The Informative Essay

ENG 111
 Informative Writing
• The genre demands that the writer anticipate any possible
misunderstandings on the reader’s part

• Newspapers, textbooks, etc.

• Sometimes we even assume we are reading informative writing when in

fact we are reading persuasive writing.

• Much of what we usually call “research” writing in college is informative.

• Though informative writing usually requires hypothesizing, analysis, and

interpretation, it strives to remain objective and logical, avoiding direct
appeals to the audience.
Elements of Informative Writing
 Its purpose is to share information with the reader.

 It often includes facts about real people and events.

 The information is usually presented in a straightforward way.

 The events are often presented in the order in which they happened
(chronologically).

 It may be organized by topics and sometimes includes headers.

 It may include diagrams, photographs, maps, graphs or illustrations to hope the

reader understand the subject better.

 The factual information can be checked by referring to other sources.

*Modified www.opencourtresources.com/.../Level5_U4L4_LiteraryGenre_ExpositoryText.doc
 The Process Essay:
A Type of Informative Essay
PROCESS is about HOW something happens
– It’s about listing the steps of an event.
– Steps can be given as bullet points or as a simple list –
do this – do that – do that.

However, a list is NOT an essay; therefore, a process

ESSAY explains:
– why the steps need to happen,
– the order in which they need to happen,
– the way they need to be done
Two Types of Process Essays
• “How to do Something” – Instructional
– Reader could duplicate if so desires
– How to embalm a corpse
– How to write an essay

• “How Something Happens” - Informational

– Usually things too big or too small to be
duplicated by the reader
– How a star is formed
– How O2 and H2 combine to form water
 The Writer Must…

• be able to IDENTIFY the steps, and

• be able to EXPLAIN the steps.
 Thoughts

• Do you know how to read?

• Do you know how to walk?
• Can you identify or explain the steps required
to read or walk?
• Writer must pay attention to the process
• Allow the reader to understand the process
• • This is an ESSAY, not just instructions
• • Recipes are instructions, not essays
• • Do you know why you add each ingredient?
• • Do you know why they are done in that order?
• • Can you explain the process or just tell us the
steps?
• • The more complete the explanation, the more
the audience will trust the process
• • There should be a reason WHY we are doing
THIS process, not another version
• – Quality
• – Price
• – Speed
• - etc.
• • Different purposes will cause writer to explain
steps differently
• • Emphasize the steps that specifically reinforce
your purpose
• • Author should identify potential problems or
easily made mistakes
• • You are not there to answer questions, so
you have to anticipate them
• • The more questions you anticipate, the
more authoritative you appear
• • Anybody can repeat orders, but only
somebody who’s done the process
understands what can go wrong
What to consider when writing a
process essay…
A process paper either tells the reader how to do something or describes how something is done. As you write your
process essay, consider the following:

o What process are you trying to explain? Why is it important?

o Who or what does the process affect?
o Are there different ways of doing the process? If so, what are they?
o Who are the readers? What knowledge do they need to understand this process?
o What skills/equipment are needed for this?
o How long does the process take? Is the outcome always the same?
o How many steps are there in the process?
o Why is each step important?
o What difficulties are involved in each step? How can they be overcome?
o Do any cautions need to be given?
o Does the process have definitions that need to be clarified?
o Are there other processes that are similar and could help illustrate the process that you are writing about?
o If needed, tell what should not be done or why something should be done.
o Process papers are often written in the second person (you), but some teacher prefer that you avoid this. Check
with your teacher.
o Your responses to these questions and statements should enable you to write an effective process essay.
• Beginning the Process
• • Successful people are often asked to share
methods
• • What do you add to common method?
• • That becomes the focus/purpose of essay
• • Identify exactly what steps exist
• • Introduction should set up purpose and task
• • Paragraphs go step by step
• • Conclusion emphasizes reason for this method
• Body Paragraphs
• • Details, Details, Details
• • Don’t just tell what to do, explain WHY
• • Anticipate problems, offer solutions
• • Explain necessary equipment early
• • Define any new terms when first used
• • Make new paragraph for each new main step
• • Don’t overdo the amount of information in
each paragraph
How to Make Mac & Cheese

• What are your steps?

• The WHY is as important as the HOW
• Emphasize speed, quality, taste, whatever you
decide you have to offer
• Each step should also help emphasize the
focus and purpose
• It should be YOUR method, not THE method
• Let’s look at an example…
• Thanks for Watching!