Informative Writing

In traveling the Main Journey so far, you have successfully narrowed your Subject into a Topic, and then into a Question. You have not only been focusing your research paper ideas, you have been making sure they are argumentative in nature. But is argumentative writing the only type of writing you should be learning about in this class? Frankly, no! As a college student, you will sometimes be expected to write papers that are not argumentative. So it's time to take a break from the Main Journey for a while and learn about another type of college writing: informative writing. Informative writing requires you to inform your readers about a topic. Since you are reporting to your readers, an informative paper is often called a "report." You do not have to take a stand in a report--you just have to, well, report! Report facts. Report information. Report the ideas or viewpoints of others. But do NOT offer your own opinion. Informative writing may seem easier than argumentative writing, but it still requires some practice. Sometimes it is difficult NOT putting in your own two cents. Also, when researching a topic for an informative report, you need to read your sources very carefully to make sure you report them accurately. During Side Trip 1, you will be asked to practice your skills at informative writing by writing a short report summarizing the viewpoints of other people. You will be asked to read the four articles you located in Phase 2 and summarize the viewpoints of the four authors who wrote them. By doing so, you will be learning how to report the ideas of other people, which is one important skill required for informative writing.

Any questions or comments for Kenn?

Where do I go next? Go to "Side Trip 1 Assignment 1A."