OCCC Writing Program: Informative Essay Topic Planning Works

Occc Writing Program 1informative Essay Topic Planning Worksheet In

Instructions: • Look at pages 2-6 for examples of topic planning methods. • Follow the steps below to complete the chart on this page. A finished chart example is on • Transfer the Research Questions from your chart to the forum activity in Moodle and complete that assignment. Steps to complete the planning process: Use the chart below to track the decisions you make about a topic as you complete the step. 1. Record your thesis statement from your personal narrative essay in the box below. 2. Use one or more of the topic planning methods on pages 2 – 5 to identify at least three different potential topics. 3. Review your completed planning method and choose 2 or 3 possible topics you could write about for your informative essay. 4. Turn those topics into a question that you can research (Start with Who, What, Where, When, or Why) • Avoid the word “should” in your question. “Should” signals an argument essay, not an informative essay. • You do not have to know the answers to the research questions. You will find the answers when you do your research.

Paper For Above instruction

This comprehensive worksheet guides students through the process of planning an informative essay, emphasizing the importance of selecting a clear and researchable topic. Students begin by recording their thesis statement from a personal narrative, which serves as a foundation for exploring related topics. To generate potential subjects, various brainstorming techniques are introduced, including mindmapping, bulleted listing, journalistic questions (the “5 W’s and an H”), and reverse outlining of personal narratives. Each method prompts students to consider multiple angles and aspects of potential topics, facilitating a thoughtful selection process. The worksheet emphasizes the need to formulate research questions starting with interrogative words—who, what, where, when, or why—that will guide research and ensure the essay remains informational rather than argumentative. Additionally, students are instructed to narrow their focus by choosing two or three promising topics and transforming these into specific questions to direct their research. Overall, this planning worksheet offers a structured approach to topic selection, ensuring clarity, focus, and researchability for an effective informative essay.

Drafted Informative Essay

The process of selecting a suitable topic for an informative essay is foundational to crafting a successful piece of academic writing. It involves a careful balance between interest, researchability, and relevance. Beginning with a personal narrative provides a unique perspective that can be expanded into an informative essay by identifying key themes and ideas from one’s own experiences. For instance, reflecting on a personal story about overcoming health challenges or community service can lead to topics such as healthcare, social programs, or volunteering, each of which has a wealth of available information.

Brainstorming methods serve as essential tools in this process. The mindmap technique visually organizes ideas around a central concept, such as “taking care of others,” with branches extending into related subtopics like medical assistance, social programs, or volunteer activities. This visual aid helps identify interconnected themes and potential directions for research. Similarly, creating a bulleted list allows for a linear organization of ideas, enabling the writer to consider options like food banks, homeless shelters, or educational support programs. Each bullet point becomes a possible research topic, which can later be refined into research questions.

The journalistic approach, through the “5 W’s and an H,” encourages asking specific questions about the chosen topic. For example, if the topic is “food stamps,” questions might include “Who receives food stamps?” “What is the history of the food stamp program?” “Where are food assistance programs available?” “When did significant changes occur in the program?” and “Why are food assistance programs important?” These questions help uncover various aspects of the topic, ensuring a comprehensive understanding that can be communicated effectively in an essay.

Alternatively, critical reading and reverse outlining involve analyzing existing texts—such as personal narratives—to identify thematic content suitable for research. Highlighting keywords in the outline of a narrative about healthcare or community service reveals potential topics, which are then formulated into research questions that guide further investigation. This method ensures the selected topic is grounded in personal experience while broadening the scope to include factual information suitable for an informative essay.

Ultimately, the structured approach outlined in this worksheet ensures the selection of a focused, researchable, and relevant topic. By transforming personal stories into broader informational content through specific questions, students can produce essays that are both engaging and informative. Whether interested in healthcare, social services, or volunteerism, this process promotes clarity and direction, setting the stage for successful academic writing.

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