True to its name, an informative essay is a paper made by students to inform the reader about specific events or findings. While writing an informative essay, writers have to assume that the readers know very little of the subject and therefore make their best attempt at explaining the concept or idea. For example, on how to write an informative essay on gun control, make sure to include what it implies, the global trends, the risk and benefits, as well as its social implications. Though everyone is entitled to their own opinions and thoughts, it is best practice to be unbiased while writing an informative essay. This results in the question of how to write an informative essay to become a very critical one.

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The Structure Explained:
So, how to write an informative essay? Like any other essay, an informative essay can be broken down into three distinct sections. These include the introduction paragraph ending with a thesis statement, body paragraphs and the conclusion.

• The Introduction: The first step of how to write an informative essay is writing the introduction section. This paragraph will allow the author to introduce the subject to the reader. The introduction will aim to provide the background information on the topic while notifying its significance to the readers. A very common method of starting an introduction paragraph is by asking a close-ended question to the audience, such as “Do you spend your nights sleepless? It can be a sign of insomnia. Stress can be a major cause of insomnia.” Or you can start with an interesting statement like “Many people complain that they are unable to sleep at night. Sleeplessness can be a symptom of insomnia.”
• Most university professors from the US teaching students how to write an informative essay recommend that your introduction should have about 7 sentences.
• Thesis Statement: The thesis statement summarises your essay’s main points and describes its scope in a couple of sentences. The thesis statement is ideally placed just after the introduction. If you are looking for help on how to write an informative essay, plenty of reputable online sources are there for your use.
• Body: This is considered to be the main component of your informative essay. It is through these paragraphs the author can explain his views and ideas. The body can contain a number of paragraphs depending on the length and complexity of the essay. In the case of a lengthy article, it is always important that the body is divided into further sub-sections. The sequence, chronology, and contrast should be followed to properly augment a comprehensive and effective essay body.
• An effective body paragraph should be cohesive, allowing it to anchor to the previous paragraph. Supporting ideas can be introduced with words or phrases like ‘similarly’, ‘likewise’ etc., while contrasting ideas can be introduced with words like ‘but’, ‘however’, ‘nevertheless’ etc. Phrases like “in conclusion” or “in summary” allow to express the closing statement. And finally, the sequence can be expressed using words like ‘firstly’ or ‘secondly’. Let us take a look at a sample body paragraph. It might help you learn how to write an informative essay.

Nevertheless, any business trip to the Middle East is absolutely incomplete without seeing the UAE. UAE has grown as a modern business tourism destination in the Eastern Hemisphere for the last two decades. Its success and popularity can be traced back to three main reasons. First, the country witnesses the lowest rates of crime as compared to its counterparts. Secondly, it is very convenient to fly from the US to the UAE. There are direct flights on offer from major carriers like the Fly Emirates or Etihad. Finally, the country prides itself on an established real estate and hotel sector. The hotels found in the UAE often surpass their western counterparts.

• Conclusion: This is the concluding paragraph of the essay. This paragraph allows the author to recap the ideas in a nutshell. After completing the essay, it is important that students compare the conclusion with the thesis statement and make sure that they align, especially when learning how to write an informative essay. This area can also be used to call the readers to action but make sure that no new points are introduced in this section. Here is a sample conclusion section that should help you to learn how to write an informative essay.

As evident, insects play a vital role in the environment and are not useless, as shown by selfish capitalists. Their disappearance can cause a scarcity of food sources resulting in starvation. By allowing the destruction of the disputed areas, though insignificant in size, would create a major precedent for developers.

Therefore, it is up to the local authorities to invite ideas for restoration while revoking the ‘change of land use’ permissions that have been already issued. It is critical that future generations don’t suffer for the greed of the present generation.

Tips that every student should know:
Effectively learning how to write an informative essay will need patience and practice. There are several things that students should consider even before they start to write the actual essay. Few tips to keep in mind.

• Choose narrow topics: It not advised that you opt for broader topics like sports, love, music etc. Always choose narrower and specific topics which can be discussed concisely in a few pages. It is very important that your informative essay display signs of professionalism. If a student is familiar with the music, themes like “The Rise and Fall of the Beatles” would be more appropriate.
• Availability of information: After deciding your focus topic, you will need to scour the internet to find reliable sources of information. Make sure that you prefer official reports and books or peer-reviewed articles, ensuring you get the correct information all the time.
• Research: It is true that no one knows everything. Make sure you have a proper understanding of the topic before starting with the essay. References can be drawn from written literature, lab experiments or interviews.
• Brainstorming: This is often considered to be a group activity, especially when schools teach how to write an informative essay. For individual brainstorming, your first step would be to define the goals. Note down other perspectives on your topic and the challenges. According to Osborn, brainstorming allows us to build on existing ideas while also encouraging unconventional ones.
• Mind Mapping is a great tool: Unwritten ideas often disappear, so maps allow the author to visually arrange the random ideas into clusters. The maps can be designed per the author’s convenience to accommodate new info as they come across.
• Review the Instructions: Professors and lecturers often have preferences on the writing style, its length, font etc. It is always advisable to read the instructions carefully to know the requirements before starting your report. If you are unsure about how to write an informative essay, don’t hesitate to ask for help.
• Create the outline: The essay outline will help the author make sure everything is in its right place. This helps to identify where to go with the essay. Most of the major universities in the US has mandated the submission of the outline to gauge the level of preparation before starting the essay.
• Drafts and editing: It is very common for professors to ask for drafts before the final submission. After every draft, the papers are returned to the students with the professor’s comments for corrections. Make sure to follow the comments and make the edits for the next draft. There are several online tools that can help you with the grammar and the spelling of your paper.

Mistakes to avoid:
Most students needing help on how to write an informative essay will make a few inevitable mistakes while finishing their essay. Here are a few things to consider:

• Avoid personal pronouns: This type of essay should inform the reader and not express your attitude. It is important to provide facts and not thoughts.
• Do not analyse: It is important that you remain unbiased while writing the essay and not allow your thoughts or opinions to influence the reader.
• Being honest: Make sure you present all the data and facts that you have collected. There is no need to hide important or negative facts about the issue. It is up to the reader to make a decision on the basis of the information that you have presented.
• Be logical: Your essay should be logical. You should refrain from simply mentioning fact after fact. First, create an outline and then use transition words or phrases to make your essay sound smooth and clear.
• Avoid repetition: Ensure that you do not repeat anything several times. Proofread to remove any repetitions.