This unit involves learning how to research and write an informative Work Although informative writing does not share personal stories or opinions, most writers enjoy researching and writin

OCCC Writing Program 1

Informative Essay Topic Planning Worksheet 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 page 6.

• 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.

1. Thesis from Personal Narrative

3. Potential Topics for Informative Essay

4. Research Questions for 2 or 3 favorite topics (choose one and circle it. This is your topic to research)

OCCC Writing Program 2

Informative Essay Topic Planning Methods

Overview: The following pages give detailed examples of brainstorming and critical reading techniques. These kinds of planning methods will help you choose a topic for your informative essay. Choose one or more of the planning methods to complete. If you feel stuck, let your instructor know right away so they can help you.

Method 1: Mindmap example A mindmap is a visual representation of different aspects that branch from a core concept. Those aspects can then be broken down into further aspects or examples. In the example here, the concept of “taking care of others” has been broken down into aspects of taking care of others, such as its values, the ways people have been taken care of historically, and attitudes toward taking care of others.

OCCC Writing Program 3

Method 2: Bulleted List example Listing is much like the mindmap, except that it is done more vertically to keep ideas organized by topic.

• Organizations or programs that help others.

• Politics

▪ Social Programs

• Pell Grants

• Earned Income Credit

• Medicare

• Military

• WIC

• Job Training

• Religion

▪ Christianity

• Jesus Christ – forgiveness

• Disciples – service

• Churches – community

▪ Judaism

• Mitzvah – good deeds

• Islam

• Charity – acts of service

• Behaviors of helping others

• Volunteer

▪ Food Bank

▪ Homeless shelters

▪ Animal shelters

▪ Big Brothers/Big Sisters

OCCC Writing Program 4

Method 3: Reporter Questions The Six Journalistic Questions, also known as the “5 W’s and an H,” are who, what, where, when, why, and how. These may be a good way to brainstorm different angles that would be interesting to learn more about as you write your informative essay.

▪ Helping Others o Who helps others?

▪ Religious groups ▪ Non-profit volunteers/workers/organizations

▪ Governments

▪ Schools o What do they do to help others?

▪ Food (Regional Food Bank) ▪ Shelter (Jesus House)

▪ Share knowledge

▪ Clothing (OCCC Clothing Closet)

▪ Mental and spiritual support (Calm Waters) o Where do people seek or give help?

▪ Church (Unitarian Church GED Courses) ▪ Schools (Reading Programs in K-12)

▪ US Government (SNAP)

▪ State Government (Childcare subsidies, etc.)

▪ Non-profits (food pantries, clothes “closets,” etc.) o When did people give help to others?

▪ Church (When did the Unitarian Church start offering GED courses?) ▪ Schools (What do Reading Program volunteers do?)

▪ US Government (When did the US begin to offer food stamps?)

▪ State Government (What is the history of childcare subsidies in Oklahoma?)

▪ Non-profits (food pantries, clothing pantries etc.) o Why do people want to help others?

▪ Religious Groups

▪ Loyalty

▪ Patriotism

▪ Altruism o How do people give help to others?

▪ Time ▪ Money

OCCC Writing Program 5

Method 4: Critical Reading – Reverse Outline In a reverse outline method of critical reading, the reader takes a completed work and breaks it down into an outline that summarizes the main ideas. To use this method to identify possible topics, outline your personal narrative essay, then go back and highlight potential topics by choosing keywords (these are in bold in the example below).

I. Introduction

a. Hook: being diagnosed with a chronic illness when I was 5

b. Describing needing care for every aspect of my life

c. Thesis statement: I believe in taking care of others because people took care of me when I

was younger and I want to do the same for others who need my help.

II. Body Paragraph 1

a. Describing how I was always sick when I was little

b. Initial incident: my diagnosis

III. Body Paragraph 2

a. Rising Action: Seeing different doctors, trying to figure out treatments to help me feel

better.

b. Describe nurses, staff, and doctors who helped me and how I felt.

IV. Body Paragraph 3

a. Climax: Getting very sick and being in the hospital.

b. The nurse who took special care of me while I was in the hospital.

V. Body Paragraph 4

a. Falling action and Resolution: Went home and recovered

b. Had new medicine to treat my illness and grew up staying pretty healthy

c. My childhood was tough because I was sick, but that nurse who treated me so well in the

hospital made it possible for me to hang on until I got better.

d. Now I want to work in healthcare so that I can take care of kids like I was taken care of.

VI. Conclusion

a. Restating your lesson or belief: I believe in taking care of others

b. Other people should do it, too

c. Imagine a world where everyone helped others get the help they need

Potential topics from the reverse outline:

Chronic illnesses

Doctors – types of

Treatments for chronic illnesses

Hospital personnel

New medicine discoveries

Pediatric Healthcare

Healthcare professions

OCCC Writing Program 6

Finished planning process example:

1. Thesis from Personal Narrative

3. Potential Topics for Informative Essay

4. Research Questions for 2 – 3 favorite topics

(choose one)

I believe in taking care of others because people took care of me when I was younger and I want to do the same for others who need my help.

• Volunteering

• Social Security

• SNAP/Food Stamps

• Healthcare provider attitudes

• New medicines

• How do volunteers support charities?

• What is the history of the SNAP/Food Stamps program? (My favorite. There is a lot about this in the library databases.)

• Why do new medicines cost so much?

Student Example: The Gift of Walking

1. Thesis from Personal Narrative

3. Potential Topics for Informative Essay

4. Research Questions for 2 – 3 favorite topics

(choose one)

The day I found out that I wouldn’t be able to walk in the future, I was demoralized at first, but I learned to appreciate the activities I am able to do now.

• Diseases that affect walking.

• Types of physical therapy to accommodate walking issues.

• Legislation for physically handicapped.

• New treatment for the physically handicapped.

• How do physical activities affect growing children?

• What are the results of physical activity on a person’s overall health?

• What are the latest treatments for the physically handicapped?