Elements of an Informational Narrative

An informational narrative is used when the writer is trying to inform others about a particular subject of which they may not be familiar. Informative essays can also be called an expository or explanatory essays. This kind of essay is aimed at presenting information in a clear and concise manner so the reader can learn about the subject matter.

Basics of an Informational Narrative

An informational narrative is written using a variety of resources to present information. It consists of an introduction with a thesis, the body of the text with cited information supporting the thesis, and the conclusion which sums up the points presented in the narrative.

When writing an informational narrative, avoid using the personal pronoun 'I,' and do not use contractions. Because this is a narrative which is supposed to present an idea, you will need to a method to cite the source where you obtained information and ideas that inspired your own thoughts. This is important so the reader can go back to the sources cited and confirm what was written is in fact what the source states.

Elements of the Introduction

The introduction is where the writer presents the thesis which the narrative will be based around. The thesis is the central argument in which the body of the narrative will be supporting. When writing an introduction attempt to get to the thesis in the first or second sentence of the narrative. The narrative is a tool to inform the reader about the thesis of the paper. Realize that the reader is more concerned about the thesis and less about beautiful prose. Present your argument in the thesis as soon as possible.

Body of the Narrative

The body of the narrative is where you present the information which you have obtained in your research and supports the thesis which was presented in the introduction. The body of the text can be as long or as short as required to complete the narrative, but in general they are at least three paragraphs long. When writing you will want to present a single idea which relates to the thesis in each paragraph along with the required citations. Do not present more than a single idea in each paragraph. Otherwise the paragraph can seem cluttered.

Conclusion of the Narrative

Concluding the narrative is not about just simply restating the thesis in the introduction. Summarize the information which was presented in the body of the narrative in relation to the thesis, creating a synthesis of information which the reader can conclude that what was presented supports the thesis which you presented. At the very most a conclusion should only be several paragraphs unless the narrative is extremely long or complex. Never introduce new information in the conclusion. If the information is important enough to include in the conclusion it should have been included in the body of the narrative.

Tips for an informational narrative

The informational narrative is about informing the reader in a clear and concise manner the thesis of the paper. Again, concise and precise wording is more important in this sort of narrative than lyrical language. Think about the audience of the narrative as well. This will affect how you write the narrative. Writing to an audience who does not understand the thesis presented will require more information and explanation than writing for a group of experts in the field which the subject matter is part of their career. Finally, the flow of the narrative should include transitions between each paragraph. Transitions are sentences or phrases that help the reader move smoothly between your ideas.

About the Author

Damian Miller has been a writer since 2002. He has published the ebooks "End of the Rainbow" and "Guide to Cold Weather Hiking." Miller is an Eagle Scout and holds a master's degree in history and Bachelor of Arts degrees in anthropology/sociology and in history from Purdue University.

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