Informative Text: Types & Examples

• Informative text is a subset of non-fiction.
• Informative text aims to educate the reader on a specific topic.
• The primary purpose of informative text is to inform about the natural or social world.
• Specialized language characteristics include general nouns and timeless verbs.

Examples of Informative Text

• Newspapers, textbooks, reference materials and research papers are examples.
• Manuals with instructions are informative.
• Books providing information on vacations, non-fiction analysis of events, and cookbooks are informative.
• Wiki pages with character information are informative.

Types of Informative Text

• Literary Non-fiction
• Expository
• Argumentative or Persuasive
• Procedural

Literary Non-fiction

• Also called Creative non-fiction, it uses literary devices and writing conventions of poetry and fiction.
• Accounts are based on actual facts or observations.
• Real-life accounts with a narrative structure.
• Examples include: personal journals, autobiographies, diaries, memoirs, letters, and essays.
• Contains facts but aims to entertain.
• Reads like fiction and has story elements, such as character, setting and plot.

Expository

• Usually non-fictional and informational.
• Not organized around a story-like structure.
• Organized based on the author's purpose, goals, or by content.
• Examples include: news articles, informational books, instruction manuals, and textbooks.
• Expository text exists to provide facts that are educational and purposeful.
• The text is fact-based and intends to expose truth with reliable sources.
• Deliberate expository text focuses on educating its reader.

Argumentative

• Also known as persuasive text.
• Author makes claims, presents an argument, and aims for the reader to believe they are right.
• Author persuades the reader through data and analysis.
• Examples include persuasive essays and research papers.
• An argumentative essay takes a stance on an issue.
• The writer persuades readers to support their view by stating reasoning and providing evidence.

Procedural

• A procedural text instructs the audience on how to complete a specific task.
• It typically falls into how to make something or how to do something.
• The purpose is to provide sequenced information or directions so activities are performed safely and appropriately.
• Examples include directions, instructions, recipes, game mechanics, and rules.
• A procedural text explains how to complete a process.
• Recipes and instruction booklets are examples of procedural text.

Identifying Informative Text

• Authors use various structures to help readers find information quickly and efficiently.
• These structures may include a table of contents, index, bold or italicized text and glossaries.
• It may include embedded definitions, realistic illustrations, captions, labels, graphs, and charts.
• Informative text uses types of fonts and labels to help readers find information.
• A bold word creates emphasis.
• Informational text is often non-linear.

Creating Informative Text

• Decide the kind you want to make.
• Research and declare factual information.
• Avoid using opinionated words.
• Add helpful illustrations.
• Organize information so it's easy to find.