This document provides guidance on writing informative essays and speeches, including why they are written, their focus areas, basic types, structure, and how to transform an essay into a speech. Informative pieces are intended to provide novel, interesting, and useful information to audiences. They can focus on objects, processes, events, or concepts, and common types include exposition, description, definition, comparison/contrast, narration, and demonstration. Both essays and speeches should include an introduction with thesis and main points, developed paragraphs, and a conclusion that restates the main idea and leaves the audience with a final thought.

1. INFORMATIVE ESSAYS-SPEECHES
The transformation

2. WHY WRITE ONE?
• Provide information that is:
• Provides novelty
• Is of interest
• Can be used
• Is unique

3. FOUR FOCUS POINTS
Your essay / speech can be focused on the following:
• OBJECTS – description of things, places, people & their importance
• PROCESSES – explanation of the “how-to”
• EVENTS – description & importance (past, present, future)
• CONCEPTS – theories, beliefs, et .

4. BASIC TYPES
• EXPOSITION
• DESCRIPTION
• DEFINITION
• COMPARISON & CONTRAST
• NARRATION
• DEMONSTRATION / PROCESS

5. ESSAY STRUCTURE
• INTRODUCTION:
• Thesis statement: your topic WITH attention getter.
• Main points: points 1-3, BRIEFLY mentioned.
• DEVELOPMENT:
• Paragraph 1: point 1 developed
• Paragraph 2: point 2 developed
• Paragraph 3: point 3 developed
• CONCLUSION:
• Summary: the main idea restated with DIFFERENT words.
• Quote, suprising fact, call to action, solution to a problem (depending on your
topic)
• Opinion: if asked for.

6. TRANSFORMING YOUR ESSAY INTO
A SPEECH
THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND:
• Get the audience interested
• Add / remove information
• Simplify the language
• Keep the audience interested
• Make visuals
• Make a memorable conclusion