example of an informative research paper

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 .

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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.

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• A Research Guide
• Writing Guide
• Essay Writing

How to Write an Informative Essay

• Informative essay definition 
• How to write informatively
• Structure and outline
• How to start
• Step-by-step writing guide
• Informative essay topics 
• Formatting tips
• Informative essay examples

Informative essay definition

Learning to write informatively.

• As you choose a subject, you have been given or something that inspires you, take your time to research the topic by taking notes . It means you should process and sort all the details and facts you can find. While there are many solutions to the problem, think about the best way to organize your writing and essay formatting. Developing an outline and discussing what you already know about the subject might be helpful. If you have any questions that still need to be addressed with online and library searching, try to answer them in your research as you write and use them as the main element of your informative writing essay.
• The next step is developing a clear content map (i.e., a mind map). It stands for keeping the facts sorted according to your methodology. It should reflect what you already know and have learned about the chosen subject. Make sure that your facts appear in order of importance. Do not make your informative essays into a summary!  Add other supplementary facts and various examples to make your writing vivid. The best way to do that is to connect topic sentences to your thesis statement or the main point.
• Before writing an essay, create a classic outline for your informative essay . Since you already have the basic information ready, work on the formatting and the table of contents to use only the most important. It will help you create your first draft and start editing before you write the final parts and submit an edited version.
• Final editing essay part. The most difficult part is the editing and proofreading. If this aspect is too challenging, approaching an essay helper is the best solution, especially if you need a good friend to assist you and read it aloud. In addition to grammar and spelling corrections, focus on the logic and flow of the narration.

Informative essay structure and outline

• An introduction with a basic explanation that concludes in an informative essay thesis part.
• Three to five body paragraphs that outline information from the most to the least important.
• Unusual facts and examples.
• An essay conclusion with a summary of the facts.
• An introduction with a hook sentence . You should start with information that will instantly inspire your readers. An informative essay introduction can even be a question or an unusual fact you provide immediately.
• Thesis Statement part. Since you must write without bias or an opinion, your thesis statement should outline the most important fact and explain why something is important or worth exploring. In informative essay writing, you must narrow things down to 2-3 sentences by keeping the main idea clear. Remember that you can edit your thesis statement as you write. Many college professors even recommend adding a thesis statement when the paper has been finished.
• Body paragraphs. Make it a rule to use only one idea per paragraph. Choose only essential facts that can be supported by evidence and verified later. If you are told to have five paragraphs for your main content, narrow things down to five. As you write, consider adding the most relevant details that people can relate to. While the use of citations in an essay is recommended, use it only when it is absolutely necessary to avoid bias issues.
• Conclusion. As you are ready to write a conclusion for an informative essay, you must reiterate your thesis statement, as it provides a summary and a reminder. Do not introduce any new facts in this section, and avoid citations. It should be approached as your final opportunity to check whether your readers understand all the previous essay content.

How to start writing?

• What formatting and citation style should be used?
• What are the fonts and word count that must be followed?
• The submission date and the necessity of an outline.

Step-by-step informative essay writing guide

Step 1: create a working rough draft, step 2: topic sentences, step 3: essay structure processing, step 4: editing your first draft, step 5: checking the flow, step 6: final editing, step 7: proofreading, choosing informative essay topics.

• The importance of physical education beyond P.E. lessons for college students and the link to stress reduction.
• An analysis of community colleges in the United States through the lens of friendliness and affordability.
• An instruction on how to survive through assignment revisions.

Informative essay formatting tips

• Choose a topic that you know well and take time to research it by turning to online libraries like Google Scholar, Science Direct, or PubMed if you are researching medical subjects.
• Create an outline and focus on topic sentences that explain an important fact.
• Consider helpful examples and implementation of practical case studies.
• Do not take sides but lead your readers to a conclusion based on facts.
• Provide a helpful explanation if something is not meant for a wide audience.

Helpful informative essay examples

• Western Technical College – Informative Writing Samples. 
• Harvard College Writing Center – General Essay Structure. 
• Monash University – How to Build an Informative Essay

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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:

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!

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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
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• College Admissions Essay
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• Definition Essay
• Descriptive Essay
• Dissertation
• Explanatory Essay
• Expository Essay
• Informative Essay
• Narrative Essay
• Opinion Essay
• Personal Essay
• Persuasive Essay
• Reflective Essay
• Research Paper
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Informative Essay Topics to Suit Every Preference

Hey there! Let's chat about informative essays - they're pretty cool when you think about it.

You know how sometimes you just want to learn about something without someone trying to convince you one way or another? That's where informative essays come in. They're like your friendly neighborhood knowledge-spreader, covering everything from the wild ride of internet history to why meditation might be your new best friend.

Discover the essence of informative writing as our paper writing experts delve into what is an informative essay and unravel the art of selecting a compelling topic.

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A List of Good Informative Essay Topics

The key to a compelling, informative essay lies in selecting the right topic, a choice that significantly influences the quality and engagement of your piece. With numerous options available, the challenge often lies in where to begin. In the following paragraphs, we'll delve into various informational topics to write about, spanning current events, social issues, science, and technology, offering a diverse array of subjects for students. These topics not only provide ample opportunities for research but also cater to different purposes—whether your goal is to educate, persuade, or simply inform. So, let's explore some great informative essay examples , sparking inspiration and setting you on a path for a successful academic writing journey!

Easy Informative Essay Topics

These easy informative essay topics are great starting points for those who want to write a straightforward and informative essay without getting too complicated.

• The impact of artificial intelligence on daily life
• How renewable energy sources work
• The life cycle of plastic in our oceans
• What causes climate change?
• Types of electric vehicles and their environmental impact
• Why do coral reefs bleach?
• How do lab-grown meats work?
• The importance of digital privacy
• Why is sleep crucial for mental health?
• What causes wildfires and how to prevent them
• The journey of an e-waste item
• How do mRNA vaccines work?
• Why do some animals face extinction?
• The role of social media in modern society
• The process of vertical farming
• What causes ocean acidification?
• How do wearable health devices work?
• Why do some stars become black holes?
• The importance of mental health awareness
• How do electric car batteries work?

Informative Essay Topics for Middle School Students

The following informative paper topics are tailored specifically for middle school students and cover a wide range of subjects that are both interesting and relevant to their age group.

• How smartphones work: Inside the device
• Amazing animal adaptations to climate change
• Exploring Mars: Recent discoveries and future missions
• The life cycle of plastic: From production to recycling
• All about renewable energy: Solar, wind, and beyond
• Discovering new species: Recent finds in biodiversity
• The water cycle in a changing climate
• Volcanoes and earthquakes: Earth's dynamic processes
• Understanding the human immune system
• Unraveling the mystery of gene editing
• The power of artificial intelligence in everyday life
• The wonders of coral reefs: Ecosystems at risk
• Incredible inventions: From 3D printing to nanotechnology
• The importance of pollinator conservation
• Exploring ancient civilizations through modern technology
• Ocean pollution: Causes, effects, and solutions
• Climate phenomena: El Niño, La Niña, and global impacts
• The magic of modern materials science
• Famous scientists: Pioneers in STEM fields
• The importance of digital literacy in the modern world

Informative Essay Topics for High School Students

Here are some great essay topics for high school students. Our college essay writing service recommends conducting thorough research, providing evidence to support your claims, and presenting your findings in a clear and organized manner.

• The evolution of social media and its impact on society
• Blockchain technology: Beyond cryptocurrency
• CRISPR gene editing: Potential and ethical concerns
• The science of renewable energy storage
• Mental health in the digital age: Challenges and solutions
• The future of transportation: Autonomous vehicles and beyond
• From farm to table: Sustainable food systems
• Cybersecurity in the age of IoT (Internet of Things)5G technology: Benefits and potential risks
• Neuroplasticity: How our brains adapt and learn
• The impact of microplastics on marine ecosystems
• The evolution of virtual reality: Applications beyond gaming
• Biomimicry: Nature-inspired technological innovations
• The science of climate change: Causes and potential solutions
• Understanding artificial intelligence and machine learning
• The gig economy: Reshaping work in the 21st century
• Space exploration: Recent achievements and future missions
• The science of sleep: Its importance for health and performance
• Quantum computing: Potential applications and challenges
• Biodiversity loss: Causes, consequences, and conservation efforts

Informative Essay Topics for College Students

Here are some informative essay topics for college students that span a wide range of subjects that will help you in your academic and professional endeavors.

• Cryptocurrency and the future of global finance
• The psychology of misinformation in the digital age
• Sustainable urban planning for growing populations
• The ethics of AI in healthcare decision-making
• Global food security in the face of climate change
• The impact of social media on political discourse
• Renewable energy integration into existing power grids
• The role of gut microbiome in mental health
• Space law: Regulating the final frontier
• The future of work: Remote, hybrid, and AI-assisted models
• Genetic privacy in the era of direct-to-consumer DNA testing
• Sustainable fashion: Addressing the environmental impact of clothing
• The psychology of conspiracy theories in the internet age
• Neurotechnology: Advancements in brain-computer interfaces
• The impact of streaming services on the film industry
• Ocean acidification: Causes, effects, and potential solutions
• The ethics of gene editing in human embryos
• The role of social entrepreneurship in addressing global issues
• Cybersecurity in critical infrastructure: Challenges and solutions
• The impact of automation on the job market and economy

Controversial Informative Essay Topics

• The debate over universal basic income
• Ethical considerations of human genetic enhancement
• The impact of social media on democratic processes
• The pros and cons of nuclear energy in combating climate change
• The ethics of AI in criminal justice systems
• The debate over data privacy vs. national security
• The controversy surrounding lab-grown meat
• The impact of cancel culture on free speech
• The ethics of mandatory vaccinations
• The debate over regulating Big Tech companies
• The controversy surrounding geoengineering as a climate solution
• The ethics of facial recognition technology in public spaces
• The impact of cryptocurrency on traditional banking systems
• The debate over the right to be forgotten online
• The ethics of using AI in warfare and defense
• The controversy surrounding gene-edited babies
• The impact of automation on employment and inequality
• The debate over internet censorship and freedom of information
• The ethics of animal testing for medical research
• The controversy surrounding the use of algorithms in hiring processes

Informative Essay Topics About Education

• The impact of AI and machine learning on personalized learning
• The effectiveness of project-based learning in STEM education
• Digital literacy: Preparing students for an interconnected world
• The role of emotional intelligence in modern curriculum design
• The impact of remote learning on educational equity
• Gamification in education: Enhancing engagement and retention
• The importance of financial literacy in school curricula
• Addressing mental health in educational institutions
• The role of arts education in developing critical thinking skills
• Multicultural education in increasingly diverse classrooms
• The impact of standardized testing on learning outcomes
• Integrating sustainability and environmental awareness in education
• The role of soft skills in preparing students for future careers
• Addressing the digital divide in global education
• The impact of social media on student learning and socialization
• Inclusive education practices for students with diverse needs
• The role of mindfulness and meditation in educational settings
• STEAM education: Integrating arts into STEM curricula
• The impact of school nutrition programs on academic performance
• Lifelong learning in the age of rapid technological change

Fun Informative Speech Topics

These fun, informative speech topics are designed to engage and entertain audiences while still providing informative and educational content.

• The science behind viral dance trends
• Unusual Olympic sports you've never heard of
• The psychology of meme culture
• How AI is creating art and music
• The fascinating world of competitive eating
• Strange but true animal superpowers
• The science of laughter: Why we find things funny
• Bizarre world records and the people who set them
• The psychology of procrastination and how to beat it
• Unusual holidays celebrated around the world
• The science behind optical illusions
• Weird and wonderful food combinations that actually work
• The psychology of color in marketing and everyday life
• Unusual jobs of the future
• The science of déjà vu
• Strange sleep habits of famous historical figures
• The psychology of conspiracy theories
• Unusual and creative uses for common household items
• The science behind "earworm" songs
• Bizarre beauty treatments throughout history

Compare and Contrast Informative Essay Topics

• Traditional classrooms vs. virtual learning environments
• Renewable energy sources: Solar power vs. wind power
• Artificial intelligence vs. human intelligence in problem-solving
• Plant-based meat alternatives vs. traditional meat production
• Social media influencers vs. traditional celebrities
• Cryptocurrency vs. traditional banking systems
• Remote work vs. office-based work: Productivity and well-being
• Electric vehicles vs. hydrogen fuel cell vehicles
• Virtual reality vs. augmented reality in education and training
• Traditional journalism vs. citizen journalism in the digital age
• Gene therapy vs. traditional medical treatments
• 5G networks vs. previous generation networks
• Vertical farming vs. traditional agriculture
• Streaming services vs. traditional television broadcasting
• Digital books vs. print books: Reading experiences and environmental impact
• Artificial sweeteners vs. natural sugars: Health effects and taste
• Traditional art forms vs. digital art: Creativity and preservation
• Fast fashion vs. sustainable fashion: Environmental and social impacts
• Human translators vs. AI translation tools: Accuracy and nuance
• Traditional vs. alternative medicine approaches in modern healthcare

Pop Culture Informative Essay Topics

• The rise of TikTok and its impact on social media trends
• The evolution of superhero movies in the streaming era
• The influence of K-pop on global music and fashion
• The impact of true crime podcasts on public interest in cold cases
• The role of social media influencers in shaping consumer behavior
• The resurgence of vinyl records in the digital music age
• The impact of streaming services on TV show production and consumption
• The evolution of esports and its recognition as a legitimate sport
• The influence of drag culture on mainstream entertainment
• The impact of cancel culture on celebrity behavior and public discourse
• The rise of virtual influencers and digital avatars in marketing
• The evolution of fan conventions in the post-pandemic world
• The impact of streaming on the music industry and artist revenues
• The influence of reality TV on social norms and expectations
• The role of social media in modern political movements
• The impact of binge-watching culture on TV show narratives
• The evolution of meme culture and its reflection of societal issues
• The influence of YouTube creators on traditional media
• The impact of nostalgia marketing on consumer trends
• The role of virtual concerts and digital performances in the music industry

Creative Informative Speech Topics

These creative essay topics are designed to spark curiosity and interest in unique and unconventional subjects.

• The hidden language of emojis in digital communication
• The psychology behind the appeal of tiny homes
• The art and science of coffee roasting
• The unexpected benefits of forest bathing
• The fascinating world of urban foraging
• The psychology of color in interior design
• The art of origami in mathematics and engineering
• The science behind ASMR and its rising popularity
• The unexpected uses of mushrooms in technology and design
• The psychology of minimalism and its impact on well-being
• The art and science of perfume creation
• The unexpected applications of blockchain beyond cryptocurrency
• The psychology of comfort foods across cultures
• The art of creative problem-solving: Design thinking explained
• The unexpected benefits of learning a musical instrument as an adult
• The psychology of nostalgia and its influence on consumer behavior
• The art and science of fermentation in food and beverages
• The unexpected applications of 3D printing in various industries
• The psychology of color in branding and marketing
• The science behind the perfect cup of tea

Extra Ideas for Informative Essay

These unique ideas cover various informative writing topics that can appeal to various interests and tastes.

• The impact of digital nomadism on local economies
• The role of vertical forests in urban air quality improvement
• The psychology of decision-making in the age of information overload
• The impact of microplastics on human health
• The role of citizen science in modern research
• The psychology of conspiracy theories in the digital age
• The impact of light pollution on wildlife and human health
• The role of gut bacteria in mental health
• The psychology of hoarding and minimalism
• The impact of noise pollution on urban wildlife
• The role of virtual reality in treating phobias and PTSD
• The psychology of procrastination and productivity
• The impact of fast fashion on global water resources
• The role of biomimicry in sustainable design
• The psychology of brand loyalty in the digital age
• The impact of ocean acidification on marine ecosystems
• The role of green roofs in urban heat island mitigation
• The psychology of online dating and relationship formation
• The impact of space debris on future space exploration
• The role of circadian rhythms in productivity and health

Informative Essay Topics About Animals

• The impact of climate change on migratory patterns of birds
• The role of elephants in maintaining forest ecosystems
• The intelligence of octopuses: Recent discoveries and implications
• The impact of light pollution on nocturnal animals
• The social structures of wolf packs in changing environments
• The role of bees in global food security
• The impact of ocean noise pollution on marine mammals
• The adaptations of animals to urban environments
• The role of keystone species in ecosystem balance
• The impact of microplastics on marine life
• The social intelligence of dolphins: Latest research findings
• The role of animal-assisted therapy in mental health treatment
• The impact of invasive species on local ecosystems
• The adaptations of animals to extreme environments
• The role of zoos in conservation efforts
• The impact of deforestation on primate populations
• The intelligence and problem-solving abilities of corvids
• The role of animal communication in ecosystem health
• The impact of domestic cats on wildlife populations
• The adaptations of animals to climate change

Informational Paper Topics about Sports

These informative essay topic ideas cover a broad range of sports-related subjects that can be explored in an informative paper.

• The impact of data analytics on professional sports strategies
• The role of mental health support in athlete performance
• The evolution of e-sports and its recognition as a legitimate sport
• The impact of climate change on outdoor sports and events
• The role of technology in improving sports equipment and safety
• The impact of social media on athlete branding and sponsorships
• The evolution of sports medicine in injury prevention and recovery
• The role of diversity and inclusion initiatives in professional sports
• The impact of streaming services on sports broadcasting
• The evolution of nutrition science in athletic performance
• The role of virtual reality in sports training and fan experiences
• The impact of doping scandals on sports integrity and public trust
• The evolution of women's sports and gender equality in athletics
• The role of sports in diplomacy and international relations
• The impact of COVID-19 on the structure of sports seasons and events
• The evolution of sports betting in the digital age
• The role of youth sports in child development and social skills
• The impact of extreme sports on adventure tourism
• The evolution of adaptive sports for athletes with disabilities
• The role of sports psychology in improving athletic performance

Informative Essay Topics About Politics

• The impact of social media on political campaigns and voter behavior
• The role of fact-checking organizations in combating misinformation
• The evolution of digital diplomacy in international relations
• The impact of climate change on global migration patterns and policies
• The role of grassroots movements in shaping national politics
• The impact of AI and big data on election predictions and strategies
• The evolution of privacy laws in the digital age
• The role of corporate lobbying in policy-making
• The impact of term limits on political leadership and governance
• The evolution of voting systems and electoral reform
• The role of political satire in shaping public opinion
• The impact of demographic shifts on political party strategies
• The evolution of campaign finance laws and their effects
• The role of think tanks in shaping public policy
• The impact of populism on traditional political party structures
• The evolution of environmental policy in the face of climate change
• The role of youth activism in political discourse
• The impact of trade policies on global economic relations
• The evolution of cybersecurity as a national security priority
• The role of political polling in shaping public opinion and policy

Informative Essay Topics About Stress

• The impact of chronic stress on the immune system
• The role of mindfulness practices in stress management
• The impact of workplace stress on productivity and employee health
• The role of exercise in reducing stress and improving mental health
• The impact of financial stress on personal relationships and well-being
• The role of sleep quality in stress resilience
• The impact of social media use on stress levels and mental health
• The role of nature exposure in stress reduction
• The impact of pandemic-related stress on global mental health
• The role of nutrition in stress management and mental well-being
• The impact of academic stress on student performance and health
• The role of social support systems in stress resilience
• The impact of chronic stress on cardiovascular health
• The role of time management techniques in reducing stress
• The impact of noise pollution on stress levels in urban environments
• The role of art and creative expression in stress relief
• The impact of parenting stress on child development
• The role of cognitive behavioral therapy in managing stress
• The impact of tech-related stress in the digital age
• The role of workplace design in reducing occupational stress

What Is an Informative Essay

Informative Essay stands as a unique form of writing with the primary objective of imparting knowledge rather than steering opinions. This genre encapsulates a diverse array of subjects, ranging from the historical trajectory of the Internet to the tangible advantages associated with meditation practices. What distinguishes these essays is their adaptability, accommodating various writing styles such as descriptive, comparative, cause and effect, and even narrative approaches.

Contrary to being exclusive to academia, this type of essay writing offers a pathway for inquisitive minds to expand their knowledge horizons.

Hey there, future info-wizards! Let's chat about these awesome informative essays. They're like the Swiss Army knife of writing - super versatile! You can describe cool stuff, compare things, dive into cause and effect, or even spin a yarn - all while dropping knowledge bombs left and right. It's like being the coolest teacher ever, but with a pen (or keyboard) as your magic wand!

Now, here comes the fun part - research! I know what you're thinking: "Research? Boooring!" But hold up a sec! It's actually like going on a treasure hunt for mind-blowing facts. You're basically an information detective, digging up golden nuggets of knowledge. Before you know it, you're the go-to expert on your topic. How cool is that?

And guess what? These essays aren't just for school - they're for anyone with a curious mind (that's you, right?). It's like having an all-access pass to learn about whatever makes your brain tingle with excitement.

The best part? When you're crafting one of these bad boys, you get to be a fact superhero. Your mission, should you choose to accept it: Deliver the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. No bias, no opinions - just pure, unadulterated info-goodness.

So, ready to pick a topic that'll make your informative essay sparkle like a diamond? Stick around, and we'll explore how to choose something that'll not only hook your readers but also teach them something awesome. Trust me, it's going to be way more fun than binge-watching cat videos (well, almost)!

How to Choose Informative Essay Topics

Choosing the right informative essay topic is essential for crafting an engaging and insightful piece. The topic should be interesting, relevant, and informative. So, what is the first step to creating an informative essay? Here are five tips from our custom essay writing service for selecting a great topic for an informative essay:

The Final Thoughts

In conclusion, selecting a topic for an informative essay can be challenging, but choosing a subject that is engaging, informative, and relevant to the target audience is crucial. Whether you are writing for high school, college, or professional audiences, there are endless possibilities for good topics for informative essays. Now that you understand what is the purpose of an informative essay, you must know that the key is to identify a topic you are passionate about, conduct thorough research, and present your findings in a clear and organized manner.

Meanwhile, you can always get top-notch papers from our team of experienced writers. You can even do math homework of any degree of complexity using our paper writing platform!

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What Are Some Informative Essay Topics?

What are good informative essay topics.

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is a seasoned educational writer focusing on scholarship guidance, research papers, and various forms of academic essays including reflective and narrative essays. His expertise also extends to detailed case studies. A scholar with a background in English Literature and Education, Daniel’s work on EssayPro blog aims to support students in achieving academic excellence and securing scholarships. His hobbies include reading classic literature and participating in academic forums.

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Informative Essay

What is an Informative Essay and How to Write One?

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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Informative Essay Outline – Ultimate Guide & Examples

Amanda Green was born in a small town in the west of Scotland, where everyone knows everyone. I joined the Toastmasters 15 years ago, and I served in nearly every office in the club since then. I love helping others gain confidence and skills they can apply in every day life.

Writing an informative essay requires excellent research skills to educate your audience; I know this from first-hand experience. But creating an outline for your paper is easier said than done. I promise!

I created this guide to show you the correct outline for writing an informative essay with examples. Follow my tips so you can organize your thoughts and ideas.

What Is an Informative Essay?

An informative essay’s purpose is to inform and educate readers on a specific topic. Some reports seek to define a term, while others compare and contrast different objects. Some informative essays analyze data or provide procedures for doing something.

It’s the type of essay that should present something other than an opinion. That means you should omit personal pronouns “I” and “me” on the paper. You should also not persuade your reader in an informative essay.

Informational Essay Outline

Most essays and speeches follow four parts: an introduction, thesis, body, and conclusion. The main purpose is to help the writer connect all the information and support their thesis statement. Below is an outline for an informative essay structure with examples.

• Introduction

The essay introduction is where you introduce the topic of your choice. It should be shorter than the body paragraphs because it merely provides a background of your informative essay topic. Give the readers an overview of the body paragraph.

This part also includes the relevance of your topic. Ask yourself why you are writing about this subject. What makes it timely?

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Here’s an example:

“Tobacco, a plant that contains an addictive drug called nicotine, kills over 8 million people worldwide annually. It occurs as individuals inhale and exhale the burning plant material’s fumes.”

The thesis statement is often part of the introduction. It’s a complete sentence at the end of the first paragraph discussing what the informative essay will inform its readers. The thesis should be brief, concise, and written in simple terms.

For example:

“Smoking is the major cause of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and stroke.”

• Body paragraphs

The main body of the essay includes a paragraph for every supporting detail. Teachers usually require students to have three points in this section. For every target point, the writer should support it with facts.

The target point is also known as the topic sentence. This statement will serve as the basis of the paragraph for cohesion. After that, support the sentence with facts and studies. Don’t forget to cite your sources to avoid plagiarism.

Don’t forget to summarize each point after every body paragraph to tie everything together.

Below is an example of a body paragraph about one target point.

“Smoking can cause cancer because it weakens the body’s immune system or damages a cell’s DNA. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services (2014), nearly 9 out of 10 deaths caused by lung cancer are caused by smoking cigarettes or exposure to second-hand smoke. Although treatments are advancing, it continues killing more people than other types of cancer.”

The informative essay conclusion summarizes the entire essay, highlighting the key points. Here, you should restate your thesis statement and the paper’s purpose. Do not introduce any new ideas or recommendations.

Here is a quick sample informative essay conclusion.

“Smoking is responsible for a majority of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. It increases the risk of cancer, stroke, and diabetes. Nevertheless, people consume it because of the adrenaline rush that creates short-term energy and pleasure. With an effective action plan, anyone can quit this bad habit for good.”

How to Write an Informative Essay: The Writing Process

Now that you know the correct structure of an informative essay, here are some tips for writing one.

Review the Instructions

If you’re writing an informative essay for school, the teacher might have specific instructions for the activity or topic. Find out what you should write about and what they want to read from your paper.

Then, learn the required word and paragraph count. Some professors also have instructions for the writing style guide you should follow.

Formatting guidelines are also common among high school and college professors. Make sure to follow the font style, spacing, and size instructions.

A good essay is about more than just content. Teachers also grade these aspects to help you practice formality in writing. Don’t hesitate to ask questions if you’re unclear about the instructions.

Choose a Narrow Topic

Broad themes like love, weather, music, and technology are not recommended when writing an informative essay. Pick a topic that does not include general knowledge.

Consider smoking, for example. This topic is too broad for a 500-word essay. Try focusing on a subtopic, such as the diseases it causes or why people smoke. Perhaps you can also write about the correlation between smoking and poverty.

Create a Logical Thesis Before Writing the Body

You can only create subtopics for your informative essay if you already have a solid topic and thesis statement. Consider what you want your reader to know and why you choose this subject.

Start with a question in mind and write an initial answer. Research the topic, then formulate a tentative response. Make sure it’s based on facts with credible sources and summarizes your overall exposition. A logical thesis statement for this essay type also doesn’t include an opinion.

Create Several Drafts

Whether you’re asked to submit drafts or not, making several versions of your paper is crucial to ensure its quality. After every draft, you should create a more improved version of it with a better structure and fewer errors.

If you have to submit every draft, the lecturer may write their comments and return the paper for revision. Revising is the process of adding or removing information, fixing sentences, rearranging, or changing your evidence. It helps make your writing more understandable.

Here are some guide questions when revising your informative essay.

• Are some parts of your informative essay in proportion with others?
• Do you spend too much time on general knowledge and less on evidence?
• Does the paper follow the thesis statement?
• Is the formality appropriate?
• Does the essay follow a logical pattern?
• Are all the facts accurate?
• Have you cited all information appropriately?

Write a Successful Conclusion

Your outline for an informative essay should include a successful conclusion. It wraps up what you have been informing your readers. You can take from general to specific information while focusing on restating your topic.

Do not add extra information to your conclusion unless it’s a call to action for possible future research. In general, this part of the essay should restate your thesis statement, explain why the topic is essential, and address your main points.

One tip for writing a successful conclusion is to use your introductory paragraph as a guide. It also contains the thesis statement and main points. So, you can reword it and add a closing sentence. Provide closure to the reader, leaving them with a significant impression.

Proofread Your Paper

Proofreading is the final stage in the essay writing process before submitting your informative paper or persuasive essay. This step is crucial because professors also grade your essay or academic paper based on a technicality in informative writing. Check for grammar, punctuation, formatting, and spelling errors to make your writing more precise and accurate.

Review from the larger aspects of your text to the narrow ones. Check your complex sentence constructions, variety, vocabulary, and repetitive phrases. You also want to review your list of references. Are you using the correct style guide?

Learn More Writing Tips for Essay Writers

Writing an informative essay takes more than just research skills. You also need to ensure clarity, organization, and coherence in your work. Take a moment and read some informative essay examples you can find online. 

The best method to write an informative essay is to have a specific thesis statement which you can expand in the body paragraphs. Revise, edit, and proofread your work before submitting the final draft. I hope my guide and tips helped you on your way!

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How To Write An Informative Research Paper

Published by gudwriter on February 1, 2021 February 1, 2021

Informative research papers are meant to shed light on a specific subject for an audience interested in knowing more about it. Informative writing presents facts as they are about the subject without seeking to form an opinion in the audience, but instead provoke curiosity on the subject. Informative research papers are incredibly prolific in sciences and technology.

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Types of Informative Research Papers

An informative essay can take on different forms. You could write it to explain a term or concept. You can also write an analysis type of essay to explore a specific subject. Some informative essays are in the form of ‘how-to’ essays, while others compare and contrast different subjects.

The writer must present factual evidence on what is or what happens. In sciences, this details experiments, while in humanities, it involves a rigorous literature review. The writer must use credible sources of information and cite them in a reference section. A mix of primary and secondary sources makes the facts presented more credible. The research paper’s main body links different facts to explain the current or future state of the subject. A conclusion is needed to show how this research applies or how it will impact future events.

An Informative essay is structured pretty much like other academic essays except for a few slight differences which every student should be aware of. To avoid making any mistakes or making any assumptions which might later affect your final grade, relieve yourself from all this stress and get an online research writer who will help you out.

Main Elements of an Informative Essay

1. the introduction.

This is where you tell the reader what the subject of the essay is about. What will the reader be informed about? This section has an overview of the subject e.g., Cryptocurrencies . This also includes defining the different terms that relate to the subject of discussion. This touches on the background information on the subject, such as how cryptocurrencies have grown since 2009.

 A brief on what is to be covered by the essay should also be included to avoid wasting the reader’s time. Including a thesis statement is essential in defining the essay; for example, Cryptocurrencies will form the bulk of online money by 2030. The introduction section is the only chance the writer gets to catch and maintain the reader’s attention.

2. The body

This middle section of an informative essay forms the bulk of it. This is where you support the thesis statement with facts, statements, statistics, and supporting evidence. Many informative research papers have 3-4 body paragraphs. This may vary on the higher side for a complicated subject or one with a broad scope. Use the words to pages converter to calculate how many pages a certain number of words is.

The body fills out all the terms, concepts, and ideas in the introduction. If you are writing on the role of cryptocurrencies in online transactions, for example, body paragraphs would include;

• Defining cryptocurrencies and an explanation of how they come about (mining)
• How cryptocurrencies are exchanged and verification of transactions
• Differences between cryptocurrencies and Fiat money
• Advantages of using cryptocurrencies
• Common transactions involving cryptocurrencies
• The future of cryptocurrencies

3. The conclusion

This part of an informative research paper wraps up the evidence presented in the body and makes deductions or inferences that support the thesis statement. This is where you restate the thesis statement by linking it to what the research paper has presented as factual. You also reiterate the importance of discussing the subject. An excellent informative research paper should also seek to offer foresight into the subject e.g., the role of cryptocurrencies in e-commerce in the next ten years.

Read on how to tame a wild tongue sample essay that may help you understand on how to write quality essays.

A conclusion is usually done in one or two paragraphs. The closing statements of a good conclusion should provoke the reader to delve deeper into the research subject.

4. The references

Informative research papers depend on citations to prove their credibility when presenting secondary research i.e., facts uncovered in other sources. It is also an academic requirement lest the writer gets penalized for plagiarism and copyright violations. The citations should be done according to the demanded format e.g., MLA format. Be sure to provide a reference for each citation.

How to Pick a Topic for an Informative Research Paper

• Exposé on an original topic – This is where you research a relatively new topic or sub-topic e.g., A new type of cryptocurrency
• Further investigation into a popular topic – This is research that is meant to shed better light on a specific subject e.g., mining of cryptocurrencies

It is essential to bear in mind that a research paper consumes resources in time and money. It is prudent to keep the scope of the research manageable.

Examples of informative research paper topics

• Is it easier for multilingual students to learn new languages?
• Is there any significant suicide rate among students in public colleges?
• How to develop mental health with proper counseling?
• How to learn sign language for communicating with the deaf and dumb?
• What causes some people who grow up in dire circumstances to overcome them?
• Who is responsible for high school hate crimes?
• Explain the consequences of having alcohol on the school campus.
• What does “living below the poverty line” mean?
• How has the internet boosted communication?
• How does fast food affect our health?
• What affects a couple’s decision on how many children to have?
• What is homelessness? What causes people to be homeless?
• Why Obama’s care does more harm than good?
• Which is the most similar to our Earth planet?
• Why does Nicki Minaj dress as she dresses? Is it a simple media stunt, or is there a deeper reason?
• How to reduce the influence of social media on our lives?
• Causes and effects of frictional unemployment
• How does acrophobia affect people?
• What are the four explanations for why we forget things?
• What is the rule of reciprocity?
• What is schizophrenia? What are the different types of this disease? Is there a cure?
• The effects of online and mobile banking on employment in the financial sector
• Top reasons that lead to the high level of obesity among the US population
• What is a nanobot, and what problems can be solved with the help of nanobots?
• What are the effects on a family when a parent becomes a meth addict?

Common Mistakes Made When Writing Informative Essays

To write the perfect informative essay, you must avoid the following common mistakes.

1. A poor structure

As indicated above, the structure of an informative essay includes an introduction, body, and conclusion. This structure must be adhered to lest your work will be confusing for the reader.

2. Having no thesis statement or a weak one

The importance of a thesis statement in an informative essay cannot be overstated. Most of the time, students proceed with their essays and forget all about the thesis statement. The thesis statement helps draw the readers’ attention and makes the essay catchy. It also gives the reader an overview of what you are going to talk about. You can also use our thesis statement generator tool for an outstanding thesis statement.

3. Not having an outline

After coming up with a topic for the informative essay, the next thing you should do is to create an outline. How does an outline help? Well, it helps you stick to the subject as most students find themselves wandering away from the point. More so, it will help your writing flow and prevent you from getting stuck in the middle of the essay.

When writing an informative essay, it is essential to stay enthusiastic throughout, even if you don’t like the topic you are discussing. Also, do not forget the objective of writing this essay, which is informing and educating the audience on a given topic. Proofread your work and  check for plagiarism  before submitting your work to get an A Grade.

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How to Create a Structured Research Paper Outline | Example

Published on August 7, 2022 by Courtney Gahan . Revised on August 15, 2023.

A research paper outline is a useful tool to aid in the writing process , providing a structure to follow with all information to be included in the paper clearly organized.

A quality outline can make writing your research paper more efficient by helping to:

• Organize your thoughts
• Understand the flow of information and how ideas are related
• Ensure nothing is forgotten

A research paper outline can also give your teacher an early idea of the final product.

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Research paper outline example, how to write a research paper outline, formatting your research paper outline, language in research paper outlines.

• Definition of measles
• Rise in cases in recent years in places the disease was previously eliminated or had very low rates of infection
• Figures: Number of cases per year on average, number in recent years. Relate to immunization
• Symptoms and timeframes of disease
• Risk of fatality, including statistics
• How measles is spread
• Immunization procedures in different regions
• Different regions, focusing on the arguments from those against immunization
• Immunization figures in affected regions
• High number of cases in non-immunizing regions
• Illnesses that can result from measles virus
• Fatal cases of other illnesses after patient contracted measles
• Summary of arguments of different groups
• Summary of figures and relationship with recent immunization debate
• Which side of the argument appears to be correct?

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Follow these steps to start your research paper outline:

• Decide on the subject of the paper
• Write down all the ideas you want to include or discuss
• Organize related ideas into sub-groups
• Arrange your ideas into a hierarchy: What should the reader learn first? What is most important? Which idea will help end your paper most effectively?
• Create headings and subheadings that are effective
• Format the outline in either alphanumeric, full-sentence or decimal format

There are three different kinds of research paper outline: alphanumeric, full-sentence and decimal outlines. The differences relate to formatting and style of writing.

• Alphanumeric
• Full-sentence

An alphanumeric outline is most commonly used. It uses Roman numerals, capitalized letters, arabic numerals, lowercase letters to organize the flow of information. Text is written with short notes rather than full sentences.

• Sub-point of sub-point 1

Essentially the same as the alphanumeric outline, but with the text written in full sentences rather than short points.

• Additional sub-point to conclude discussion of point of evidence introduced in point A

A decimal outline is similar in format to the alphanumeric outline, but with a different numbering system: 1, 1.1, 1.2, etc. Text is written as short notes rather than full sentences.

• 1.1.1 Sub-point of first point
• 1.1.2 Sub-point of first point
• 1.2 Second point

To write an effective research paper outline, it is important to pay attention to language. This is especially important if it is one you will show to your teacher or be assessed on.

There are four main considerations: parallelism, coordination, subordination and division.

Parallelism: Be consistent with grammatical form

Parallel structure or parallelism is the repetition of a particular grammatical form within a sentence, or in this case, between points and sub-points. This simply means that if the first point is a verb , the sub-point should also be a verb.

Example of parallelism:

• Include different regions, focusing on the different arguments from those against immunization

Coordination: Be aware of each point’s weight

Your chosen subheadings should hold the same significance as each other, as should all first sub-points, secondary sub-points, and so on.

Example of coordination:

• Include immunization figures in affected regions
• Illnesses that can result from the measles virus

Subordination: Work from general to specific

Subordination refers to the separation of general points from specific. Your main headings should be quite general, and each level of sub-point should become more specific.

Example of subordination:

Division: break information into sub-points.

Your headings should be divided into two or more subsections. There is no limit to how many subsections you can include under each heading, but keep in mind that the information will be structured into a paragraph during the writing stage, so you should not go overboard with the number of sub-points.

Ready to start writing or looking for guidance on a different step in the process? Read our step-by-step guide on how to write a research paper .

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Thesis Statement for Informative

Thesis statement generator for informative essay.

In the realm of informative essays, the thesis statement stands as a beacon of clarity, guiding readers to the heart of your insights. With the primary goal of educating the audience, the thesis must succinctly present the focal information you’re about to unpack. From setting the stage to presenting facts, every thesis matters. Dive deep into examples, unravel the crafting process, and learn valuable techniques to ensure your informative essay begins on the strongest note.

What is an Informative Essay Thesis Statement? – Definition

An informative essay thesis statement is a succinct declaration that outlines the primary focus or main point of the essay. Unlike argumentative essays, which make a claim and aim to persuade, an informative essay thesis seeks to educate the reader about a specific topic, providing a foundation for the detailed information that follows. The statement acts as a roadmap, giving the reader a glimpse of what to expect in the essay’s subsequent sections.

What is the Best Thesis Statement Example for Informative Essay?

While the “best” thesis statement often depends on the topic and the intent of the essay, here’s a generic example that embodies the characteristics of a strong informative thesis:

“The metamorphosis of a butterfly, from a humble caterpillar to a resplendent winged creature, is a captivating process involving four distinct stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.”

This thesis provides a clear, concise overview of the essay’s topic and what the reader can expect to learn from the ensuing paragraphs.

100 Thesis Statement Examples for Informative Essay

Crafting a robust thesis for an informative essay is essential to guide your readers through the nuances of the topic you’re exploring. Your thesis acts as a lens, focusing the reader’s attention on the key aspects you’ll delve into. Below is a collection of meticulously curated thesis statements for informative essays, designed to inspire and guide your writing process.

• “The history of the printing press revolutionized human communication, transforming societal structures and information dissemination.”
• “Solar energy, derived from the sun’s rays, offers a sustainable and environmentally friendly power source, with numerous applications in modern society.”
• “The water cycle is a continuous process, consisting of evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and collection, crucial to Earth’s climate and ecosystem.”
• “Ancient Egyptian mummification was a detailed ritual, embodying religious beliefs, preparations for the afterlife, and sophisticated preservation techniques.”
• “Quantum mechanics delves into the behavior of subatomic particles, challenging traditional physics and introducing concepts like superposition and entanglement.”
• “The Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system, boasts biodiversity, faces environmental threats, and is crucial for global marine ecology.”
• “Yoga, originating from ancient India, promotes physical, mental, and spiritual wellness, with various forms tailored to different needs.”
• “The Silk Road was a vast network of trade routes connecting Asia and Europe, facilitating the exchange of goods, cultures, and ideas.”
• “Chocolates, beyond being a delightful treat, have a rich history, production process, and health benefits when consumed in moderation.”
• “Mental health is a multifaceted topic, encompassing emotional, psychological, and social well-being, with various factors influencing one’s mental state.”
• “Leonardo da Vinci, a Renaissance polymath, contributed to art, science, and engineering, with masterpieces like the Mona Lisa and inventions ahead of his time.”
• “Pandas, native to China, play a significant role in global conservation efforts due to their endangered status and ecological importance.”
• “Photography, since its inception, has evolved in techniques and styles, influencing society’s perception of reality and memory.”
• “Green architecture integrates eco-friendly materials and energy-efficient designs to minimize environmental impact and promote sustainability.”
• “Sleep is a vital physiological process, with stages like REM and deep sleep, affecting cognitive function, mood, and overall health.”
• “Origami, the Japanese art of paper folding, has cultural significance, mathematical principles, and therapeutic benefits.”
• “The evolution of human language encompasses physiological changes, societal developments, and the emergence of linguistic diversity.”
• “The Internet, from ARPANET to today’s global network, has transformed communication, business, and entertainment, shaping the modern world.”
• “Black holes, mysterious cosmic entities, are regions of spacetime exhibiting gravitational forces from which nothing can escape, not even light.”
• “Jazz, an original American art form, draws from various music styles, influencing culture, civil rights movements, and global music scenes.”
• “Vaccination, a cornerstone of modern medicine, employs weakened or inactivated germs to train the immune system against diseases.”
• “Greek mythology, a rich tapestry of gods, heroes, and monsters, played a central role in ancient Greek religion and culture.”
• “Artificial intelligence, the simulation of human intelligence in machines, has applications in healthcare, finance, and more, heralding a new technological age.”
• “Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak, has a complex geology, history of expeditions, and challenges related to climbing and environmental conservation.”
• “Ballet, a classical dance form, has evolved over centuries, boasting different styles, techniques, and a profound impact on global dance culture.”
• “Mars, the fourth planet from the sun, is a focus of space exploration, with studies on its atmosphere, geology, and potential for life.”
• “The Amazon Rainforest, Earth’s largest tropical rainforest, houses unparalleled biodiversity and plays a pivotal role in the global climate system.”
• “The human brain, a marvel of evolution, is responsible for cognition, emotion, and consciousness, with regions dedicated to specific functions.”
• “The French Revolution, a tumultuous period in history, brought about political, social, and economic upheavals, shaping modern democracy.”
• “The Grand Canyon, carved by the Colorado River, showcases layers of Earth’s history, geology, and offers a haven for biodiversity.”
• “Hydroponics, a method of growing plants without soil, utilizes nutrient-rich water, offering solutions for urban farming and food scarcity.”
• “The Mona Lisa, beyond its fame as a painting, carries stories of its creation, theft, and cultural significance in art history.”
• “Quantum computing harnesses principles of quantum mechanics, promising breakthroughs in processing speed, cryptography, and complex problem-solving.”
• “The phenomenon of bioluminescence, seen in various marine creatures, is a chemical reaction that produces light, aiding in camouflage, prey attraction, and communication.”
• “The pyramids of Egypt, marvels of ancient engineering, were built as tombs for pharaohs, reflecting the civilization’s religious beliefs and technological prowess.”
• “Nanotechnology, the manipulation of matter on an atomic scale, holds promise for medical treatments, electronics, and materials science.”
• “The Roaring Twenties, a decade post-WWI, were marked by cultural shifts, economic prosperity, jazz, and the onset of the Great Depression.”
• “Sushi, a staple of Japanese cuisine, has a history spanning centuries, varying styles, and a globalized presence in today’s culinary landscape.”
• “Vincent van Gogh, though tormented in life, produced masterpieces like ‘Starry Night’, influencing modern art with his unique style and technique.”
• “The concept of zero, integral to mathematics, originated from ancient civilizations, influencing arithmetic, algebra, and our understanding of the universe.”
• “Biodiversity, the variety of life on Earth, is vital for ecosystem stability, human survival, and indicates the planet’s health.”
• “The Industrial Revolution marked a shift from agrarian societies to industrial urban centers, revolutionizing technology, society, and the global economy.”
• “Volcanoes, nature’s fiery vents, have diverse types and formation processes, playing roles in Earth’s geology and influencing climates.”
• “The human genome, our genetic blueprint, has been mapped, offering insights into genetics, evolution, and potentials for personalized medicine.”
• “Shakespeare’s works, from tragedies to comedies, offer insights into human nature, love, power, and have profoundly influenced literature and language.”
• “Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese therapy, involves inserting needles at specific points to balance energy and treat various ailments.”
• “The Antarctic, a frozen frontier, is crucial for climate research, housing unique ecosystems and holding mysteries beneath its ice.”
• “Meditation, a practice of focused attention, offers benefits like stress reduction, improved cognition, and greater self-awareness.”
• “The Periodic Table organizes chemical elements based on atomic number, guiding our understanding of chemistry, reactions, and element properties.”
• “The concept of time, from sundials to atomic clocks, has been central to human civilizations, influencing cultures, sciences, and daily life.
• “Gut microbiome, the community of microorganisms living in our intestines, has profound implications on our health, mood, and disease susceptibility.”
• “The Renaissance, spanning the 14th to 17th century, marked a cultural awakening in art, science, and thought, laying the foundation for the modern world.”
• “Artificial neural networks, inspired by the human brain, form the basis of deep learning, propelling advancements in image recognition, language translation, and more.”
• “The concept of relativity, introduced by Einstein, transformed our understanding of time, space, and the universe, challenging Newtonian physics.”
• “The cultural and religious festival of Diwali, celebrated predominantly in India, signifies the triumph of light over darkness and good over evil.”
• “J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ not only narrates an epic tale of heroism but delves deep into themes of friendship, power, and corruption.”
• “Climate change, driven primarily by human activities, has far-reaching consequences on weather patterns, sea levels, and global ecosystems.”
• “Impressionism, an art movement in the 19th century, captures fleeting moments with loose brushwork, championed by artists like Monet and Renoir.”
• “Holography, the science of producing three-dimensional images, has applications in medicine, art, and data storage, promising future advancements.”
• “The discovery of DNA’s double helix structure by Watson and Crick revolutionized biology, paving the way for genetic research and biotechnological innovations.”
• “Coffee, beyond a popular beverage, has a rich history of cultivation, trade, and cultural significance across continents.”
• “Migration patterns of monarch butterflies, traveling thousands of miles, are a remarkable phenomenon of nature, influenced by environmental cues and genetic factors.”
• “The Roman Empire, with its vast territories and lasting legacies, has impacted modern governance, architecture, and language.”
• “Virtual reality, an immersive technology, has transcended gaming to find applications in medicine, education, and real estate.”
• “Dream analysis, rooted in psychological theories of Freud and Jung, delves into the subconscious mind, interpreting symbols and emotions for insights.”
• “Beekeeping, an age-old practice, supports biodiversity, provides honey, and plays a crucial role in global food production through pollination.”
• “The concept of black markets, operating outside sanctioned channels, impacts global economies, ethics, and law enforcement challenges.”
• “The evolution of music, from classical symphonies to contemporary genres, reflects societal changes, technological innovations, and cultural exchanges.”
• “Neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to reorganize and adapt, challenges previous beliefs about brain rigidity and offers hope for injury recovery.”
• “Taj Mahal, an architectural marvel in India, stands as a testament to eternal love, Mughal artistry, and intricate craftsmanship.
• “The Silk Road, not just a trade route, fostered cultural exchanges, spread religions, and laid the groundwork for globalization in the ancient world.”
• “Telecommunication, with its evolution from telegraphs to smartphones, has reshaped society, influencing communication habits, businesses, and global connectedness.”
• “Veganism, beyond a dietary choice, carries implications for animal rights, environmental sustainability, and global food resources.”
• “The architecture of Gaudi, particularly in Barcelona, embodies a unique blend of nature, religion, and modernism, attracting millions of admirers worldwide.”
• “Galaxies, vast cosmic structures containing billions of stars, provide insights into the universe’s formation, dark matter, and the fate of cosmic bodies.”
• “Procrastination, more than just delaying tasks, is a complex psychological behavior with implications for productivity, mental health, and personal growth.”
• “Jazz, birthed in New Orleans, embodies improvisation and cultural synthesis, influencing numerous other genres and reflecting societal changes.”
• “The Great Wall of China, beyond a monumental feat of engineering, symbolizes the lengths to which societies will go to defend their beliefs and territories.”
• “Human rights, a universal framework for dignity and equality, have evolved over centuries, shaping global policies, revolutions, and societal values.”
• “Pandemics, from the Black Plague to COVID-19, have shifted the course of history, influencing medical advancements, societal structures, and global economies.”
• “Cryptocurrency, decentralized digital money, challenges traditional banking systems, offering potential for financial freedom but also sparking debates on regulation.”
• “The Amazon Rainforest, often termed the ‘lungs of Earth’, plays a critical role in global climate regulation, biodiversity, and indigenous cultures.”
• “The Eiffel Tower, initially criticized but now an icon of France, represents engineering prowess, national pride, and the changing tides of public opinion.”
• “Ballet, a disciplined art form with roots in the Italian Renaissance, conveys stories, emotions, and has evolved with cultural and societal shifts.”
• “The concept of infinity, both in mathematics and philosophy, challenges human comprehension and has led to profound discoveries and existential debates.”
• “The Grand Canyon, carved by the Colorado River, stands as a testament to nature’s power and the geological history of Earth.”
• “Storytelling, intrinsic to human culture, serves various purposes, from passing down traditions to marketing brands in the modern age.”
• “Yoga, beyond physical postures, is an ancient practice promoting holistic well-being, spiritual growth, and mental clarity.”
• “The Louvre Museum, housing thousands of artworks, narrates a history of art, culture, and the evolution of human civilization.”
• “Photography, from daguerreotypes to digital, captures moments in time, influencing art, journalism, and how society perceives reality.”
• “Mount Everest, standing as the highest peak, isn’t just a mountaineer’s challenge but a symbol of human perseverance and our relationship with nature.”
• “Mars exploration, beyond the realm of science fiction, provides insights into planetary evolution, life beyond Earth, and the future of human space colonization.”
• “Coral reefs, often called the rainforests of the sea, are vibrant ecosystems, vital to marine life, coastal economies, and indicate global climate health.”
• “Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ doesn’t merely tell a tale of revenge but delves deep into themes of existentialism, morality, and the human psyche.”
• “Quantum mechanics, a foundation of modern physics, challenges classical notions, introducing concepts like superposition and entanglement, reshaping our understanding of reality.”
• “The Pyramids of Giza, not just architectural marvels, offer insights into ancient Egyptian beliefs, astronomical knowledge, and societal organization.”
• “Hydrogen as an energy source, while in its infancy, holds potential to revolutionize the energy sector, offering a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels.”
• “The cultural phenomenon of Anime, originating in Japan, transcends entertainment, reflecting societal issues, personal identities, and diverse genres of storytelling.”
• “Meditation, rooted in ancient traditions, serves as a tool for mental well-being, stress relief, and cognitive enhancement in our fast-paced modern world.”
• “The French Revolution, while a bloody period, led to the overthrow of monarchy, shaping modern political ideologies, rights, and global democratic movements.

An informative essay thesis statement is a condensed form of your essay’s primary argument, serving as a roadmap for your readers. The process of developing such a statement requires synthesizing the main idea of your topic and presenting it in a concise manner to captivate and inform your audience from the beginning.

How do you write a thesis for an informative essay? – Step by Step Guide

• Understand the Prompt : Before you can create a thesis, understand the prompt or the topic you’re addressing. This ensures your thesis aligns with what you are expected to write about.
• Research Thoroughly : Dive deep into your topic. Gather all necessary details, facts, and data that will help you get a comprehensive view of the subject.
• Identify the Main Idea : What is the primary message or insight you want your readers to grasp? This will form the core of your thesis.
• Keep it Specific : Your thesis should not be overly broad. Instead, focus on a specific aspect of the topic that your essay will explore.
• Make it Clear and Concise : Your thesis statement shouldn’t be a complex sentence. It should be clear, direct, and easy for the reader to understand.
• Avoid Opinions : An informative essay provides information and insight. It doesn’t try to persuade the reader or present the writer’s personal opinion.
• Review and Refine : After drafting your thesis, read it aloud. Does it flow? Is it clear? Make necessary revisions until it fits your essay’s scope and direction perfectly.

Tips for Writing an Informative Essay Thesis Statement

• Stay Neutral : Your thesis shouldn’t convey bias or opinion. Stick to facts and neutral language.
• Position it Right : Traditionally, the thesis statement is positioned at the end of the introduction to guide the reader into the main body.
• Stay Focused : Your thesis should be specific to the points you’ll be making in your essay. If a point doesn’t support your thesis, consider removing it from your essay.
• Seek Feedback : Before finalizing your thesis, seek feedback. Fresh eyes can offer valuable insights and catch inconsistencies.
• Revisit After Writing : Once your essay is complete, revisit your thesis. Does your essay deliver what your thesis promises? If not, tweak it so that it aligns with your essay’s content.

Crafting a compelling thesis for an informative essay is a balancing act between providing clear, concise information and sparking curiosity in readers. By following the aforementioned steps and tips, writers can guide their audience seamlessly through the information while ensuring comprehension and interest.

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113 Great Research Paper Topics

General Education

One of the hardest parts of writing a research paper can be just finding a good topic to write about. Fortunately we've done the hard work for you and have compiled a list of 113 interesting research paper topics. They've been organized into ten categories and cover a wide range of subjects so you can easily find the best topic for you.

In addition to the list of good research topics, we've included advice on what makes a good research paper topic and how you can use your topic to start writing a great paper.

What Makes a Good Research Paper Topic?

Not all research paper topics are created equal, and you want to make sure you choose a great topic before you start writing. Below are the three most important factors to consider to make sure you choose the best research paper topics.

#1: It's Something You're Interested In

A paper is always easier to write if you're interested in the topic, and you'll be more motivated to do in-depth research and write a paper that really covers the entire subject. Even if a certain research paper topic is getting a lot of buzz right now or other people seem interested in writing about it, don't feel tempted to make it your topic unless you genuinely have some sort of interest in it as well.

#2: There's Enough Information to Write a Paper

Even if you come up with the absolute best research paper topic and you're so excited to write about it, you won't be able to produce a good paper if there isn't enough research about the topic. This can happen for very specific or specialized topics, as well as topics that are too new to have enough research done on them at the moment. Easy research paper topics will always be topics with enough information to write a full-length paper.

Trying to write a research paper on a topic that doesn't have much research on it is incredibly hard, so before you decide on a topic, do a bit of preliminary searching and make sure you'll have all the information you need to write your paper.

#3: It Fits Your Teacher's Guidelines

Don't get so carried away looking at lists of research paper topics that you forget any requirements or restrictions your teacher may have put on research topic ideas. If you're writing a research paper on a health-related topic, deciding to write about the impact of rap on the music scene probably won't be allowed, but there may be some sort of leeway. For example, if you're really interested in current events but your teacher wants you to write a research paper on a history topic, you may be able to choose a topic that fits both categories, like exploring the relationship between the US and North Korea. No matter what, always get your research paper topic approved by your teacher first before you begin writing.

113 Good Research Paper Topics

Below are 113 good research topics to help you get you started on your paper. We've organized them into ten categories to make it easier to find the type of research paper topics you're looking for.

Arts/Culture

• Discuss the main differences in art from the Italian Renaissance and the Northern Renaissance .
• Analyze the impact a famous artist had on the world.
• How is sexism portrayed in different types of media (music, film, video games, etc.)? Has the amount/type of sexism changed over the years?
• How has the music of slaves brought over from Africa shaped modern American music?
• How has rap music evolved in the past decade?
• How has the portrayal of minorities in the media changed?

Current Events

• What have been the impacts of China's one child policy?
• How have the goals of feminists changed over the decades?
• How has the Trump presidency changed international relations?
• Analyze the history of the relationship between the United States and North Korea.
• What factors contributed to the current decline in the rate of unemployment?
• What have been the impacts of states which have increased their minimum wage?
• How do US immigration laws compare to immigration laws of other countries?
• How have the US's immigration laws changed in the past few years/decades?
• How has the Black Lives Matter movement affected discussions and view about racism in the US?
• What impact has the Affordable Care Act had on healthcare in the US?
• What factors contributed to the UK deciding to leave the EU (Brexit)?
• What factors contributed to China becoming an economic power?
• Discuss the history of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies  (some of which tokenize the S&P 500 Index on the blockchain) .
• Do students in schools that eliminate grades do better in college and their careers?
• Do students from wealthier backgrounds score higher on standardized tests?
• Do students who receive free meals at school get higher grades compared to when they weren't receiving a free meal?
• Do students who attend charter schools score higher on standardized tests than students in public schools?
• Do students learn better in same-sex classrooms?
• How does giving each student access to an iPad or laptop affect their studies?
• What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Montessori Method ?
• Do children who attend preschool do better in school later on?
• What was the impact of the No Child Left Behind act?
• How does the US education system compare to education systems in other countries?
• What impact does mandatory physical education classes have on students' health?
• Which methods are most effective at reducing bullying in schools?
• Do homeschoolers who attend college do as well as students who attended traditional schools?
• Does offering tenure increase or decrease quality of teaching?
• How does college debt affect future life choices of students?
• Should graduate students be able to form unions?

• What are different ways to lower gun-related deaths in the US?
• How and why have divorce rates changed over time?
• Is affirmative action still necessary in education and/or the workplace?
• Should physician-assisted suicide be legal?
• How has stem cell research impacted the medical field?
• How can human trafficking be reduced in the United States/world?
• Should people be able to donate organs in exchange for money?
• Which types of juvenile punishment have proven most effective at preventing future crimes?
• Has the increase in US airport security made passengers safer?
• Analyze the immigration policies of certain countries and how they are similar and different from one another.
• Several states have legalized recreational marijuana. What positive and negative impacts have they experienced as a result?
• Do tariffs increase the number of domestic jobs?
• Which prison reforms have proven most effective?
• Should governments be able to censor certain information on the internet?
• Which methods/programs have been most effective at reducing teen pregnancy?
• What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Keto diet?
• How effective are different exercise regimes for losing weight and maintaining weight loss?
• How do the healthcare plans of various countries differ from each other?
• What are the most effective ways to treat depression ?
• What are the pros and cons of genetically modified foods?
• Which methods are most effective for improving memory?
• What can be done to lower healthcare costs in the US?
• What factors contributed to the current opioid crisis?
• Analyze the history and impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic .
• Are low-carbohydrate or low-fat diets more effective for weight loss?
• How much exercise should the average adult be getting each week?
• Which methods are most effective to get parents to vaccinate their children?
• What are the pros and cons of clean needle programs?
• How does stress affect the body?
• Discuss the history of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
• What were the causes and effects of the Salem Witch Trials?
• Who was responsible for the Iran-Contra situation?
• How has New Orleans and the government's response to natural disasters changed since Hurricane Katrina?
• What events led to the fall of the Roman Empire?
• What were the impacts of British rule in India ?
• Was the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary?
• What were the successes and failures of the women's suffrage movement in the United States?
• What were the causes of the Civil War?
• How did Abraham Lincoln's assassination impact the country and reconstruction after the Civil War?
• Which factors contributed to the colonies winning the American Revolution?
• What caused Hitler's rise to power?
• Discuss how a specific invention impacted history.
• What led to Cleopatra's fall as ruler of Egypt?
• How has Japan changed and evolved over the centuries?
• What were the causes of the Rwandan genocide ?

• Why did Martin Luther decide to split with the Catholic Church?
• Analyze the history and impact of a well-known cult (Jonestown, Manson family, etc.)
• How did the sexual abuse scandal impact how people view the Catholic Church?
• How has the Catholic church's power changed over the past decades/centuries?
• What are the causes behind the rise in atheism/ agnosticism in the United States?
• What were the influences in Siddhartha's life resulted in him becoming the Buddha?
• How has media portrayal of Islam/Muslims changed since September 11th?

Science/Environment

• How has the earth's climate changed in the past few decades?
• How has the use and elimination of DDT affected bird populations in the US?
• Analyze how the number and severity of natural disasters have increased in the past few decades.
• Analyze deforestation rates in a certain area or globally over a period of time.
• How have past oil spills changed regulations and cleanup methods?
• How has the Flint water crisis changed water regulation safety?
• What are the pros and cons of fracking?
• What impact has the Paris Climate Agreement had so far?
• What have NASA's biggest successes and failures been?
• How can we improve access to clean water around the world?
• Does ecotourism actually have a positive impact on the environment?
• Should the US rely on nuclear energy more?
• What can be done to save amphibian species currently at risk of extinction?
• What impact has climate change had on coral reefs?
• How are black holes created?
• Are teens who spend more time on social media more likely to suffer anxiety and/or depression?
• How will the loss of net neutrality affect internet users?
• Analyze the history and progress of self-driving vehicles.
• How has the use of drones changed surveillance and warfare methods?
• Has social media made people more or less connected?
• What progress has currently been made with artificial intelligence ?
• Do smartphones increase or decrease workplace productivity?
• What are the most effective ways to use technology in the classroom?
• How is Google search affecting our intelligence?
• When is the best age for a child to begin owning a smartphone?
• Has frequent texting reduced teen literacy rates?

How to Write a Great Research Paper

Even great research paper topics won't give you a great research paper if you don't hone your topic before and during the writing process. Follow these three tips to turn good research paper topics into great papers.

#1: Figure Out Your Thesis Early

Before you start writing a single word of your paper, you first need to know what your thesis will be. Your thesis is a statement that explains what you intend to prove/show in your paper. Every sentence in your research paper will relate back to your thesis, so you don't want to start writing without it!

As some examples, if you're writing a research paper on if students learn better in same-sex classrooms, your thesis might be "Research has shown that elementary-age students in same-sex classrooms score higher on standardized tests and report feeling more comfortable in the classroom."

If you're writing a paper on the causes of the Civil War, your thesis might be "While the dispute between the North and South over slavery is the most well-known cause of the Civil War, other key causes include differences in the economies of the North and South, states' rights, and territorial expansion."

#2: Back Every Statement Up With Research

Remember, this is a research paper you're writing, so you'll need to use lots of research to make your points. Every statement you give must be backed up with research, properly cited the way your teacher requested. You're allowed to include opinions of your own, but they must also be supported by the research you give.

#3: Do Your Research Before You Begin Writing

You don't want to start writing your research paper and then learn that there isn't enough research to back up the points you're making, or, even worse, that the research contradicts the points you're trying to make!

Get most of your research on your good research topics done before you begin writing. Then use the research you've collected to create a rough outline of what your paper will cover and the key points you're going to make. This will help keep your paper clear and organized, and it'll ensure you have enough research to produce a strong paper.

What's Next?

Are you also learning about dynamic equilibrium in your science class? We break this sometimes tricky concept down so it's easy to understand in our complete guide to dynamic equilibrium .

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Want to know the fastest and easiest ways to convert between Fahrenheit and Celsius? We've got you covered! Check out our guide to the best ways to convert Celsius to Fahrenheit (or vice versa).

These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

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Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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APA Citations (7th edition)

Citing journal articles.

• Citing Books and eBooks
• Citing Videos
• Citing Web Resources

APA: Citing Journal Articles  from  Lawrence W. Tyree Library  on  Vimeo . View a transcript  here.

In this tutorial, you will learn the basics for citing journal articles with and without a DOI and how to cite open access journal articles.

Every APA reference needs four parts:  author, date, title,  and  source . As you go through these examples, you will learn how to identify these four parts and how to place and format them into a proper APA reference.

Example 1: A Journal Article with a DOI

For the first example, you will learn how to cite a journal article with a DOI. Often, you will find journal articles online using the library's databases or other online resources. 

The first step is to identify the  author  of the article. The author of this article is Brittanie Atteberry-Ash,

To list an author, write the  last name , a  comma , and the  first and middle initials .

Example: Atteberry-Ash.

Next, identify when this article was published. For journal articles, you typically only need the  year . In this case, this article was published in 2022. You can usually find the date at the top of the article, the cover of the journal, or, for online articles, the article's record.

List the  date  after the author(s), in  parentheses , followed by a  period .

Example: Atteberry-Ash, B. (2022).

Now, identify the  title of the article . The title will usually be at the very top of the article, in a larger size font.

List the  title  of the article after the date. Make sure you only capitalize the  first word of the title ,  the first word of the subtitle , which comes after a colon, and any  proper nouns . End with a period. In this title, only the words Social  and  A  are capitalized.

Example: Atteberry-Ash, B. (2022). Social work and social justice: A conceptual review.

For the last component, you need the  source . For an article, this is the  title of the journal, volume, issue , which is sometimes called  number , and  page numbers  of the article. Usually this information can be found on the cover of the journal, on the table of contents, or at the top of the article. For the page numbers, you should look at the first and last pages of the article. For online articles, this information is usually found in the article's record.

Type the  journal title , in  italics , capitalizing all major words, a comma, the  volume , also in  italics , the  number or issue  in parentheses, a comma, and then the  page numbers  of the article.

Example:  Atteberry-Ash, B. (2022). Social work and social justice: A conceptual review.  Social Work,   68  (1), 38-46.

The last element of the  source  is the  DOI , which stands for Digital Object Identifier. A DOI can be found in the article’s record or on the first page of the article.

Type the  DOI , using the prefix  https://doi.org/ . There is no period after the DOI.

Example:  Atteberry-Ash, B. (2022). Social work and social justice: A conceptual review.  Social Work,   68  (1), 38-46. https://doi.org/10.1093/sw/swac042

If you refer to a work in your paper, either by directly quoting, paraphrasing, or by referring to main ideas, you will need to include an in-text parenthetical citation. There are a number of ways to do this. In this example, a  signal phrase  is used to introduce a direct quote. The  author's name  is given in the text, and the  publication date  and  page number(s)  are enclosed in parentheses at the beginning and end of the sentence.

Example: Atteberry-Ash (2022) notes "social workers are called on to practice socially just values and to address the consequences of oppression, specifically lost opportunity, social disenfranchisement, and isolation" (p. 38).

Example 2: Multiple Authors and No DOI

In this example, most of the components needed for the reference can be found in the article’s record. This article, however, has multiple authors and does not have a DOI listed in its record or in the article itself.

Format all the citation components of this journal article like the first example. For multiple authors, list the authors in the order they are listed in the article. Use a  comma  to separate each author and an  ampersand (&)  should be placed before the last author’s name. This applies for articles with up to twenty authors. Since there is no DOI listed for this article, simply omit that element. The reference will conclude after the page numbers.  

Example: Penprase, B., Mileto, L., Bittinger, A., Hranchook, A. M., Atchley, J. A., Bergakker, S., Eimers, T., & Franson, H. (2012). The use of high-fidelity simulation in the admissions process: One nurse anesthesia program’s experience.  AANA Journal, 80 (1), 43–48.

If you refer to a work in your paper that has three or more authors, the in-text citation will include the first author's name only, followed by  et al.  which means "and all the rest."

Example: Penprase et al. (2012) states that "Admission into nurse anesthesia programs is known to be a competitive process among a diverse pool of candidates" (p. 43).

Example 3: An Open Access Journal Article

This article was found in  PLOS One  which is an open access journal. Open access journal articles are articles with the full text freely available online and do not require logging in.

You will need all of the same information from the previous examples to cite an open access article. In this example, most of this information can be found at the top of the article.

In this example, the article's volume, issue, and the  article number  are found in the citation provided by the journal. Article numbers are used in place of page numbers in some online journals.

The format for open access journals is the same as the other examples. In this example, an article number is used in place of the page numbers. After the issue number, type  Article  and then the article number. If an open access journal does not provide a DOI, you may provide the URL of the article instead. Only include the URL if it directly brings you to the full text of the article without logging in.

Example: Francis, H. M., Stevenson, R. J., Chambers, J. R., Gupta, D., Newey, B., & Lim, C. K. (2019). A brief diet intervention can reduce symptoms of depression in young adults – A randomised controlled trial.  PLOS ONE, 14 (1), Article e0222768. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0222768

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Research: For Influencers, Showing Your Inner Circle Can Boost Engagement

• Jaeyeon (Jae) Chung

Observations from three experiments and a review of more than 55,000 Instagram posts.

Influencer marketing is a billion-dollar industry, and its recent meteoric rise has sparked curiosity about which factors makes some influencer posts more popular than others. In a new paper, researchers analyzed more than 55,000 Instagram posts from the top 763 influencers worldwide during a six month period and discover that posts that read as more authentic to the influencer, for example posts that show close family or friends, receive the highest engagement. They offer considerations for how to harness their findings to improve brand-influencer post success.

One week in July, soccer star and entrepreneur David Beckham made four posts on Instagram. A sponsored ad for sunglasses garnered 460,000 likes. A photo celebrating a league win by Inter Miami, a team he co-owns, got 360,000. The two other posts — pictures of the athlete with his father and with his wife — received triple that engagement, with 1.3 and 1.8 million likes, respectively.

• JC Jaeyeon (Jae) Chung is the William S. Mackey Jr. Distinguished Assistant Professor at Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business. She earned her Ph.D. from Columbia Business School. Her research focuses on digital marketing, emerging technologies, and consumer engagement with social media and AI-driven marketing, including platforms like YouTube, ChatGPT, and NFT markets.
• Ajay Kalra is Herbert S. Autrey Professor of Marketing at the Jones School of Business, Rice University.  His current research interests include how familial associations impact consumer perceptions.  His research has been quoted in New York Times , Economist , Washington Post , Fox News among several other outlets.

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• Open access
• Published: 11 September 2024

Addressing the credibility crisis in Mendelian randomization

• Stephen Burgess 1 , 2 ,
• Benjamin Woolf 1 , 3 , 4 ,
• Amy M. Mason 2 , 5 ,
• Mika Ala-Korpela 6 , 7 &
• Dipender Gill 8 , 9  

BMC Medicine volume  22 , Article number:  374 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

Metrics details

Genome-wide association studies have enabled Mendelian randomization analyses to be performed at an industrial scale. Two-sample summary data Mendelian randomization analyses can be performed using publicly available data by anyone who has access to the internet. While this has led to many insightful papers, it has also fuelled an explosion of poor-quality Mendelian randomization publications, which threatens to undermine the credibility of the whole approach.

We detail five pitfalls in conducting a reliable Mendelian randomization investigation: (1) inappropriate research question, (2) inappropriate choice of variants as instruments, (3) insufficient interrogation of findings, (4) inappropriate interpretation of findings, and (5) lack of engagement with previous work. We have provided a brief checklist of key points to consider when performing a Mendelian randomization investigation; this does not replace previous guidance, but highlights critical analysis choices. Journal editors should be able to identify many low-quality submissions and reject papers without requiring peer review. Peer reviewers should focus initially on key indicators of validity; if a paper does not satisfy these, then the paper may be meaningless even if it is technically flawless.

Conclusions

Performing an informative Mendelian randomization investigation requires critical thought and collaboration between different specialties and fields of research.

Peer Review reports

Mendelian randomization is an epidemiological technique that exploits the properties of genetic variants to address causal questions about the potential effect of an exposure on an outcome [ 1 , 2 ]. Mendel’s laws of heritability mean that, conditional on parental genotype, genetic variants should only be associated with traits that they influence [ 3 , 4 ]. Given a well-mixed population, the same property should hold at the population level [ 5 ]. Empirical investigations have shown that genetic associations with unrelated traits estimated in population-based cohorts are no stronger than would be expected due to chance alone [ 6 , 7 ]. This suggests a generic strategy for testing the causal effect of any exposure on any outcome by the following steps:

Find genetic variants that are predictors of the exposure

Test whether these genetic variants associate with the outcome

The simplicity and universality of the approach is appealing [ 8 ]. Analogously to a randomized trial, inferences are made not by application of clever statistical methodology, but by exploiting random variation [ 9 , 10 ]—although in the case of Mendelian randomization, this is naturally-occurring randomization rather than random allocation by a trialist [ 11 ]. However, such a simple recipe cannot provide reliable causal inferences without thoughtful application.

The Mendelian randomization approach relies on the gene–environment equivalence principle [ 12 ]. This states that selected genetic variants influence an environmental (that is non-genetic) exposure equivalently to a proposed intervention that changes the population distribution of the exposure. In practice, there are often differences between the effect of a genetic variant and a proposed intervention in terms of mechanism, magnitude, timing, and duration that imply downstream consequences are not exactly equivalent [ 13 , 14 ]. The principle can be restated to require that genetic associations are informative about the presence, direction, and (to a more limited extent) the size of the effect on the outcome resulting from an intervention in the exposure.

The availability of data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) has enabled Mendelian randomization analyses to be performed at an industrial scale [ 15 , 16 ]. In particular, it has enabled two-sample summary data Mendelian randomization investigations [ 17 ]: “two-sample” indicates that genetic associations with the putative exposure and outcome come from different datasets; “summary data” indicates that analyses are performed using genetic association estimates—beta-coefficients and standard errors representing associations of the respective variants with the exposure and outcome—rather than individual-level data [ 18 , 19 ]. Such association data have been released for many large consortia and biobanks [ 20 , 21 ]. Anyone with access to the internet can download genetic associations with risk factors and disease outcomes and use these to implement Mendelian randomization methods [ 22 ]. Indeed, such applications of Mendelian randomization have great advantages: they are able to use large datasets published by GWAS consortia, and analyses can be made fully transparent and replicable.

However, particularly in the age of artificial intelligence, such analyses are arguably too accessible. Web-based tools have been created that simplify the task of the analyst to simply choosing the exposure and outcome—the automated analysis is performed at the touch of a button [ 23 ]. Mendelian randomization has become an easy target for researchers who are incentivized to publish as often as they can, as well as to predatory journals which are willing to publish such articles. While the two-sample summary data approach has led to many insightful papers, it has also fuelled an explosion of poor-quality Mendelian randomization publications, which threatens to overwhelm the capacity of qualified reviewers and undermine the credibility of the whole approach.

The guidance in this article is written to help those who want to write meaningful Mendelian randomization papers, as well as to journal editors and reviewers seeking to triage and identify low-quality submissions. There is already plentiful guidance on performing and reporting Mendelian randomization investigations [ 24 ], including the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology using Mendelian Randomization (STROBE-MR) guidelines [ 25 ]; we would encourage journals to insist that authors complete the checklist based on these guidelines at initial submission. This is important to ensure analyses are performed accurately and to avoid errors, such as mistakes in allele harmonization [ 26 ]. However, a Mendelian randomization investigation may be perfectly written and follow these guidelines to the letter—and yet the whole study may be completely useless.

We focus here on two-sample Mendelian randomization analyses using established methods for the analysis of summarized data. Advanced methods, such as non-linear analyses [ 27 ], cross-generational analyses [ 28 ], and time-varying analyses [ 29 ], require additional assumptions and detailed considerations that could potentially lead to biased estimates if violated [ 30 , 31 , 32 ]. Such methods are outside the scope of this paper. However, the considerations discussed here about instrument selection, instrument validity, and interpretation are foundational, and also apply to such applications.

We consider five common pitfalls in conducting a reliable Mendelian randomization investigation: (1) inappropriate research question, (2) inappropriate choice of variants as instruments, (3) insufficient interrogation of findings, (4) inappropriate interpretation of findings, and (5) lack of engagement with previous literature. We present a short list of relevant questions relating to these points in Fig.  1 for authors to consider. While not as comprehensive as the STROBE-MR guidelines, it is more succinct and focuses on the key critical judgements that are required to assess the reliability of an investigation. It should be particularly valuable not just to authors, but also to reviewers and editors, and indeed, to eventual readers wanting to evaluate the quality of evidence provided by a Mendelian randomization publication.

Key considerations when assessing the credibility of a Mendelian randomization investigation

Inappropriate research question

The instrumental variable assumptions [ 33 ] require that any genetic variant used in a Mendelian randomization investigation as an instrument must:

Be associated with the exposure (relevance)

Not be associated with the outcome via a confounding pathway (exchangeability)

Have no direct effect on the outcome, only potentially an indirect effect via the exposure (exclusion restriction) [ 34 ]

Only the first of these assumptions can be verified based on data. The other two assumptions cannot be formally tested and must be justified either on the basis of scientific understanding, or empirically supported based on the application of statistical methods [ 24 ].

These assumptions require the genetic variants to be specific in how they affect the exposure—there cannot be pleiotropic associations with variables on alternative causal pathways to the outcome. Associations with variables on the causal pathway from the genetic variants to the outcome via the exposure (sometimes called “vertical pleiotropy”) are allowed; associations with variables on alternative causal pathways (sometimes called “horizontal pleiotropy”) are not [ 35 ] (Fig.  2 ).

Genetic associations with an exposure variable that is downstream of a mediating biomarker (diagrams A and B), or has a downstream effect on either a mediating biomarker (diagram C) or a non-causal biomarker (diagram D). In case A, the only causal pathway from the genetic variants to the outcome passes via the exposure; hence, this is an example of “vertical pleiotropy”, and the genetic variants are valid instruments. In case B, there is a causal pathway from the genetic variants to the outcome that does not pass via the exposure; hence, this is an example of “horizontal pleiotropy”, and the genetic variants are not valid instruments. In cases C and D (which also represent “vertical pleiotropy”), Mendelian randomization analyses should be conceptualized in terms of the exposure (the putative causal trait), even if measured genetic associations are expressed in terms of the biomarker. Diagram D is likely to represent the situation between genetic variants in the IL6R gene region, interleukin 6 signalling (exposure), and C-reactive protein (non-causal biomarker). C-reactive protein is likely to be a non-causal biomarker when considering the effect of interleukin 6 receptor inhibition on coronary heart disease [ 36 ]

For some exposures, it is implausible that there are genetic variants that influence the exposure in a way that meets these requirements. A paradigmatic example of such an exposure is “use of chopsticks”—if a researcher found genetic predictors of chopstick use in a Western population, the likely explanation would be that the variants reflect demographic or socioeconomic status, rather than a biological mechanism that affects cutlery choice [ 37 ]. Such variants would be invalid instrumental variables: first, they would be subject to population stratification, and second, even if population stratification could be addressed, they would be associated with other traits and behaviours that are more common in chopstick users. As such, a Mendelian randomization study supposedly finding evidence of an effect of chopsticks use would have to show that this effect is not attributable to the many other social and cultural factors that likely differ between the genetically defined population groups.

Another implausible exposure for use in Mendelian randomization is pollution levels [ 38 ]. Again, it is implausible that there are particular genetic variants that affect exposure to air pollution. If genetic predictors of air pollution are found, it is likely that these are markers of social status rather than representing intrinsic biological mechanisms. In some large datasets, such as UK Biobank, air pollution is not measured at an individual level, but inferred based on home address [ 39 ]. This reinforces the concern that such an analysis is actually evaluating social status, not air pollution in any specific way. Another category of implausible exposures for Mendelian randomization is gut microbiota [ 40 ]. It is implausible that there are particular genetic variants that have specific effects on individual gut microbiome species. While some genetic predictors of gut microbiota have been found, they are located in highly pleiotropic gene regions, such as the ABO gene region [ 41 ]. Just because a GWAS has found genetic predictors of a trait does not imply that the trait is an appropriate exposure for a Mendelian randomization investigation, nor that the genetic predictors represent valid genetic instruments.

If an exposure is externally or environmentally determined, or variation in the exposure is influenced purely by social and cultural factors rather than intrinsic biological mechanisms, then it is unlikely that effects of the exposure can be reliably interrogated in a Mendelian randomization design. Such traits are more likely to be subject to bias from population stratification, non-random mating patterns, and dynastic effects (that is inter-generational effects, such as when the parental genotype directly influences the offspring exposure or outcome) [ 42 ].

A counter-example to this is alcohol consumption. While alcohol consumption is partially determined by personal and environmental factors, there are biological mechanisms influencing the metabolism of alcohol that affect consumption levels, as well as exposure to alcohol in the bloodstream. Genetic variants in key regulators of these mechanisms are potential instruments for understanding the downstream effects of alcohol consumption [ 43 ]. However, care is still required to appropriately perform and interpret such analyses; we follow up this example in further sections.

Researchers should be aware that not all causal questions can appropriately be addressed in a Mendelian randomization paradigm. Journal editors and reviewers should use their judgement to rapidly decide whether a question can plausibly be addressed by Mendelian randomization based on the abstract (or even the title) alone: is it plausible that there exist genetic variants such that the gene–environment equivalence principle holds? That is, are there likely to be genetic variants that affect the exposure in a way equivalent to the (possibly hypothetical) intervention implied by the causal question under investigation? If this is unlikely, then the investigation, even if perfectly implemented and reported, does not provide reliable evidence to address the causal question of interest.

Inappropriate choice of variants as instruments

The instrumental variable assumptions require that any causal pathway from the genetic variants to the outcome passes via the exposure under investigation. This is more plausible if the genetic variants are located in a gene region with known functional or biological relevance to the exposure [ 44 , 45 , 46 ]. It is less plausible for exposures that the genetic variants influence indirectly via complex causal pathways, such as educational attainment. For example, genetic variants in the UGT1A1 gene region that encodes an enzyme regulating the synthesis of bilirubin are more plausible instruments than variants in gene regions that are not functionally related to bilirubin, or whose function is unknown [ 47 ]. Genetic variants in the ALDH2 and ADH1B gene regions are known to relate to alcohol metabolism, and hence are plausible instruments to investigate the effect of alcohol consumption [ 48 ]. If gene regions with biological relevance to the exposure are not known, Mendelian randomization can provide some evidence on the causal relevance of the exposure, but additional caution is required [ 49 ].

For a given gene region, genetic variants should be chosen based on their biological relation to the causal risk factor of interest, as far as is possible. This includes proximity to the relevant gene and functional effects on regulation of the gene or its downstream protein. For example, when investigating the effect of angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) on risk of Alzheimer’s disease, use of variants in the ACE gene region predicting tissue-specific gene and protein expression likely increases their plausibility as valid instruments for pharmacological perturbation of ACE at the relevant biological site [ 50 ]. In some cases, the same variant may be the lead signal for circulating protein levels, gene expression in the most relevant tissue, and levels of a downstream risk factor. In other cases, these approaches may identify different variants [ 51 ]. If these differ, careful consideration is needed to select the variant(s) that best mimic the intervention of interest.

Biological mechanisms affecting many exposures are not known. In such cases, genetic variants used as instruments may be selected solely based on their statistical association with the exposure. Such analyses are often still valuable, in that they provide a source of evidence supporting or refuting a causal effect of the exposure on the outcome. The strength of evidence provided depends on our confidence in the validity of the genetic variants as instruments. Testing genetic associations with potential confounders can provide empirical evidence supporting the validity of the variants as instruments, as can other statistical approaches, such as the application of pleiotropy-robust methods [ 52 ].

Researchers should prioritize investigating exposures using variants in gene regions that are biologically related to the exposure where possible. Journal editors and reviewers should look for a justification as to why the genetic variants in a given analysis were chosen. If this is absent, or if genetic variants are purely chosen on statistical grounds, then findings will generally be less authoritative and require a greater degree of statistical assessment.

Insufficient interrogation of findings

While the exact analysis plan will depend on the specifics of the question under investigation, availability of valid instruments, data quality, and so forth, one recommended generic strategy for conducting Mendelian randomization analyses is as follows. First, if there are biologically informed candidate instruments, the primary analysis should be based on these variants. Second, if there are no biologically informed candidate instruments, an initial liberal analysis based on a wide range of variants is recommended. Finally, results should be interrogated further to investigate robustness to a variety of factors [ 24 ]. A null finding in a liberal analysis that includes potentially pleiotropic variants is likely to reflect a true null relationship; it is more likely that bias will lead to a false positive finding than a false negative finding [ 53 ]. However, false negative results can be just as harmful to science. Absence of evidence does not always mean evidence of absence, particularly if the analysis is underpowered, unspecific, or poorly designed.

There are many approaches for the interrogation of findings (see reference [ 24 ] for more details), including examining genetic associations with potentially pleiotropic variables [ 54 ], testing against positive and/or negative controls [ 55 ], colocalization (particularly when the finding is based on a single gene region) [ 56 ], use of pleiotropy-robust methods (particularly when the finding is based on variants from several gene regions) [ 52 ], investigation in subgroups of the population [ 57 ] (although noting such stratification can lead to collider bias [ 58 ]), investigation with a subset of variants, and multivariable Mendelian randomization [ 59 ]. No single sensitivity analysis approach is foolproof [ 60 ], and all approaches make their own assumptions. A causal effect may be present even if one or more approach does not provide supportive evidence of a causal effect (or equally, a causal effect may be absent even if one or more approach supports a causal effect). In many cases, the evidence will be equivocal; there may be evidence supporting a causal effect, but this evidence may not be fully consistent across all analyses. If there is inconsistent evidence, then it is important that results are reported clearly, without undue emphasis on significant findings. Similarly, if multiple hypotheses are tested by the investigators, this should be accounted for when interpreting findings.

As an example, the robustness of Mendelian randomization analyses with alcohol as an exposure has been tested in several ways. Analyses in East Asian populations have typically used variants in the ALDH2 and ADH1B gene regions as instruments [ 61 ]. These investigations have exploited a further natural experiment by conducting analyses separately for men and women. Genetic associations with disease outcomes would not be expected in East Asian women as their alcohol consumption levels are much lower than those of men. East Asian women represents a negative control population, and null associations in women but positive associations with men have been observed for oesophageal cancer [ 62 ] and blood pressure [ 63 ]. In European-descent populations, similar findings have been observed using a variant in the ADH1B gene region only and using a wider range of genetic predictors of alcohol consumption [ 64 ]. Consistent results for many outcomes have been observed across a range of robust methods, including MR-Egger, weighted median, and MR-PRESSO methods [ 65 ]. Multivariable analyses have also been conducted adjusting for smoking behaviour, as genetic predictors of alcohol may have pleiotropic effects on smoking intensity [ 66 ].

Researchers should perform a range of approaches to investigate the robustness of findings. The reported level of confidence in conclusions should be dependent on the consistency of these results. Journal editors and reviewers should be suspicious of selective reporting of significant findings, particularly when approaches to assess the validity of findings have either not been reported, or indicate lack of support for a causal effect.

Inappropriate interpretation of findings

We have hereto assumed that the exposure measured in the Mendelian randomization analysis is the true causal agent affecting the outcome. However, this may not be the case. It is possible that a version of the gene–environment equivalence principle is true, but not for the measured exposure. It may be that the measured exposure is a biomarker that acts as a proxy measure of the true causal mechanism of action (Fig.  2 ).

As an example, genetic variants in the IL6R gene region are associated with levels of both interleukin 6 and C-reactive protein. This is plausibly an example of vertical pleiotropy, as the association with C-reactive protein is potentially a downstream consequence of the effect of interleukin 6 receptor signalling [ 36 ]. If we use genetic variants in the IL6R gene region in a Mendelian randomization analysis investigating the effects of interleukin 6 receptor signalling, we should come to the same conclusion whether our nominal biomarker for selecting and weighting instruments is levels of interleukin-6 receptor or levels of C-reactive protein [ 67 ]. Our estimate may be expressed in terms of change in genetically predicted interleukin-6 receptor levels or genetically predicted C-reactive protein levels, but it is the choice of variants that determines the causal question that is being addressed, not the biomarker used to select instruments for the exposure. As a further hypothetical example, suppose that we performed a Mendelian randomization analysis using genetic predictors of left leg mass. Would we be confident that any finding was truly attributable to an effect of left leg mass as opposed to adiposity or muscle mass more generally?

A related issue, particularly for binary exposures, is that genetic variants increase liability to the exposure, but do not necessarily increase the exposure [ 68 ]. For example, most individuals having genetic variants associated with increased schizophrenia risk do not themselves have clinically diagnosed schizophrenia [ 69 ]. Genetic variants that predispose individuals to increased alcohol consumption do not increase exposure to alcohol in populations of non-alcohol drinkers. Genetic variants shown to predispose individuals to greater COVID-19 risk did not increase exposure to COVID-19 in pre-pandemic datasets.

Mendelian randomization is serendipitous in nature; we exploit what is available. We cannot control which genetic variants are available for our analysis, or what these genetic variants do. The gene–environment equivalence principle requires to first understand how the genetic variants operate, and express our causal question in terms of the tools that are available. This implies that a simple conclusion statement such as “the exposure has a causal effect on the outcome” may not be appropriate.

Returning to the example of alcohol, genetic variants that increase alcohol consumption may have effects relating to social aspects of alcohol consumption as well as biological aspects. Those who drink more alcohol in Western societies are likely to spend more time in licenced establishments, and potentially have greater exposure to environmental tobacco smoke. Another complication is distinguishing between alcohol consumption and exposure to high alcohol levels. For caffeine, genetic associations with coffee consumption and circulating plasma caffeine levels are not all concordant. This can be explained as some genetic variants that increase caffeine metabolism lead to lower circulating caffeine levels, but greater coffee consumption, as fast caffeine metabolizers tend to consume more coffee to get the same physiological response [ 70 ]. Variants in the ALDH2 and ADH1B gene regions affect alcohol consumption via different biological pathways. While the rs671 variant in ALDH2 decreases alcohol consumption, it impairs the metabolism of alcohol, meaning that carriers who drink alcohol have greater exposure to acetaldehyde, a known carcinogen [ 71 ]. Hence, the associations of the rs671 variant may be misinterpreted if investigators focus on associations with alcohol consumption level. Correct interpretation of Mendelian randomization analyses requires appreciation of the broad social context of alcohol consumption and understanding of the biological effects of the variants.

Researchers should think carefully about the identity of the underlying causal risk factor or mechanism evaluated in their analysis; this may differ from the measured variable used as the exposure. Journal editors and reviewers should be sceptical about strong causal claims. Jumps of logic from factual statements such as “genetic predictors of the exposure were associated with the outcome” (or equivalently “genetically predicted exposure levels were associated with the outcome”) to subjective inferences such as “therefore, we believe the exposure is a cause of the outcome” should only be made when they can be justified [ 72 ]. If it is implausible that an exposure could be altered in a specific way by a genetically regulated mechanism, then it may be that the nominal exposure is a biomarker for a wider mechanism, not the literal causal risk factor.

Lack of engagement with previous literature

Mendelian randomization cannot by itself demonstrate or prove the existence of a causal effect. Indeed, the aim of a Mendelian randomization investigation is often to provide supportive or suggestive evidence to encourage further research, including the establishment of a randomized trial. As such, it is important to weigh evidence from Mendelian randomization against that from other approaches, including epidemiological data, trial findings, and basic science experiments. Triangulation is a framework for evidence synthesis that considers evidence from various sources that make different assumptions, and hence the validity of these assumptions will be orthogonal [ 60 , 73 ]. Evidence from different approaches making different assumptions can provide a more compelling case for a causal effect, or can help enhance the specificity of evidence. By showing that evidence for a causal effect is stronger or weaker in certain circumstances (such as different populations, different times, or different subgroups), we can improve our understanding of the causal mechanism.

In the case of alcohol, while there are no large-scale long-term randomized trials investigating the impact of alcohol consumption on disease outcomes [ 74 ], there are randomized trials exploring the effects of drinking alcohol in the short term, and many mechanistic studies into the effects of alcohol. While several observational epidemiological studies have shown lower risk of cardiovascular disease amongst light drinkers compared to non-drinkers [ 75 ], Mendelian randomization analyses have not supported evidence of a protective effect of increased alcohol at any level of alcohol consumption [ 61 , 76 ]. A Mendelian randomization investigation into the effect of alcohol consumption should explore reasons for discrepancies from results from conventional observational analyses. A potential explanation is that the non-drinker category contains both never-drinkers and former-drinkers, and the observational elevated risk in non-drinkers is due to former-drinkers.

Researchers should compare findings from their Mendelian randomization investigation to those from lab-based experiments, functional genomic studies, observational epidemiological associations, and clinical trials. Results should be appraised in a triangulation framework indicating the extent to which they strengthen or weaken the evidence for a causal effect of the exposure. Journal editors and reviewers should hold authors to high standards and ensure that findings are adequately compared to those from previous Mendelian randomization investigations and other approaches.

Mendelian randomization can be applied in an uncritical, algorithmic way to obtain findings and generate publications [ 77 ]. Policing such outputs is an impossible task requiring far more resources than it takes to create the publications, and the onus should be on authors to perform thoughtful and well-justified analyses. Journal editors at reputable journals should be able to spot low-effort submissions without wasting precious peer review resources. Reviewers should focus not only on whether technical aspects of a submission are present, but also on key indicators that require critical judgement: whether the causal question can plausibly be addressed by Mendelian randomization, whether the choice of variants is justified, whether there has been sufficient interrogation of findings (assessment of internal validity), whether any inferred causal interpretation is appropriate (assessment of external validity), and how this finding supports or refutes aspects of the wider literature. Performing such an investigation requires close collaboration between those with biological, clinical, sociological, genetic, and statistical expertise to understand the plausibility of the assumptions and to perform and interpret analyses appropriately.

Availability of data and materials

Not applicable; this manuscript does not contain primary data or analyses.

Data availability

No datasets were generated or analysed during the current study.

Abbreviations

Angiotensin converting enzyme

Genome-wide association study/studies

Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology using Mendelian Randomization

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Acknowledgements

We thank the attendees of the 6th Mendelian randomization conference at the University of Bristol for their feedback on this work.

SB and BW are supported by the Wellcome Trust (225790/Z/22/Z) and the United Kingdom Research and Innovation Medical Research Council (MC_UU_00002/7). MAK was supported by a research grant from the Sigrid Juselius Foundation, the Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research, and the Research Council of Finland (grant no. 357183). AMM is supported by core funding from the British Heart Foundation (RG/18/13/33946), Cambridge British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence (RE/18/1/34212), British Heart Foundation Chair Award (CH/12/2/29428), and by Health Data Research UK. This research was supported by the National Institute for Health Research Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (BRC-1215-20014, NIHR203312). The views expressed are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the National Institute for Health Research or the Department of Health and Social Care.

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Burgess, S., Woolf, B., Mason, A.M. et al. Addressing the credibility crisis in Mendelian randomization. BMC Med 22 , 374 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-024-03607-5

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