he purpose of an informative essay is to educate others on a certain topic.

Typically, these essays will answer one of the five Ws: who, what, where, when, and
why. Of course, they can also answer "how," indicating how to do something.

Informative essays must never express your opinion or try to convince others to
take a certain action or stance. That role is expressly reserved for persuasive
essays. Of course, if your informative essay is interesting enough, it may move
readers to learn more about the subject, but they'll have to come to that on their
own, thanks to the wealth of interesting information you present.

Read on to learn more about how to write an informative essay, as well as examples
of informative essays to help you get started.

Structure of an Informative Essay

The basic structure of an informative essay is very simple. It needs to have a
beginning, middle, and end. These are known more formally as the introduction, body
and conclusion, respectively.

The Introduction

The beginning, otherwise known as the introduction, is your opportunity to present

your thesis statement and grab the attention of the reader. Your thesis statement
must be one sentence, making it very clear what the reader will be informed about.

The introduction can be anywhere from a paragraph to a page, depending on the

requirements and circumstances. Use this opportunity to introduce the main idea,
provide any pertinent definitions, and briefly describe what will be covered. Above
all else, the introduction must clearly state what readers are about to explore. Be
sure to steer clear of any evidence of your opinion on the topic.

Below, you'll find two informative essay introduction examples to help you
brainstorm your own ideas.

Sample Introduction #1: This essay discusses the topic of donating blood.

When you woke up this morning, did you think today would be the day you save a
life? In fact, it's quite easy to save a life and it only takes a little bit of
your time. You don't even need to be a paramedic or firefighter. All you have to do
is set aside approximately one hour to donate blood. This essay will explore how to
donate blood, whom it benefits, and how often you can contribute to these life-
saving measures.

Sample Introduction #2: This essay explores the history of Ireland from the
perspective of its iconic castles.

Ireland is a country steeped in history. In fact, its history dates beyond 3,000
B.C, when the megalithic tombs were constructed in Newgrange. Throughout the
country's expansive evolution, the Irish fought time and again to maintain their
independence as a sovereign nation. Evidence of the rich history is clearly visible
through its many castles, including Leighlinbridge Castle and Carlow Castle, two of
Ireland's oldest establishments.

The Body

The middle, otherwise known as the body, is your opportunity to expound upon the
thesis statement and grab the attention of the audience with solid facts,
statistics, statements, and other supporting details.

The body will be several paragraphs long, comprising the bulk of the essay. This is
where you'll provide further details about the main idea. Be sure you delve deeply
into every area previously outlined in the introduction.

The Conclusion

The end, otherwise known as the conclusion, is your opportunity to summarize the
essay in a paragraph or two. It should spur the reader to want to learn more about
the topic. Be sure to reiterate the thesis statement clearly. In your introduction,
you may have laid out what would be covered in the essay. Offer a sentence or two
reiterating what was learned about those topic areas.

After that, offer up a few closing remarks that gloss over the most important
elements. End on a high note, encouraging your readers to learn more or contemplate
the most important elements of your essay. You may even pose a rhetorical question.

Below, you'll find two sample conclusions to help you brainstorm your own ideas.

Sample Conclusion #1: This concludes the essay example above on the topic of
donating blood. Note how it emphasizes the simplicity of the process.

The process of donating blood is decidedly simple. Many folks carry out the process
while reading a chapter from a new book or watching an episode of their favorite TV
show. Indeed, the infinitesimal amount of time it takes to donate blood can
transfer into a lifetime of happiness for the recipient. Remember to bring juice or
something sugary to keep your glucose levels high at the end of the procedure.
Then, hold your head up high, knowing there's a life out there that's about to be
saved by you.

Sample Conclusion #2: This conclusion to the Ireland essay example reiterates the
"ferocity of its people."

If Ireland isn't an example of a rebel nation, what is? The ferocity of its people
is clearly evidenced by the fact that Leighlinbridge Castle was built and rebuilt
three times before it was finally sacked by the Cromwellians. Carlow Castle's
staggering history earmarks Ireland's triumphant history too, starting as a mighty
fortress and surviving numerous rebellions. Indeed, Ireland is a country storied in
history and its many castles are the tellers of its tale.

Subject Matter
Have you been tasked with writing an informative essay? If the topic is open, the
first thing you must ask yourself is, "What interests me the most?" This will make
the task far less laborious. Take something you're already knowledgeable about and
share it with the world, citing other sources and stating current facts and
statistics.

This is your chance to add to others' viewpoints on a subject as long as you don't
include your own opinions. Allow them to analyze the data, perhaps in a cause and
effect layout. Or, you can educate them on how to do something, create something,
or solve a problem.

Here are some sample subjects to get your creative juices flowing:

How to open a bank account

World poverty

Procrastination and its effects

Homelessness
Air pollution

Recycling

Dream interpretation

History of women's right to vote

Foreign cultures

Folklore

U.S. stock market

Dog breeds

Biographies

Architecture in Paris

History of the Titanic

Example Essay Titles

While your introduction must be carefully crafted in order to reel readers in, your
essay title is the first thing they encounter, and it needs to be enticing.
Formulate a clear title, indicating what's about to be discussed. Find a way to
invite others to want to learn more. Remember to follow these rules for
capitalization in titles.

Here are some possible titles for inspiration:

How to Donate Blood

A Brief History of Ireland

Understanding the Link Between Cholesterol and Heart Disease

How to Buy a House

Understanding Your Credit Score

Defining Poverty in the City of Chicago

The Health Benefits of a Vegetarian Diet

The Importance of Regular Daily Exercise

Top Three Causes of Global Warming

Reducing Carbon Emissions With Alternative Fuels

The Many Cost Savings of Hybrid Vehicles

Understanding Geothermal Heating and Cooling

Why Cleaning Your Air Ducts Is Important

Qualifications for Contractors

How to Get a Commercial Driver's License

Essay Writing Steps

Most of the work on an informative essay is done before you actually sit down to
type.

Select an appropriate topic.

Research and gather ideas about the subject. See what you already know about the
subject as you uncover other areas you still need to research.

Make a list of these important facts. Be sure all the facts are accurate. This is a
good time to craft your thesis statement as well as a topic sentence for each fact
you'd like to include.

Create an outline that will organize your facts in a logical way. After this,
you'll be ready to make your first draft.

Write your essay based on the outline you've created. Ensure that one section
naturally flows into the next.

Proofread and edit your work. Editing is an important step for any writing project.
Reading your essay out loud will help you notice areas where your writing may be
unclear or awkwardly worded.

If possible, have someone else read your essay and offer their ideas for
improvement. Of course, don't forget to pay attention to grammar, punctuation,
spelling, capitalization, and other errors as well.