Argumentative vs Informative Essays
Argumentative essays and informative essays are two types of essays that deal with facts and
information. The main difference between argumentative essays and informative essays is that
argumentative essays try to convince the reader to accept the writer’s point of view, while informative
essays provide information and explanations in a straightforward manner to the readers.
Informative Essays
Informative essays are a type of writing that explains a certain issue or a topic. An informative writer
should always maintain an objective, neutral tone throughout the essay, or they shouldn’t try to argue
one side over another. The author of an informative essay is kind of like a reporter at a newspaper: only
there to state the facts, not to offer any sort of opinion. In this type of an essay, the writer should refrain
from pointing out his personal ideas and beliefs. For SAGE testing, an informative essay is three
paragraphs long: one introduction paragraph containing the central idea of the paper, one body
paragraph that contains enough facts and information to cover the topic, and a conclusion that briefly
summarizes all the points explained in the body. Real writers use as many body paragraphs as they need
to explain the topic they’re writing about, but for the purposes of SAGE testing, stick to just one body
paragraph.
Argumentative Essays
An argumentative essay is a type of writing in which the writer tries to convince his audience that his
opinion is valid. An argumentative essay contains a combination of facts and writer’s personal ideas. A
writer preparing to start an argumentative essay has to do a lot of research and gather evidence to
prove and defend his point. An argumentative essay is biased and subjective, although the writer has to
be aware of the opposing views on the subject. This type of essay appeals to the logic and the reasoning.
For SAGE testing, an argumentative essay is supposed to be 4-5 paragraphs long: one introduction
paragraph containing the author’s claim or main argument, two or three body paragraphs or sub points
that support and illustrate the author’s argument, and a concluding paragraph that briefly summarizes
all the points explained in the body. Real writers use as many body paragraphs as they need to explain
the topic they’re writing about, but for the purposes of SAGE testing, stick to two or three body
paragraphs.
Difference Between Argumentative and Informative Essays
The main difference between argumentative and informative essays is that an informative essay
contains only information to explain a topic, whereas an argumentative essay contains statistics, facts
and writer’s personal ideas. Another vital difference between argumentative and informative essays is
that an informative essay always gives a balanced account of a subject while an argumentative essay
may be biased and subjective. It should be also noted that an argumentative essay can contain elements
of an informative essay, as argumentative essays also state explanations and information. Another
central difference between argumentative and informative essay can be noted in the opening sentence
in the essay; the opening sentence in an argumentative essay states the argument, and the opening line
in an informative essay introduces the topic
Explanation:
