what is the best topic for informative essay

Informative Essay Guide

Informative Essay Topics

Last updated on: Dec 30, 2023

Outstanding Informative Essay Topics for Students

By: Jared P.

Reviewed By: Jared P.

Published on: Jun 8, 2021

An informative essay is a type of academic writing in which an essay writer informs the reader about a particular topic. Its main aim is to provide relevant information to the readers.

However, for a good essay, you need a great topic. Without it, you will never fulfill your main purpose.

Therefore, continue reading this blog and get a complete list of topics for an informative essay.

On this Page

Informative Essay Topics for Students

The task of choosing a topic for an essay can be daunting and time-consuming. Luckily, we have compiled some easy informative topics that you will use to write your paper.

Informative Essay Topics for College Students

• Tips for better communication in the family.
• Tips for studying based on predominant learning style.
• How do economic policies influence the vicious cycle of poverty?
• The timeline of important battles in the history of Europe since the 17th.
• The most widespread psychological diseases in the contemporary world.
• The changes in the perception of war throughout human history.
• How Martin Luther King made a difference in African American lives?
• How can a government help people living in poverty?
• How does the millennial generation respond to COVID-19?
• A brief look at Native American culture and traditions.

Informative Essay Topics for High School Students

• Smokers find cigarettes always to put them in a good mood.
• Why are television shows monitored for kids?
• Explain to the reader how to use the Bible to interpret classical art.
• Cybercrime and the ways it is causing problems in the modern world.
• Evaluate the education system of the United States.
• How deforestation contributes to global warming.
• The importance of having a democratic system of government.
• Explain what you know about how the planets and stars were formed.
• Discuss the opiate addiction situation in the United States.
• How to build a successful track racing career.

Informative Essay Topics for Middle School Students

• What are the ways to stay sober on Saturday nights?
• Tips for mowing the lawn perfectly.
• Discuss the methods to treat insomnia and other sleeping disorders.
• How to get rid of a bad habit?
• Discuss the stages to lose weight healthily.
• What are the tricks to gain extra weight?
• How to find a nice roommate?
• Causes of high unemployment rates.
• What are the ways to overcome stressful situations?
• What leads to caffeine addiction?

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

Informative Essay Topics for Different Academic Levels

The following are the informative topics and ideas that are categorized into different academic levels.

Informative Essay Topics for 5th Grade

• Impacts of incentives on employee performance.
• The place in the world that means the most to you and why.
• What is the best game to play when you feel bored or tired?
• The role of marketing and branding in sales.
• What are the statistics of accidents caused by texting while driving?
• What do you want to be when you grow up and why?
• Paper writing is not complex.
• How to choose a good topic for your speech?
• The most inspiring scientist of all time.
• Bullying should be considered a crime.

Informative Essay Topics for 6th Grade

• Healthcare reforms in the United States.
• How does poverty drives criminal activity?
• High blood pressure leads to cardiovascular diseases.
• Malala Yousafzai is a female education activist.
• Who can help with informative essay writing?
• How the ears allow humans to hear.
• The advantages and disadvantages to being famous.
• How to win the title of the Prom Queen?
• How do video games hurt students’ grades?
• The biggest music events around the world.

Informative Essay Topics for 7th Grade

• The Internet is the revolutionary invention of the 20th century.
• Why is gold a safe haven?
• How to prepare spaghetti, Bolognese.
• How to submit the research paper?
• Effects of eating disorders on teens.
• How to write an argumentative essay?
• How tanning can be dangerous for your skin.
• Why are minerals so important to organisms?
• Write an informative essay like a professional.
• How to manage communicative disorders.

Informative Essay Topics for 8th Grade

• How has technology changed the way we do business?
• Religion is the most powerful tool to control the masses.
• Describe the plot of your favorite novel or movie.
• How can students travel more while still in college?
• What are the best websites for shopping?
• Commercial crops and their effect on the water table.
• Discuss how your favorite childhood toy was made.
• The history of the Bible and its main characters.
• How to choose informative essay ideas?
• Are you living in a village or moving to the city?

Tough Essay Due? Hire Tough Writers!

Good Informative Essay Topics

When you're choosing the topic for your essay, make sure it's something that will attract people and keep their attention. You can also search different topics until one strikes a chord in terms of interest or relevance.

Here are some good essay topics for your ease.

• The effects of volunteering your time to a worthy cause.
• What are the most educational shows for kids?
• The importance of healthy sleep for mental health.
• Foods you should eat to create strong bones.
• Similarities between different religions.
• The process of transfer of money across countries.
• Stressful situations in the student’s life.
• How to boost academic performance in college?
• What are the advantages of normal childbirth?
• A strong thesis statement for a persuasive essay.

Funny Informative Essay Topics

• How to throw a paper airplane in class.
• To become smarter, you need to be stupid.
• How to choose informative paper topic ideas?
• You can write better essays even without practice.
• How to find funny speech topics in 24 hours.
• Which topics to write for an essay?
• Natural science can be fun if taught the right way.
• Why are children scared of clowns?
• Why do people love to watch shark attack shows?
• A lunch box is the most valuable thing in our backpacks.

Now, you get several interesting informative essay topics for your essay. However, if you need help in writing the essay, simply consult 5StarEssays.com.

Our team of professional essay writers helps you and makes your essay writing phase easy. We offer the best essay writing services for all types of academic assignments. All your ‘ write my essay ’ requests are processed fast.

So, reach out to us and get professional academic writing help at affordable rates.

Masters Essay, Literature

Jared P. is a renowned author and writing service provider with over fifteen years of experience in the publishing industry. He has a Ph.D. degree in English Literature and has spent his entire career helping students achieve their academic goals by providing expert writing assistance.

Was This Blog Helpful?

Keep reading.

• Informative Essay Writing - Expert Guide & Examples

• Learn How to Create an Informative Essay Outline

People Also Read

• demonstration speech ideas
• rhetorical analysis essay example
• how to start an essay
• how to write a research methodology
• essay format

Burdened With Assignments?

Advertisement

• Homework Services: Essay Topics Generator

© 2024 - All rights reserved

Informative Essay

What is an Informative Essay and How to Write One?

11 min read

Published on: Aug 11, 2021

Last updated on: Jan 31, 2024

People also read

Good Informative Essay Topics for All Academic Levels

Share this article

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!

On This Page On This Page -->

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.

Paper due? Why Suffer? That's our job.

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.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That’s our Job!

Keep reading

Legal & Policies

• Privacy Policy
• Cookies Policy
• Terms of Use
• Refunds & Cancellations
• Our Writers
• Success Stories
• Our Guarantees
• Affiliate Program
• Referral Program
• AI Essay Writer

Disclaimer: All client orders are completed by our team of highly qualified human writers. The essays and papers provided by us are not to be used for submission but rather as learning models only.

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

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

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

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

What is an Informative Essay

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

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

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

Ready to Ignite Minds with Your Informative Essay?

Our qualified writers are here to craft a masterpiece tailored to your needs worthy of an A+

Reasons to Write an Informative Essay

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

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

How to Start an Informative Essay

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

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

Informative Essay Outline

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

I. Introduction

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

II. Body Paragraphs

A. Talk about your first main idea

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

B. Move on to your second main idea

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

C. Address your third main idea

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

III. Conclusion

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

IV. Optional: Extra Sections

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

Informative Essay Structure

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

Introduction :

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

Body Paragraphs:

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

Conclusion :

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

Informative Essay Examples

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

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

7 Steps for Writing an Informative Essay

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

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

Final Remarks

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

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

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

Want to Unleash the Brilliance of Your Ideas?

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

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

Related Articles

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:

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 .

See a sample informative essay here., share this:.

• Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)

2 Responses

• Pingbacks 0

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.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Follow Blog via Email

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive email notifications of new posts.

Email Address

• RSS - Posts
• RSS - Comments
• COLLEGE WRITING
• USING SOURCES & APA STYLE
• EFFECTIVE WRITING PODCASTS
• LEARNING FOR SUCCESS
• PLAGIARISM INFORMATION
• FACULTY RESOURCES
• Student Webinar Calendar
• Academic Success Center
• Writing Center
• About the ASC Tutors
• DIVERSITY TRAINING
• PG Peer Tutors
• PG Student Access

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

• College Writing
• Using Sources & APA Style
• Learning for Success
• Effective Writing Podcasts
• Plagiarism Information
• Faculty Resources
• Tutor Training

Twitter feed

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.

Common Writing Assignments, Apps & Tests

• Analytical Essay
• AP synthesis Essay
• Argumentative Essay
• Book Report
• Compare and Contrast Essay
• Cause and Effect Essay
• College Admissions Essay
• Critical Analysis Essay
• Definition Essay
• Descriptive Essay
• Dissertation
• Explanatory Essay
• Expository Essay
• Informative Essay
• Narrative Essay
• Opinion Essay
• Personal Essay
• Persuasive Essay
• Reflective Essay
• Research Paper
• Rhetorical Analysis
• Scholarship Essay
• Short Essay
• Thesis Paper

What’s included with a Chegg Writing subscription

• Unlimited number of paper scans
• Plagiarism detection: Check against billions of sources
• Expert proofreading for papers on any subject
• Grammar scans for 200+ types of common errors
• Automatically create & save citations in 7,000+ styles
• Cancel subscription anytime, no obligation

How to Write an Informative Essay

Table of contents

• 1 What is an Informative Essay?
• 2.1 1. Expository Essay
• 2.2 2. Narrative Essay
• 2.3 3. Cause-and-Effect Essay
• 2.4 4. Process Essay
• 2.5 5. Compare and Contrast Essay
• 2.6 6. Descriptive Essay
• 2.7 7. Problem-Solution Essay
• 3.1 Where to Get Informative Essay Ideas?
• 3.2 Good Informative Essay Topics
• 4 Informative Essay Topics on Education
• 5 Informative Essay Topics on Society
• 6 Informative Essay Topics on Persons
• 7 Informative Essay Topics on History
• 8 Informative Essay Topics on Business
• 9 Informative Essay Topics on Government
• 10 Informative Essay Topics on Politics
• 11 Informative Essay Topics on Culture
• 12 Informative Essay Topics for High-School and College Students
• 13 Informative and Surprising Essay Topics
• 14 Easy Informative Ideas For Essay
• 15 How to Start Conducting Research
• 16.1 1. Thesis statement
• 16.2 2. Introduction
• 16.3 3. Body paragraphs
• 16.4 4. Conclusion
• 17 Tips for Writing an Informative Essay
• 18 What I Need to Avoid While Writing an Informative Essay

As a student, having informative essay writing skills will come in handy in school and working environments. This writing process requires an author to provide readers with information on an occurrence, subject, idea, company, or thing. But using an approach to express an opinion or convince a reader in such an essay is not a good idea.

Although it is similar to  narrative essay writing , composing an informative essay demands critical thinking and credible research. And we will show you briefly how to write an informative essay successfully in this article. But first, let’s determine what an informative essay signifies.

What is an Informative Essay?

When dealing with an informative essay, you should know its main features. The purpose of an essay is not to persuade an audience by adding interesting information. Instead, its focus is on educating a reader on a specific topic by offering a how-to, analyzing data, and comparing controversial viewpoints about a particular topic.

In addition, other types of essays can be very similar to informative ones. And it is crucial to differentiate them and point out their specific features.

Variations of an Informative Essay

In academic practice, many essays can also be classified as informative. It happens because they have the same goal: to communicate information with audiences. They include the following:

• Expository Essay
• Narrative Essay
• Cause-and-Effect Essay
• Process Essay
• Compare-and-Contrast Essay
• Descriptive Essay
• Problem-Solution Essay

1. Expository Essay

This essay type is almost identical to informative essays. Their similarity lies in their purpose—to provide readers with information. However, while writing an expository essay , you must add supporting evidence to explain specific points, which goes beyond providing readers with information.

2. Narrative Essay

A narrative essay aims to inform readers about a specific topic comprehensively. Typically, such an essay is used to uncover a single theme. A narrative essay is informative, as it is not focused on convincing the audience about a point.

3. Cause-and-Effect Essay

This essay focuses on describing how the cause of a thing occurs and what effect it might result on another thing. Therefore, it is considered informative if it discloses the main idea of the similarities connecting two things. However, this essay must determine a cause or effect. It is also considered an argumentative essay.

4. Process Essay

The name of a process essay tells itself. It is used to uncover a detailed description of an operational mechanism of something. That’s why it is also considered informative. While writing this type of essay, you must clarify each step comprehensively.

5. Compare and Contrast Essay

Compare and contrast essay focuses on differentiating and highlighting the likenesses between multiple subjects. In other words, it could be either an argumentative or informative essay depending on the essay’s motive. For instance, “The similarities and differences between football and basketball” is an informative essay. On the other hand, “Why is football better than basketball?” is an argumentative essay.

6. Descriptive Essay

In a descriptive essay, you need to provide an accurate description of a topic’s object. It can be everything: a situation, a particular person, an occasion, and so on. While writing a descriptive essay , you must make it realistic enough to capture the reader’s imagination. This essay could either be written to give information or with an eventual objective.

7. Problem-Solution Essay

Such an essay aims to examine a suggested problem and offer several solutions. This essay is informative when you provide several solutions to a raised issue. However, you will need to apply specific writing tools to convince a reader that one solution is superior to the rest.

Thus, all the types of essays mentioned above are informative because of their nature to provide some information. Of course, what format of the message is used in each kind is another topic for discussion. But if you prefer writing a persuasive essay , you can approach our service and receive an excellent piece of writing.

Select your Topic

Writing an informative essay starts with defining a topic. It is challenging to select a topic, as this essay’s type must be original, impressive, and meaningful. With this in mind, you should pick a topic that can explain new aspects of known phenomena or innovative approaches used in various life spheres.

Where to Get Informative Essay Ideas?

To ensure you have enough to write about and your paper will be interesting, it’s important to farm out some ideas. Reading the news is a great place to start generating some perspectives for an informational topic. Newsworthy topics will be of current interest and can be in many subjects. This will help you apply what you see in the real world to the theoretical work you’re putting together. You may also browse some popular sites such as Quora or Reddit to see the burning questions. In our digital age, a wealth of information is available to anyone with an Internet connection.

Good Informative Essay Topics

So now that we’ve sourced some methods of digging up a good idea, we need to determine which one is best. First, you want to ensure enough information is available for research. If your topic is too narrow or outdated, you’ll have trouble finding credible sources to give weight to your position. On the other end, if your topic is too broad, you won’t be able to dive into specifics to present anything worthwhile.

I, Pencil: My Family Tree as Told to Leonard E. Read (L. Read, 1958). In this informational topic, the simple process of making a pencil significantly influenced the leading economists of the day. Analyzing the ways and means we do things, no matter how basic, can bring much value to the academic community.

If you feel a lack of fresh ideas and need essay help , we gathered some topic examples for you:

Informative Essay Topics on Education

• Educational Disparities among Black and Hispanics
• Federal Judge Struck Down a North Carolina School’s Policy
• Four Components of Developing Successful Reading Skills
• Funds For College Tuition
• Gender Discrimination Scandal at Tokyo Medical University
• Gender-Based Violence Between Students
• Hate Speech Debate and Discussion
• History and Effectiveness of Homeschooling
• Homeschooling in the United States of America
• Homeschooling Trend and Future Outlook
• How To Become a Chef After Growing Up Nowadays
• Industrial Facilities
• The Gig Economy
• The Impact of Inclusion and Equal Opportunity Policies
• The Rise of Remote Work

Informative Essay Topics on Society

• Racism Around the World
• Racism: Pipelines, Geography, and Geology
• Is Racism Still a Current Issue in America
• The Definition of Racism
• International and U.S Helping IIlegal Immigration
• Does Illegal Immigration Impact Texas?
• We’re Going to Build the Wall, We Have no Choice
• Illegal Immigration And Crime
• Cyberbullying Laws
• Cyberbullying: A Growing Problem
• Cyberbullying and 13 Reasons Why
• Reducing School Gun Violence in New Mexico
• Mental Health Screenings and the Effect on Gun Violence
• Why Gun Violence Increasing
• Police Brutality Against Black Communities

Informative Essay Topics on Persons

• Barack Obama: His Life and Career
• The most iconic rulers of Egypt
• President John F. Kennedy’s Assassination
• Nikola Tesla: Electrical Engineering
• Elon Musk’s Influence
• About Donatello Michelangelo
• The Leadership Style of Mahatma Gandhi
• The Impact of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” Speech
• Examining the Symbolism and Feminist Themes in Frida Kahlo’s Artwork
• Steve Jobs’s Innovative Vision and Contribution to the Technology Industry
• The Legacy of Marie Curie
• The Psychological Profile of Sigmund Freud
• Analyzing Oprah Winfrey’s Influence on Media, Philanthropy, and Empowerment
• Ernest Hemingway’s Writing Style
• The Philosophy of Aristotle

Informative Essay Topics on History

• A History of Slavery in the United States
• The Reformation Evangelicalism and the British Anti-Slavery Movement
• Why Did the Holocaust Happen?
• The U.S. Government’s Disregard of the Jewish Holocaust
• The Minie Ball Shaped
• Cases Of Unlawful Killings
• Role of Technology in The American Civil War
• Slavery Is An Established Social Institution
• Carlos Castillo Overthrew Democrat
• The Civil War Was The Deadliest
• The Syrian Civil War
• The Battle of Gettysburg Changed Everything
• The Industrial Era
• Industrial Revolution Evolved In Britain
• The Impact of the Industrial Revolution on Society

Informative Essay Topics on Business

• The Disney and Fox Merger
• The Ins and Outs of “The Happiest Place on Earth”
• Planning A Trip to Disney
• About The Walt Disney Company
• Starbucks Brewing Digital Transformation
• History Of Starbucks
• What Do We Know About Starbucks
• Netflix Converted Itself From a DVD
• Spotify Hulu Bundle vs. Netflix
• General Motors – Largest American Automobile Manufacturer
• Successful Business of Apple Company
• Board of Directors for Apple Company
• Apple is One of the Biggest Companies on the Planet
• Apple Inc. Company History
• General Overview Of Apple Company

Informative Essay Topics on Government

• The History of Brown vs. The Board of Education Topeka
• Homosexuality In Modern Day Society
• Same-Sex Marriage – Statistics
• In the 1950s-1960s, African Americans Have Been Striving and Struggling
• Acts After French and Indian War
• Child Labor in the US
• Equal Society in the United States
• The Significance and Legacy of Brown vs. Board of Education
• The Evolution of LGBTQ+ Rights
• The Legalization and Impact of Marriage Equality
• The Civil Rights Movement
• The Consequences of the French and Indian War
• The Impact of Disinformation in the Digital Age
• Towards an Equal Society
• The Role of Government in Climate Change Mitigation

Informative Essay Topics on Politics

• U.S Imperialism
• America’s Imperialism
• Immigration and Donald Trump’s Lies
• Donald Trump’s First Year in Office
• The Election of Barack Obama
• Border Wall: Good for the Country
• Gaining Independence
• Arawaks and Maroons
• The Rise of Populism
• The Impact of Social Media on Political Campaigns
• The Role of Lobbying and Interest Groups in Shaping Policy
• Electoral Systems and Democratic Governance
• The Power of Political Satire
• Globalization and Nationalism
• The Impact of Political Scandals on Public Trust

Informative Essay Topics on Culture

• Race and LGBTQ Discrimination
• Renaissance: Impact on Cultural Movements and Religious Reformations
• Freedom of Speech in The United States
• The LGBTQ+ Community
• Enslaved and Free Black Marriages
• Religion and the Renaissance
• Hispanic Youth with Alcohol Abuse
• Thai Culture and Society
• Teenage Pregnancy
• Feminism since “Ancient Rome”
• Pakistan and Gender Equality
• Gender Roles in Society
• Child Labor and Somalia
• Is Sexual Orientation Determined At Birth?
• Race Relations Have Improved in America

Informative Essay Topics for High-School and College Students

• Changing nature of the Indian party system
• Causes of the Scientific Revolution
• Become A Better Speed Reader
• Writing Essays For Money
• How To Have A Social Life As A Student
• Choosing The Best Fraternity/Sorority
• College Athletics And How To Get Accepted
• Applying For Scholarships
• How To Write A Research Paper
• Public Relations In The Dorm
• Getting The Most Out Of University
• Where To Find The Best Student Discounts
• The Importance of Time Management for College Success
• Effective Study Habits
• Navigating College Finances
• The Moral Teaching of Paul
• Winning arguments even when you’re wrong
• What to Expect on the SAT
• Grammar Tips For English Class
• How To Pass The Driving Test
• Implementing Ai In The Classroom
• Deciding Which Classes To Take
• How To Get Good Grades In Hard Subjects
• Career Choices After School
• How To Find The Best College
• How To Write A Resume
• The Benefits of Physical Exercise and Sports for Teenagers
• The Importance of Financial Literacy
• Exploring Different Career Paths
• The Role of Social Media in Teenagers’ Lives

Informative essay topics can help you write a college essay by informing you of the essential facts, ideas, and arguments. Furthermore, they provide an opportunity to think critically, organize a topic from multiple perspectives, and develop an argument that will help you write a compelling and convincing college essay. Moreover, an informative essay topic can allow you to learn about a range of topics, making it easier for you to connect new information to the topic and use it to formulate your essay.

Informative and Surprising Essay Topics

• LGBTQ Judaism
• Medical Benefits Of Marijuana
• Why Are Elephants Afraid Of Bees
• The Highest Mountains Are Below Sea Level
• Why Do People Believe The World Is Flat
• Why Do We Have Different Color Eyes
• Abiotic Oil Theory And An Unlimited Supply Of Fuel
• The Subconscious And Why We Dream
• Microbes And The Benefits They Provide
• Advanced Technology In The Ancient World
• How Computer Technology Derived From Music
• The Science Behind Laughter
• The Surprising History of Chocolate
• The Incredible World of Microorganisms
• The Fascinating Life of Honeybees

Easy Informative Ideas For Essay

• Choosing The Best Birthday Gift
• The Best Ways To Tie A Knot
• Throwing A Great Party
• Best Ideas For Date Night
• Current And Emerging Fashion Trends
• Game Of Thrones Explained In 1,000 Words
• Process Of Buying A Car
• Taking Care Of A Pet
• What To Look For With Opening A Bank Account
• Growing A Home Garden
• The Benefits of Regular Exercise
• Tips for Effective Time Management
• The Importance of a Balanced Diet
• The Basics of Internet Safety
• The Importance of Recycling
• Facts of Gender Roles
• Platonic Dualism in ‘Allegory of the Cave’
• How Bees Build Their Nests
• Sustaining Life On Neighboring Planets
• The Process Of Converting Seawater To Drinking Water
• Building A Net Positive With Solar Panels
• Deciphering The Laws Of Thermodynamics
• Why Does Lightning Exist?
• The Best Hand Sanitizer And Why
• How Things Are Made
• Alternative History, what if England won the Revolution
• How to Live as a Survivalist
• The Rise of Cryptocurrencies
• Sustainable Fashion
• Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

How to Start Conducting Research

Like any other essay, you must gather the required information for your work through research. Creating a concept map with words and phrases connected with your central topic is a good idea. This will help you stay focused on the main aspects of your paper. Ensure you only use reliable websites, books, and articles to impart accurate information. Also, it is useful to note valuable citations and research details, not to overlook important facts. As soon as you have all the material wrapped up, it is time to structure it and bring it into the presentable form.

Steps to Writing a Successful Informative Essay

This section discloses the key stages of writing a successful, informative essay. The precondition for this step is that the topic title is defined and extensive research has been done. Now, you have a package of information you need to order and provide a smooth transition between sections in your paper.

An informative essay must have an introductory part that leads the reader to the key point of the composition. And you should know how to write an informative essay introduction to entice the reader’s interest from the very beginning. If you don’t have enough time for writing, you can always reach out to our support team and say, “ write my essay please ,” and we will get it done. Our writers are always ready to help.

There are many benefits to creating an informative essay outline:

• It helps to organize your thoughts and ideas before you begin writing.
• It gives others insight into what your research is about by including background information, sources, and conclusions.
• It provides an opportunity to share your work with others in a way that they can understand.

1. Thesis statement

Many students question how to write a thesis statement for an informative essay. And we will help you understand it in a brief explanation. A thesis plays an important role. It helps focus a reader’s attention on the essay’s purpose. It should comprise the key facts. Make sure to provide not a too-long thesis statement but a short and accurate one.

If you can create a proper thesis statement, it would serve as a guideline for your analysis. Aside from that, an informative essay thesis must not be persuasive but highlight what will come to the reader.

2. Introduction

An introduction represents a summary of what you will reveal in your essay. The question of how to write an introduction for an informative essay is among those challenges bothering students. To solve it, you should consider how to make it engaging and captivating. Also, include your informative essay thesis statement in an introduction. Thus, your reader will be curious and eager to continue reading your essay.

3. Body paragraphs

In this part of your essay, you must reveal the main message. To make it more organized, divide the general information into a few paragraphs, for example, three. Each paragraph must be easy-to-read and contain details you aim to share on the topic. In academic writing, using only reliable sources to make your essay unique is crucial. So it would be best if you took proper time while researching.

4. Conclusion

The summarizing part of an essay is a conclusion, and you should know how to write a conclusion for an informative essay. It might be the content of the 5th paragraph of a paper. It leads an essay to summarize the hot points mentioned in the body. In this section, you should revise the essay’s purpose again but from another angle.

Tips for Writing an Informative Essay

Provide your plan well, select an appropriate topic, and know the informative essay structure – all these steps will make your essay writing process more manageable. If you know how to write a 500 word essay , composing a proper informative essay will be easy. However, we listed some tips that might help you in writing a proper informative essay:

• Dive into the instructions for your assignment
• Think of the unique essay title
• Make sure you do an extensive research
• Create an impressive thesis statement
• Create an outline
• Make your introduction catchy
• Write each body paragraph with contents from trusted sources
• Do not include any information in the conclusion previously not stated in the body

An informative essay can be a great way to educate readers on a particular topic. The key to writing a successful essay is to provide clear and concise information without overwhelming the reader. PapersOwl can provide you with the necessary guidance to ensure that your informative essay is of the highest standard and contains only accurate and up-to-date information.

What I Need to Avoid While Writing an Informative Essay

Writing a standard informative essay also involves a range of points better to avoid. Among them are:

• Avoid including supporting evidence. This makes your work poorly informative and less argumentative.
• Be cautious about using persuasive words and phrases.
• Don’t allow repetition of your thoughts and information at large to happen. Unless it is necessary to connect the dots, there is no need to mention any point more than once.

Knowing how to write an informative essay will be useful to you academically and professionally. Even though it appears difficult, learning the appropriate tips for writing it and utilizing the skills of experts will help you get through it.

Knowing how to write an informative essay will be helpful to you academically and professionally. Even though it is difficult, learning the appropriate tips for writing it and benefiting from experts’ skills will enable you to get through it.

Writing this type of essay requires you to pass information through the reader without persuasion. However, it would help if you learned how to catch readers’ interest using appropriate thesis statements. By following simple insights, you will get a successful, informative essay.

Readers also enjoyed

WHY WAIT? PLACE AN ORDER RIGHT NOW!

Just fill out the form, press the button, and have no worries!

We use cookies to give you the best experience possible. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy.

• PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
• EDIT Edit this Article
• EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
• Browse Articles
• Learn Something New
• Quizzes Hot
• This Or That Game
• Train Your Brain
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow
• Log in / Sign up
• Education and Communications
• College University and Postgraduate
• Academic Writing

How to Write an Informative Essay

Last Updated: February 14, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Megan Morgan, PhD . Megan Morgan is a Graduate Program Academic Advisor in the School of Public & International Affairs at the University of Georgia. She earned her PhD in English from the University of Georgia in 2015. There are 12 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 243,760 times.

An informative essay educates the reader about a topic. You'll need to know a good deal about your subject and convey information in a clear, organized fashion. If it seems overwhelming at first, remember to take it step by step. Working methodically can help you write a successful paper, and you may even enjoy the process!

Selecting and Researching Your Topic

• Be sure you know how your teacher wants you to cite your sources so you can keep track of what you research. Some schools provide reference software like EndNote or RefWorks, which can make collecting and keeping track of research sources easier.
• Be aware of any formatting requirements. The essay prompt will often tell you things such as whether the essay needs to be handwritten or typed, and what font type and size to use. If it doesn't stipulate, the safe choice is a standard, readable 12-pt font such as Times New Roman or Arial. Avoid using "cute" or "quirky" fonts in an academic paper unless given specific permission to do so.
• Know the due date! Get started early so that you have plenty of time to complete the essay.

• The topic should not be too broad or too narrow. See Write an Essay for more information. There should be enough information about the topic to write about, but not so much that you can't present clear, concise information. For example, writing on "the history of animal shelters" is probably much too broad, while "the history of Sunny Days Animal Shelter in X County" is probably too narrow. A happy medium might be "the history of breed-specific animal shelters in America."
• The topic should be appropriate and interesting to your audience. Think in advance about who might be reading your essay. Obviously, if this is for school, your teacher is your primary audience, but you should always have a target audience in mind. What will they want to know? What do they probably not know already that your essay will provide?
• Ideally, the topic should be one that interests you. This will make the writing process that much easier, and you can pass your enthusiasm on to your reader.

• For best results, try to find online sources from reputable organizations, government agencies, and universities. Google Scholar can be a good place to start.

• For your informative essay, you will need an introduction, at least three main points, and a conclusion. You may want to make these sections and write notes down under the section where you expect it to go.

• Make an ideas map. Put your topic in a circle at the center of a piece of paper, then write down the most important pieces of information or ideas related to it in circles surrounding the topic. Make lines connecting each idea to the topic. Next, add details around each idea, circling them and making lines to show connections. There may be lines connecting ideas to each other, as well, or between supporting details.
• Make a list. If you prefer the linear format of a list, write down your topic at the top and then below it any ideas you have. Under the ideas, add extra details that support them. Don't worry about putting them in specific order - that comes next.
• Free write. Free writing can help you generate ideas, even if it usually doesn't provide polished prose you'll use in your final draft. Set a short time limit, such as 15 minutes, and then write whatever comes to mind about your topic. Don't stop to edit or change spelling, and keep writing even if you aren't sure you have anything to say. The important thing is to write for all 15 minutes.

Making an Outline

• Don't worry about getting your thesis just right at this point - that comes later. If you don't feel ready to write the thesis out, jot down some notes in the introductory part of your outline. At the very least, you need some idea of what you want to say in your essay.
• While it may seem odd to summarize your essay before you've begun, writing your thesis at the beginning of your outline will help you organize your ideas and select the most important details that you want to present.

• The number of details you use depends on the paper length: if you're writing a five-paragraph essay, then you have three paragraphs for the body, so you'll need three main ideas.
• Make sure you choose the most important details, and that they are all distinct from one another.
• Details used to support your thesis are also called "evidence."

• Make sure you have enough supporting details for each paragraph. If you don't have enough to say about the paragraph's main topic, consider changing the topic or combining it with another paragraph. Alternatively, you can research a bit more to find additional supporting details for the paragraph.

Writing Your Essay

• Do not worry about spelling errors or mistakes. Remember that this is just a rough draft, not your final copy. Just focus on writing it down, and later you can fix mistakes.
• Write your rough draft by hand or type it - whichever is easier for you.

• For example, a topic/transition sentence might look like this: "While some factories allow union labor, others, such as those in X, argue that unionizing harms the workplace." This sentence gives a clear direction for the paragraph (some factories argue against unionizing) and links it to the paragraph before it (which was probably about pro-union factories).
• Remember: each paragraph needs unity (a single central idea), clear relation to the thesis , coherence (logical relationship of ideas within the paragraph), and development (ideas are clearly explained and supported). [11] X Trustworthy Source University of North Carolina Writing Center UNC's on-campus and online instructional service that provides assistance to students, faculty, and others during the writing process Go to source

• Make sure you're clear about what the idea of each paragraph is. To keep yourself on track, refer to your outline as you write.

• Have you told the reader everything you need to about your topic?
• Do you have a clear thesis statement, expressed in two to three sentences?
• Do all your paragraphs relate to the thesis?
• Does each paragraph have one main idea, supported by accurate, objective details?
• Does your conclusion summarize your thoughts on the topic without adding new information or opinions?
• How does the paper flow? Are there clear, logical transitions between paragraphs?
• Have you used clear, concise prose and avoided flowery language?
• Did the reader learn something new from the essay? Is it presented in an interesting way?
• Have you cited sources as instructed by your teacher?

• As you write your final draft, keep track of coherence in particular. Rough drafts often have all of their ideas jumbled up without a clear, logical progression. A key difference between a rough draft and a final draft is that the final draft should offer its information in a smooth, clear, easy-to-read fashion that builds on previous points as it goes along. Keeping an eye out to make sure you've followed the C-E-E- formula will help you.

• Also keep an eye out for word echoes, or words that show up many times within the space of a few sentences or paragraphs. If you use the word discusses multiple times in the same paragraph, it will make your writing seem clunky and unpolished.

• Sometimes our eyes "fix" mistakes for us as we read, so it's hard to catch mistakes reading silently. Reading aloud helps you find mistakes your eye might not.

Community Q&A

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/understanding-assignments/
• ↑ https://library.carleton.ca/guides/help/choosing-essay-topic
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/subject_specific_writing/writing_in_literature/writing_in_literature_detailed_discussion/conducting_research.html
• ↑ https://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/researching/notes-from-research/
• ↑ https://libguides.rio.edu/c.php?g=620382&p=4320145
• ↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/brainstorming/
• ↑ https://examples.yourdictionary.com/20-compelling-hook-examples-for-essays.html
• ↑ https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-informative-essays.html
• ↑ https://wts.indiana.edu/writing-guides/paragraphs-and-topic-sentences.html
• ↑ http://writingcenter.unc.edu/handouts/paragraphs/
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/revising-drafts/
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/editing-and-proofreading/

About This Article

To write an informative essay, start with an introduction that presents a thesis statement articulating your argument in 2-3 concise sentences. For the body of the essay, focus on one main idea per paragraph and start each paragraph with a topic sentence that establishes that main idea. Then, follow the topic sentence with cited evidence and explanatory detail. Finish up with a conclusion that summarizes your main points and restates your thesis. Don't forget to proofread carefully before turning in your essay! For helpful tips on researching and using good sources, read on! Did this summary help you? Yes No

• Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Britney Montgomery

Dec 8, 2016

Did this article help you?

David Lewis

Nov 27, 2016

Heather Young

Oct 19, 2016

Colleen Borgese

Feb 27, 2017

Feb 28, 2017

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Watch Articles

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

Get all the best how-tos!

Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter

Mar 20, 2023

How to Write an Informative Essay | Outlines and Examples

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

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

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

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

What Is an Informative Essay?

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

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

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

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

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

How to Create an Informative Essay Outline?

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

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

I. Introduction

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

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

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

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

II. Body Paragraphs

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

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

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

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

III. Conclusion

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Choose a Topic

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

Conduct Research

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

Create a Thesis Statement

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

Create an Introduction

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

Create Body Paragraphs

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

Create a Conclusion

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

Proofread and Edit

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

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

Comprehensive Analysis of All of the Outline's Subsections

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

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

Introduction:

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

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

Controversial Arguments: 

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

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

The Conclusion: 

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

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

2 Informative Essay Examples

The Key Causes Resulting in Water Pollution

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

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

Industrial activities:

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

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

Agricultural practices:

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

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

Household activities:

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

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

Mining activities:

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

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

Oil spills:

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

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

Impacts of water pollution:

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

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

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

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

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

The Importance of Education in the 21st Century

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

Globalisation and Technological Advancements:

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

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

Employability:

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

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

Personal Development:

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

Social Development:

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

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

Environmental Sustainability:

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

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

Innovation and Creativity:

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

Conclusion:

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

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

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

Try Jenni for free today

Create your first piece of content with Jenni today and never look back

How to Write an Informative Essay?

09 May, 2020

15 minutes read

Author:  Tomas White

The bad news is that if you're anything like the majority of students, you're overwhelmed with all kinds of essays your teachers ask you to create. It feels as if they multiply day on day. However, the good news is that here, at HandMade Writing blog, you can find all the answers on how to craft a decent informative essay in no time. So, without further ado, let's dive into the essence of the issue together!

What is an Informative Essay?

An informative essay is a piece of writing that seeks to inform or explain a subject or topic to educate the reader. When writing an informative essay consider the audience and correspond to their level. Do not over-explain to experts where knowledge can be assumed or under-explain to novices that lack basic understating.

There are in four main categories:

• To define a term
• To compare and contrast a subject
• To analyze data
• To provide a how-to guide on a subject

An informative paper should be written in an objective tone and avoid the use of the first person.

You may order an informative essay written from scratch at our professional essay writing service – our essay writers are available 24/7.

What is the Purpose of an Informative Essay?

The purpose of an informative essay is to educate the reader by giving them in-depth information and a clear explanation of a subject.  Informative writing should bombard the reader with information and facts that surround an issue. If your reader comes away feeling educated and full of facts about a subject than you have succeeded.

Examples of informative writing are pamphlets, leaflets, brochures, and textbooks. Primarily texts that are used to inform in a neutral manner.

What is the Difference Between an Informative Essay and Expository Essay?

An expository essay and an informative essay are incredibly similar and often confused. A lot of writers class them as the same type of essay. The difference between them is often hazy and contradictory depending on the author’s definition.

In both essays, your purpose is to explain and educate. An expository essay is here to define a single side of an argument or the issue. It’s the first step to writing an argumentative essay through taking the argument on the next level. Informative essays are less complicated. They are just about the information. Such essays generally require less research on a topic, but it all depends on the assignment level and subject. The difference between the two essay types is so subtle that they are almost interchangeable.

How to Plan an Informative Essay Outline

Your plan for an informative essay outline should include:

• Choosing a topic
• Conducting research
• Building a thesis statement
• Planning the structure of introduction
• Choosing the topic of a body paragraph
• Forming a satisfying conclusion

By following the list above, you will have a great outline for your informational writing.

Related Post: How to write an Essay outline 

How to Choose an Informative Essay Topic

One of the most difficult tasks when writing is coming up with a topic. Here is some general advice when you are choosing a topic for your essay:

• Choose a topic that you are interested in. Your interest in writing on the subject will make the essay more engaging.
• Choose a theme that you know a little about. This way you will be able to find sources and fact easier.
• Choose a topic that can explain something new or in a different way.
• Choose a topic that you can support with facts, statistics, and
• Choose a topic that is relevant to the subject.
• Remember the four types of categories information essays cover.

Inspiration and Research for Your Ultimate Topic

Your perfect informative essay title can come from numerous sources. Here is where you can potentially seek for relevant topics:

Not only will they inspire you, but they will also provide with some of the research you need.

Researching an Informative Essay

The best sources should be objective. Some excellent sources for an informative essay include:

Always remember to check if the source of information will have a bias. For example, a newspaper journalist may have a political leaning, and their article might reflect that. A charities site for motor neuron disease may also come as biased. Analyze the source for the writer’s agenda.

Informational research should answer the five W’s (who, what, where, why and how), and these will form the majority of your essay’s plan. So, if I were writing about the different types of pollution I’d research what kinds of pollution there are, who and how they affect, why they happen, and where they are most likely to occur.

Collating and organizing this information will form your thesis statement and paragraph layout.

Still struggling to find a topic for your informational writing? Then, here are some ideas to that might inspire you.

Examples of Informative Essay Topics for College Students

• How to avoid stress
• What ecological problems are we faced with today?
• What are the effects of obesity?
• What is cyberbullying?
• How has the internet changed the world?
• How to adjust to college life
• Where to find the best part-time jobs
• How to get along with your room-mate
• Guidance on how to write a college application
• How caffeine affects studying

Examples of Informative Essay Topics for High School

• How to start your own vegetable garden
• The reason for and effects of childhood obesity
• Outline the consequences of texting and driving
• How to make your favorite food
• What is climate change? And what are its effects?
• The different types of pollution
• The history of the Titanic.
• An essay on the Great Depression
• The life and times of Ernst Hemmingway
• How to have a great vacation

Related Posts: Argumentative essay topics | Research paper topics

Informative Essay Example

When you have finished planning and research, you have to start writing. But, how do you start an informative essay? The simple answer is to just go with it. Do not get overly critical. Just pour out all the information you have. You can shape it up later.

Important points to consider are: never use first person pronouns and keep the topic objective not subjective . Remember, your purpose is to educate the reader in the most thorough way possible by explaining a topic with statistics and facts.

As usual, the essay should include an introduction, main body, and conclusion. All information should be presented in a clear and easy to understand manner. The flow of information should be signposted. We will delve into these areas in more detail now.

Related Post: How to Write a Narrative essay

How to Write an Introduction for an Informative Essay?

An introductory paragraph of an informative essay should comprise of the following things:

A Hook to Ensnare the Reader

An introductory paragraph for informative writing should start with a hook. A hook needs to be in the first sentence and something that will ‘wow’ the reader and impel them to read on. Alarming statistics on the subject/topic make up great hooks for informative essays. For example, if you were writing an essay on cyber-bullying, citing the number of children who have considered suicide due to cyberbullying could be a powerful opening message.

A Thesis Statements for Direction

All introductions should include a thesis statement. The best practice is to place it at the end of the introductory paragraph to summarize your argument.  However, you do not want to form an argument or state a position. It is best to use the thesis statement to clarify what subject you are discussing.

Related Post: What is a thesis statement

It may also be better to place the statement after the hook, as it will clarify the issue that you are discussing.

For example, ‘Research conducted by Bob the Scientist indicates that the majority of issues caused by cyberbullying can be overcome through the informative literature on the subject to educate bullies about the consequences of their actions.’

How to Write the Body of an Informative Essay

When writing the body of an informative paper, it is best to break the paragraph down into four distinct steps.

 The Claim or Statement

The claim or statement is a single, simple sentence that introduces the main topic of the paragraph. It can be narrow or broad depending on the level and depth of the essay. Think of this as the ‘what’ aspect. For example, the claim for a high-school informative paper would be broader than a claim written at the university level. This is the first step to signposting your essay. It provides a logical and easy way to follow a discussion.

The Supporting Evidence

After making a claim you want to back it up with supporting evidence. Supporting evidence could be findings from a survey, the results of an experiment, documented casual effects or a quote. Anything that lends support to the claim or statement in the first sentence would work. This is the ‘why’ aspect of your research. By using supporting evidence like this, you are defining why the statement is essential to the topic.

Explanation

After you state the supporting evidence, you want to explain ‘how’ this finding is important to the subject at hand. That usually unpacks the supporting evidence and makes it easier for the reader to understand. So, an explanation is to explain how this claim and the supporting research affects your thesis statement.

Concluding Sentence

You should always finish a body paragraph with a concluding sentence that ties up the paragraph nicely and prompts the reader on to the next stage. This is a signpost that the topic and the paragraph are wrapped up.

How to Write the Conclusion of an Informative Essay

Writing a conclusion to an informative paper can be hard as there is no argument to conclude – there is only information to summarize. A good conclusion for these types of essays should support the information provided on the subject. It should also explain why these topics are important.

Here are some Tips on writing informative essay conclusions:

Rephrase Your Thesis Statement

It is vital that you rephrase the thesis and not copy it word for word. That will allow you restate the theme or key point of your essay in a new way. You will simultaneously tie your conclusion back to the introduction of your essay. Echoing your introduction will bring the essay full circle.

Read Through Your Body Paragraphs

Read through the body paragraphs of your essay and ask if a brief overview of the main points of the essay would form a good conclusion for the essay. Generally, it is best to restate the main points of the essay in a conclusion using different words.

Finish the Conclusion With a Clincher

A clincher gives your concluding paragraph a powerful finish. It is a sentence that leaves the reader thinking about your essay long after they have put it down.

Some excellent examples of clinchers are:

• A statement of truth
• A thought-provoking quote relevant to the subject and thesis statement
• A lingering question that none of the research has answered or puts the research into a new light
• Whether it provides an answer to a common question
• Challenge your reader with a quote from an expert that forces them to think about or change their own behavior
• Something that shifts the focus onto the future and the long-time implications of your research

Context and Significance of the Information

A conclusion should always try to frame why the topic was important, and in what context it was important. By doing this your research matters.

Remember: A concluding paragraph should never include new information.

Informative Essay Sample

Be sure to check the sample essay, completed by our writers. Use it as an example to write your own informative paper. Link:  Tesla motors

Tips for Writing an Excellent Informative Essay

Here are a few tips for writing an informative paper

• When writing the main body paragraph, concentrate on explaining information only once. Avoid repeating the same information in the next section.
• Focus on the subject. Make sure all the information that you include is relevant to the topic you are describing. Do not include information that “goes off.”
• Write in a logical way that is signposted. Writing like this will make an essay flow and mean it is easier to understand.
• Always revise the essay at least three times. This way, you will find where to expand ideas in the paragraph, where to trim back ideas until everything has the right balance.
• Be familiar with the academic reference style you are writing in
• Write to your audience. Make sure you know who you are writing it for.

A life lesson in Romeo and Juliet taught by death

Due to human nature, we draw conclusions only when life gives us a lesson since the experience of others is not so effective and powerful. Therefore, when analyzing and sorting out common problems we face, we may trace a parallel with well-known book characters or real historical figures. Moreover, we often compare our situations with […]

Ethical Research Paper Topics

Writing a research paper on ethics is not an easy task, especially if you do not possess excellent writing skills and do not like to contemplate controversial questions. But an ethics course is obligatory in all higher education institutions, and students have to look for a way out and be creative. When you find an […]

Art Research Paper Topics

Students obtaining degrees in fine art and art & design programs most commonly need to write a paper on art topics. However, this subject is becoming more popular in educational institutions for expanding students’ horizons. Thus, both groups of receivers of education: those who are into arts and those who only get acquainted with art […]

• Environment
• Information Science
• Social Issues
• Argumentative
• Cause and Effect
• Classification
• Compare and Contrast
• Descriptive
• Exemplification
• Informative
• Controversial
• Exploratory
• What Is an Essay
• Length of an Essay
• Generate Ideas
• Types of Essays
• Structuring an Essay
• Outline For Essay
• Essay Introduction
• Thesis Statement
• Body of an Essay
• Writing a Conclusion
• Essay Writing Tips
• Drafting an Essay
• Revision Process
• Fix a Broken Essay
• Format of an Essay
• Essay Examples
• Essay Checklist
• Essay Writing Service
• Pay for Research Paper
• Write My Research Paper
• Write My Essay
• Custom Essay Writing Service
• Admission Essay Writing Service
• Pay for Essay
• Academic Ghostwriting
• Write My Book Report
• Case Study Writing Service
• Dissertation Writing Service
• Coursework Writing Service
• Lab Report Writing Service
• Do My Assignment
• Buy College Papers
• Capstone Project Writing Service
• Buy Research Paper
• Custom Essays for Sale

Can’t find a perfect paper?

• Essay Topics

100 Informative Essay Topics

Good informative essay topics are hard to come by. For lots of students, it feels like everything has already been explored so many times that finding an interesting subject has become impossible. This is a big problem because the choice of a topic is the first layer of foundation a future essay should have. If you made a bad choice, your research is going to bore you along with your audience. It’ll have uninspiring facts and irrelevant findings.

Informative essay is a piece of writing where you present certain information to your readers, expanding their knowledge, and explaining an issue in a detailed way. It’s important because it is objective — there is no need to argue with the opposition, refute their counter-points, or defend a view you might not even share simply because the task requires you to demonstrate the power of your conviction. As opposed to it,  informative writing  allows a writer to investigate a phenomenon in depth while readers get an opportunity to learn more about it. There are a ton of themes students could choose for their research, but picking something interesting, manageable, and educational is far more difficult. That’s why we’ve prepared this list with 100 best topics.

How to Find the Best Topic for Informative Essay

The process of looking for a topic takes time, but luckily, there are easy tips that could help students do it more quickly. We outlined some of them below. Consider them when faced with a choice, and before you know it, your inspiration will increase to a surprising extent.

• Explore what you like . If you think academic essays are boring and that looking for a good topic is useless, don’t get discouraged — it’s far more possible than you think! Interest in a subject is important for success, and you could achieve it by making a synthesis of your hobbies. Combine your latest points of interest, talk with friends, look over the books you’ve read, and then make the topic sound academic! With creativity present, you won’t face any troubles. Imagine that you love ‘Twilight’, but your essay is on old English literature. Well, why don’t you choose among Bella’s favorite books to research? This way, you’ll explore a part of your hobby while sticking to requirements!
• Check if there is research available . A potential drawback of essays is that people have to support their content with sources. If you’re writing a business report, you cannot just fill it with your own thoughts, so if no verified research is published about this topic, you won’t go far. That is why you should check it in advance.
• Assess the scope of work adequately.  Don’t go overboard with your creativity — if this is just a regular analysis essay, pick a topic with medium complexity. You wouldn’t want to spend days or weeks composing one single paper simply because you wanted your work to be extra impressive!

100 Great Informative Essay Ideas

There are thousands of categories with hundreds of topics that you could explore. Outlining them all wouldn’t be possible, so we decided to settle on ten largest groups and give you the option between 10 different themes in each of them. Sort through them and maybe you will find inspiration you’ve been searching for!

Interesting Informative Essay Prompts

The first category is focused on interesting informative writing topics. They won’t be necessarily educational, but exploring them could be fun!

• How People in China Handle Grief
• The Concept of ‘Trophy Wives’ and How It Started
• How to Care for an Adopted Pet with Traumatic Past?
• Creative Ways to Subdue a Panic Attack
• Reasons For Snowless Winters in Cold Regions
• History & Development of Fanfiction
• The Oldest Cold Case in Criminal History
• Problems and Benefits Beauty Pageants Are Known For
• The Use of Animals in Therapy
• Why Are Some People Night Owls?

Ideas For College Students

College is the middle point before school and university. Check out these informational writing topics if this stage fits you!

• Smart Ways for Saving Money
• Drawbacks of Having a Car in College
• Adjusting to a Life of a College Student in a New City: Challenges & Solutions
• Preserving Long-Distance Relationships Over the Years
• Changes in Crime Statistics Over the Last Two Years
• Modern Problems with a System of American Healthcare
• Why Relationships with Professors Could Become Strained
• Cases of Child-on-Child Violence & Most Effective Interventions
• Learning to Work and Study in New Conditions Set By COVID-19
• Support Hitler Received From Developed Countries

Informative Essays Topics For High School Students

Fining easy yet appropriate informative topics to write about is a big challenge, but we still chose 10 top options!

• Effective Tactics for Punishing Bullying In School Establishments
• The Most Dangerous Places in Our World
• History of ‘Harry Potter’ Fans’ Legacy
• Learning Foreign Languages Is a Way to Understand Another Culture
• The Science Behind Handwriting and Its Usefulness in Police Investigations
• Everything Parents Should Know About ADHD In Children
• Best Known Portrayals of Mental Disorders in Movies
• Most Popular Social Networks in 2020
• Online Cancel Culture & Its Origins
• Why Having a Diary Feels Comforting to Many People Regardless of Their Age

Informative and Surprising Ideas

Do you like to take your audience aback? If so, you’ll find the following informative essays ideas useful.

• Medical Experiments Conducted on Children
• Sleeping Next to a Pet At Night as a Kind of Relaxing Therapy
• Chemistry Behind Love at a First Sight
• Choosing the Best Gifts for Family & Friends
• Best Structure That Academic Paragraph Should Have
• Examples of Situations When Determination Prevailed Over Inherent Talent
• Ineffectiveness Multiple Life Sentences Given to Serious Offenders Have Demonstrated
• Three Most Dangerous Drugs People Consider Relatively Harmless
• Sun Allergy: Its Causes, Symptoms, and Ways of Treatment
• Personal Pronouns Should Not Be Used in Academic Writing

Easy Informative Essay Topic Ideas

Sometimes people start looking for topics for informative essay because they have to. They aren’t in the mood for hard work, and we have the options they might like.

• Adopting Wild Animals From Shelters: Things a Future Owner Should Know
• The Value DNA Testing Has in Criminal Investigations
• Controlling Dreams Along With Their Content
• English Tea Rituals: Origins & Details
• Recognizing Signs of Panic Attack Before It Hits Full-Force
• The Unpleasant Truth About the Birth of the US
• Effect Social Media Has on Teenagers’ Self-Esteem
• Working From Home & Being Productive:  Tested Strategies
• Impact That Domestic Abuse Has on a Child as They Mature
• Internet Safety Rules That Many Modern Children Know Nothing About

Topics For Middle School

This is a rare category, but since middle schoolers also need easy informative essay topics, here’s the pick for them.

• Hiking Without Getting Lost: What Experts Say
• Ways to Find a Way Out of Forest If You Are Lost
• Preserving Friendships Regardless of Life Circumstances
• A Diet Everyone Should Try to Secure Their Health
• Unethical Journalism, Its Consequences, and Tactics to Stop It
• How Prisoners Escape and Who Is Responsible
• Cases of Breach Of People’s Right to Freedom of Speech
• The Impact Music Has On Our Modern Life
• Depression as a Warning Sign & Why People Cannot Always Recognize It
• How Elections Work In Russia & Who Oversees It

Informative Essay Prompts on Technology

Our life wouldn’t be recognizable without technologies, so there are many informational essay topics about it.

• How Technology Makes Police Work Easier
• Cases When Young People Became Cruel Due to Opportunities Presented by Technology
• Cybercrime as a Constantly Evolving Danger to Society
• US Schools That Teach Their Students Technology
• The Current State of Espionage in the World
• Online Discussions as a Way to Facilitate Justice for Victims Who Were Previously Silent
• A Vital Role CCTV Cameras Play In Our Life
• Internet Enabled Students to Cheat as They Do Their Homework
• Problem with Online Stalking and Doxxing
• Use of Technology by International Charities

Ideas on Sports

Let’s forget about studies for a moment and concentrate on more exciting topics to write an informative essay on.

• Trauma Behind the Selling of Sportsmen
• Why Do Most Sports Stars Retire Only?
• Reasons for Athletes Using Drugs Despite Knowing They Might Be Caught
• Violence That Accompanies Football Matches
• Love Stories That Developed Between Sport Stars
• The Oldest Movie Dedicated to Sport
• What Kinds of Sports Are Banned in Some Countries?
• The Most Beautiful Sport in Our World
• Extremely Talented Sportive Stars Few People Know About
• The Role That Sport Plays in Action Movies

Suffer from writer’s block?

Your unique essay is just a few clicks away!

Education Ideas

If you’re studying, it’s only logical to seek out educational informative essay prompts.

• Value That Higher Education Possesses in the Present Days
• The Challenge of Working and Studying At the Same Time
• Histories of Colleges With Lowest Tuition
• Instances When Friendships Forged in College Lasted Over the Lifetime
• Tactics for Making a Process of Studying Interesting
• The Most Successful People Who Did Not Graduate
• Ways in Which Cars Could Facilitate Students’ Studies
• Which People Decide to Work as College & Uni Professors?
• Education System in Asia, Its Perks & Disadvantages
• Books with Excellent Education Value & What Makes Them Effective

Politics, Government and Immigration

Our world is changing, and so a number of informative essay topic ideas dedicated to government and their policies is rising!

• The State of American Policies on Immigration  in 2020
• How COVID-19 Affected Decisions of Governments All Over the World
• Reasons That Motivate People to Leave Their Home Countries
• Stages That a Law Must Pass Before It Becomes Officially Legal
• Females In Modern Politics: Their Accomplishments, Defeats, and Opportunities
• Americans’ General Opinion on Gun Control Policies
• The Most Violent Restrictions Put on Immigration Globally
• Modern Known Descendants of True Royalty
• Laws Regarding Smoking in Public as well as Non-Public Places In the US
• Communism as a Dark yet Effective System for Controlling People

Care About the Informative Essay Topic and Your Essay Will Rock

Remember that whatever theme you choose, it should have personal value for you. There are plenty of interesting informative essay topics for college students, but what intrigues one person won’t feel right for someone else. Think about yourself and be sure you enjoy the subject you’re about to start researching. If something still doesn’t work and you cannot find any inspiration, you could contact us for help. We cooperate with the best writers who work across different industries and are capable of brainstorming, researching, creating, as well as formatting an essay for you. So, even if you aren’t in the mood for work, don’t worry about any consequences! Share your problem with us and we’ll provide you with work of the highest possible level.

Can’t come up with a topic for you paper? We’ve prepared a collection of essay topics for you

Want to write a winning essay but lack experience? Browse our free essay samples

Related Topics

Related essays to informative essays.

Words: 1171

Words: 2415

Got to the bottom and still stuck with essay ideas?

ENG 101: The Informative Essay

About the informative essay.

• Developing Questions
• The Thesis Statement
• Reading Scholarly Sources
• Collecting Scholarly Information
• Research Databases
• MLA Resources

Writing Resources

Press the green button if you

Press the red button if you 

Write an informative essay that does the following:

• Clearly informs the reader about a topic without presenting your opinion.
• Correctly uses required style (e.g. MLA or APA ) to organize and format the essay, and to create in-text citations and a bibliography.
• Cites research from academically reliable sources from library databases.
• Includes a properly developed introduction and conclusion.
• Is grammatically correct with few errors in spelling or mechanics.

NOTE: For specific requirements (i.e. - formatting style, number of pages, etc.) follow your instructor's guidelines.

Image from page 3 of Myles, R., & Tuang, H. (2014). Grade 2: Informative writing lessons . The Los Angeles Unified School District's Academic English Mastery Program. https://achieve.lausd.net/cms/lib/CA01000043/Centricity/Domain/217/MELD_Informative_CCSS_Lesson_2.pdf

About the Gateway Library

• SEARCH THE LIBRARY
• Thesis Generator
• Assignment Calculator

The Gateway Library has a small, curated collection of reference books at each campus but the majority of our resources are online .  Instead of building a library in the middle of campus, we've put students (YOU!) at the center of our library!  Some benefits to this type of library collection include:

• As long as you have internet connectivity, books and databases are available to you wherever you are and whenever you need them.
• Digital resources allow for centralized and efficient resource curation.
• The Gateway Library has more than 250K eBooks and 20K journals, many more than could fit on campus physically, plus several video services and a comprehensive digital reference collection.

Links in the menu on the left of the page will give you access to videos, books, articles, websites, and even test prep resources for your project or program of study!  These have been curated by the library staff in collaboration with Gateway Faculty.  The intention is to create something interesting and useful for your studies.

Search Encyclopedias and other Reference Resources:

Search for Books and Videos:

Please enable javascript to use primo.

Check  here for tips on using this search interface!

Search the Gateway Databases:

START HERE  for an overview of the databases and links to the most-used databases; you'll also find instructions for how to search the databases and navigate your results!

WE HAVE A LIBRARIAN AT EVERY CAMPUS! 

Meet your gateway librarians:, urban metro campus.

Greetings!  My name is Elizabeth Hartlaub.  I have been the Director of Library and Information Services at Gateway since the Summer of 2020.

I have been a librarian for over 15 years with both public and academic library experience.  Some professional positions I held prior to coming to Gateway are as follows: 

~ Library Operations Manager - UC Blue Ash

~ Branch Manager - Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County

I am originally from Cincinnati and attended Xavier University for my undergraduate degree in International Affairs. My career in libraries started when I worked as a Student Assistant at the XU Library! 

I was a first generation college student and found that the library provided the academic support and empowerment I needed to succeed in my studies. This doesn't go without saying that I also had an amazing group of family, friends, and other academic support at the university to help me along the way.  My advice to any student is that you are not alone as you work through your courses!  Engage with your school and personal support system early and often!

A few years after I graduated from XU, I earned a Master's Degree in Library Science at Indiana University - Bloomington. 

My favorite part of being a librarian is connecting with students and guiding them through the research and information literacy process.  Research is one of my favorite parts of being a librarian and I feel very lucky to be able to do what I love and share that knowledge with others!

In my free time, I love hiking and playing outside with my two children, going to baseball games at Great American Ball Park, and gardening in my small-but-mighty backyard garden.

One fun fact about me is that I started learning French when I was in Kindergarten.  I kept with it all the way through to earning a minor at XU.  I have visited France three times, including living there for 6 months as a part of a study abroad opportunity.  I am really rusty, but I think I can still carry on a conversation if needed.

Contact Elizabeth by...

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 859-442-4162

Office Location: UB208 (in the TIE building)

EDGEWOOD CAMPUS

Before I became a librarian, I was an architect and an historical archaeologist.  I renovate homes, and research history and genealogy for fun; I am interested in everything, so bring bring me your research questions and let's learn together!  Email, call, or chat if I can help with your information needs.

Contact Erica by...

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 859-442-4171

Office Location: E105A (within sight of the Info Commons desk at the Student Services Center)

     ** I'm the librarian closest to the Transportation Technology Center!

BOONE CAMPUS

Contact Priscilla by...

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 859-442-1163

Office Location: Boone Campus (CAM Building) Ground Floor B05

Hello, my name is Priscilla Kapungu I am your Library Specialist based at the Boone Campus.

I have 20 plus years of experience working in a special-public library at the Department of State's Harare Embassy as the Deputy director, for the Information Resource Center.

Before joining Gateway College I worked as a Customer Support Associate at Cengage Learning Group for four plus years.

One thing I enjoy in my line of work - Information Management, Program Evaluation, Interlibrary Linkages, Information Resources Literacy, is patrons and colleagues alike who are incredibly friendly and willing and ready to ask questions.

Fun fact about me is, I strongly believe in the the spirit of Ubuntu - namely “I am because we are…”

URBAN METRO CAMPUS - IC DESK

I have worked at Gateway since 2015, receiving my MLIS from Wayne State University in Michigan, after leaving an internship at Xavier University's library. My primary areas of interest were and are how to best catalog, curate, and organize information to make it easy to learn from and use.

As you might expect, I enjoy reading and researching history for fun.

Please note that the best way to contact me is by email. If you need to meet in person, I will schedule an appointment by email. I try to reply to all emails made during the work week within 24 hours.

Given my role extends beyond traditional library services, I would encourage those who are embedded in my classes to contact me for more general questions, as well as research related ones: If I cannot find an answer for you, I can find someone who can!

Contact Adam by...

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 859-442-1122

Office Location: UC - TIE Information Commons desk

Make an Appointment

Use this form to make an in-person or virtual One-on-One Appointment !

Use the Chat Pop-up ~or~ Text Us @ 859-765-1265 ew! Send us a text-message to ask a question about the Gateway Library!

    Please be sure to provide your name and email address so we can follow-up in more detail if needed.

State your topic

Your topic is the essential idea of your paper. It is usually a few words or a phrase that summarizes the subject of your paper. For your thesis statement, try to make your topic as specific as possible.

State your main idea about this topic

What are you trying to state or prove about your topic? What are you trying to persuade the reader to believe? When stating your opinion, be sure to:

• express one major ideal
• name the topic and assert something specific about it
• take a stance on an issue that you can support with facts and reasons.
• state your position on or opinion about the issue.

Give a reason that supports your main idea

Write your reason as a clear statement. Be sure that you can support this reason with logical facts and evidence.

Give another reason that supports your main idea

Give one more reason that supports your main idea.

Tell us one reason that supports your opinion. Write your reason as a clear statement. Be sure that you can support this reason with logical facts and evidence.

Include an opposing viewpoint to your main idea, if applicable

A good thesis statement acknowledges that there is always another side to the argument. So, include an opposing viewpoint (a counterargument) to your opinion. Basically, write down what a person who disagrees with your position might say about your topic.

Click the button to generate your thesis statement!

Use this assignment calculator  to determine when you should complete each part of a writing project, such as research papers and speeches (1).

1. University of Minnesota Libraries. (n.d.). Assignment calculator . University of Minnesota. Retrieved May 24, 2022, from https://www.lib.umn.edu/services/ac

• Next: Develop a Topic >>
• Last Updated: May 15, 2024 1:50 PM
• URL: https://libguides.gateway.kctcs.edu/eng101

Informative Essay | Definition, Examples & Structure

Jeremy taught elementary school for 18 years in in the United States and in Switzerland. He has a Masters in Education from Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida. He's taught grades 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8. His strength is in educational content writing and technology in the classroom

Kelly earned her Master of Mass Communication from Arizona State and has taught consumer behavior and communication courses at the undergraduate level.

What is the meaning of an informative essay?

An informative essay is a non-fiction writing piece that is written to inform readers on a certain topic or subject. They are always fact-based and do not include arguments or opinions from the author.

What does an informative essay contain?

An informative essay contains an introductory paragraph that begins with a hook sentence and contains the topic sentence, or thesis. The body of the essay generally contains three to five paragraphs that expand on the introduction. The conclusion paragraph restates the main topic and summarizes the main points.

What is an example of informative writing?

There are four types of informative essay. One example would be a definition essay about gothic architecture. Another is a compare and contrast essay focusing on the similarities and differences between public and private school. An analysis essay might be about the cost of living in New York City, and a process essay might describe how to build a porch swing from pallet wood.

Table of Contents

What is an informative essay, examples of informative essays, lesson summary.

When a teacher assigns a class the task of writing an essay , the room usually fills with groans and moans. Writing essays can be hard, and there are many different kinds of essays that can be written.

An informative essay serves the single purpose of informing or educating the reader about a topic. Informative essays are non-fiction essays that deliver content to the reader in a simple manner.

There is a slight difference between an expository essay and an informative essay, and it's important to understand that difference. An expository essay is also intended to inform readers, but it is a much more complex essay that uses lots of evidence and facts to back up the main topic. Expository essays can also be argumentative or opinion-based, which informative essays cannot be.

Informative essays can be found in non-fiction books, magazines, and online content. While they don't have a specific length, they are generally not really long or detailed. Informative essays are the first type of longer writing that younger elementary students learn how to write.

To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. Create your account

An error occurred trying to load this video.

Try refreshing the page, or contact customer support.

You must c C reate an account to continue watching

Register to view this lesson.

As a member, you'll also get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons in math, English, science, history, and more. Plus, get practice tests, quizzes, and personalized coaching to help you succeed.

Get unlimited access to over 88,000 lessons.

Already registered? Log in here for access

Resources created by teachers for teachers.

I would definitely recommend Study.com to my colleagues. It’s like a teacher waved a magic wand and did the work for me. I feel like it’s a lifeline.

You're on a roll. Keep up the good work!

Just checking in. are you still watching.

• 0:05 Defining an Informative Essay
• 1:46 Informative Essays: Definition
• 3:48 Informative Essays:…
• 5:17 Informative Essays:…
• 6:17 Informative Essays: How-To
• 6:58 Lesson Summary

When a writer decides to write an informative essay, they generally have a few different types of essays to choose from. The following are the main types of informative essays and an example of each one.

Writing Informative Essays

Writing an informative essay is a step-by-step process that should be followed in the right order to get the best results. The steps to writing an informative essay are as follows:

• Pick a Topic - It may seem like a no-brainer, but picking a good topic that is interesting for the writer and the reader is very important. Starting off with a bad topic can cause problems further in the process.
• Research - It's important to get the information correct, so doing good research and writing down sources is the next logical step. It's also important to make sure there is adequate information available on the topic chosen.
• Outline - Once the research notes have been taken, it's time to organize the information in an outline. Outlines take many forms, like bullet points, columns, or graphic organizers (see example below).
• Write the Body - It's actually easier to write out a good informative essay by writing the body first rather than starting with the introduction. Use your outline and group topics by paragraphs. Include the major and minor details and use good transitions between main ideas. Once all the vital information is written down and organized, it's easier to write the introduction and conclusion so they fit the structure of the body.
• Write the Introduction and Conclusion - The introduction paragraph should act as a preview of the information in the body. Be sure to include the overall topic and mention the sub-topics, but save details for the body paragraphs. It should give the reader an idea of what you WILL talk about in the essay. The body and introduction should all connect nicely. The conclusion is more or less a restatement of the topic and a summary of the main points. It reminds the reader of what you HAVE talked about in the essay.
• Proof and Edit - Once the essay is written, check the writing for spelling and grammar errors. It's also important to check the essay for continuity. Continuity is the flow of the essay and how well each part transitions into the other.

Informative Essay Structure

One of the reasons informative essays are taught early in the writing process is because they have a very straightforward and easy structure to follow while writing. The simple layout makes it easy for the writer to construct and for the reader to follow.

Informative Essay Topics

Finding topics for informational essays can be a bit tricky, but if you narrow down the type of essay you want to write, it makes it a bit easier. The list below will give some examples of different topics based on the types of essays.

An informative essay is written to inform the reader of a single topic or subject. They are the most common essay and the one that students learn how to write first. Informative essays are always fact-based and not based on opinion or argument. Most informative essays consist of between three and five paragraphs, but there is no minimum or maximum size.

Informative essays often come in one of four different types:

• A definition essay , which explains a single term or concept.
• A compare and contrast essay , which focuses on the similarities and differences between two things.
• An analysis essay , which uses data and numbers to explain a concept and is the simplest form of essay.
• A process essay , which explains how to do something and that often has steps in a progression.

Informative essays are best written by using the following process:

• Pick a topic,
• Research the topic,
• Outline the information,
• Write the body,
• Write the introduction and conclusion, and
• Proofread the essay.

Informative essays have a simple structure of an introduction paragraph , several body paragraphs, and a conclusion paragraph.

Video Transcript

Defining an informative essay.

It's Sunday night and you're finding any way possible to procrastinate on your English homework assignment: to write an informative essay. 'It's gotta be easy enough,' you say to yourself, remembering your English teacher's simple explanation of an informative essay - to educate your reader on a topic. The only problem is, with a definition that broad, you're having a really hard time narrowing down what exactly you'd like to inform your audience about.

Flipping channels, you come across a music awards show. You hear the announcer say one of your favorite stars growing up, Smiley Virus, is set to perform next. As Smiley takes the stage, you're completely shocked. She comes out half-dressed in some kind of stuffed animal costume, and just keeps doing the same spastic dance moves over and over again. It just keeps getting more and more bizarre. It's obvious she's trying to be 'edgy'. As the camera pans the crowd, no one is sure how to react toward her 'cutting edge' performance.

As it all ends, you immediately start thinking of a way you can turn this into an informative essay - it's just too good not to write about. Your mind begins to fill with the different options your English teacher gave you.

'Informative essays come in many forms,' she said. 'They can define a term, compare and contrast something, analyze data, or provide a how-to.' 'No matter what form you choose, remember that an informative essay does not give the writer's opinion on the topic or attempt to persuade their reader to change their beliefs,' she said. Finally excited about writing your informative essay, you begin to brainstorm your options.

Informative Essays: Definition

The definition essay is the most basic form of an informative essay. Its goal is to simply provide an explanation. Informative essays that define provide their explanation using one of three methods: They can use synonyms to explain what the new term is similar to, categories to help the reader see where the term fits in compared to others, or negation to allow the reader to understand the term by seeing what it isn't.

In addition to the three methods, there are several ways you can organize an informative essay that provides a definition. The most important thing is to present them in a logical order that makes sense, and there's not one method that's best in every case. Some organization schemes you might consider include presenting examples from most important to least or presenting them chronologically.

In your case, a definition essay might simply tell about who Smiley Virus is. You begin to work on a rough draft for a definition-focused informative essay. You know the introduction should contain a thesis along with a compelling way to draw the reader in.

'As the lights dim, the crowd waits in anticipation. Slowly a beat emerges, then, as if rising from the ashes of her child star persona, a shadowy figure appears in a cloud of smoke on stage, ready to give an infamous performance no one will soon forget. As she makes her way across the stage, the spotlight shines down, showing off a new woman. No longer a little girl, this is the new Smiley Virus, the adult pop sensation.'

'Not bad,' you think. You begin with a compelling description of what you just saw and tell your reader what you'll be defining: the new adult pop sensation, Smiley Virus. You also note how you've already started to provide your explanation, through negation - letting your reader know that Smiley is not a little girl or child star anymore - and categorizing - classifying her as an 'adult pop sensation.'

Informative Essays: Compare and Contrast

Although you think the definition of Smiley Virus, adult pop sensation, could make for a good essay, you also start to ponder some of the ways this performance is similar to other ones you've seen on the same awards show. An informative essay using compare and contrast would fit the bill here. It allows the reader to understand the topic by looking at similarities or differences compared to other subjects.

Writing a compare and contrast informative essay would allow you to focus on Smiley's performance at the awards show, rather than just simply defining her as a pop star. You could compare and contrast her controversial performance with others from the past that were also seen as scandalous at the time.

You start to craft a thesis statement for an informative essay using compare and contrast. 'Although Smiley Virus's edgy performance made top headlines Monday morning, it's not the first time a pop sensation turned heads with their awards show performance. In fact, it's nothing new at all. In 1984, rising pop star Mona Lisa shocked fans with her controversial performance.'

Organizing a compare and contrast informative essay like this is fairly straightforward. You can present your information by points of comparison - maybe comparing Mona Lisa and Smiley's outfits, then dance moves, then popularity - or just look at your topics, Mona Lisa versus Smiley, one at a time.

Informative Essays: Analyzing Data

You're just not sure you know enough about the Mona Lisa performance to do a good job on the compare and contrast option, so you move on to another choice. You think about how Smiley ended up in that position in the first place. Perhaps an informative essay that analyzes data might work. You could look at whether life as a child star leads to outlandish behavior as an adult.

When using an informative essay to analyze data , you are simply explaining how something might have happened based on data you've gathered. It's basically like looking at cause and effect with no opinions presented. In this case, it's usually easiest to look at things in chronological order. This will help your reader best follow what you are trying to explain.

It's important to have lots of supporting data and statistics to explain the cause and effect situation in an analytical essay. Realizing you don't have much more than anecdotal evidence as to why many child stars end up the way they do, you move on to your final option, the how-to.

Informative Essays: How-To

The how-to informative essay does exactly what the name says. It explains to your reader how to do something. It's most often presented in the order of the steps involved. It dawns on you - you could provide a how-to for the new, spastic dance move Smiley showcased, 'The Bizzerk.' Easy enough, if you were able to even put those spastic dance moves into words, let alone do it well enough to explain the Bizzerk step-by-step.

You pass on that option and go back to your first idea: to write your informative essay as a definition of Smiley Virus, adult pop sensation.

As you finish your informative essay, you start to expand on your explanation of who Smiley is. You give more background on the pop star category you put her in, and continue explaining how she is no longer the sweet, child star the public once thought her to be. You go through the basics your English teacher shared with you in class one more time.

An informative essay educates your reader on a topic. They can have one of several functions: to define a term, compare and contrast something, analyze data , or provide a how-to . They do not, however, present an opinion or try to persuade your reader.

Learning Outcome

After watching this lesson, you should be able to define an informative essay and explain the four formats they could be written in.

Unlock Your Education

See for yourself why 30 million people use study.com, become a study.com member and start learning now..

Already a member? Log In

Recommended Lessons and Courses for You

Related lessons, related courses, recommended lessons for you.

Informative Essay | Definition, Examples & Structure Related Study Materials

• Related Topics

Browse by Courses

• CSET English Subtest IV (108) Prep
• 11th Grade English: Help and Review
• 11th Grade English: Tutoring Solution
• 9th Grade English: Homework Help Resource
• 9th Grade English: Tutoring Solution
• Comprehensive English: Overview & Practice
• Common Core ELA Grade 8 - Writing: Standards
• Common Core ELA Grade 8 - Literature: Standards
• SAT Subject Test Literature: Practice and Study Guide
• CAHSEE English Exam: Test Prep & Study Guide
• Common Core ELA Grade 8 - Language: Standards
• 11th Grade English: High School
• 12th Grade English: High School
• 12th Grade English: Credit Recovery
• Remedial 12th Grade English

Browse by Lessons

• Argumentative Essay | Definition, Format & Examples
• Descriptive Essay | Definition, Format & Examples
• How to Write a Great Essay
• Compare & Contrast Essay | Definition & Examples
• Formal Essay Format, Types & Example
• Evaluation Essay Definition, Example & Parts
• Thesis Statement for Speech | Purpose & Examples
• Argumentative Essay | Definition & Examples
• Informative Thesis Statement Examples
• Compare & Contrast Thesis Statements | Overview & Examples
• How to Organize an Essay
• How to Structure an Argument in Your Essay
• Personal Essay | Definition, Guidelines & Tips
• What is a Writing Prompt? | Types, Responses & Examples
• Writing an Informative Essay | Outline, Steps & Example

Create an account to start this course today Used by over 30 million students worldwide Create an account

Explore our library of over 88,000 lessons

• Foreign Language
• Social Science
• See All College Courses
• Common Core
• High School
• See All High School Courses
• College & Career Guidance Courses
• College Placement Exams
• Entrance Exams
• General Test Prep
• K-8 Courses
• Skills Courses
• Teacher Certification Exams
• See All Other Courses
• Create a Goal
• Create custom courses
• Get your questions answered

• Our Writers
• How to Order
• Assignment Writing Service
• Report Writing Service
• Buy Coursework
• Dissertation Writing Service
• Research Paper Writing Service
• All Essay Services
• Buy Research Paper
• Buy Term Paper
• Buy Dissertation
• Buy Case study
• Buy Presentation
• Buy Personal statement

Informative Essay

Informative Essay Topics

The Ultimate Handbook for Informative Essay Topics

19 min read

People also read

Informative Essay - Writing Tips, Examples and Topics

Informative Essay Outline - Steps, Template. & Samples

Have you ever found yourself struggling to choose a captivating topic for your informative essay? The pressure to select a topic that is not only interesting but also relevant can be a daunting challenge.

Also the process of selecting an engaging subject for an informative essay can often leave you overwhelmed and unsure where to begin.

Fret not! 

In this blog post, we will provide you with compelling informative essay topics. 

By the end of this article, you'll have a number of informative essay topic examples to choose from, making the writing  process stress-free.

So, let’s dive in!

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

• 1. Informative Essay Topics for Primary School Students
• 2. Easy Informative Essay Topics for Middle School Students
• 3. Informative Essay Topics for High School Students
• 4. Good Informative Essay Topics For College Students
• 5. Easy Informative Essay Topics
• 6. Funny Informative Essay Topics
• 7. Controversial Informative Essay Topics 
• 8. Informative Essay Topics About Animals
• 9. Informative Essay Topics About Mental Health 
• 10. Informative Essay Topics About Health 
• 11. Interesting Informative Essay Topics
• 12. Good Informative Essay Topics 
• 13. Informative Process Analysis Essay Topics 
• 14. How-To Informative Essay Topics
• 15. Social Studies Informative Essay Topics
• 16. Science Informative Essay Topics
• 17. Pop Culture Informative Essay Topics
• 18. General Topics for Informative Essay
• 19. Informative Narrative Essay Topics 
• 20. Compare and Contrast Informative Essay Topics
• 21. Informative Essay Topics on Religion
• 22. Informative Essay Topics About Stress
• 23. Informative Essay Topics on Social Issues
• 24. Business and Economics Informative Essay Ideas 
• 25. Informative And Surprising Essay Topics
• 26. Informative Essay Topics about Technology
• 27. Informative Essay Topics On Sports
• 28. Informative Essay Topics About Education
• 29. Informative Essay Topics About Politics, Government, And Immigration 
• 30. How to Choose Good Informative Essay Topics?

Informative Essay Topics for Primary School Students

As a student, you're likely looking for topics that not only captivate your audience but also showcase your ability to convey information effectively.

Below we have gathered a list of easy topics for an informative essay for students.

Informative Essay Topics for 3rd Grade

• What are emotional support animals?
• Discuss the significance of wearing a uniform
• What is the significance of taking minerals and nutrition in your diet?
• What is the impact of gun control on minds?
• How to weave a carpet?
• How to read the map?
• How to solve your maths paper?
• Discuss the history and evolution of video games
• How to find a good roommate?
• Discuss a trip to Paris

Informative Essay Topics for 5th Grade

• How to train your dog?
• Discuss Darwin’s Theory of Evolution
• Discuss different cultures of the world
• Explain the Taboos in Africa
• Evaluate the education system of the United States
• How to overcome phobias?
• How to become a billionaire?
• How to throw a surprise party?
• What are the causes and effects of World War II?
• How to control bullying?

Easy Informative Essay Topics for Middle School Students

Middle school is a crucial time for students to develop their writing skills and explore various forms of expression.

Here are some topics for middle school students to get a better idea.

6th Grade Informative Essay Topics

• The life cycle of butterflies: a fascinating journey
• How photosynthesis powers plant growth
• The basics of volcanoes: how they form and erupt
• Exploring the solar system: a tour of our planets
• The importance of recycling: reducing waste for a greener planet
• How your digestive system works: from food to energy
• The wonders of ancient civilizations: egypt, greece, and rome
• Animal adaptations: surviving in different environments
• The water cycle: nature's way of recycling water
• Understanding ecosystems: how plants and animals interact

Informative Essay Topics for 7th Grade

• Discuss the concept of Vegetarianism
• What is domestic violence?
• How is making tattoos interesting?
• Analyze the advantages and disadvantages of plastic surgery
• Is organ donation legal?
• Describe the importance of a Balanced diet
• Discuss Homosexuality and its effects on society
• What are gambling and its results?
• Discuss the negative consequences of drinking
• How is water pollution affecting the environment?

Informative Essay Topics for 8th Grade

• Discuss the Theory of relativity
• What are the causes and effects of cancer?
• Discuss the Big Bang Theory
• What is the Greenhouse Effect?
• Discuss the functions of DNA
• Describe the importance of recycling
• What is the impact of deforestation?
• How is space exploration effective?
• Discuss the Law of Gravity
• What is the history and origin of the Anatolian Shepherd?

Informative Essay Topics for High School Students

Here are topics to inspire critical thinking and encourage students to express their ideas with clarity.

Informative Essay Topics For 10th Grade

• Discuss different mental disorders 
• How is unemployment affecting third-world countries?
• What leads to drug addiction?
• What is the impact of illegal immigrants on the country's economy?
• How to overcome anxiety?
• What is the significance of death penalties?
• What are the factors of teen pregnancy?
• Discuss artificial intelligence and its importance in today’s world. 
• What is cybersecurity?
• What are the effects of global warming?

Tough Essay Due? Hire Tough Writers!

Good Informative Essay Topics For College Students

For college students, choosing a topic for their informative essays is a challenging task. For your help, we have compiled a list of some ideas to create a well-written essay.

• What is the history of the Bible?
• Discuss the significance of higher education.
• What is the history of Voodoo magic?
• What are the effects of consuming fast food on health?
• Discuss different herbal medicines and their effectiveness.
• How to cure post traumatic stress disorder?
• How to handle a panic attack?
• How is a sleeping disorder affecting our lives?
• How does the government eradicate poverty?
• What are the causes of Anorexia Nervosa? 

Easy Informative Essay Topics

• What do dog shows look like?
• How to find a nice roommate?
• A guide to hiking on your closest trail
• Effectiveness of online education
• The best vitamin to give children
• What is the working of social engineering?
• How can a war affect the citizens of a country?
• Effects of earthquakes
• How to choose an informative essay idea?
• How to grow herbs and vegetables at home?

Funny Informative Essay Topics

• How to perfectly delay everything?
• A comprehensive guide to surviving family dinners
• Discuss the most famous fails in basketball
• Enlist some funny incidents at the Olympics.
• The struggles of remembering names
• How successful are songs made?
• Why do rock stars break their guitars on stage?
• The art of witty comebacks: a guide to quick thinking
• The dos and don'ts of awkward elevator encounters
• Why do some people and their dogs look alike?

Controversial Informative Essay Topics 

• The ethics of genetic engineering in humans
• Mandatory vaccination: balancing public health and personal freedom
• The impact of artificial intelligence on employment and society
• Legalization of recreational drugs: pros and cons
• Gun control: striking a balance between safety and individual rights
• Should assisted suicide be legalized? examining ethical dilemmas
• The morality of animal testing in scientific research
• The Death penalty: justifiable punishment or human rights violation?
• Censorship in the age of the internet: protecting vs. restricting free speech
• The role of government in regulating social media content

Informative Essay Topics About Animals

• What are the effects of poaching?
• How do climate change and global warming affect the animal kingdom?
• Describe the anatomy of a bird.
• Explain how bees help in pollination.
• Discuss the different types of animal cruelty.
• How does overpopulation affect wildlife habitats?
• What are the effects of deforestation on animal habitats?
• How do you protect endangered species?
• Explain how dolphins use echolocation.
• Discuss the importance of proper pet care.

Informative Essay Topics About Mental Health 

• Exploring the connection between nutrition and mental health
• Teenagers and mental health: navigating challenges in high school
• Workplace stress and Strategies for employee mental health
• The effects of sleep quality on mental health
• Examining the link between substance abuse and mental health disorders
• Mental health in the lgbtq+ community: challenges and support
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (ptsd) and coping mechanisms
• Mental health education in schools: importance and implementation
• The influence of cultural factors on mental health perception
• Technology addiction and its impact on mental well-being

Informative Essay Topics About Health 

• The importance of a balanced diet for overall health
• Benefits and risks of intermittent fasting on health
• The impact of regular exercise on mental and physical health
• Understanding the role of gut microbiota in digestive health
• The relationship between sleep patterns and health
• The dangers of sedentary lifestyles and ways to combat them
• Exploring alternative medicine practices and their health benefits
• The effects of stress on the body and mind: coping strategies
• The role of genetics in determining health conditions
• The impact of smoking on respiratory and cardiovascular health

Interesting Informative Essay Topics

• What is the future of AI in the medical field?
• Discuss the different types of renewable energy sources.
• How does virtual reality work and what are its potential applications?
• The history of cryptocurrency: from bitcoin to altcoins
• Describe the history of animation and its importance in modern media.
• Discuss genetic engineering and its effects on human life.
• What are the effects of political unrest in different countries?
• Discuss the impact of social media on society.
• How does quantum computing work and what are its applications?
• Explain the concept of blockchain technology.

Good Informative Essay Topics 

• What are the effects of poverty on educational opportunities?
• Describe how music affects mental health.
• Explain the concept of microaggressions.
• Discuss how drug addiction can be treated.
• Explain online privacy and its importance.
• What is cyberbullying and what are its long-term effects?
• How do racism and discrimination affect mental health?
• Discuss the challenges of women empowerment.
• How do technological advancements help in protecting the environment?
• Explain the history and importance of public transportation.

Informative Process Analysis Essay Topics 

• How to create a budget and manage finances?
• Explain the process of composting and its benefits.
• Discuss how to maintain healthy skin naturally.
• What are the steps in creating an effective CV?
• Describe the process of making a perfect omelet?
• Explain how recycling works and why it is important?
• How to create an effective marketing plan?
• Discuss how to build a successful career.
• Describe the steps of making homemade soap.
• How does a car engine work?

How-To Informative Essay Topics

• How to write a successful college application essay?
• How to manage time and prioritize tasks?
• How to build a strong online presence? 
• How to create a successful YouTube channel? 
• How to Bake a Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookie
• How to Grow Your Own Organic Vegetable Garden
• How to Master Basic First Aid Techniques
• How to Develop Effective Public Speaking Skills
• How to Create and Manage a Blog

Social Studies Informative Essay Topics

• What are the effects of censorship in different countries?
• Discuss the importance of digital literacy in the modern world.
• How is technology changing the job market?
• Explain the idea of net neutrality and its importance. 
• Describe the history and evolution of social media.
• Discuss how to promote gender equality in society. 
• What are the causes and effects of racism? 
• How does the economy impact our lives?
• What are the effects of using non-renewable energy sources? 
• Explain how mass media affects public opinion.

Science Informative Essay Topics

• What are the benefits of stem cell research?
• Discuss the history and progress of space exploration.
• How does human activity affect climate change? 
• Explain how renewable energy sources work. 
• Describe the effect of air pollution on human health. 
• What are quantum physics and its applications? 
• Discuss the causes and effects of deforestation.
• How do viruses and bacteria spread?
• What are the effects of ocean acidification? 
• Explain the differences between nuclear and renewable energy sources.

Pop Culture Informative Essay Topics

• Discuss the influence of hip hop culture in modern society.
• Explain the history and importance of comic books.
• What are the effects of reality TV shows?
• How has streaming changed the entertainment industry?
• Describe how social media creates trends.
• Discuss the impact of video games on mental health.
• What is the power of influencers in digital marketing?
• Explain the evolution and history of fashion.
• How does advertising shape our views on gender roles?
• Discuss the power of K-pop music around the world.

General Topics for Informative Essay

• How do sleep patterns affect physical health?
• Discuss how sports can be used to build character. 
• What are the effects of bullying in school? 
• Explain the importance of music in education. 
• Describe the impact of technology on communication. 
• How does poverty lead to poor health outcomes? 
• Discuss the power of positive thinking. 
• What are the benefits of exercising regularly? 
• Explain how volunteering can make a difference in society. 
• How do advancements help in protecting the environment?

Informative Narrative Essay Topics 

• Describe a life-changing event that happened in your family.
• Share an experience of facing a natural disaster. 
• Recall an inspiring moment when you felt proud of yourself. 
• Explain the importance of learning from mistakes. 
• Discuss how creativity can help overcome hardships. 
• Describe the power of storytelling and its impact on society. 
• How did a special person in your life shape who you are today? 
• Discuss the beauty of self-expression through music and art. 
• What have been some of the biggest challenges you faced growing up? 
• Explain how travel has changed your worldview. 

Compare and Contrast Informative Essay Topics

• Compare and contrast the benefits of working remotely versus in-office.
• Compare and contrast the effects of high school vs college education. 
• Explain how online education differs from traditional classroom learning. 
• Compare and contrast the pros and cons of living in a city or a rural area. 
• Discuss how different types of music can affect the brain. 
• Compare and contrast the impact of digital media and print media. 
• Explain how different generations view technology differently. 
• Compare and contrast the three major religions in terms of their beliefs. 
• Discuss how traditional values differ from modern values. 
• Compare and contrast the benefits of online shopping versus in-store shopping.

Informative Essay Topics on Religion

• Discuss the concept of original sin in Christianity. 
• Explain how free will differs between Islam and Christianity. 
• Describe the impact of religion on culture and politics. 
• What are some similarities and differences between Hinduism and Buddhism? 
• How have religious beliefs changed over time? 
• What is the meaning of karma in different religions? 
• Explain the purpose of religious rituals and ceremonies. 
• Discuss how religion can foster compassion in society. 
• Describe the role of faith in helping people cope with difficult times. 
• What is the importance of prayer in various religious traditions?

Informative Essay Topics About Stress

• What are the physical and mental effects of stress? 
• Explain how lifestyle changes can reduce stress levels. 
• Discuss how social media can heighten anxiety. 
• Describe how different people cope with stress. 
• What strategies can help manage stress effectively? 
• Discuss the power of positive self-talk in reducing stress. 
• Explain how exercise can help alleviate stress. 
• What are the benefits of engaging in mindfulness activities? 
• Describe different techniques of relaxation. 
• Discuss the importance of self-care for reducing stress levels.

Informative Essay Topics on Social Issues

• Discuss the challenges of poverty in developing countries. 
• Describe the effects of gender inequality on society. 
• What are the causes and consequences of racism? 
• Explain how mental health issues can be addressed through policymaking. 
• How does technology help combat global warming? 
• What strategies can be used to reduce homelessness? 
• What is the impact of access to clean water on global health? 
• Discuss the role of education in promoting economic stability. 
• Describe how human rights violations can be prevented. 
• Explain the importance of making a difference in society.

Business and Economics Informative Essay Ideas 

• Describe the different types of business models.
• Discuss the importance of financial literacy. 
• Explain how to start and manage a successful business. 
• What are the economic impacts of globalization? 
• How do entrepreneurs use technology to their advantage? 
• Discuss the importance of innovation in the business world. 
• Explain how companies can reduce waste and conserve resources.
• What strategies do businesses use to increase profits? 
• Describe the legal implications of starting a business. 
• Discuss the different marketing tactics used by businesses.

Informative And Surprising Essay Topics

• Describe the effects of climate change on societies.
• Explain how learning a second language can benefit you. 
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of genetic engineering? 
• Discuss how to become a professional gamer. 
• What is the future of artificial intelligence? 
• How can virtual reality be used to improve education? 
• Describe the impact of technology on society. 
• What is the importance of space exploration? 
• Discuss how travel can broaden your worldview. 
• Explain the benefits of living a minimalist lifestyle.

Informative Essay Topics about Technology

• Describe the impact of the internet on communication. 
• How do social media platforms influence behavior? 
• Explain how machine learning is changing our world. 
• Discuss the effects of AI on businesses. 
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of 5G technology? 
• What strategies can be used to protect data privacy online?
• How is virtual reality being used in the medical field? 
• Discuss the potential implications of quantum computing. 
• What are the benefits and drawbacks of using robots in manufacturing?
• Explain how blockchain technology can revolutionize banking.

Informative Essay Topics On Sports

• Discuss the effects of doping in sport. 
• Explain how different sports promote physical fitness. 
• What strategies can be used to prevent injuries in sports? 
• Describe the role of sports in developing teamwork skills. 
• How does technology help improve performance in athletics? 
• What are the benefits of playing a team sport?
• Explain the importance of sportsmanship in competitive sports. 
• Discuss the effects of racism on athletes and teams. 
• How has coaching changed over time? 
• Describe the different nutritional requirements for athletes.

Informative Essay Topics About Education

• Describe the benefits of a liberal arts education. 
• Compare and contrast different learning strategies. 
• Explain how technology can help improve educational outcomes. 
• What are the implications of homeschooling? 
• Discuss the role of teachers in student development. 
• How does access to quality education impact society? 
• What strategies can help students be successful in the classroom? 
• What are the benefits of using learning management systems?
• Discuss the different criteria for selecting a college. 
• Explain how to create an optimal study environment.

Informative Essay Topics About Politics, Government, And Immigration 

• Describe the role of government in society. 
• Discuss the causes and effects of political corruption. 
• What strategies can be used to address income inequality? 
• Explain the different forms of government around the world. 
• How does immigration law shape public policy? 
• What are the pros and cons of globalism?  
• Discuss the challenges of achieving world peace. 
• What strategies can be used to combat terrorism? 
• How does international trade impact economic growth?
• Explain how trade agreements shape global politics.

How to Choose Good Informative Essay Topics?

Choosing an informative topic doesn’t really involve an official procedure. But there are some steps that professional essay writers take to make the paper writing process easier.

Writing an informative essay aims to educate the audience about the topic so that every aspect is covered in detail. So while choosing a topic, ensure that it should be in-depth and useful for the audience.

If you are finding it hard to choose topics for an informative essay, follow the below-given steps.

1. Brainstorm Ideas

The first step that a writer takes to decide a topic is to brainstorm ideas. If your instructor does not assign you a topic, think of interesting ideas. The best trick is to analyze your passions and see what you are interested in telling the audience about.

Another way is to pick something relevant to your field. For example, if you are a science student, you can search for interesting discoveries or theories to write your informative essay.

2. Identify the Audience

Determining the audience can help select the topic as well. When you know who you are writing for and what they expect from the essay. It gets easier to select a topic idea.

For example, if your audience is your instructor, impress him by choosing theories and other discoveries related to their field.

3. Search for Credible Sources

Thinking of a good topic is not enough if you lack credible sources of information. Therefore, when gathering information on the topic, the sources used should be credible and authentic. Informative essays are based on facts and objective data, so the sources should be reliable.

If you fail to find these sources for your topic, reconsider the topic idea.

4. Form a Strong Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is directly related to the topic as well. It is a stance that a writer takes to discuss the topic, and the whole essay content will revolve around it. A strong essay topic will help the writer develop a good thesis statement as well.

5. Finalize the Topic

Passing your raw idea from the above filters will help you finalize the topic. The end product that you will receive will be the ideal and the best topic. With this, you can begin writing your informative paper.

All in all, the significance of choosing a great topic to write your essay can not be ignored. Now you have a list of informative essay topic ideas to choose from. Remember, writing a good one depends on how strong and catchy your subject is. 

If you are stuck and can not think of a good essay theme, or if you have a topic in hand but have no clue how to start, get help from MyPerfectWords.com. 

We cater to all your academic assignments. Be it a simple essay or a complex research paper, you can get quality content written in no time. 

Just ask our team to " write my essay online " and get exceptional writing services!

Write Essay Within 60 Seconds!

Dr. Barbara is a highly experienced writer and author who holds a Ph.D. degree in public health from an Ivy League school. She has worked in the medical field for many years, conducting extensive research on various health topics. Her writing has been featured in several top-tier publications.

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That’s our Job!

Keep reading

• Essay Guides
• Essay Topics

Informative Essay Topics: 250+ Writing Ideas for Your Paper

• Speech Topics
• Basics of Essay Writing
• Other Essays
• Main Academic Essays
• Research Paper Topics
• Basics of Research Paper Writing
• Miscellaneous
• Chicago/ Turabian
• Data & Statistics
• Methodology
• Admission Writing Tips
• Admission Advice
• Other Guides
• Student Life
• Studying Tips
• Understanding Plagiarism
• Academic Writing Tips
• Basics of Dissertation & Thesis Writing

• Research Paper Guides
• Formatting Guides
• Basics of Research Process
• Admission Guides
• Dissertation & Thesis Guides

Table of contents

Use our free Readability checker

Are you stuck in choosing a research question for your informative essay? You’ve come to the right place. This article seeks to demystify informational writing topics. To help you get started on your essay, we’ve defined informative essay topics, described their characteristics, and even elaborated on the correct way to choose them. In addition, we’ve compiled several lists of informational writing topics on various subjects in various levels of learning. Explore this article to find winning ideas for your informative essay. In case you need further assistance with your informative writing, turn to StudyCrumb to buy essay online . Let us know instructions and have a paper crafted to your needs. 

What Are Informative Essay Topics?

Informative essay is written to inform, explain, or teach a reader about any information.  Informative essay topics are ideas that focus on providing relevant facts, new information, as well as unique perspectives, to readers. They highlight data that may have not been discussed extensively in other sources. These research questions are designed to enlighten your audience about a particular topic in a detailed and elaborate manner, enabling them to make informed decisions.  Additionally, topics for informational writing should be well researched to allow providing accurate information. Usually, informative topics ought to be interesting and engaging to both the writer and the target audience. They may cover ideas related to history, science, current events, health, philosophy, literature, culture, among others.

Characteristics of Good Informative Essay Topics

Good informative essay topics should have the following characteristics:

• Relevant All good topics for informative essays should cover subjects that interest the readers and provide meaningful insights into relevant issues.
• Unbiased Outstanding informative writing topics do not take sides on any issue. They present facts and allow the readers to draw their conclusions themselves.
• Specific Good topics for informative essays should be precise enough to narrow down the focus of your paper but broad enough to still present room for exploration and argumentation. You should provide enough details for the reader to understand the subject matter.
• Engaging Perfect informative topics to write about should be stimulating for your audience. Ensure that the essay topic captures their attention and makes them want to learn more.
• Suited to your writing style Make sure that your ideas match your unique writing style so that you can feel comfortable expressing them in an informed and intelligent way.

How to Choose an Informative Essay Topic?

When choosing an informative essay topic, follow the procedure below:

• Identify your interests Start by brainstorming topics that you are passionate about. Think about your hobbies, desires, history, or current events, and consider a topic related to those interests.
• Consider your audience It is important to consider who your audience will be when choosing informative essay prompts. Think about your readers' interests and choose a topic that will be informative, interesting, and relevant to them.
• Research the topic Once you have narrowed down your list of potential ideas, it is important to study them thoroughly. Such investigation can help determine if your topic has enough information to make a good essay.
• Narrow down the topic Once you have identified several potential informative essays ideas, choose one that is most interesting and relevant to your assignment. Consider the scope of the essay when selecting a topic—it should be neither too broad nor too narrow. Be mindful of how much information you can cover within the paragraph limit assigned to an informative essay.
• Choose an appropriate tone When selecting a topic, consider the tone of your essay. Some ideas are better suited to a humorous approach, while others may require a more serious and professional tone.

Don’t have time? You can pay to write essay at StudyCrumb and get a perfect informative piece from our experts in no time. 

Best Informative Essay Topics List

When writing lists for topics for informative essays, you should consider interesting and challenging ideas. You should explore different issues, present facts and opinions, and develop a unique perspective. Doing this will enable you to educate your readers about areas that may not be familiar to them. It also allows you to express your views on issues often neglected by society. Such topics range from current events and history to science or technology. Below is a list of informative essay topics to get you started on your essay.

• The history of the American Civil War.
• Pros and cons of genetically modified foods.
• Causes and effects of global warming.
• Characteristics of successful entrepreneurs.
• How technology has affected education.
• The impact of social media on society.
• Key aspects of self-care.
• The pros and cons of nuclear energy.
• Popular myths about the environment.
• The science behind alternative medicine.

Good Topics for an Informative Essay

What are good informative essay topics? An informative essay idea should be based on factual information and should take a neutral stance on the subject matter. It needs to be educational, thought-provoking, interesting, and accurate. Coming up with top ideas requires researching, brainstorming, and thinking critically. Below is a list of good topics to write an informative essay on.

• Impact of climate change on the environment.
• Our solar system.
• The development of AI technology.
• How social media influences society.
• Genetics and its effects on human health.
• Benefits of exercising regularly.
• Agriculture and its impact on the environment.
• The history of the internet.
• Poverty and hunger in developing nations.
• Alternative energy sources.
• Gender equality, its challenges, and solutions.
• Immigration policy in America.
• Mental health awareness and treatment
• Cybersecurity : protecting online privacy.
• The impact of globalization on world politics.

Easy Informative Essay Topics

Writing an informative paper can be easy if you choose the right idea. Easy topics for an informative essay are uncomplicated to research. With these topics, you can make your essay interesting and engaging while still providing reliable facts and data. These research questions mostly appeal to the younger audience. No matter what ideas you choose for your informative paper, it's important to ensure that the information you give is accurate and understandable. Whether you need easy ideas for an informative essay assignment or want to explore some informational topics to write about, this list will help you find the perfect one!

• The advantages and disadvantages of online shopping.
• How air pollution affects human health.
• A history of space exploration.
• An overview of the evolutionary process.
• Different types of natural disasters.
• Impact of globalization on developing countries.
• How to save energy at home.
• The role of education in society.
• Differences between traditional and modern medicine.
• The history of the internet and its effects on communication.
• Causes and effects of climate change.
• The role of technology in our lives.
• Benefits and drawbacks of social media.
• Types of alternative energy sources.

Need more ideas for your informative essay?. It’s time to test our Essay Title Generator . Get a catchy topic created based on your needs.

Interesting Informative Essay Topics

Essay on an interesting informational essay topic should arouse curiosity, provide insights, and provoke original discussions. It should create an opportunity for your audience to learn something new or gain a different perspective on a given area. Some topics that can make for engaging, inspiring, and thought-provoking essays include current events and issues, scientific and technological advances, cultural phenomena, politics, and global challenges. Below are some interesting topics to write an informative essay on:

• The impact of artificial intelligence on business.
• How to save money.
• The impact of the internet on commerce.
• The role of technology in curing diseases.
• Benefits and pitfalls of modern technology.
• The benefits of yoga and meditation.
• Principles of sustainable development.
• Causes and effects of gender inequality in the workplace.
• Human rights issues in developing nations.
• Domestic animals’ testing practices and their impact on society.
• How global warming has impacted our environment.
• Globalization's impact on small businesses.
• The power of social media and its effect on society.
• The hidden dangers of social networking sites.

Funny Informative Essay Topics

Funny informative essay topics can be a great way to make your readers laugh, while at the same time giving them useful and interesting information. To create funny informative essay topics, you'll want to come up with ideas that are humorous but also relevant and factual. They can encompass a wide range of subjects, from fairly absurd to more serious ones, guaranteeing a captivating reading experience. By writing on fun informative essay topics, you engage your audience's attention and curiosity while simultaneously educating them on substantial, important information. From the world's most unusual inventions to the science behind why we laugh, there are several funny information topics to write about. Here are humorous tips for you to explore:

• The weirdest laws around the world.
• Unusual uses for ordinary objects.
• The science of pranks and practical jokes.
• The origin and benefits of laughing.
• Historical misconceptions.
• Surprising facts about dreams.
• The most bizarre inventions of all time.
• Unconventional uses for superglue.
• How to fake your death and get away with it.
• Grandma's cures that worked.
• Amazing animal abilities you didn't know about.
• The history of the selfie.
• How to get out of an awkward conversation.
• The psychology of losing money.
• The real history behind fairy tales and fables.

Current Informative Essay Topics

Current informative paper topics provide readers with up-to-date information about a particular issue. Such ideas often focus on new developments in a certain field or delve deeper into existing knowledge. When selecting a current informative paper topic, it’s advisable to choose something interesting and relevant to your field. Below are some potential informative research topics:

• The increasing automation uses within the workplace.
• Ways to combat cybercrime.
• Economic impact on globalization.
• Effects of social media on mental health .
• Impact of climate change on agriculture.
• Technological evolution and its effects.
• Benefits and drawbacks of online education.
• Causes and solutions for income inequality.
• How automation can help ease unemployment issues.
• Outcomes of political policies on economic growth.
• Effects of unregulated carbon emissions.
• Benefits and drawbacks of nuclear power.
• Impact of global trade on local economies.
• Different approaches to climate change mitigation.
• How technology is changing healthcare delivery systems.

Informative Essay Ideas for Students

Informational essay ideas for students represent topics that are timely, relevant, as well as engaging. They should provide insights into subjects or concepts studied in particular educational institutions while also being creative and unique, if possible. When choosing these essay topics, it is important to consider the students’ interests as well as their current knowledge. It is also essential to think about how your research can be supported by proper factual evidence. In this section, we will explore some informative essay topic ideas for students in middle school, high school, different grades, and college:

Informative Essay Topics for Middle School

Writing informative essays provides middle school children with an opportunity to explore various topics and express their ideas. By researching topics and creating well-structured essays, you can refine your critical thinking skills while discovering more about the world around you. When choosing topics for an informative essay for middle school, it's important to select interesting, relevant, and age-appropriate ideas. Here are some middle school informative essay topics that may help you get started:

• The history of the American civil rights movement.
• The impact of technology on society.
• The role of media in our lives.
• The importance of environmental conservation.
• How to manage stress and anxiety.
• The science behind global warming.
• Effects of bullying on a child's mental health.
• Mental health awareness and prevention.
• Different cultures and their customs.
• Political issues that impact the life and well-being of middle school students.
• How to stay safe online.
• How to make healthy food choices.
• Ways to foster creativity and innovation.
• Importance of nutrition for physical and mental health.
• The power of money and how to manage it responsibly.

Informative Essay Topics for 6th Grade

Exploring informational essay ideas enables pupils to gain an in-depth understanding of their subject matter and learn more about topics that are important in today’s world. By researching these ideas, 6th grade students have the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills, make connections between different topics, as well as gain an appreciation for diverse cultures along with their perspectives. Ultimately, these topics can help children become informed citizens and positive contributors to their communities. Here are some topics to write an informative essay on for your elementary level:

• The industrial revolution.
• The solar system.
• Advantages and disadvantages of technology.
• Causes of climate change.
• History of ancient civilizations.
• The water cycle.
• Role of women in society.
• Immigration trends and laws.
• Different types of governments.
• The revolutionary war.
• Evolution and natural selection.
• Causes and effects of air pollution.
• Oceanic currents and tides.
• Human rights violations around the world.
• Causes and impact of bullying.

Informative Essay Topics for 7th Grade

As a 7th grade student, you are expected to come up with informative essay topics for your papers in order to demonstrate your knowledge and creativity. These ideas must be educational, appropriate for your age group, relevant, interesting, and also carefully selected to consider your strengths. They can include current events, matters of personal interests, history, science, mathematics, and more. Here are some topics for informational writing that you could consider:

• Causes and effects of the Civil War .
• The role of genetics in human development.
• Impact of media on society.
• The process of photosynthesis.
• Different types of energy.
• Benefits of volunteering in local communities.
• Human migration trends.
• Uses of natural resources.
• Factors contributing to poverty.
• The development of the internet.
• Benefits of recycling for our planet.
• Different types of rocks and minerals.
• Ancient religious beliefs around the world.
• The role of immigration in U.S. history.
• Globalization and its impact on society.

Informative Essay Topics for 8th Grade

8th grade is an important transition year for students, as they prepare to move on to high school and take on more challenging academic tasks. Studying informative writing topics at this level can provide them with valuable insights into various topics, such as the history of their community, conformity in society, or the effects of technology on everyday life. Here are some informative topics that you can consider writing an essay on as an 8th grader:

• The history of the United Nations.
• Causes of global warming.
• Bullying prevention and intervention strategies.
• Ancient Greek philosophy.
• The challenges of living in a multicultural society.
• Historical events in Europe.
• Major trade routes around the world.
• Ethical issues behind animal testing and experimentation.
• Different types of ecology.
• Evolution of technology.
• Different types of government systems.
• Air pollution causes and effects.

Informative Essay Topics for High School

Studying informative essay topics for high school students can be both challenging and rewarding. It requires you to thoroughly research a chosen idea within this level and present your findings in an informative and organized way. You can learn about different subjects, explore unknown aspects of these topics, and develop new areas for discussion. High school essay topics should be thought-provoking and relate to your school experience. Below are some high school informative essay topics to review:

• How social media has affected high school education.
• Strategies for overcoming stress in high school.
• Pros and cons of taking advanced placement courses.
• New technologies transforming education.
• How bullying affects students in high school.
• Solutions to homelessness.
• How climate change will affect future generations.
• Causes of teen pregnancies.
• How technology is affecting students' mental health.
• Effects of fast-food consumption.
• International travel for high school students.
• Gender roles in society and their effects on personal identity.
• How social media has contributed to political activism.
• How to protect the environment by reducing waste.
• Effects of drug abuse on high school students.

Informative Essay Topics for College

Selecting appropriate informative essay topics for college students is often complex but instructive. College-level essays require a higher degree of research and critical thinking skills to analyze. When exploring these topics, you should utilize your knowledge about the preferred one, explore new fields and ideas, and write your findings in an enlightening and systematic fashion. College essay topics should be engaging enough to encourage you to get creative with your research while remaining factual to showcase your ability to think critically. With dedication and hard work, you can become an expert in writing a compelling essay. Here are some college informative essay topics for you to explore:

• How genetics determines human behavior.
• Relationship between education and income inequality.
• How technology is transforming healthcare.
• Pros and cons of artificial intelligence.
• Prevention of overpopulation.
• The role of the government in combating climate change.
• Causes of homelessness.
• How to improve gender equality within the workplace.
• Strategies for managing time wisely as a college student.
• Impact of social media on our political choices.
• Impact of globalization on local cultures.
• How to deal with student debt responsibly.
• Effects of mass migration.
• Impacts of mobile phone addiction.
• Effects of social stratification.

Informative Writing Topics by Subject

Exploring a topic for an informative essay by subject can range from discussing the latest pedagogical trends to examining the impact of technology in the classroom. In this section, we have classified topics into various categories. We will provide helpful tips for choosing an essay topic that is suitable for your project, along with a list of informative writing ideas to get you started. Below are subsections dedicated to specific subjects such as education, business, religion, culture among others.

Topics for Informative Essays About Education

Exploring informational writing topics about education allows you to research and perform an analysis of various didactic issues. For example, it enables you to understand how technology changes our learning and teaching. You can also explore modern educators' challenges, such as bullying, mental health, as well as drug abuse. Here are some informative essay topics about education:

• Long-term effects of early childhood education programs.
• Strategies used to stop bullying in schools.
• The challenges of homeschooling and its effectiveness.
• Effective methods of teaching for special needs students.
• The role of standardized testing in student assessment.
• Use of technology for promoting student engagement.
• Impact of educational achievement on mental health.
• Challenges faced by rural schools.
• The growing trend towards online learning.
• How to create an inclusive classroom environment.

Read more: Research Paper Topics on Education

Informative Essay Topics on Social Issues

Social issues can range from poverty and homelessness to education reform or gender inequality. By writing on informative essay topics related to social matters, you can better understand the complexities and nuances of your community. You can also explore solutions required to improve the lives of those around you and challenge yourself to think critically about how you can make a difference. Here are some ideas for an informative essay on social issues:

• Impact of social injustice on the criminal justice system .
• How to promote positive values in our society through music.
• Effects of climate change on vulnerable communities.
• How to reduce poverty and its associated social issues.
• Implications of technology on our privacy and freedom of speech.
• Impact of media on our ideas about gender roles and relationships.
• Gender inequality in the workplace.
• Immigration policies and their impacts.
• Impact of the current immigration policies in the U.S. on communities.
• How to deal with the stigma around mental health issues.

Business Topic Ideas for an Informative Essay

Business informational writing ideas allow you to examine the ins and outs of the business world. By delving into marketing, finance, strategic planning, product development, and customer service, you can better understand how businesses function and develop. By exploring informative essay topics about business, you are able to analyze the complexities of the corporate environment as well as the potential solutions to help improve organizational operations. Explore the following informative report topics for your business project:

• The role of marketing in a successful business strategy.
• Impact of sales on the customer.
• How to improve employee engagement.
• Role of technology in the modern business environment.
• Impact of the global economy on business operations.
• How to protect intellectual property.
• Advantages and disadvantages of franchising a business.
• How businesses use data analytics to make decisions.
• Impact of sustainability practices on a business’s bottom line.
• How businesses leverage technology to stay competitive.

View more: Best Business Topics for Students

Informational Essay Topics on Religion

When researching on topics for informational writing on religion, you gain insight into the unique aspects of faith, culture, and spirituality. Religion has shaped societies in numerous ways throughout history. By engaging with topics related to ethics, scripture, traditions, customs and beliefs, we can understand how religion influences our lives. To effectively write an informative essay about religion, you must first research your topic and consider relevant topics such as the history of a particular faith, its scriptures, language, laws, and customs. Additionally, it would help if you thought critically about how religion has influenced different cultures during the past and in the present. Examine the following informative essay topic ideas on religion for your project:

• The relationship between science and religion in our society today.
• How faith has influenced our modern society.
• The pros and cons of interfaith dialogue.
• The role of religion in ancient civilizations.
• Similarities between religious faiths .
• How religion impacts the cultural identity of a people.
• Different types of religious ceremonies and rituals.
• The role played by spiritual beliefs in healing and human well-being.
• Impact of religion on political discourse within a region or country.
• Impact of proselytizing on religious beliefs.

Informative Essay Topics on Culture

Exploring cultural informative paper topics can cover a broad range of societal aspects. From customs, values, beliefs, and identity to the history and development of different societies, there are various ideas related to people’s heritage that are worth exploring for your essay. When looking for interesting topics to write about, it's important to consider aspects that are relevant and timely. Here are some topics for cultural informative paper to get you started:

• Role played by language in shaping cultural identity.
• How traditions shape our identities.
• Gender roles in different cultures.
• How societal values influence cultural practices.
• Migration patterns and their impact on culture.
• Ethnocentrism and its effects on society.
• Cultural aspects of food and eating habits.
• The relationship between art and society.
• Effects of technology on cultural development.
• Intercultural communication strategies for effective cross-cultural dialogue.

Racism Informative Essay Topics

Informative topics on racism can help to educate readers on various aspects of this complex issue, from the history and evolution of racism to its impact on society. When researching racial discrimination topics, ensure that your ideas are informational, thought-provoking, and backed up by credible sources. In addition, ascertain that your research questions are current and relevant. Consider the following topics to write about for an informative essay on racism:

• Effects of racial stereotypes in media.
• Racial inequality in healthcare.
• The psychological effects of racism .
• The relationship between immigration policies and racism.
• How intersectional identities contribute to experiences of racism.
• Impact of cultural appropriation on racial representations.
• Discriminatory policies and their consequences for people of color.
• Racism in sports and games and its impact on performance.
• The correlation between poverty and race.
• The role of language in maintaining racial hierarchies. ​

Informative Essay Topics About Health

Research on informational writing topics about health provides a way to explore various aspects related to physical and mental well-being. These topics can be used to write essays that inform, educate, and enlighten readers on the importance of being healthy. Some of these ideas may include diet and nutrition, physical activity, mental health, illnesses and diseases, healthcare policy, and more. Depending on the angle or emphasis, these ideas can provide a comprehensive overview of health and medicine, or delve into specific details related to certain conditions or treatments. Here are some informative essay ideas about health to help get you started:

• Impact of stress on mental health.
• The role of diet in maintaining a healthy body.
• How exercise affects physical performance.
• Health social determinants and their impact.
• Environmental factors’ impact on health.
• Use of vaccines to control disease outbreaks.
• Mental health stigmas and their consequences.
• Genetic disorders and their impact on health.
• Healthcare accessibility for marginalized communities.
• The relationship between mental and physical health.

>> Read more: Mental Health Research Topics

Topics for an Informative Essay on Stress

Research on informative paper topics on stress covers a wide range of issues related to physical, psychological, and emotional pressures. These research questions could include the causes of stress, its manifestation on people, strategies for managing it, and potential solutions to reduce its impact. Additionally, an informative essay on stress may explore ways to identify its sources in everyday life and recognize the signs of excessive stress. Below are informational topics to write about in relation to stress:

• Genetics' role in stress disorders.
• How to de-stress in under five minutes.
• Social support networks and their effectiveness in reducing stress.
• The link between stress, anxiety, and depression .
• Coping mechanisms for dealing with stress.
• How stress affects physical health and performance.
• The relationship between workplace stressors and productivity.
• Gender impact on experiences of stress.
• Cultural differences in responses to stress.
• How neuroscience helps to understand stress.

Informative Essay Topics on Science

Research in informative paper topics on science requires you to examine scientific phenomena and findings in a way that is easy for the average person to understand. These ideas can cover anything from the latest advancements in technology to the basics of physics, chemistry and biology. Here are some scientific information topics to write about in your next project:

• Physics’ laws and their applications.
• How advancements in genetics have impacted our society.
• Important developments in space exploration.
• Scientific methods for studying human behavior.
• How the human genome project is transforming medicine.
• The role of chemistry in everyday life.
• Social and ethical issues in genetics research.
• New developments in the field of medical science.
• Technology's impact on environmental sustainability.
• Advances in energy sources and their impact.

View more: Science Topics to Write Your Paper On 

Informative Essay Topics on Technology

From the invention of the wheel to artificial intelligence, information essay topics usually entail discussing modern conveniences that have made a profound impact on human history. Undoubtedly, technology has become a vital part of our lives, revolutionizing the way we live, work, communicate, and entertain ourselves. Here are some informational writing ideas to help get you started:

• How technology is shaping healthcare delivery.
• How the internet has changed communication.
• How artificial intelligence affects human society.
• Big data and its applications in everyday life.
• Cybersecurity challenges within a connected world.
• Robotics' role in manufacturing and automation.
• Impact of the internet on globalization.
• Emerging technologies and their potential impact.
• Social media platforms and their influence on society.
• Biotechnology and its impact on human health.

You might also be interested in other title suggestions for your academic assignments. Browse our Blog to find best ideas for expository essay topics , narrative essay topics , or definition essay topics .  

Bottom Line on Informative Essay Topics

In summary, exploring informative essay concepts can be a great way to educate readers on a wide range of topics. When deciding on informative topics for your essay, it is important to consider what you are passionate about, your audience's interests, and the subject's relevance. You should also ensure that your topic provides new and stimulating information. With a great topic, your essay can be an invaluable source of knowledge for readers. Whether you are writing about history, science, or technology, this article provides a guide on how to come up with good ideas for an informative essay.

Our team of professionals provides educational consultancy. We are ready to help you find the easiest path to success by offering you expert writing assistance with academic essays. 

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

You may also like

110 Informative Essay Topics

[Post information was updated in April, 2024]

What do you need to write a stellar informative essay? First of all, you need time and attention. This type of essay writing requires you to find as much information as possible to make your piece useful and memorable. Adding unexpected facts or statistical data to such essays is always a good idea and impresses the audience. The second thing you might need is an interesting topic that is relevant to your discipline.

This is where it gets difficult. At first, it seems that you could write about anything in the world. But after you start doing your preliminary research, you find out you’ve bitten off more than you could chew, you’re not that interested in the topic after all, or maybe it’s just hard to find a lot of information on the subject that interests you.

But don’t worry, as we are happy to help you with dozens of ideas for informative essays. You can read through them and get inspired. Some of the topics you’ll see require more time and research than others. Go with what interests you. Writing about something you are passionate about is always easier than struggling with a topic that bores you. So, without further ado, here’s our collection of informative essay topics.

Narrow informative essay topics

Depending on the word limit of your assignment, you can decide whether to go for a narrow or broad topic for your analysis. Here are some informational topics to write about when you are have a more narrow or specific focus:

• Social media influence on interpersonal relationships.
• Effective time management techniques for college students.
• Air pollution and its consequences in urban areas.
• History and evolution of video game graphics.
• Mindfulness meditation and its impact on stress.
• Exploring photosynthesis and explaining the process of converting sunlight into energy.
• Effect of fast fashion on the environment.
• Cultural diversity and its implications for classroom learning.
• The lifecycle of a star: from nebulae to supernovae.
• The significance of the Gutenberg Printing Press in the spread of information.

Broad informative essay ideas

Now consider these topics for informational writing that are broader in scope:

• Applications and ethical considerations of using artificial intelligence.
• International organizations and their approach to protecting human rights.
• The evolution of democracy from ancient to modern times.
• The influence of American literature on societal perception and actions.
• How technology has been transforming people’s daily routines.
• The stigma surrounding psychological disorders and possible ways of combatting it.
• The correlation between art and politics in the U.S.
• Global urbanization and its impact on quality of life.
• Brain disorders.
• The challenges of food production during the last decade.

Informative writing topics for high-school students

Without a doubt, you need to consider the academic level when choosing a relevant topic for your piece. Here are several great topics for informative essays if you are a high-school student:

• The effect of social media on the mental health of youngsters.
• How to manage personal finance: saving or investing.
• The challenges of cybersecurity and modern approaches to maintaining online privacy.
• The role education plays in shaping one’s career paths.
• The advantages and disadvantages of selecting a career in STEM.
• The history and cultural significance of celebrations in the U.S.
• The evolution of pop culture, including music, fashion, and entertainment.
• How to analyze classical literature and its themes and symbols.
• The rising popularity of green practices and sustainability.
• Psychological aspects of navigating peer pressure in high school.

Informational essay topics for college students

And here are some ideas for college students:

• The philosophy of ethics and moral dilemmas.
• The impact of globalization on economics, culture, and politics.
• Artificial intelligence and the future of work.
• Mental health challenges in college.
• New scientific discoveries in neuroscience’s brain plasticity and disorders.
• The influence of different media channels on public opinions.
• The new features of entrepreneurship in the digital age.
• The intersection of art and technology.
• The overview of modern international relations.
• Contemporary challenges of environmental science.

English and literature informative essay topics

English and literature are the most popular disciplines that require students to write informative assignments. You’ll find many interesting options for numerous disciplines here. Start with these informational writing topics to get inspired and create an outstanding essay:

• Key symbols in George Orwell’s “Animal Farm.”
• The exploration of gothic literature from Mary Shelley to Edgar Allan Poe.
• Feminist themes and characters in Jane Austen’s works.
• The analysis of magical realism in Gabriel García Márquez’s “One Hundred Years of Solitude.”
• The concept of a hero’s journey in mythology and modern literature.
• Satire in Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.”
• Descriptions of war and PTSD in Ernest Hemingway’s works.
• The concept of tragedy in Greek drama and its effect on contemporary theater.
• The exploration of identity and resistance in the works of Chinua Achebe.
• The psychological realism of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novels.

Political science ideas for informative essays

• Political ideologies and their role in policy formation.
• Theories and real-world applications of the concept of power.
• Case studies of human rights violations.
• Populism and its influence on contemporary politics.
• The comparison of first-past-the-post, proportional representation, and mixed systems.
• Political polarization and its effects on public decision-making.
• Main theories of international relations, their strengths and weaknesses.
• The challenges of global environmental governance.
• The rising popularity of nationalism and its possible implications.
• Negotiation strategies and diplomatic approaches.

Business and management informational essay ideas

• The transformation of modern business practices due to digitalization.
• Challenges and strategies for employee motivation and engagement.
• What are the success factors of startups in today’s reality?
• The essence of ethical leadership and its impact on business processes.
• The current trends of e-commerce.
• The role of emotional intelligence in becoming an effective manager and leader.
• The principles of financial management for small businesses.
• Communication during a business crisis and crisis management strategies.
• Significant changes in human resource management during 2020-2023.
• Strategic planning and decision-making in business organizations.

Informative essay topics related to philosophy

• The philosophy of existentialism.
• The analysis of rationalism, empiricism, and constructivism as the main theories of knowledge.
• Dualism, materialism, and the mind-body problem.
• The ethics of utilitarianism and its role in the contemporary world.
• The philosophy of stoicism.
• The concept of free will and its development throughout centuries.
• Aesthetics philosophy and its main concepts.
• Philosophical view on the meaning of life.
• The philosophy of language and linguistic analysis.
• The philosophy of science and epistemological foundations.

Informative paper topics on cultural studies

• Examining controversies of cultural appropriation.
• Identity politics and intersectionality.
• Gender roles and their transformational culture.
• Cultural hybridity and its role in globalization.
• Subcultures and countercultures: the patterns of differentiation.
• Cultural evolution of language and the role of slang and jargon.
• The cultural impact of technology and the way it shapes modern reality.
• Modern day folklore and mythology.
• The exploration of cultural identities across borders.
• Contemporary representations of beauty and body image in today’s culture.

Economics informative essay ideas

• Globalization and its influence on income inequality.
• The nature of decision-making biases and their consequences.
• The economics of healthcare in the U.S.
• Central banks and their role in monetary policy.
• Current trends of income mobility.
• The economics of modern education and the problem of student debt.
• Urbanization and its impact on economic growth.
• The economics behind poverty in the 21st century.
• Inequality and early life conditions.
• Exploring investor psychology and market anomalies.

Informative writing topics on communication and media studies

• Media bias and the way it affects public perception.
• The presence of new media in activism and social movements.
• Contemporary ethics of journalism: and the role of fake news in the 21st century.
• The influence of advertising on consumer behavior.
• How to navigate information overload and misinformation?
• Cultural imperialism as represented in the media.
• The rising popularity of podcasting and its trends, formats, and cultural impact.
• The analysis of the power of visual content in mass media.
• The effects of celebrity culture and reality TV on modern society.
• Media regulation and freedom of expression.

How to choose a topic for your informational essay

After reading all these topics, you might wonder how to make the right choice and pick the most suitable one for you. In the beginning, many of them seem to be exciting to explore. However, you might come across such obstacles as a lack of information or the feeling of being overwhelmed by the scope of work. To avoid such an unpleasant experience, you can use some of the following recommendations.

• Rely on your interests. The first thing you can do is to identify a list of topics relevant to your class that you find exciting. Then, your enthusiasm for the topic will reflect in your writing and make the research process more enjoyable.
• Ask for more explanations if necessary. Clearly understand the guidelines and objectives of the assignment. If you are not sure if the chosen topic fits the material discussed in class, ask your teacher for more guidelines.
• Focus on something specific. If the topic is too broad, narrow it down to something more specific. You can set limitations in terms of geography or historical periods. Writing about every country throughout different times might be challenging to fit in just one essay.
• Prioritize preliminary research . When choosing topics for informative essays, do some preliminary research to ensure there’s enough information available. Don’t rush into the process of writing right away.
• Generate numerous ideas. List potential topics based on your interests, knowledge, and research. Then, you can explore the current trends in different areas to find something worth discussing.
• Evaluate relevance. Does the topic you’ve chosen have enough relevance to the ideas your teacher presents during your classes? If it is too far away from the thesis you and your peers discuss in class, try looking for something more applicable.
• Check for uniqueness. Does your essay add any value to the existing ideas on the topic? It is crucial to add a new perspective to the findings and perceptions that already exist in the academic environment. Avoid overused topics, and try to offer a fresh viewpoint.
• Consult your teacher. If your muse is stuck in a traffic jam and the deadline of the assignment approaches, turn to your teacher to get guidance. They have read many essays and will be able to make a couple of useful suggestions topic-wise.
• Test your choice. Write a preliminary thesis statement for each potential topic. Doing so will help you evaluate the depth and potential scope of your piece.
• Are there enough sources? Ensure there are enough credible sources available for your chosen topic. Otherwise, you will lack the information to support your claims.

Our team is here to assist you with informative essays

Our experienced and talented writers will be glad to assist you with the process of choosing a topic and organizing the information for your piece. We know that it can be challenging to meet the short deadlines of writing assignments. You can choose one of our experts to generate informational essay ideas and proofread your outstanding literary piece. Our virtual doors are open for you 24/7.

Photo by Joanna Kosinska from Pixabay

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

What our customers say

Our website uses secure cookies. More details

Get professional help from best writers right from your phone

Grab our 3 e-books bundle for $27 FREE

Choose Your Test

Sat / act prep online guides and tips, 53 stellar college essay topics to inspire you.

College Essays

Most colleges and universities in the United States require applicants to submit at least one essay as part of their application. But trying to figure out what college essay topics you should choose is a tricky process. There are so many potential things you could write about!

In this guide, we go over the essential qualities that make for a great college essay topic and give you 50+ college essay topics you can use for your own statement . In addition, we provide you with helpful tips for turning your college essay topic into a stellar college essay.

What Qualities Make for a Good College Essay Topic?

Regardless of what you write about in your personal statement for college , there are key features that will always make for a stand-out college essay topic.

#1: It’s Specific

First off, good college essay topics are extremely specific : you should know all the pertinent facts that have to do with the topic and be able to see how the entire essay comes together.

Specificity is essential because it’ll not only make your essay stand out from other statements, but it'll also recreate the experience for admissions officers through its realism, detail, and raw power. You want to tell a story after all, and specificity is the way to do so. Nobody wants to read a vague, bland, or boring story — not even admissions officers!

For example, an OK topic would be your experience volunteering at a cat shelter over the summer. But a better, more specific college essay topic would be how you deeply connected with an elderly cat there named Marty, and how your bond with him made you realize that you want to work with animals in the future.

Remember that specificity in your topic is what will make your essay unique and memorable . It truly is the key to making a strong statement (pun intended)!

#2: It Shows Who You Are

In addition to being specific, good college essay topics reveal to admissions officers who you are: your passions and interests, what is important to you, your best (or possibly even worst) qualities, what drives you, and so on.

The personal statement is critical because it gives schools more insight into who you are as a person and not just who you are as a student in terms of grades and classes.

By coming up with a real, honest topic, you’ll leave an unforgettable mark on admissions officers.

#3: It’s Meaningful to You

The very best college essay topics are those that hold deep meaning to their writers and have truly influenced them in some significant way.

For instance, maybe you plan to write about the first time you played Skyrim to explain how this video game revealed to you the potentially limitless worlds you could create, thereby furthering your interest in game design.

Even if the topic seems trivial, it’s OK to use it — just as long as you can effectively go into detail about why this experience or idea had such an impact on you .

Don’t give in to the temptation to choose a topic that sounds impressive but doesn’t actually hold any deep meaning for you. Admissions officers will see right through this!

Similarly, don’t try to exaggerate some event or experience from your life if it’s not all that important to you or didn’t have a substantial influence on your sense of self.

#4: It’s Unique

College essay topics that are unique are also typically the most memorable, and if there’s anything you want to be during the college application process, it’s that! Admissions officers have to sift through thousands of applications, and the essay is one of the only parts that allows them to really get a sense of who you are and what you value in life.

If your essay is trite or boring, it won’t leave much of an impression , and your application will likely get immediately tossed to the side with little chance of seeing admission.

But if your essay topic is very original and different, you’re more likely to earn that coveted second glance at your application.

What does being unique mean exactly, though? Many students assume that they must choose an extremely rare or crazy experience to talk about in their essays —but that's not necessarily what I mean by "unique." Good college essay topics can be unusual and different, yes, but they can also be unique takes on more mundane or common activities and experiences .

For instance, say you want to write an essay about the first time you went snowboarding. Instead of just describing the details of the experience and how you felt during it, you could juxtapose your emotions with a creative and humorous perspective from the snowboard itself. Or you could compare your first attempt at snowboarding with your most recent experience in a snowboarding competition. The possibilities are endless!

#5: It Clearly Answers the Question

Finally, good college essay topics will clearly and fully answer the question(s) in the prompt.

You might fail to directly answer a prompt by misinterpreting what it’s asking you to do, or by answering only part of it (e.g., answering just one out of three questions).

Therefore, make sure you take the time to come up with an essay topic that is in direct response to every question in the prompt .

Take this Coalition Application prompt as an example:

What is the hardest part of being a teenager now? What's the best part? What advice would you give a younger sibling or friend (assuming they would listen to you)?

For this prompt, you’d need to answer all three questions (though it’s totally fine to focus more on one or two of them) to write a compelling and appropriate essay.

This is why we recommend reading and rereading the essay prompt ; you should know exactly what it’s asking you to do, well before you start brainstorming possible college application essay topics.

53 College Essay Topics to Get Your Brain Moving

In this section, we give you a list of 53 examples of college essay topics. Use these as jumping-off points to help you get started on your college essay and to ensure that you’re on track to coming up with a relevant and effective topic.

All college application essay topics below are categorized by essay prompt type. We’ve identified six general types of college essay prompts:

Why This College?

Change and personal growth, passions, interests, and goals, overcoming a challenge, diversity and community, solving a problem.

Note that these prompt types could overlap with one another, so you’re not necessarily limited to just one college essay topic in a single personal statement.

• How a particular major or program will help you achieve your academic or professional goals
• A memorable and positive interaction you had with a professor or student at the school
• Something good that happened to you while visiting the campus or while on a campus tour
• A certain class you want to take or a certain professor you’re excited to work with
• Some piece of on-campus equipment or facility that you’re looking forward to using
• Your plans to start a club at the school, possibly to raise awareness of a major issue
• A study abroad or other unique program that you can’t wait to participate in
• How and where you plan to volunteer in the community around the school
• An incredible teacher you studied under and the positive impact they had on you
• How you went from really liking something, such as a particular movie star or TV show, to not liking it at all (or vice versa)
• How yours or someone else’s (change in) socioeconomic status made you more aware of poverty
• A time someone said something to you that made you realize you were wrong
• How your opinion on a controversial topic, such as gay marriage or DACA, has shifted over time
• A documentary that made you aware of a particular social, economic, or political issue going on in the country or world
• Advice you would give to your younger self about friendship, motivation, school, etc.
• The steps you took in order to kick a bad or self-sabotaging habit
• A juxtaposition of the first and most recent time you did something, such as dance onstage
• A book you read that you credit with sparking your love of literature and/or writing
• A school assignment or project that introduced you to your chosen major
• A glimpse of your everyday routine and how your biggest hobby or interest fits into it
• The career and (positive) impact you envision yourself having as a college graduate
• A teacher or mentor who encouraged you to pursue a specific interest you had
• How moving around a lot helped you develop a love of international exchange or learning languages
• A special skill or talent you’ve had since you were young and that relates to your chosen major in some way, such as designing buildings with LEGO bricks
• Where you see yourself in 10 or 20 years
• Your biggest accomplishment so far relating to your passion (e.g., winning a gold medal for your invention at a national science competition)
• A time you lost a game or competition that was really important to you
• How you dealt with the loss or death of someone close to you
• A time you did poorly in a class that you expected to do well in
• How moving to a new school impacted your self-esteem and social life
• A chronic illness you battled or are still battling
• Your healing process after having your heart broken for the first time
• A time you caved under peer pressure and the steps you took so that it won't happen again
• How you almost gave up on learning a foreign language but stuck with it
• Why you decided to become a vegetarian or vegan, and how you navigate living with a meat-eating family
• What you did to overcome a particular anxiety or phobia you had (e.g., stage fright)
• A history of a failed experiment you did over and over, and how you finally found a way to make it work successfully
• Someone within your community whom you aspire to emulate
• A family tradition you used to be embarrassed about but are now proud of
• Your experience with learning English upon moving to the United States
• A close friend in the LGBTQ+ community who supported you when you came out
• A time you were discriminated against, how you reacted, and what you would do differently if faced with the same situation again
• How you navigate your identity as a multiracial, multiethnic, and/or multilingual person
• A project or volunteer effort you led to help or improve your community
• A particular celebrity or role model who inspired you to come out as LGBTQ+
• Your biggest challenge (and how you plan to tackle it) as a female in a male-dominated field
• How you used to discriminate against your own community, and what made you change your mind and eventually take pride in who you are and/or where you come from
• A program you implemented at your school in response to a known problem, such as a lack of recycling cans in the cafeteria
• A time you stepped in to mediate an argument or fight between two people
• An app or other tool you developed to make people’s lives easier in some way
• A time you proposed a solution that worked to an ongoing problem at school, an internship, or a part-time job
• The steps you took to identify and fix an error in coding for a website or program
• An important social or political issue that you would fix if you had the means

How to Build a College Essay in 6 Easy Steps

Once you’ve decided on a college essay topic you want to use, it’s time to buckle down and start fleshing out your essay. These six steps will help you transform a simple college essay topic into a full-fledged personal statement.

Step 1: Write Down All the Details

Once you’ve chosen a general topic to write about, get out a piece of paper and get to work on creating a list of all the key details you could include in your essay . These could be things such as the following:

• Emotions you felt at the time
• Names, places, and/or numbers
• Dialogue, or what you or someone else said
• A specific anecdote, example, or experience
• Descriptions of how things looked, felt, or seemed

If you can only come up with a few details, then it’s probably best to revisit the list of college essay topics above and choose a different one that you can write more extensively on.

Good college essay topics are typically those that:

• You remember well (so nothing that happened when you were really young)
• You're excited to write about
• You're not embarrassed or uncomfortable to share with others
• You believe will make you positively stand out from other applicants

Step 2: Figure Out Your Focus and Approach

Once you have all your major details laid out, start to figure out how you could arrange them in a way that makes sense and will be most effective.

It’s important here to really narrow your focus: you don’t need to (and shouldn’t!) discuss every single aspect of your trip to visit family in Indonesia when you were 16. Rather, zero in on a particular anecdote or experience and explain why and how it impacted you.

Alternatively, you could write about multiple experiences while weaving them together with a clear, meaningful theme or concept , such as how your math teacher helped you overcome your struggle with geometry over the course of an entire school year. In this case, you could mention a few specific times she tutored you and most strongly supported you in your studies.

There’s no one right way to approach your college essay, so play around to see what approaches might work well for the topic you’ve chosen.

If you’re really unsure about how to approach your essay, think about what part of your topic was or is most meaningful and memorable to you, and go from there.

Step 3: Structure Your Narrative

• Beginning: Don’t just spout off a ton of background information here—you want to hook your reader, so try to start in the middle of the action , such as with a meaningful conversation you had or a strong emotion you felt. It could also be a single anecdote if you plan to center your essay around a specific theme or idea.
• Middle: Here’s where you start to flesh out what you’ve established in the opening. Provide more details about the experience (if a single anecdote) or delve into the various times your theme or idea became most important to you. Use imagery and sensory details to put the reader in your shoes.
• End: It’s time to bring it all together. Finish describing the anecdote or theme your essay centers around and explain how it relates to you now , what you’ve learned or gained from it, and how it has influenced your goals.

Step 4: Write a Rough Draft

By now you should have all your major details and an outline for your essay written down; these two things will make it easy for you to convert your notes into a rough draft.

At this stage of the writing process, don’t worry too much about vocabulary or grammar and just focus on getting out all your ideas so that they form the general shape of an essay . It’s OK if you’re a little over the essay's word limit — as you edit, you’ll most likely make some cuts to irrelevant and ineffective parts anyway.

If at any point you get stuck and have no idea what to write, revisit steps 1-3 to see whether there are any important details or ideas you might be omitting or not elaborating on enough to get your overall point across to admissions officers.

Step 5: Edit, Revise, and Proofread

• Sections that are too wordy and don’t say anything important
• Irrelevant details that don’t enhance your essay or the point you're trying to make
• Parts that seem to drag or that feel incredibly boring or redundant
• Areas that are vague and unclear and would benefit from more detail
• Phrases or sections that are awkwardly placed and should be moved around
• Areas that feel unconvincing, inauthentic, or exaggerated

Start paying closer attention to your word choice/vocabulary and grammar at this time, too. It’s perfectly normal to edit and revise your college essay several times before asking for feedback, so keep working with it until you feel it’s pretty close to its final iteration.

This step will likely take the longest amount of time — at least several weeks, if not months — so really put effort into fixing up your essay. Once you’re satisfied, do a final proofread to ensure that it’s technically correct.

Step 6: Get Feedback and Tweak as Needed

After you’ve overhauled your rough draft and made it into a near-final draft, give your essay to somebody you trust , such as a teacher or parent, and have them look it over for technical errors and offer you feedback on its content and overall structure.

Use this feedback to make any last-minute changes or edits. If necessary, repeat steps 5 and 6. You want to be extra sure that your essay is perfect before you submit it to colleges!

Recap: From College Essay Topics to Great College Essays

Many different kinds of college application essay topics can get you into a great college. But this doesn’t make it any easier to choose the best topic for you .

In general, the best college essay topics have the following qualities :

• They’re specific
• They show who you are
• They’re meaningful to you
• They’re unique
• They clearly answer the question

If you ever need help coming up with an idea of what to write for your essay, just refer to the list of 53 examples of college essay topics above to get your brain juices flowing.

Once you’ve got an essay topic picked out, follow these six steps for turning your topic into an unforgettable personal statement :

• Write down all the details
• Figure out your focus and approach
• Structure your narrative
• Write a rough draft
• Edit, revise, and proofread
• Get feedback and tweak as needed

And with that, I wish you the best of luck on your college essays!

What’s Next?

Writing a college essay is no simple task. Get expert college essay tips with our guides on how to come up with great college essay ideas and how to write a college essay, step by step .

You can also check out this huge list of college essay prompts  to get a feel for what types of questions you'll be expected to answer on your applications.

Want to see examples of college essays that absolutely rocked? You're in luck because we've got a collection of 100+ real college essay examples right here on our blog!

Hannah received her MA in Japanese Studies from the University of Michigan and holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California. From 2013 to 2015, she taught English in Japan via the JET Program. She is passionate about education, writing, and travel.

Ask a Question Below

Have any questions about this article or other topics? Ask below and we'll reply!

Improve With Our Famous Guides

• For All Students

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 160+ SAT Points

How to Get a Perfect 1600, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 800 on Each SAT Section:

Score 800 on SAT Math

Score 800 on SAT Reading

Score 800 on SAT Writing

Series: How to Get to 600 on Each SAT Section:

Score 600 on SAT Math

Score 600 on SAT Reading

Score 600 on SAT Writing

Free Complete Official SAT Practice Tests

What SAT Target Score Should You Be Aiming For?

15 Strategies to Improve Your SAT Essay

The 5 Strategies You Must Be Using to Improve 4+ ACT Points

How to Get a Perfect 36 ACT, by a Perfect Scorer

Series: How to Get 36 on Each ACT Section:

36 on ACT English

36 on ACT Math

36 on ACT Reading

36 on ACT Science

Series: How to Get to 24 on Each ACT Section:

24 on ACT English

24 on ACT Math

24 on ACT Reading

24 on ACT Science

What ACT target score should you be aiming for?

ACT Vocabulary You Must Know

ACT Writing: 15 Tips to Raise Your Essay Score

How to Get Into Harvard and the Ivy League

How to Get a Perfect 4.0 GPA

How to Write an Amazing College Essay

What Exactly Are Colleges Looking For?

Is the ACT easier than the SAT? A Comprehensive Guide

Should you retake your SAT or ACT?

When should you take the SAT or ACT?

Stay Informed

Get the latest articles and test prep tips!

Looking for Graduate School Test Prep?

Check out our top-rated graduate blogs here:

GRE Online Prep Blog

GMAT Online Prep Blog

TOEFL Online Prep Blog

Holly R. "I am absolutely overjoyed and cannot thank you enough for helping me!”