how to start an informal essay? Here are some tips to help you generate ideas and insights for your informal essay:

• Reflect on personal experiences.
• Look at your everyday life.
• Ask thought-provoking questions.
• Read widely.
• Make conversation and dialogue.
• Use mind mapping.
• Think about emotions and feelings.

Format of an Informal Essay

A formal paper has strict formatting rules , but an informal essay does not. Therefore, every student who receives an assignment to write an informal essay has a question: What should it look like? What is the primary objective?

Typically, there is no common outline of an essay . The informal essay outline can consist of five paragraphs: introduction, thesis statement, body paragraphs, research or arguments, and conclusion. However, the structure can vary depending on what you’re writing about and what information you need to give readers to explain your point. So, don’t be afraid to create your structure for an informal essay.

Tips and Techniques for Informal Writing

If you have never written informal texts or papers, the following tips will help you finish your work quickly and efficiently. Just follow step by step and perfect your paper.

Add a Personal Voice

An informal essay reflects your experiences and emotions, so first, decide how you will write an informal conversational essay and choose a conversational tone. You can describe your experiences, thoughts, facts, and your attitude. You can write with a cohesive flow and clearly with a thesis statement or choose a more artistic style. Don’t be afraid to write “I believe,” “I think,” etc. It will make the reader feel like they are exploring your experience. Your voice is, well, unique. Thus, don’t try to mimic someone else’s style. Embrace your natural way of expressing thoughts and ideas. It’s your authenticity that will connect with your readers.

Maintain Authenticity

One of the defining features of an informal essay is its authenticity. It’s your opportunity to be real, genuine, and authentic to yourself. Here’s why and how you should maintain authenticity in your informal essay:

1. Be honest: Authenticity begins with honesty. Share your thoughts, feelings, and experiences, even if they make you vulnerable. Honesty connects your readers, who can relate to your genuine voice.

2. Embrace imperfections: Nobody is perfect, and that’s perfectly fine. Refrain from presenting a flawless image. Embrace your imperfections and the lessons they’ve taught you. It’s these imperfections that often make your story more relatable and compelling.

3. Write from the heart: Let your emotions guide your writing. If a topic evokes strong feelings, express them. Writing from the heart can be powerful and moving, drawing readers into your narrative.

Infuse Your Unique Style

When you incorporate your style into your writing, it reflects your personality, voice, and perspective. Your writing voice is like your literary fingerprint. It’s the tone, style, and personality that make your writing distinctive.

Personal experiences and conversational style are a goldmine for infusing your writing with authenticity. Draw on your life experiences, whether joyous, challenging, or reflective.

Part of infusing your style is the revision process. Edit your work with a critical eye. Remove unnecessary clutter and refine your sentences. Sometimes, your unique style emerges during the editing stage.

Use Contractions

Contractions are shortened forms or combinations of words created by omitting one or more letters and replacing them with an apostrophe. They help make the site informal, lively, and more understandable because no one communicates in complex scientific language. If you want your essay to be simple, understandable, and appealing to your readers, use contractions.

Address the Reader Directly

In informal essays, building a dialogue with the reader is crucial. It makes the reader feel like an active participant in the essay as if you’re speaking directly to them. And the narrative is more personal. By directly addressing the reader, you capture their attention and maintain their interest. Readers will likely be engaged and invested in your essay when they feel personally acknowledged.

Additionally, when you address the reader directly, you prompt them to think about the main idea and reflect on the topic alongside you. It creates a dynamic interaction where you’re presenting information and inviting the reader to ponder and respond.

Playing With Punctuation

In the writing world, punctuation isn’t just about rules and structure; it’s a versatile tool that can infuse your informal essay with personality, rhythm, and emphasis. Here’s an example of how to play with punctuation to add flavor to your writing process:

• to add energy: “What a beautiful day to hike!”
• to add some pauses: “I thought about it… and then I realized…”
• to make some alternatives: “The decision ─ difficult yet inevitable ─ weighed on my mind.”
• to add additional information: “The concert (which, by the way, was incredible) left me awestruck.”
• to create a specific rhythm: “In the morning, I brew coffee, take a deep breath, and start my day.”
• to explain something:  “Here’s the secret to success: hard work, determination, and a positive attitude.”

Experimentation With Sentence Structure

Experimenting with the arrangement of words and phrases can breathe life into your writing, making it engaging. Here’s how to play with sentence structure and some informal essay examples to inspire you:

• Short and Punchy Sentences: “She opened the door. There it was, her childhood teddy bear, sitting on the shelf.”
• Long and Flowing Sentences: “As I strolled down the cobblestone streets, the scent of blooming flowers filled the air, casting a warm golden hue over everything, made me feel like I was in a dream.”
• Parallel Structure: “She liked to read, to write, and to dream.”
• Repetition: “The storm raged on and on, relentless and unforgiving.”
• Rhetorical Questions: “Why do we hold on to memories, even when they bring pain?”
• Emphasizing With Fronting: “In the heart of the city, I found solace.”
• Interrupted Sentences: “I was so excited about the trip, but then…life got in the way.”

As you can see, work on the informal paper and its structure differ from the formal essay structure .

So, How to Come Up with an Informal Essay?

As you already understand, informal essays have no hard-and-fast rules. It makes it complex and simple at the same time. It is simple because you can meet a few requirements for your familiar essay to be high quality. And it is complicated because you must try to make it attractive and practical. If you are looking for essays for sale , be careful because the paper must show your personality.

The main thing is to understand these few rules. They will help you achieve your goal more easily:

• Use your writing style and share your thoughts.
• Choose an exciting topic that fascinates you and evokes something to say.
• Share your arguments and conclusions so the reader understands your idea and main point.

Experiment, add your thoughts, and make your essay unsurpassed!

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How to write an informal essay

• April 6, 2022

An informal essay is quite different from other types of essays . In an informal essay, you’re writing as if you are talking to a friend. You do not need to engage in a strict  academic writing process , but you should still avoid sloppiness.

• In a formal essay, you expresses your ideas quietly behind the words.
• In an informal essay, you talk to the reader in a conversational manner.

Formal and informal essays

In order to understand the difference between a formal and informal essay more clearly, let’s look at the table below.

Now that we know the general rules and definitions of an informal essay, let’s continue with the steps to write a great one.

Choose an informal essay topic

This is generally the first step of any essay writing process unless you are pre-assigned a topic already. An informal essay gives you a great opportunity in this step; you can write an informal essay on almost any topic . Here are some tips for you.

Informal essay topic tips

• Choose a topic you have knowledge and are excited about.
• Find inspiration from your own personal experiences.​
• Just think about what you like to talk about the most, and you have your topic. ​

When choosing a topic:

Put the list away for an hour after you’ve created it. Return to it later. Most probably, one topic will stand out to you more. Then, you can write about that topic. For this how-to guide, we are choosing the topic “ why I stopped eating meat ”.

Create an outline

An informal essay does not need to follow a strict structure . However, it should still be coherent. Therefore, your outline does not need to be strict either. Just create one to help organize your thoughts.

Example of an informal essay outline

• Thesis statement
• Referring to reader
• Address to the reader
• Concluding sentence

Informal essay outline best practices

• Remember you still need to do research while writing an informal essay.
• Put together your research results in your outline so that your writing process becomes way easier. ​
• Make sure to detail each part of the essay before writing, so you can write much faster.​

Write an introduction

Now, you start the actual writing process. In the introduction of an informal essay, you can basically follow the traditional introduction guide . 

Informal essay introduction example

Informal essay introduction best practices.

Before writing an introduction, you must first create an idea, identify a purpose, and collect information for the project.  The introduction also should contain a thesis statement .

Remember this type of essay is characterized by the inclusion of the writer’s viewpoint on the chosen topic , so be sure to declare your stance clearly.

Write the body paragraphs

Informal essay paragraphs example, tips for informal essay paragraphs.

• You can write the main body of your essay using cliches, idioms, and even jargon. Don't forget every paragraph needs a topic sentence .
• This is not a particularly academic type of paper; therefore, avoid sentences that are too long and complicated.​
• To create a connection with the reader, it’s important to use a relaxed tone, transition words , and transition sentences . ​
• Simple, quick, readable sentences and the use of various intonations will provide the essay with the necessary emotional context.​
• This is a basic rule: write in a language that your professor can comprehend. That is to say, even if this is an informal assignment, it should still be readable.​

Important tip

Write a conclusion.

In the conclusion paragraph , you will need to summarize your main points and make a clear final comment.

Informal essay conclusion example

Informal essay conclusion tips.

• Don’t make your conclusion repetitive.
• Just quickly list the key points of conversation to leave a lasting impact on the reader. ​
• You want them to remember and think about what you’re saying. ​

5-Paragraph Informal Essay Example

Game of Thrones: A World of Fantasy and Intrigue

Introduction

Body paragraphs, key takeaways.

• An informal essay is a type of essay that is written in a conversational style and often includes personal anecdotes and opinions.
• To write an informal essay, you should choose a topic that you are passionate about and write in a voice that is natural and engaging.
• Begin your essay with a clear introduction that hooks the reader and provides context for your topic.
• Use personal anecdotes, humor, and other storytelling techniques to illustrate your points and engage the reader.
• End your essay with a conclusion that summarizes your main points and provides a final reflection on your topic.

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Guide: How to write an informal essay

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• Subject area(s): Types of essay
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Understanding Informal Essays

An informal essay, unlike most formal academic essays, puts the writer and maybe even the audience front and center. This type of essay is characterized by a personal tone, conversational style, and the freedom to explore various topics in a less structured format. An informal essay can cover a variety of topics and may overlap with other essay types such as the persuasive essay. How the informal essay is approached will depend on the topic.

Informal Essay Topics

Informal essay topics may be assigned or may be up to the writer. A narrative about some important event in a writer’s life might be the topic for an informal essay. An essay about personal goals is another common topic for informal college-level essay writing. The scope of topics for informal essays is enormous, ranging from examining controversial issues to more creative essays that ask the writer to imagine being president for a term or what historical time period would be interesting to visit. The flexibility in choosing topics allows the writer to explore areas of personal interest and engage the reader with unique perspectives and insights.

In an informal essay, a writer is more likely to use something called an implied thesis. With an implied thesis, the writer may not include a single statement that tells the main idea of the essay. However, the essay’s main idea will be apparent to the reader either from the beginning or over the course of reading the essay. Even if the paper does not include a thesis statement, the writer should have a clear idea of the essay’s main idea. It’s possible, of course, that the thesis may only be clear to the writer after completing the first draft. When this happens, subsequent drafts can be made with the implied thesis in mind.

An informal essay shares many characteristics with more formal essays. Paragraphs still must be well-organized and focused. If the essay is an informal argument essay, the writer can rely more on opinion and emotion than fact, but those opinions still must be developed and supported. As with all writing, specific examples to illustrate the writer’s points and concrete rather than abstract language will make for a stronger essay.

For instance, in an informal essay about a memorable trip, the writer could describe specific incidents, dialogues, and feelings experienced during the trip. This makes the essay vivid and engaging. An informal essay about a controversial topic, such as climate change , might include personal reflections, anecdotes, and opinions, along with some factual information to support the writer’s viewpoint.

In some ways, however, an informal essay may differ a great deal from a formal essay. For an informal narrative essay, for example, a writer may use many techniques we associate with fiction, including dialogue. There is scope for greater creativity in an informal essay, and the personality of the writer can shine through. The use of humor, wit, and personal anecdotes can make an informal essay particularly engaging and relatable.

Point of View

In formal essay writing, “I” and “you” are rarely, if ever, used. However, both of these are permissible in informal essay writing. Writers may not only talk about themselves, but they may address readers directly as well. The trick here is to be consistent with the point of view. Writers should avoid beginning a sentence with one point of view and changing halfway through. Here’s an example of a sentence that begins in third person (“a person”) and changes to second person (“you”):

“A person should be careful about reading up on new flight rules before you board a plane.”

Here’s how that sentence could be rewritten so the point of view is consistent:

“You should be careful about reading up on new flight rules before you board a plane.”

The use of personal pronouns can make the essay feel more direct and intimate, helping to establish a connection with the reader. It allows the writer to express personal thoughts and feelings more freely, making the essay more engaging.

The tone of an informal essay is typically more relaxed and conversational than that of a formal essay. While maintaining clarity and coherence, the writer has the freedom to use a more casual style of writing. This can include colloquial language, humor, and expressions of personal opinion. However, it’s important to strike a balance between informality and professionalism. The essay should still be well-organized and thoughtful, with a clear structure and purpose.

Structuring the Essay

Even though the essay is informal, it should still have a clear structure. Typically, this includes an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.

Introduction

The introduction of an informal essay should set the stage for the topic being discussed. It can be more engaging and less rigid than a formal essay introduction. The writer might start with an anecdote, a question, or a personal reflection to draw the reader in. The introduction should provide some context for the topic and hint at the main idea or purpose of the essay.

Body Paragraphs

Each body paragraph should focus on a specific point or aspect of the topic. The paragraphs should be well-organized and coherent, with clear topic sentences and supporting details. In an informal essay, the body paragraphs can include personal stories, reflections, and observations. The writer can use a more flexible structure, allowing for digressions and explorations of related ideas.

The conclusion for some types of informal essay may differ a bit from more formal essays. If the informal essay is a narrative essay, in which a story is told about the writer’s life, the conclusion should be less about summing up the main points of the essay and more about putting the story in perspective. The writer should discuss what was learned from the incident and place it in context. This provides a sense of closure and reflection, leaving the reader with a final thought or insight.

Revising and Editing

Even though the essay is informal, it should be polished and free from errors. Revising and editing are crucial steps in the writing process. The writer should review the essay for clarity, coherence, and consistency. It’s important to ensure that the essay flows well and that the main idea is clear throughout. Seeking feedback from peers or mentors can provide valuable insights and help improve the essay.

Practical Tips for Writing an Informal Essay

• Choose an Engaging Topic: Select a topic that interests you and that you feel comfortable writing about. Personal stories and reflections often make for engaging informal essays.
• Be Yourself: Let your personality shine through in your writing. Use a conversational tone and express your thoughts and feelings openly.
• Use Clear and Concrete Language: Avoid abstract language and provide specific examples to illustrate your points. This makes your essay more vivid and engaging.
• Maintain Consistent Point of View: Ensure that you use a consistent point of view throughout the essay. Avoid switching between first, second, and third person.
• Revise and Edit: Review your essay for clarity, coherence, and consistency. Correct any grammatical errors and ensure that your essay flows well.

Writing an informal essay allows the writer to express themselves more freely and engage the reader with a personal tone and conversational style. By choosing an engaging topic, being true to your voice, and maintaining a clear structure, you can create an informal essay that is both enjoyable to write and to read. Whether you are sharing a personal story, reflecting on a significant event, or discussing a controversial issue, the informal essay provides a unique opportunity to connect with your audience on a more personal level.

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How To Write An Informal Essay | Steps and Format of Informal Essay Writing

April 10, 2023 by Prasanna

How To Write An Informal Essay: What Is An Informal Essay? A piece of writing, written for pleasure, is known as an informal essay or article. An informal piece can range from a blog to a diary entry. It is the simplest kind of essay since you can write whatever you want.

An informal essay is written for the love of writing. You should follow certain rules during formal writing which include specific structures and a particular pattern. An informal essay consists of none of these things. You can use whatever structure pleases you. You can change the paragraph if you want to, or not.

There is no compulsion when it comes to an informal essay. An informal essay is written to organise your thoughts. You can write an informal essay since you want people to hear it, like in a blog, or you can write it for your future self. This piece of writing is very freeing.

You can also find more  Essay Writing  articles on events, persons, sports, technology and many more

There are no boundaries and limits within which you much abide. There is a lot of freedom to be explored. There are no terms that are required in this piece. You can use colloquial language which you otherwise could not in any other form of article. An informal essay though has no limits; it is advised not to write any terms that might hurt others. Though everyone has written more informal essays in their life than formal essays, we are familiar with the structure of a formal essay more than an informal one.

A formal essay has a definite five-paragraph structure, with one introductory paragraph, two body paragraphs and one concluding portion. We have written many informal essays without knowing the term.

Both types of papers are written for various purposes. An informal essay also has a few classifications, but just as the name suggests, informal and formal articles are the complete opposite of each other. Although the name of this type of article is informal, you will still be graded on it, you should not take it lightly. Think about what your purpose is through the writing of this article.

You could want to convince the readers about something, like in a persuasive essay without the formality. You can also convey some information like in an informative essay but without a strict structure. You should be focused on your goal while writing an informal article.

Steps Of Writing An Informal Essay

• Select a Topic

Select a Topic: The first thing you should focus on is finding an appropriate topic. If it is a school or college project, you will get the subject from your teacher or your professor in most cases.

In case, they don’t provide you with a topic, select a generalised topic or a recent event which is still fresh in the mind of people.

Choose something which has impacted you in some ways. Since it is an informal essay, you are required to speak your mind. Be honest with your opinion, and your readers will surely catch the vibe of your article.

Research: If you venture to speak about a recent incident that has impacted you, you will need some research to fill up the essay.

An informal essay does not only mean you can write whatever you want. People will be more intrigued by your story if they know some background facts about the subject. Adding some basic information is an excellent way of making a template on which you can add your individualism.

You can be humorous or sarcastic, or jolly in your tone. The best thing to do is to provide the readers with the immediate context. They can then connect with your creative writing easily.

Outline: Though it is an informal article, you should consider writing a rough outline of the subject. An outline not only helps you to organise your thoughts, but it also helps to arrange your train of thoughts in the right path.

It also helps you to arrange your essay in such a way that your essay has a smooth flow or rhythm to it. You will be able to visualise what the best order or arranging the information should be.

Thoughts come in form random directions, but you can discipline them with an outline. You are recommended not to skip this step.

The easiest way of outlining is by jotting down whatever comes into your mind; this is also called brainstorming. The next step is to number the points and arrange them in a particular order. This gives you the basic outline.

You can further polish your outline, but it might be unnecessary for most people.

These points will guide you to frame your article in a simplified manner.

Informal Essay Writing Format

A formal essay follows the well known five-paragraph structure. Though there is no compulsion of following this format, it is best to stick with the basic structure.

Introduction: The beginning of any essay should be with an introduction. Give a brief context for your readers about the subject of your article here. You can make it highly creative with the use of humour or sarcasm. But it would help if you kept them in limit since after all it will be read by your teachers and professors.

You can share the information, but it is best not to be overly formal about it. Tell your readers what your intention is for writing the essay. Even though it is informal, don’t use any slangs. Near the end of the introduction, you should add a thesis statement.

A thesis statement is used to give the readers an overview of the entire essay in one or two lines. Since you don’t need to be formal, there is no need for beating around the bush. You can head straight to the main topic in your body paragraphs.

Body Paragraphs: In the body paragraphs, you need to describe your concerns about your subject. The outline you have drawn will guide you with your content of the article. The paragraphs should be well organised and focused. You can rely on more opinions and emotions in an informal essay.

They should still contain facts that can back up your claims. Use abstract and straightforward language in an informal essay. There is a lot of area for individualistic adventures here. You can paint a vivid picture of your subject by appealing to the readers’ emotions and senses. Your personality should shine through in these essays. Be yourself and write about what you feel and why you feel them.

The facts which have moved you will also move the readers. Use prominent transition terms like even though, similarly, on the other hand, etc. You should finish a paragraph by introducing the next. The use of this technique makes your article smooth. Please provide details about how your matter looks or how it appeals to you. Your point of view is the most crucial context for an informal essay.

Conclusion on How To Write An Informal Essay

At the end of the discussion, you have to write a conclusion. You can reinstate the thesis statement here. You can add humor, in conclusion, to make it light-hearted. Re-highlight the crucial points again to refresh the memory of your readers.

You can add a clinching statement here so that the context of the article remains with your readers for a long duration after reading it. In the end, add some personal, funny stories to lighten the readers’ moods.

FAQ’s On How To Write An Informal Essay

Question 1. What is the difference between formal and informal essays?

Answer: The differences between formal and informal writings are numerous—the word informal means the exact opposite of formal.

Question 2. What to do at the end of an informal essay?

Answer: After writing the conclusion, you have finally completed the informal essay. The next best thing that should be done is to proofread the entire writing. See if it can be improved at any point.

Add the correct punctuations wherever required. Cross out repetitive statements from your essay to not make it tedious. If possible, try to get someone to read your essay and ask for their honest opinion. They will be able to spot some mistakes and inconsistencies.

You should take their review and correct the mistakes that you have made. When it comes to academic essays, people think about formal writings. But that is not always the case. You may have to write informal articles too. Informal essays are usually fun to write, and you will surely enjoy the process.

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