Many types of essays can be assigned to students depending on their course of study and level of education. From argumentative to narrative, each essay will require unique formatting and writing styles to ensure that a student meets the standards of their instructor.
However, the most common type of essay assigned to students from high school to college is the informative essay. The purpose of this type of essay is to inform readers about a particular topic such as:
- an object
- a person
- an event
- a phenomenon
- a place
Unlike other essay styles, the informative essay is meant to be entirely informational, free from personal opinions and persuasive arguments. This means that more research and information gathering will be required in order to write an informative essay effectively.
Writing an informative essay isn’t without its challenges, but the most difficult for students assigned with the task is coming up with a topic for the essay.
A topic that is too broad may overwhelm the research process. On the other hand, a subject too specific may not yield enough credible sources.
Furthermore, the challenge of choosing the right topic for an informative essay is also compounded by the strict word limit usually set for this type of essay.
Fortunately, this list of 130 informative essay topics will inspire students to start writing an informative and engaging essay in no time!
And along with the handy guide on how to write an informative essay, students can rest assured that they are well on their way to writing an informative essay that will earn them a passing grade.
Essential Factors to Writing an Informative Essay
Before getting into informative essay structure and topics, it is necessary to understand the essential factors of creating an informative essay.
The first thing to understand is that an informative essay should answer the five W’s:
- Who
- What
- Where
- When
- Why
Informative essays can also answer the question, ‘how.’ If you are not answering these questions with statements, statistics, and facts, you may be writing a different kind of essay that won’t earn you the grade you want.
To keep yourself on track when writing an informative essay, be sure to choose a topic that serves one of the following functions:
- Analyzes data
- Compares and contrasts
- Defines a term
- Provides a how-to
By choosing one of the functions mentioned above, you can ensure that you write an informative essay free from personal opinion or subjective thought.
How to Write an Informative Essay
When writing an informative essay, it is helpful to create an outline for each section. After completing (or while performing) research, organize your essay outline into three sections.
Introduction
The introduction of an informative essay should start with an interesting ‘hook’ statement. This statement is designed to get the reader excited about the writing by posing an interesting question, stating a bold fact, or describing an interesting scene.
After the hook has been written, you might consider adding in a few bits of background information that explores ideas related to your main topic.
The final sentence of the introduction should be a thesis that includes a statement of purpose and a focus. The thesis should show the reader what question will be answered in the body paragraphs and give them a general idea of what to expect from the rest of the essay.
Body Paragraphs
The body of your informative essay should be no less than three paragraphs. It should contain the bulk of your research with facts presented in order of least to most critical or need-to-know.
Each paragraph should start with a strong topic sentence that leads into each fact. The remaining sentences should flow together to support your thesis. The section should end with a final sentence wrapping up your point and transitioning to the next paragraph.
Remember that informative essays should only include provable facts, statistics, and statements, so be sure to avoid anything that sounds judgemental, subjective, or too much like a personal opinion.
For example, if your essay is about the benefits of mentoring young adults, you should avoid writing,
“Mentoring would benefit people because it allows them to have someone looking out for their best interests.”
And instead, try writing something more like,
“Research shows that 75% of participants in a mentorship program felt more comfortable about entering the workforce after becoming involved in the program.”
Conclusion
The conclusion of an informative essay should reiterate your thesis and end with a final statement that solidifies the essay’s purpose.
The final statement could be in the form of a rhetorical question that encourages the reader to go out and learn more, an action statement that urges the reader to take some form of action, or a call-to-action statement asking the reader to do something.
In an informative essay, the most crucial element of the conclusion isn’t the writing itself, but that it ends on a high note for the reader.
130 Informative Essay Topics
Check out these 130 informative essay topics that are sure to get you started on your paper. Possible topics have been divided into the most common courses in which students often need to write informative essays.
Informative Essay Topics for Math & Economics
- How do graphs affect the way we view specific data?
- What are some examples of trigonometric functions?
- How can one determine if a function is even or odd?
- What are the benefits of online math courses?
- What is double-entry accounting?
- How does revenue recognition affect financial statement accuracy?
- When can financial statements be considered accurate?
- What are the main differences between stocks and bonds?
- How does inflation affect the prices of goods and services?
- Which is better for an investor to hold, cash or paper assets (i.e., stocks, bonds)?
- How do Venn diagrams make relationships more clear?
- How do interest rates affect automobile prices and the economy as a whole?
- What is the difference between a national bank and a federal credit union?
- Who invented calculus?
- Who is responsible for the advancement of algebra?
- How did Euclid develop the concept of geometry?
- How did Archimedes determine the formulas for calculating area and volume?
- What is a Ponzi scheme, and who was Charles Ponzi?
Informative Essay Topics for Science
- How does photosynthesis work?
- Why do plants need sunlight?
- What are DNA and RNA?
- How do mutations originate?
- Why is evolution a fact, according to scientists?
- What exactly is a virus?
- What’s the difference between an archaeologist and an anthropologist?
- What is the scientific method?
- What are some examples of scientific experiments gone wrong?
- Who discovered penicillin?
- Who is credited with the discovery of DNA?
- What does it mean to say that an organism has “gone extinct”?
- How do cells divide and multiply?
- What are some examples of species that have gone extinct during human history?
- What causes natural disasters like floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, etc.?
- How do earthquakes occur?
- What are some examples of medical breakthroughs that have saved countless lives in the 20th century?
- What are stem cells, and why are they so controversial?
- What is carbon monoxide poisoning, and how does it affect the body?
- Why does exposure to ultraviolet light cause sunburns?
- What are the different types of rocks and minerals, and how do they form?
- What makes a fossil a fossil?
- How did early homo sapiens evolve from earlier species of humans?
- What is the difference between astronomy and astrology?
- How do stars produce energy?
- How does evolution differ from creationism?
- What is artificial selection, and how does it work?
- What are some examples of new species that have gone extinct?
Informative Essay Topics for History
- What led to the start of the Civil War in the USA?
- How did the War of 1812 contribute to the rise of nationalism in Canada?
- What factors led to the fall of Nazi Germany?
- How did WWI impact Russia and its people?
- How did WWII affect Australia’s cultural identity and economy?
- What was life like for Jewish people living under Nazi rule during WWII?
- What was life like for African-American slaves living on southern plantations during the Civil War?
- What was life like for Irish immigrants during the potato famine of 1845?
- How did World War I affect Australia’s economy, art, and social structures?
- What were the leading causes of the French Revolution?
- Why is Christopher Columbus considered to be an important figure in history?
- What role did disease play in the fall of the Aztec Empire?
- Why did Europeans decide to explore and colonize the Americas in the 16th century?
- How were women expected to behave in Victorian society during the 19th century?
- Who was Simon Bolivar, and what role did he play in Latin American independence?
- What were some factors that contributed to the fall of the Roman Empire?
- How did multiculturalism shape early Chinese trade and commerce?
- Who was Zheng He, and what was his role in shaping international relations between China and Southeast Asia?
- What is a caliphate, and who were some caliphs throughout history?
- Why is the Battle of Hastings significant to British history?
- Who was Saladin, and what role did he play in Middle Eastern military affairs?
- What were some causes for the collapse of the Tang dynasty in China?
- Who was Harald Hardrada, and why was he considered to be a key figure in Viking history?
- What was the significance of the Battle of Thermopylae, and who was Leonidas?
- Who is credited with creating gunpowder, and why is this discovery significant?
- Why are the Vikings considered to be an important group throughout world history?
Informative Essay Topics for Health & Medicine
- How do human personalities change as we age?
- What are some differences between men and women, physically and psychologically?
- Why is it important to maintain a healthy lifestyle?
- What is the difference between physical fitness and cardiovascular endurance?
- What conditions often lead to premature death around the world?
- Who were some scientists who have made significant contributions to medical science?
- What are some problems associated with obesity?
- How do smoking, alcohol consumption, and drug abuse affect the human body over time?
- What are some benefits of breastfeeding versus bottle-feeding babies when they are young?
- How are humans affected psychologically when they experience chronic stress in their daily lives?
- Who were some scientists who have made significant contributions to medical science?
- What is sleep apnea, and what are the symptoms of this condition?
- How does second-hand smoke affect people’s health?
- What are some ways that genetics influence human health and illness over time?
- What effects do environmental factors, such as UV radiation and microgravity, have on the human body?
- When was the bubonic plague epidemic, and why was it significant?
- What are some health benefits of having a pet?
- How do physical activity and physical fitness impact a person’s quality of life over time?
- Who were some scientists who have made significant contributions to medical science?
- In what ways does poverty affect human psychology, survival, and health?
- How do humans develop antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, and how can this issue be addressed?
- What factors contribute to mental illness, and how does it affect a person’s daily life?
- What is the human microbiome, and why is research into this area significant?
- What are some effects of climate change on human health?
- What are the warning signs of mental illness, and how does this condition affect a person’s life?
- What is considered a traumatic brain injury, and what are some common symptoms associated with this issue?
- Why is water one of the most important resources for humans and other living things on Earth?
Informative Essay Topics for English & Literature
- What is the significance of Shakespeare’s “The Tempest?”
- Who was Socrates, and what were some of his most notable teachings?
- What is considered to be metafiction, and how does this form of writing affect an author’s work?
- When did Romanticism emerge in literature, and why is it significant?
- What are some examples of Gothic literature?
- Who was Jane Austen, and what elements did she incorporate into her writing style?
- How has poetry been used throughout history to express emotions or a point of view?
- Why is William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” considered an essential work within American literature?
- What were some of the key figures in England’s Romantic movement, and what elements did they incorporate into their work?
- In what ways does the poetry of William Butler Yeats fit within the framework of Romanticism?
- Who was John Milton, and why is he considered one of the most important English poets from the 17th century?
- What were some of the key figures in England’s Romantic movement, and what elements did they incorporate into their work?
- What is a sonnet, and which famous English poet penned one of the most significant examples?
- Who was Robert Frost, and why is he considered one of America’s most essential poets?
- What is a haiku, and what are some examples of this form of poetry?
- What were some key authors from Italy’s Risorgimento, and what elements did they incorporate into their works?
Informative Essay Topics about Computer Science
- What impact did the Internet have on information dissemination during the past century?
- What is computer science, and why has this area of study become increasingly significant in recent years?
- What are some examples of artificial intelligence systems, and what are their benefits or limitations?
- How do humans interact with robots daily, and does this form of interaction have any significant effects?
- What are some arguments for and against the use of robots in manufacturing industries?
- How can computer science be used to address challenges faced by humanity, such as disease treatment or climate change?
- What is network security, and why is this area of study significant in protecting systems from hackers?
- What is a computer virus, and why is this form of malware considered to be problematic?
- How can quantum computing change the way that humans interface with computers in the future?
- What are some examples of algorithms, and what role do they play in various forms of technology?
- In what ways has data science impacted how companies use information to inform their business decisions?
- What is a blockchain, and how can this form of technology be used to improve cybersecurity efforts?
- In what ways have computers changed the way that humans interact with one another?
- What are some uses for machine learning, and why is this area of study considered significant in terms of artificial intelligence?
- What is search engine optimization, and what are some ways this concept has impacted the world of web design?
Earn a Good Grade with a High-Quality Informative Essay!
There are many different types of informative essay topics that can be explored. As long as you answer a question with objective facts and statistical data, you will be able to write a great informative essay.
Any of the topics above combined with the informative essay writing tips above will be the best way to ensure that you get a good grade on your writing assignment.
