How​ ​to​ ​Write​ ​Your​ ​Informative​ ​Essay:​ ​The​ ​Easy​ ​Way

An​ ​informative/explanatory​ ​essay​ ​educates​ ​a​ ​reader​ ​about​ ​a​ ​topic.​ ​When​ ​you​ ​are​ ​given​ ​3​ ​texts​ ​to​ ​read,
make​ ​sure​ ​all​ ​three​ ​of​ ​the​ ​texts​ ​are​ ​mentioned​ ​in​ ​your​ ​essay​.​ ​ ​If​ ​one​ ​of​ ​your​ ​sources​ ​is​ ​a​ ​map,​ ​picture
or​ ​a​ ​chart,​ ​mention​ ​it​ ​in​ ​your​ ​essay!​ ​REMEMBER!​​ ​This​ ​is​ ​a​ ​formal​ ​essay!​ ​USE​ ​THIRD​ ​PERSON​ ​ONLY.​ ​Do
not​ ​use​ ​you,​ ​me,​ ​we,​ ​or​ ​I!​ ​ ​Do​ ​not​ ​begin​ ​your​ ​essay​ ​with​ ​a​ ​question!
ALWAYS,​ ​ALWAYS,​ ​ALWAYS​ ​ASSUME​ ​THAT​ ​YOUR​ ​READERS​ ​KNOW​ ​NOTHING​ ​ABOUT​ ​WHAT​ ​YOU​ ​ARE
WRITING.​ ​ ​YOU​ ​MUST​ ​WRITE​ ​YOUR​ ​ESSAY​ ​AS​ ​IF​ ​YOU​ ​ARE​ ​EDUCATING​ ​YOUR​ ​READER!
MOST​ ​IMPORTANTLY,​ ​BEFORE​ ​READING​ ​THE​ ​PASSAGES,​ ​READ​ ​THE​ ​QUESTION(S)​ ​FIRST!
STEP​ ​1:​ ​WRITING​ ​YOUR​ ​FIRST​ ​PARAGRAPH
a) Your​ ​first​ ​sentence​ ​must​ ​be​ ​the​ ​attention​ ​grabber.​ ​ ​WRITE​ ​SOMETHING​ ​THAT​ ​WILL​ ​GRAB​ ​YOUR
READER’S​ ​ATTENTION!​ ​Never​ ​start​ ​your​ ​essay​ ​with​ ​a​ ​question.
b) Your​ ​second​ ​sentence​ ​can​ ​be​ ​THE​ ​MAIN​ ​IDEA/POINT​ ​from​ ​the​ ​first​ ​text.
c) Your​ ​third​ ​sentence​ ​can​ ​be​ ​THE​ ​MAIN​ ​IDEA/POINT​ ​from​ ​the​ ​second​ ​text.
d) Your​ ​fourth​ ​sentence​ ​can​ ​be​ ​THE​ ​MAIN​ ​IDEA/POINT​ ​from​ ​the​ ​third​ ​text.
e) Your​ ​last​ ​sentence​ ​is​ ​YOUR​ ​THESIS​ ​STATEMENT​.​ ​ ​The​ ​thesis​ ​statement​ ​is​ ​the​ ​main​ ​idea​ ​of​ ​your
essay.​ ​ ​This​ ​is​ ​when​ ​you​ ​will​ ​mention​ ​the​ ​three​ ​main​ ​points​ ​you​ ​are​ ​about​ ​to​ ​discuss.​ ​ ​ALWAYS
place​ ​the​ ​thesis​ ​sentence​ ​last​ ​in​ ​the​ ​1st​​ ​ ​paragraph​ ​of​ ​your​ ​essay.
STEP​ ​2:​ ​WRITING​ ​YOUR​ ​SECOND​ ​PARAGRAPH
1.​ ​ ​Add​ ​a​ ​transition​ ​word​ ​here.​​ ​THIS​ ​is​ ​where​ ​you​ ​provide​ ​supporting​ ​details​ ​from​ ​the​ ​FIRST​​ ​text.
Provide​ ​examples​ ​and​ ​supporting​ ​details​ ​from​ ​the​ ​text​ ​to​ ​back​ ​up​ ​what​ ​you​ ​wrote​ ​on​ ​your​ ​second​ ​(2​nd​)
sentence​ ​(letter​ ​b​ ​from​ ​the​ ​first​ ​paragraph).​ ​ ​Mention​ ​the​ ​text​ ​and​ ​author​ ​(if​ ​applicable)​.​ ​Use
parenthetical​ ​citations​ ​or​ ​text​ ​evidence​ ​sentence​ ​starters.​ ​ ​ ​For​ ​example,​ ​The​ ​Jones​ ​Family​ ​owned​ ​a
successful​ ​pineapple​ ​plantation.​ ​ ​(Source​ ​1).​ ​ ​You​ ​can​ ​use​ ​the​ ​textual​ ​evidence​ ​sentence​ ​starters.​ ​For
example,​ ​In​ ​Source​ ​1,​ ​it​ ​states…​ ​In​ ​other​ ​words,​ ​this​ ​is​ ​where​ ​you​ ​will​ ​write​ ​IN​ ​DETAIL​​ ​what​ ​the​ ​first
source​​ ​is​ ​about​ ​in​ ​your​ ​own​ ​words.​ ​Use​ ​the​ ​RACE(S)​ ​method.
STEP​ ​3:​ ​WRITING​ ​YOUR​ ​THIRD​ ​PARAGRAPH
2.​ ​ ​Add​ ​a​ ​transition​ ​word​ ​here​.​ ​ ​This​ ​is​ ​where​ ​you​ ​will​ ​write​ ​IN​ ​DETAIL​​ ​what​ ​you​ ​wrote​ ​in​ ​your​ ​third
sentence​ ​(letter​ ​c​ ​from​ ​the​ ​first​ ​paragraph).​ ​ ​Repeat​ ​what​ ​you​ ​did​ ​in​ ​your​ ​second​ ​paragraph​ ​using
Source​ ​#2.​ ​Provide​ ​examples,​ ​etc.​ ​ ​Remember,​ ​you​ ​must​ ​provide​ ​supporting​ ​details​ ​from​ ​the​ ​text​ ​to
back​ ​up​ ​what​ ​you​ ​wrote​ ​on​ ​your​ ​third​ ​(3​rd​)​ ​sentence.​ ​ ​Mention​ ​the​ ​text​ ​and​ ​author.​ ​ ​For​ ​example,​ ​IF​ ​A
MAP​ ​or​ ​a​ ​graph​ ​IS​ ​YOUR​ ​SECOND​ ​SOURCE,​ ​write​ ​how​ ​the​ ​map/graph​ ​supports​ ​the​ ​information​ ​you
are​ ​discussing.​ ​USE​ ​the​ ​RACE(S)​ ​method.
STEP​ ​4:WRITING​ ​YOUR​ ​FOURTH​ ​PARAGRAPH
3.​ ​ ​Add​ ​a​ ​transition​ ​word​ ​here​.​ ​ ​This​ ​is​ ​where​ ​you​ ​will​ ​write​ ​IN​ ​DETAIL​​ ​what​ ​you​ ​wrote​ ​in​ ​your​ ​third
sentence​ ​(letter​ ​d​ ​in​ ​the​ ​first​ ​paragraph).​ ​ ​Provide​ ​examples,​ ​etc.​ ​ ​Mention​ ​the​ ​text​ ​and​ ​author.​ ​ ​For
example:​ ​ ​In​ ​“The​ ​Birth​ ​of​ ​Biscayne​ ​National​ ​Park,”​ ​it​ ​states,​ ​“​ ​…​ ​“​ ​USE​ ​the​ ​RACE(S)​ ​METHOD
 Step​ ​5:​ ​WRITING​ ​YOUR​ ​CONCLUSION
4.​ ​ ​Add​ ​a​ ​concluding​ ​transitional​ ​word​ ​here.​​ ​ ​(To​ ​conclude,​ ​in​ ​conclusion,​ ​etc.)​​ ​ ​In​ ​this​ ​paragraph,
rephrase​ ​the​ ​thesis​ ​statement.​ ​ ​You​ ​should​ ​also​ ​briefly​ ​summarize​ ​all​ ​of​ ​the​ ​main​ ​points​ ​from​ ​each​ ​of
the​ ​3​ ​texts​ ​and​ ​end​ ​your​ ​paragraph.

​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​RACES​ ​METHOD

R​estate​ ​the​ ​question​ ​by​ ​turning​ ​it​ ​into​ ​a​ ​statement

A​nswer​ ​the​ ​question
C​ite​ ​textual​ ​evidence
E​xplain​ ​your​ ​answer
S​ummarize

Transitional​ ​Words​ ​&​ ​Phrases

Using​ ​transitional​ ​words​ ​and​ ​phrases
helps​ ​papers​ ​read​ ​more​ ​smoothly,​ ​and​ ​at​ ​the​ ​same​ ​time​ ​allows​ ​the​ ​reader​ ​to​ ​flow​ ​more​ ​smoothly​ ​from
one​ ​point​ ​to​ ​the​ ​next.

Transitions​ ​enhance​ ​logical​ ​organization​ ​and​ ​understandability

and​ ​improve​ ​the​ ​connections​ ​between​ ​thoughts.​ ​They​ ​indicate​ ​relations,
whether​ ​within​ ​a​ ​sentence,​ ​paragraph,​ ​or​ ​paper.

This​ ​list​ ​illustrates​ ​categories​ ​of​ ​"relationships"​ ​between​ ​ideas,

followed​ ​by​ ​words​ ​and​ ​phrases​ ​that​ ​can​ ​make​ ​the​ ​connections:

Addition:
also,​ ​again,​ ​as​ ​well​ ​as,​ ​besides,​ ​coupled​ ​with,​ ​furthermore,​ ​in​ ​addition,​ ​likewise,​ ​moreover,​ ​similarly

When​ ​there​ ​is​ ​a​ ​trusting​ ​relationship​ ​coupled​ ​with​​ ​positive​ ​reinforcement,​ ​the​ ​partners​ ​will​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to
overcome​ ​difficult​ ​situations.

Consequence:
accordingly,​ ​as​ ​a​ ​result,​ ​consequently,​ ​for​ ​this​ ​reason,​ ​for​ ​this​ ​purpose,
hence,​ ​otherwise,​ ​so​ ​then,​ ​subsequently,​ ​therefore,​ ​thus,​ ​thereupon,​ ​wherefore

Highway​ ​traffic​ ​came​ ​to​ ​a​ ​stop​ ​as​ ​a​ ​result​ ​of​​ ​an​ ​accident​ ​that​ ​morning.
Contrast​ ​and​ ​Comparison:
In​ ​contrast,​ ​by​ ​the​ ​same​ ​token,​ ​conversely,​ ​instead,​ ​likewise,
on​ ​one​ ​hand,​ ​on​ ​the​ ​other​ ​hand,​ ​on​ ​the​ ​contrary,​ ​rather,
similarly,​ ​yet,​ ​but,​ ​however,​ ​still,​ ​nevertheless,​ ​in​ ​contrast

The​ ​children​ ​were​ ​very​ ​happy.​ ​On​ ​the​ ​other​ ​hand​,​ ​and​ ​perhaps​ ​more​ ​importantly,​ ​their​ ​parents​ ​were
very​ ​proactive​ ​in​ ​providing​ ​good​ ​care.

Direction:
here,​ ​there,​ ​over​ ​there,​ ​beyond,​ ​nearly,​ ​opposite,​ ​under,​ ​above,
to​ ​the​ ​left,​ ​to​ ​the​ ​right,​ ​in​ ​the​ ​distance

She​ ​scanned​ ​the​ ​horizon​ ​for​ ​any​ ​sign​ ​though​ ​in​ ​the​ ​distance​​ ​she​ ​could​ ​not​ ​see​ ​the​ ​surprise​ ​coming​ ​her
way.

Diversion:
by​ ​the​ ​way,​ ​incidentally

He​ ​stumbled​ ​upon​ ​the​ ​nesting​ ​pair​ ​incidentally​ ​found​ ​only​ ​on​ ​this​ ​hill.

Emphasis
above​ ​all,​ ​chiefly,​ ​with​ ​attention​ ​to,​ ​especially,​ ​particularly,​ ​singularly

The​ ​Quakers​ ​gathered​ ​each​ ​month​ ​with​ ​attention​ ​to​​ ​deciding​ ​the​ ​business​ ​of​ ​their​ ​Meeting.

Exception:
aside​ ​from,​ ​barring,​ ​beside,​ ​except,​ ​excepting,​ ​excluding,​ ​exclusive​ ​of,​ ​other​ ​than,​ ​outside​ ​of,​ ​save

Consensus​ ​was​ ​arrived​ ​at​ ​by​ ​all​ ​of​ ​the​ ​members​ ​exclusive​ ​of​​ ​those​ ​who​ ​could​ ​not​ ​vote.

Exemplifying:
chiefly,​ ​especially,​ ​for​ ​instance,​ ​in​ ​particular,​ ​markedly,​ ​namely,
particularly,​ ​including,​ ​specifically,​ ​such​ ​as

Some​ ​friends​ ​and​ ​I​ ​drove​ ​up​ ​the​ ​beautiful​ ​coast​ ​chiefly​​ ​to​ ​avoid​ ​the​ ​heat​ ​island​ ​of​ ​the​ ​city.

Generalizing:
as​ ​a​ ​rule,​ ​as​ ​usual,​ ​for​ ​the​ ​most​ ​part,​ ​generally,​ ​generally​ ​speaking,​ ​ordinarily,​ ​usually

There​ ​were​ ​a​ ​few​ ​very​ ​talented​ ​artists​ ​in​ ​the​ ​class,​ ​but​ ​for​ ​the​ ​most​ ​part​​ ​the​ ​students​ ​only​ ​wanted​ ​to
avoid​ ​the​ ​alternative​ ​course.

Illustration:
for​ ​example,​ ​for​ ​instance,​ ​for​ ​one​ ​thing,​ ​as​ ​an​ ​illustration,
illustrated​ ​with,​ ​as​ ​an​ ​example,​ ​in​ ​this​ ​case

The​ ​chapter​ ​provided​ ​complex​ ​sequences​ ​and​ ​examples​ ​illustrated​ ​with​​ ​a​ ​very​ ​simple​ ​schematic
diagram.
Similarity:
comparatively,​ ​coupled​ ​with,​ ​correspondingly,​ ​identically,​ ​likewise,​ ​similar,​ ​moreover,​ ​together​ ​with

The​ ​research​ ​was​ ​presented​ ​in​ ​a​ ​very​ ​dry​ ​style​ ​though​ ​was​ ​coupled​ ​with​​ ​examples​ ​that​ ​made​ ​the
audience​ ​tear​ ​up.

Restatement:
in​ ​essence,​ ​in​ ​other​ ​words,​ ​namely,​ ​that​ ​is,​ ​that​ ​is​ ​to​ ​say,​ ​in​ ​short,​ ​in​ ​brief,​ ​to​ ​put​ ​it​ ​differently

In​ ​their​ ​advertising​ ​business,​ ​saying​ ​things​ ​directly​ ​was​ ​not​ ​the​ ​rule.​ ​That​ ​is​ ​to​ ​say​,​ ​they​ ​tried​ ​to​ ​convey
the​ ​message​ ​subtly​ ​though​ ​with​ ​creativity.

Sequence:
at​ ​first,​ ​first​ ​of​ ​all,​ ​to​ ​begin​ ​with,​ ​in​ ​the​ ​first​ ​place,​ ​at​ ​the​ ​same​ ​time,
for​ ​now,​ ​for​ ​the​ ​time​ ​being,​ ​the​ ​next​ ​step,​ ​in​ ​time,​ ​in​ ​turn,​ ​later​ ​on,
meanwhile,​ ​next,​ ​then,​ ​soon,​ ​the​ ​meantime,​ ​later,​ ​while,​ ​earlier,
simultaneously,​ ​afterward,​ ​in​ ​conclusion,​ ​with​ ​this​ ​in​ ​mind,

The​ ​music​ ​had​ ​a​ ​very​ ​retro​ ​sound​ ​but​ ​at​ ​the​ ​same​ ​time​​ ​incorporated​ ​a​ ​complex​ ​modern​ ​rhythm.

Summarizing:
after​ ​all,​ ​all​ ​in​ ​all,​ ​all​ ​things​ ​considered,​ ​briefly,​ ​by​ ​and​ ​large,​ ​in​ ​any​ ​case,​ ​in​ ​any​ ​event,
in​ ​brief,​ ​in​ ​conclusion,​ ​on​ ​the​ ​whole,​ ​in​ ​short,​ ​in​ ​summary,​ ​in​ ​the​ ​final​ ​analysis,
in​ ​the​ ​long​ ​run,​ ​on​ ​balance,​ ​to​ ​sum​ ​up,​ ​to​ ​summarize,​ ​finally

She​ ​didn't​ ​seem​ ​willing​ ​to​ ​sell​ ​the​ ​car​ ​this​ ​week,​ ​but​ ​in​ ​any​ ​case​​ ​I​ ​don't​ ​get​ ​paid​ ​until​ ​the​ ​end​ ​of​ ​the
month.
DON’T​ ​FORGET​ ​TO​ ​USE​ ​TEXTUAL​ ​EVIDENCE​ ​SENTENCE​ ​STARTERS!!